WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD

Roland A-88MKII MIDI Keyboard Controller just got a Free MIDI 2.0 update.

16 Nov, 2023 No Comment

When Roland A-88MKII MIDI keyboard was launched, in early 2020, one of the promises was that it was ‘MIDI 2.0-ready’. The updated MIDI standard’s rollout has been rather slow, but perhaps it’s starting to gather some momentum. A free update means that the next-gen interfacing standard is now fully supported.

Roland seems optimistic that more instruments and apps are in the works, though, and paints a rosy picture of what MIDI 2.0 will bring to your creative life. “Pianos will perfectly reflect the most subtle keyboard playing techniques, orchestral sounds will be more acoustic and lifelike, and synthesizer textures will respond to performance gestures like never before,” we’re assured.

In addition, it is also worth noting that, thanks to MIDI 2.0’s bi-directional communication capabilities, it should also enable your DAW to instantly map a supported controller, and to recognise the patches in your hardware synth and give you software control of them. This level of convenience could end up being one of the new standard’s MIDI 2.0 features.

So, what does that actually mean? How this will actually impact your music-making. In theory, MIDI 2.0 will bring various benefits, such as – in Roland’s words – “dramatically increased musical expressivity”. This relies not only on your keyboard being compatible, though, but also whatever you’re controlling with it.

Though A-88MK11 is not the only MIDI 2.0-equipped keyboard in the market; Korg recently released the Keystage, which comes in 49- and 61-note varieties and also offers polyphonic aftertouch. However, the good news is that the A-88MKII remains an excellent 88-note controller, offering a winning action that we described as “a joy to play”.

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Plugin Boutique Releases Scaler EQ ‘The World First Truly Musical EQ Plugin’

16 Nov, 2023 No Comment

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Scaler EQ is the “world-first” plugin that uses the key of your song to determine which notes it cuts and boosts. It’s not just a ‘musical’ EQ, but a music theory EQ…

Certain EQs are often described as ‘musical’, but not in the way that Scaler EQ is. In what’s described as the “world-first”, this new equalizer plugin from Plugin Boutique – which previously released the Scaler composition plugin – is designed to enhance note frequencies that are in the key of your song while reducing note frequencies that aren’t.

This is made possible by the presence of the Harmonic Peak and Plus/Minus filter types, and promises to create warmer low and sweeter highs when you’re boosting, and more focused bass and less harsh keys when you’re doing your out-of-key cutting. You can set Scaler EQ to cut in-key frequencies as well if you need to.

Key detection is automatic, though you can also customise the selected scale by adding or removing notes. You also get the more familiar shelves, bells and high-pass/low-pass filters that you’ll find in traditional EQs.

And then there’s the Magic Shelf, which does its business with stereo properties in mind. This means that, if you boost a Magic Shelf in the bass region, it will work harder on the band’s mid signal than it does on its side information; reduce the level of that same bass Magic Shelf to make it a cut, and you’ll cut the side signal more than you cut the mid information.

The high-frequency Magic Shelf complements this by increasing sides with more strength and reducing mids with greater gusto.

Each band in Scaler EQ can be set to work on stereo, mid or side channels, and you can also collapse low frequencies to mono or increase stereo width with a dedicated dial.

Features

Patent pending musical EQ with harmonic band types that boost in-key frequencies and cut out-of-key frequencies
Familiar EQ controls translate to a regular workflow – but one that adds more colour
Choice of band types for traditional boost/cut EQ or harmonic EQ
Magic Shelf bands deliver punchier low end and smoother highs
Key detection sets the EQ’s target scale
Dial in dynamics for any band (Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release)
Add or remove scale notes for a specific colour (eg, four-note chords or just fifths)
Creative unique EQ responses by combining magic shelves, harmonic filters and cuts
Each band can be set to work on stereo, mid or side channels
Enhance stereo width and collapse low frequencies to mono

Scaler EQ is available now for the intro price of $49/£39.38 and runs on PC and Mac in VST/AU/AAX formats. You can also currently get it on a 12-month subscription for $3.99/£3.21 a month (regular price $5/£5 a month).

Find out more and download a demo on the Plugin Boutique website.

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Elastic Melody, ‘Melodic Sibling’ of Elastic Drums Now Available

15 Nov, 2023 No Comment

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Developer Oliver Greschke has introduced Elastic Melody, a 3-track synthesizer and sequencer.

The focus of Elastic Melody is on fast and intuitive creation of melodies with a distinctive ‘analog’ sound.

Each of the synthesizers has its own sequencer, with independent sequence start/end and step len/speed, letting you create polyrythmic sequences. In the master section there are 4 effects (EQ, Chorus/Flanger, Delay, Reverb). And all parameters of a synthesizer and master effects can be automated.

A song screen gives you the option of arranging several patterns into a longer piece of music (song). Patterns can be moved and rearranged, including the number of repetitions.

Features: