Native Instruments has introduced Maschine 3, a major update to its beatmaking and music production application.
Maschine 3 introduces stem separation, workflow enhancements, community requested features and a new Maschine Central library of sounds, rhythms, and presets.
While Maschine 3 is designed to work with Maschine hardware, they’ve also updated it so that it can be used to build tracks, from start to finish, without any additional hardware.
Here’s whats new in Maschine 3:
Stem Separation: Split any audio file into drums, bass, vocals, and other instruments.
Maschine Central: Machine Central includes over 100 kits, 144 Kontakt instruments, and synth presets from Monark, Massive, Prism, and more.
MIDI Editing tools: A suite of MIDI editing tools to split, join, erase and mute MIDI notes, keyboard shortcuts, audible MIDI note previews, and more.
Custom tempo upgrades: Set custom tempos per-scene.
Kontrol S-Series MK3 integration: Basic integration includes transport controls, integrated control over Play Assist, on-keyboard display of Maschine modules, and support for thousands of NKS partner instruments.
Additional software: Get Ozone 11 Elements, an easy-to-use set of mastering tools free with the Maschine 3 bundle, alongside Massive, Monark, and Reaktor Prism.
Bounce in place: Render sounds, patterns, and ideas as audio, saving CPU power and opening up new creative possibilities.
More file formats: Maschine can now import MP3, MP4, FLAC, and OGG files.
Maschine 3 is available now, starting at $29. Additional bundle and upgrade options are also available.
This new Kontakt Instrument captures the sound of the world’s largest grand piano in production.
Native Instruments has unveiled Claire, a new virtual instrument for Kontakt 8 based on the sounds of a concert grand piano.
Developed in partnership with Galaxy Instruments, Claire’s sample library was recorded in the 330-square metre hall of Belgium’s Galaxy Studios, utilizing multiple mic placements that can be chosen and blended within the instrument’s UI.
This is not just any concert grand, but a “world-class” 10-foot Italian concert grand piano (the Fazioli F308) that NI describes as “the crown jewel” of pianos, delivering “immense power and harmonic richness”, with its extended string length contributing to its deep bass and exceptional clarity of tone. (Hence the name: Claire is French for “clear”.)
According to its manufacturer, the F308 is the world’s largest piano in production; unusually, it’s equipped with a fourth pedal, which allows the player to soften the sound without changing its timbre by reducing the distance between the hammers and the strings.
In addition to controls for colour, tone, depth and richness, Claire arrives equipped with a comprehensive selection of effects, including EQ, compression, and saturation, while a dedicated Space panel houses controls for reverb and delay. NI’s Particles Engine is also onboard, a granular effect that triggers and processes shimmering, ethereal clouds of samples based on your playing.
Native Instruments Claire is priced at $149/€149/£129. Find out more on Native Instruments website.
Today, Native Instruments has introduced the Traktor Z1 MK2, the next generation of their DJ mixer and sound card.
They say that the Traktor Z1 MK2 covers “the fundamentals you need to DJ with Traktor Pro 4 software, in a totally portable unit.”
The official intro video:
Lead Traktor Product Manager Michael Koczynski says, “While I appreciate all the new Z1 MK2’s improvements, like the displays, the new design, better access to mixer effects, I’m particularly a fan of the access to decks C and D whenever I need it. This can be very handy when paired with the new stem control feature, so I can add in some drums or vocals from other tracks on top of my regular mix.”
Key Features:
Individual stem control – Traktor Pro 4 transforms the way you mix and remix with stem separation powered by iZotope’s RX technology. This means you can precisely isolate and manipulate drums, bass, instruments, and vocals. With each waveform right in front of you, Z1 lets you mute or precisely adjust the volume of each stem.
Visual feedback – Z1’s light system keeps you notified with key information, like when a track is about to run out or if it’s running in a loop. OLED displays show essential mixing information, EQ and stem parameters, Mixer FX selection, and master output meter. Plus, you can make it yours with customizable ambient lighting.
Audio interface – Z1 lets you control Traktor Pro 4 without the need for any extra gear, thanks to the integrated 24-bit/96 kHz audio interface.
Official overview for the Traktor Z1 MK2 DJ mixer:
The Traktor Z1 mk2 DJ Mixer & Sound Card is available now for $259.
