iZotope has announced the releases of a new plugin that it says is the “world’s first” intelligent tube saturation plugin, utilizing machine learning to help you quickly and easily imbue your mixes with “depth, warmth and character”.
Plasma is a dynamic saturator that applies adaptive tube-modelled saturation to your mixes and masters. By analyzing the makeup of your mix and identifying precisely where in the frequency spectrum to add saturation – and when to add it – Plasma aims to make the process of applying saturation simpler and more intuitive.
Plasma’s ‘Flux Saturation’, iZotope’s name for the plugin’s intelligent saturation algorithm, can be guided by selecting one of 24 target profiles which help the plugin tailor its processing to a specific mixing task or type of audio. The effect can be fine-tuned even further with Attack and Release dials, along with an Overdrive control.
Frequency Handles on the plugin’s central visualizer can be used to manually determine which frequencies the saturation will affect, while Channel Modes can be used to apply saturation to Mid or Side portions of the audio or to focus exclusively on transients or sustained elements. Plasma ships with 49 presets that cover a variety of mixing and mastering applications.
Plasma is the first instalment in iZotope’s Catalyst Series, a series of “purpose-built” and easy-to-use plugins aimed at helping you quickly solve common mixing issues and ensuring you remain in the creative flow.
iZotope Plasma is available now for macOS and Windows in AAX/AU/VST3 formats, Priced at $49/£49. Find out more on iZotope website.
Native Instruments has announced Komplete 15, a new update for its Komplete and sound bundle with the new Kontakt 8 sampler, Guitar Rig 7 Pro, and more.
The highlight of the new Komplete 15 bundle is the renewed Kontakt 8 sampler, which is somewhat surprising since Kontakt 7 was only introduced in Komplete 14. I didn’t expect a jump to 8 so quickly.
While the full product launch – and more details – will be arriving later this month, NI has given us an exciting glimpse of what’s to come in Komplete 15 and Kontakt 8 and made both available for pre-order today. If you order during the pre-sale (before September 23) you’ll get iZotope’s AI-powered mixing tool Neutron 4, which would ordinarily set you back $249, for free.
NI tells us that Kontakt 8 is a “massive step up” from its predecessor and shared details on three new features that make this industry-leading sampler an even more versatile music-making tool: Leap, Tools and Conflux.
Leap is a tool for transforming loops and one-shots that makes it easy to turn a basic sample into a new hook, riff or texture. Shipping with 12 curated loop packs geared towards specific genres and styles, Leap will also let you load in and manipulate your own samples and trigger its effects in real-time with the black keys on your keyboard.
Tools is a suite of generative tools aimed at helping you spark creativity and come up with new compositional ideas. Kontakt 8 introduces two new Tools: Chords for chord sequences and Phrases for melodies. Third-party developers will be able to develop their own Tools for use in Kontakt. Finally, Conflux is a hybrid instrument that brings “synth-type capabilities” to Kontakt for the first time by introducing movement and modulation to sounds through real-time wavetable manipulation.
Komplete 15 updates NI’s mega-bundle of music software with a broad variety of new instruments, effects and sounds that includes a new flagship instrument, Kithara. Included in Komplete 15 Collector’s Edition, Kithara is a library of guitars and plucked string instruments that have been transformed with creative performance techniques and cinematic sound design.
Komplete 15 comes in three different versions: Standard, Ultimate and Collector’s Edition, which features over 290 instruments and effects and more than 150,000 sounds in total.
Here’s What’s New in Komplete 15 (Standard, Ultimate, Collector’s Edition), and Kontakt instruments:
Kontakt 8
Guitar Rig 7 Pro
iZotope Ozone 11 Standard
iZotope Trash
VocalSynth 2
Action Woodwinds
Conflux
Valves
Scene: Saffron
Bazzazian Tapes
Bouquet
Feel It
Glaze 2
Nacht
Sway
Utopia
Karriem Riggins Drums
Rudiments
Session Percussionist
Electric Keys – Diamond
Electric Keys – Phoenix
50 Expansion sounds (Standard)
+ everything from Komplete 14
Ultimate adds:
Schema: Dark
Schema: Light
Vocal Colors
Alicia’s Electric Keys
Session Bassist – Icon Bass
Session Bassist – Upright Bass
Session Guitarist – Acoustic Sunburst Deluxe
Session Ukulele
30 expansion sounds (80 in total)
+ everything from Komplete 14 Ultimate
Collector’s Edition adds:
Valves Pro
Fables
Kithara
75+ expansion sounds (125+ in total)
+ everything from Komplete 14 Collector’s Edition
Native Instruments Komplete 15 will be available on September 23, 2024. If you pre-order it now (full/upgrade/updates), you get the iZotope Neutron 4 mixing/mastering plugin for free as an early bird gift.
Komplete 15 Standard is priced at $599/€599, Ultimate at $1199/€1199 and Collector’s Edition at $1799/€1799. Reduced prices are available for those upgrading from a lower tier. Kontakt 8 can be purchased outright for $299/€299.
Visit Native Instruments website to pre-order Komplete 15.
Alicia Keys’ Electric Keys take the virtual stage.
Native Instruments releases follow-up to Keys’ acoustic virtual instrument, based on ‘meticulous’ sampling of Grammy winners’ CP70 Electric Grand.
Native Instruments has announced the release of Alicia’s Electric Keys a virtual electric piano instrument that follows up its 2010 acoustic Alicia’s Keys, also endorsed by the 16-time Grammy winner.
The plugin is built on Alicia’s ‘iconic’ CP70 Electric Grand Piano, captured in collaboration with Keys’ longtime engineer Ann Mincieli at Jungle City Studios.
“I’m so excited for everyone to experience Alicia’s Electric Keys,” said Keys. “Whatever you’re doing, it’s going to add a layer that you’ve been missing.”
Principle to that end is the inclusion of custom effects chains, as crafted by Keys’ herself IRL, and heard on such hits as Girl on Fire.
