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Native Instruments has announced the releases of Circular, a software sequencer that features four independent layers and deep modulation control.

You can sequence over 100 experimental sound sources, from felted pianos to bowed metals, or import your own samples to work with.

Circular’s patches can comprise up to four layers, drawing from a library of 160 sound sources and spanning a variety of acoustic and synthetic samples that includes keys, guitars, saxophones, vocals and synths. Layers can be selected and levels adjusted on Circular’s Play page, which also features a circular representation of its sequencer.

Circular’s Sequencer page (pictured below) and you’ll find a more familiar layout. Each of Circular’s four sound layers gets its own sequencer here with adjustable pattern and step durations, along with polyrhythmic, probability-based and Euclidean sequencing options that can be used to generate complex and unpredictable patterns.

The Sequencer page also gives you per-step control over almost all of Circular’s parameters, applying individual values for sample selection, pitch, filter, amp, envelopes and effects on each step of your sequence.

Features:

• Four independent layers: Create polyrhythms and textured performances.
• Polyphonic aftertouch support: Add expressive nuance with polyphonic aftertouch.
• Real-time step controls: Modulate pitch, filter, and effects with per-step precision, all shaped by aftertouch.
• Extensive sound library: Explore over 100 acoustic and synthetic sound sources.
• Sample import: Transform your own sounds into evolving sequences with 128 user slots for imported samples.

Kontrol keyboard integration: Integrates with Native Instruments’ Kontrol S-Series keyboards.

Native Instruments Circular Walkthrough Video:
Circular is available now, priced at $199 / €199 / £179. To run it, you’ll need Kontakt (version 8.2.1 or higher) or the free Kontakt Player.

At Superbooth 2025, Novation has announced a wave of new instruments and creative controllers.

Included is the Launch Control XL 3 MIDI control surface, two new white Launchkey MK4 MIDI keyboard controllers in the popular 37-mini key and 49 key versions, and a limited-edition Bass Station II designed in collaboration with British graphic designer Ian ‘Swifty’ Swift.

Launch Control XL 3:
Launch Control XL 3 builds on Novation’s popular series of DAW controllers, bringing hands-on performance, production, and mixing workflows to Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, and more.

Its eight faders, 24 endless encoders, and 16 programmable buttons are now paired with dedicated transport controls, and a new OLED display showing vital parameter information. Now with 5-pin MIDI In, Out, Out2/Thru, alongside support for Custom Modes via Novation Components, Launch Control XL 3 is also capable of serving as a central hub for complex hybrid or hardware-based setups.

Launchkey MK4 White:
The fourth generation of Launchkey MK4 is now available in a new white-and-grey finish, in both 49-key and 37-minikey formats. It features all the latest MK4 updates, improved keybeds, OLED displays, and deeper DAW integration.

Like the rest of the range, Launchkey MK4 White includes a powerful software bundle with instruments and effects from Klevgrand, GForce, Orchestral Tools, Native Instruments, Ableton Live Lite — and now, Cubase LE. Paired with our Cubase integration, it’s a complete MIDI composition setup out of the box.

Bass Station II Swifty Edition:
The Bass Station II Swifty Edition is a limited-edition collaboration between Novation and Ian “Swifty” Swift, the British graphic designer behind the iconic visuals of labels like Mo’ Wax and Talkin’ Loud as well as The Face magazine and many others. Decked out in Swifty’s inimitable style, the paraphonic analogue synth comes pre-loaded with 60+ new patches from the likes of Dutch techno icon Legowelt, alt-pop duo Pecq, and jazz/electronic fusion artist Maria Chiara Argirò.

The newly announced Novation gear is available for pre-order from Novation and authorized retailers, and is priced below (prices in US Dollars, excluding tax)*

Launch Control XL 3 $249.99 (€193.27 ex. tax)
Launchkey Mini 37 White $159.99 (€142.85 ex. tax)
Launchkey 49 White $269.99 (€226.88 ex. tax)
Bass Station II Swifty Edition $579.99* (€420.16 ex. tax)

Novation will have all the newly-announced products on hand this week at Superbooth from May 8 – 10 in Berlin.

*US prices subject to change

Today, Izotope launches Velvet: a new de-esser plugin that will smartly split audio into sibilance and tonal channels to let users de-ess, de-click, and re-shape troublesome vocals into a perfect performance.

The idea is that while traditional de-essers can often dull the overall character of a vocal, Velvetʼs more precise control and smart features allow users to be far more accurate in rooting out the problems.

Velvet is the latest plugin in iZotope’s affordable, fast, easy to use and task-focussed, Catalyst series, appearing alongside new offerings such as Aurora – an ‘intelligent reverb for cleaner mixes’ – and Plasma, the tape saturation plug in for ‘adding precise warmth, depth, and character’.

Velvet features what iZotope calls ‘intelligent de-essing’ which dynamically reduces sibilance only where it’s needed, leaving the tonal quality of the vocal untouched.

It can automatically identify sibilant frequencies and then create ‘intelligent’ EQ nodes to hone in and zap those problem frequencies.

Velvet’s Lift and Tame controls allow users to shape vocals toward a variety of smooth and polished vocal tones, all without affecting sibilance.

And its de-click feature will eliminate any unpleasant pops, clicks, mouth-noise and other accidental knocks and thuds with a simple fader tweak.

Most powerful of all though, Velvet’s separate processing for sibilance and tonal channels allow users to tweak one without having an adverse effect on the other. Then hit the delta button to hear exactly whatʼs being processed.

“Velvet is an instant problem solver for vocals! It replaced 3 plug-ins on my vocal bus… I love it!ˮ says Dave Cerminara, the producer and mix engineer for Father John Misty and Bartees Strange.

Like all of iZotope’s simple but powerful Catalyst series, users will get one powerful effect per-plugin, with just the right number of parameters to achieve quick, creative, and clean results.

And, with 50 presets on board it seems like it’ll be simple to deploy and get your noisy vocals sounding great without fuss.

Velvet is priced at just $49 or $39 in a limited-time crossgrade from any paid iZotope product (anytime prior to 21.05.2025). Find out more on iZotope site.