For computer-based musicians on a budget seeking portability and power without sacrificing keyboard feel and function, the microKEY is an ideal way to create a compact and customized MIDI command center.
Unlike its competitors, the microKEY features a built-in two-port hub to connect other controllers, computer peripherals or Korg nanoSERIES controllers for added flexibility and control of all the users’ software. Free editing software and a number of included software bundle licenses and discount coupons make the microKEY even more cost effective.
microKEY features
USB MIDI keyboard – thin, lightweight, and USB-powered.
37 velocity-sensitive mini keys.
Comfortable and easy-to-play Natural Touch keyboard.
Octave Shift and Key Transpose features access the full MIDI note range.
Pitch Bend and Modulation wheels add expression to your performance.
Dual USB ports are ideal for adding Korg’s nanoPAD or nanoKONTROL (or other USB devices) to your setup.
Price: The microKEY will be available in November 2010.
The JUNO-Gi is compact, easy to use, and affordable and also boasts an all-new sound set designed for live performance, built-in eight-track digital recorder with 64 virtual tracks, and easy integration with many digital audio workstations through its built-in audio interface.
The JUNO-Gi runs on AC power or batteries, so users can play music anywhere. On board are over 1,300 brand-new, top-quality sounds optimised for live gigs. Sounds are organised into Live Sets, allowing four-way splits and layers with ease. Tone Category buttons make it simple to navigate the massive sound library, while the powerful mood, pitch bend, and D BEAM controllers let players add expression to sounds as they perform.
The JUNO-Gi also includes a built-in eight-track digital recorder for song production, complete with transport controls, mix faders, and a dedicated rhythm machine track. Record directly to a single high-capacity SD card for up to 192 hours of possible recording time with a single 32 GB card. JUNO-Gi sounds can be recorded easily along with a vocal mic or guitar when connected via the rear-panel XLR microphone, guitar, and line level inputs. Powerful dedicated effects processing is available for live recording, mixing, and mastering, including BOSS GT-Series professional guitar effects and effects designed for vocal processing.
The JUNO-Gi also functions as a USB audio/MIDI interface, making it the perfect companion for computer music production. Users can record JUNO-Gi sounds and play software instruments in any DAW, and also record vocals and guitars while using the JUNO-Gi’s onboard effects. In addition, the JUNO-Gi comes bundled with Cakewalk’s award-winning SONAR 8.5 LE software, giving users a complete DAW solution for their PC.
Have you ever been frustrated with the low audio quality you get when doing microcontroller audio stuff? Don’t get me wrong, the 1-bit groovebox has its place, as do all the fun 8-bit nintendo sounds; but what about a nice clean reverb? or sinewave generator? The MICrODEC is 16-bit, 44.1kHz, stereo, and can be anything from a guitar effects box to a nice piece of test equipment. With plenty of ins, outs, and what-have-yous, it can be converted into whatever your heart desires. Run MIDI into it and make a monophonic synthesizer, or use the 6 seconds of sample time to capture found sounds for a pseudo-convolver.
The MICrODEC has a high quality front end which can take microphones, guitars, or line level, and an output stage which can drive headphones (although we recommend the TLC074 opamp upgrade for this). It comes pre-programmed with 16 functions, from reverb and delays, to VCOs and pitch shifters. With the optional laser etched case, it makes a road-worthy addition to any musician’s arsenal.
Price: MICrODEC is available to purchase in a Basic Kit (board w/ smt + through-hole parts) for USD 129.00. Additional parts are available from the MICrODEC online store.
The Focusrite Saffire PRO 14 is an 8 in / 6 out FireWire audio interface designed for the modern home studio environment. An unparalleled preamp legacy forms the foundation, with two award-winning Focusrite preamps.
Legendary sonic performance and both digital and analogue I/O combine with Focusrite’s established MixControl software to deliver seamless integration, excellent routing flexibility and rock-solid driver stability.
Saffire PRO 14 key features
Two high-quality award-winning Focusrite preamps — The best sounding interface in its class. Focusrite’s 25-year legacy forms the foundation of this new interface, with two award-winning preamps.
High-quality 24-bit/96kHz FireWire interface — Features professional conversion and JetPLL™ jitter elimination technology, guaranteeing pristine audio quality and reliable synchronization.
Total I/O count of 8 inputs and 6 outputs — A host of I/O options are provided, including a unique Loopback facility for routing audio between software applications via Saffire MixControl.
Saffire MixControl ultra-low-latency DSP mixer/router — Provides an 18 x 6 DSP mixer with excellent routing flexibility, intuitive one-click configurations, and lower than 1.4ms latency (less than the time it takes sound to travel two feet through air!).
Focusrite VST/AU Plug-in Suite, for use in the mix — Upgrade your standard sequencer effects and bring a touch of class to your session with Focusrite Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins.
Xcite+ Software Bundle — Featuring a host of royalty-free loops and samples, a full-fledged soft-synth and Ableton Live Lite 8, providing an affordable upgrade path to Ableton Live.
Available in sizes 15” through 20”, the Suspended joins the recently released Vault Artisan Traditional Hand Cymbals in offering premium ‘Old World’ sounds that are tonally deep, dark and rich, with a robust vintage musicality. Medium-thin in weight, the Suspended responds readily for crashing or crescendos, ensuring complete control for the player.
Commented SABIAN Master Product Specialist Mark Love, “The sound of a Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic cymbal is that of a century-old model that has matured through decades of playing. It’s a combination of high-density traditional hand hammering and a touch of innovation that actually improves on the performance and sound of those older cymbals. Like the Vault Artisan Hand Cymbals, this Suspended model responds easily and dynamically, so the desired sound is readily accessible.”
Added Nick Petrella, SABIAN Director of Education, “Because it sounds dark, responds quickly, has that age-old ‘mysterious’ tone, and quickly opens up to a roar, the Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic Suspended is perfect for today’s wide range of orchestral work. In my opinion, this is the best suspended cymbal available—bar none!”
Vault Artisan Traditional cymbals are designed by the SABIAN Vault Team in collaboration with a number of the world’s leading percussionists. “Accurately recreating, let alone improving upon the complex sound of hundred-year-old orchestral cymbals is a massive challenge,” concluded Love. “Thanks to the insight of these musicians and the traditional craftsmanship skills of our artisans we are able to design and craft such sounds.”
Vault Artisan Traditional Symphonic models are individually hand crafted from premium B20 bronze by SABIAN Master Artisans. They are quality-protected by the SABIAN Two-Year Warranty.
Vault Artisan Traditional Suspended Cymbal
Size: 15”, 16”, 17”, 18”, 19”, 20”.
Weight: Medium-Thin.
Finish: Natural (Brilliant is optional).
Metal: B20 Bronze.
Hammering: ‘High-Density’ Traditional Hand Hammering, Innovative HHX ‘Tone Projection’ Dimpling.
Lathing: Narrow ‘pin-style’.
Special Feature: Combines traditional craftsmanship with innovative SABIAN techniques.
The Kurzweil PC3 series keyboards introduced some major developments in synthesizer technology, with their anti-aliasing VA oscillators, improved KB3 mode, amazing sound sets, 16 independent riffs and arpeggiators, powerful song and QA modes, sampling, unparalleled MIDI control, and more. If you’re a long-time Kurzweil fan, however, you may have missed those wonderful sample libraries you’ve built up over the years. The PC3K8 changes everything! This revolutionary new keyboard combines all of the hard-hitting PC3 features, plus K 2/25/26 series .K file sample library compatibility, which opens the door to some of the greatest sound sets ever created.
With the PC3K8, you can combine more than a decade and a half of K2000 and K2500 legacy sample libraries with the PC3′s super-powerful Dynamic V.A.S.T. synthesis engine, for exploring the uncharted possibilities of sound development. The potential power of the PC3K8 is simply incredible, and 88 PC3X-style fully weighted keys make it a blast to play. It even offers more excellent new features, including a USB host port that lets you plug in standard USB thumb drives so that you can quickly store and retrieve data, as well as load OS updates.
One further development that the PC3K8 offers you is 128MB of nonvolatile user-sample memory. Made possible by a breakthrough in sample flash technology, this nonvolatile user memory adds a new level of stability to the PC3K8. Not only does this new sample flash memory allow the PC3K8 to retain user samples after a power cycle, but it also powers back on with zero sample load time. Whether you’re a Broadway performer, a working musician, a composer, or even a hobbyist, if you’re looking for the very best performance sounds from a super-stable keyboard, you’ll find it with the Kurzweil PC3K8!
peripherals or Korg nanoSERIES controllers for added flexibility and control of all the users’ software. Free editing software and a number of included software bundle licenses and discount coupons make the microKEY even more cost effective.
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