Thursday, May 25, 2006
SmartScore 5 is now shipping!
Scanning sheet music into your computer to transpose, edit, arrange, print or playback (or even make a CD!) can save a lot of time. The release of SmartScore 5 aims to further reduce the time you spend editing your scores with higher accuracy, better playback and some new score editing and layout tools.
The OCR of text and symbols has been improved for this latest version, and more symbols are recognized and applied to playback. An often overlooked, but very useful feature is the Karaoke view, which has been improved with smoother action, moving lyrics or moving ball, colored backgrounds and lyrics. In other words, you don't have to wait for a Karaoke CD to be released - scan the music and have your computer play it back (without vocals, of course!)
Playback is also more accurate with greater nuance and sophistication. Dynamics, articulations, jumps and repeats have more intelligence with easy-to-use, easy-to-understand controls. SmartScore 5 can save in MusicXML format so you can import formatted pages into to Sibelius, Finale and other scorewriters that support MusicXML.
The PC Version is available now, and the Mac version should be available later this summer.
- Kelly
Posted at 10:58 AM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Giga Violin - a virtual violin soft synth (Giga not required.)
Tascam's clever idea to use convolution-based modeling to create a solo violin library has resulted in one of the most realistic and playable sample libraries we've heard: Giga Violin. The idea was fairly simple - they sampled a "bodyless" electric violin and created samples of the violin being bowed, plucked and struck. They then used their GigaPulse convolution technology was to model an assortment of violin bodies. GigaPulse convolution reverb was then used to create a whole violin out of each component.
The result - an amazing virtual violin library that sounds great with well thought out performance features and intelligence such as iMIDI rules that alternate bowing, randomize sample selection, and automatically switch between mono and poly modes.
GigaViolin will work with any VST host program and will also work as a Giga library if you own Gigastudio 3. GigaViolin is very playable, with features such as the DEF Dynamic Expression Filter which allow the performer to expressively control the bowing intensity and dynamics while playing. The PRF Portamento Reshaping Filter generates perfect legato and portamento lines without needing separate samples.
As you would expect, the library offers a broad selection of articulations, including legato, staccato, spiccato, sforzando, tremolos, trills, pizzicato and many more - plus Divisi 4 ensemble samples.
Hopefully Tascam will release some more MP3 demos, although nothing beats playing with the GigaViolin yourself - perhaps a string player would disagree, but the GigaViolin is one of the most realistic and detailed virtual instruments we've worked with - of any instrument!
- Kelly
Posted at 4:11 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
GVI - GIGA VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT
Tascam's Gigastudio has long been recognized as one of the most powerful samplers available. Many of the best sample libraries are designed using Gigastudio and are available in the Giga format. Until now, Gigastudio was a stand alone application that didn't easily integrate into other host programs. Recognizing this weakness, Tascam has finally released a VST (and RTAS) version of Gigastudio.
Dubbed "GVI", or Giga Virtual Instrument, the power of Gigastudio 3 is now available as an easy to use plug in for any VST or RTAS host program (Cubase, Sonar, Pro Tools, etc.) Although Gigastudio is great, it requires that you learn a new program, and doesn't always fit within your workflow. With GVI, you get the power of Gigastudio, but you can continue to work in the host program of your choice instead of learning to use yet another program.
- Kelly
Posted at 9:47 AM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Monday, May 01, 2006
Kore is here!
There is a lot of excitement about this one - it started as a concept and from playing with it at NAMM and MusikMesse, it looks like they've successfully implementing a clever concept into an amazing new product! To make things even better, NI has lots of great bonuses for NI Komplete owners who purchase Kore.
If you have more than one software instrument on your computer (and who doesn't?), then you know the hassles involved in learning to use different virtual instruments, finding the right sound and controlling the various parameters to get just that right sound - and then finding it again next time!
Native Instruments has an innovative solution. Kore is touted as the "world's first Universal Sound Platform". It promises to integrate all your software instruments and effects into a single, unified interface. In addition to uniting all of your software in one place, the package includes a hardware control surface to provide instant, hands-on access with a real analog feel.
KORE offers the new "KoreSound", a universal sound format that allows you to focus on the sound you want, instead of the individual software instruments and effects. This new format can organize the presets for all your software instruments by categorizing them in a database according to musical attributes. KoreSounds can consist of single instrument, or you can create complex sounds using multiple instruments and effects. You can tell that NI put a lot of research into this concept, since the format also stores additional information regarding keyboard splits, layers, individual controller assignments, output routings and more - a big time saver.
Another cool feature is that KoreSounds can be easily transferred between any sequencer and system, and between studio and stage, avoiding the set-up hassles that relegated many exceptional software synths and effects to only occasional use when you had the time required to get everything set up and working together.
Of course, being a Native Instruments product, every single preset included with all the NI instruments, (more than 10,000!), have been pre-configured and categorized.
To make KORE the "one" tool you need for all your plug-ins, NI ensured that Kore will act both as an audio host and as a plug-in. As a host, KORE organizes all your NI and third party VST and AU instruments and effects into a single interface. Then, you load Kore into your sequencer as a VST, AU or RTAS plug-in, instead of loading each individual instrument and effect in your library. Doing so offers a standard user interface, powerful database and instant, hands-on access to all your instruments and effects.
Finally, to make Kore the perfect addition to your studio, NI has included a hardware controller. The KORE controller delivers manual control for all automatable parameters in any Audio Unit or VST plug-ins. The controller includes touch-sensitive knobs, bi-directional communication, an audio and MIDI interface along with context-specific display. In addition to the 8 buttons and knobs, the controller includes the ability to access additional "controller pages" to control any extra parameters in your plug in.
Not just a control surface, KORE also sports an integrated, high-end audio interface with two inputs, four outputs (two line out and one stereo headphone out), MIDI in/out, and inputs for two foot pedals and one expression pedal. It connects via USB 2.0 and of course the KORE controllers audio interface can also be deactivated should you wish to use an interface with multiple inputs and outputs.
What do we think? Well, if you've got more than one virtual instrument or plug-in on your system, save yourself some time and hassle by adding Kore to your studio. If you have Komplete 3 from NI, definitely buy Kore to get the most out of all of the great instruments and sounds - you will thank us later!
- Kelly
Posted at 11:06 AM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::