Akai MPK88
Akai have launched the MPK88 controller at Winter NAMM 09 ! The MPK49 & MPK25 get a big brother 
)
Not much info as yet, but judging from the pictures, it’s a fully weighted 88 note keybed, with all the features of the MPK49 plus the full quota of 16 MPC pads, as opposed to the 12 on the 49 & 25.
More new stuff from Akai !
There is the usual slew of stuff on the net about new arrivals at Winter NAMM 2009. Best place to see these is over at Matrixsynth, so I will just pick out a few.
Here are three new things from Akai.
The first one made me go “WOAH”….
APC40 – Ableton Live Controller
Ableton Live performance, perfected.
The APC40 is the world’s finest Ableton Live control surface. Ableton and Akai Professional worked in a joint partnership to make the APC40 the perfect Ableton Live control surface. Whether you are an electronic-music performance artist and Live is your canvass, a DJ using Live to mix tracks, or a traditional musician using Live on stage or in the studio, the APC40 is designed for intuitive, powerful control.
DIRECT DESIGN
Because Akai Professional and Ableton designed the APC40 for Live, you don’t need to map its controls to talk to the software. Just connect your laptop to the APC40 with its USB cable and you’re ready to make magic. The APC40 is class compliant, so you don’t even need to install drivers. And if you’re an advanced Live user, the APC40 gives you the ability to remap every one of its controls to suit your own style.
VIRTUAL VIEW
The APC40 talks directly to Live and Live talks directly to the APC40. This exclusive bidirectional communication makes the APC40 an advanced controller in that it can receive feedback from the software and display it on its clip matrix of 40 triggers and on LED rings surrounding each knob. The clip matrix gives you an instant view of clip status: what’s loaded, what’s playing, and what’s being recorded. Each state displays on the matrix in a different color so you can get a quick picture of clip state. You can shift your clip focus and get an overview of the clips you have loaded for your set. The APC40 has 16 knobs, each surrounded by a ring of LEDs. These LED rings make seeing your settings a breeze on dark stages, indicating the currently selected parameters’ values. This advanced visual feedback makes performing with the APC40 focused more on the music and less on squinting at the computer screen. In fact, you might even forget that the computer is there!
PREMIUM CONTROLS
Ableton selected Akai Professional as a partner because of its leadership position in great-feeling controllers that are rock solid, rugged, and precise. From the legendary MPC series that changed the way music is made to the industry-standard MPD and MPK controllers, Akai Professional is revered by musicians, DJs, and producers everywhere for creating the feel that powers their creativity. The APC40 is built with a rugged, metal chassis and slip-proof rubber detailing. Knobs and faders are solid and precise for pinpoint performance. It even features a high quality, replaceable crossfader.
CREATIVE CONTROL
The APC40 comes with a special edition of Ableton Live Lite so you can use it out of the box even if you’re new to Live. There’s also a free patch that upgrades full versions of Live so if you’re already a Live user, you can take full advantage of the APC40.
The APC40 has two banks of eight knobs. The first set controls Global parameters so you’ll always have instant access to your main sends, pans, and other essentials. The second bank of eight knobs is dynamically reassigned to the Track you select. You can control eight track parameters at a time, and as you switch channels, the Track knobs follow your focus. You also get special clip-status views and feedback that only the APC40′s matrix can display. The matrix is not limited to only 40 clips: you can scroll and shift, enabling access to an unlimited number of cells.
The APC40 has a wide range of controllers. The eight Global knobs can access four banks of controls; the eight Track knobs control nine different track parameters each. This gives you a massive total of 72 controllers that are dynamically reassigned. Channel faders, bus faders, and a crossfader give you smooth control of key values. You have even more control power with special controls including Tap Tempo, Tempo Nudge, record enables, solo/cues and two assignable footswitch inputs.
Designed in partnership with Ableton, the APC40 is the most advanced Live controller for the most advanced performers.
And the second one I knew about but had to keep schtuum ;o)
Meet the new OS. Not the same as the old OS.
The MPC5000 is the most talked-about MPC in the music industry today. It’s the latest evolution of the unquestioned standard in sample-based music production. The MPC5000 builds on the MPC foundation, combining powerful sequencing, sampling and processing with the feel of the exclusive MPC pads and Q-Link assignable controls. It adds never-before-seen MPC advancements such as a virtual-analog synthesizer, a streaming hard disc recorder, incomparably high-resolution sequencing, and over 100 other new capabilities.
MPC5000 OS 2.0 is a free, new operating system upgrade that includes more than 25 additional improvements, many of which are developed to accommodate the specific requests of the people who use the MPC5000 every day. MPC5000 OS 2.0 will be available Spring 2009 as a download at akaipro.com/MPC5000.Home on the range.
The most requested, exciting, and powerful new feature we’ve added to OS 2.0 is the ability to create and load Keygroup Programs. And with it, in MPC fashion, comes a massive array of cool Keygroup helper tools.
Now with the MPC5000, just like with our legendary S-series samplers and legacy MPCs, you can create chromatic key-mapped sample programs that take a sample and spread it across a range of notes of your choosing, automatically adjusting the pitch of the sample chromatically. You can then play these notes with the pads or an external MIDI keyboard or controller.
What does this really mean for you and your production? For starters, no more time-consuming program creation or relying on an external keyboard for your sounds. SHIFT+PAD will select a Keygroup, you can set range via MIDI if on range parameter, plus you can select a Keygroup via MIDI to select the next Keygroup with the note played. Another new feature is the ability to assign the root note of a sample assigned to each individual layer on a single pad. You can also pan each layer individually in Keygroup and drum programs. Imagine the sonic possibilities!
More good news for all old school producers – you can now import S1000, S3000, S5000/S6000, Z4/Z8, and MPC4000 format sample libraries, including Keygroups, from Akai Pro and third parties. Now you can migrate fully to the MPC5000 platform.
Hustle and flow.
Music production is all about creativity, workflow, the tools at your disposal and making it all come together as seamlessly as possible. So designing a music production device is rooted in finding the best possible collaboration of its elements. OS 2.0 makes production with the MPC5000 friendlier with such time-saving improvements as the new MultiEdit function which enables you to edit and apply parameters such as tuning, filters, pitch, pan—every parameter of the filter screen—to a group of pads, all at once. This streamlines the production process by empowering you to perform group editing.
Get around.
We just upped GRID EDIT’s abilities. You can now see and edit controller automation and event data in the new Controller Grid Edit Window. We also gave the sample editor some love as well. We’ve added a ZOOM function to each individual slice in Chopshop mode for even finer editing of your samples and beats. This takes the guesswork out of cutting a beat and ensures you get what you want every time.
We’ve added a slew of navigation shortcuts you’ll appreciate. For instance, you can now assign the sample you are working on in TRIM mode to a pad by holding SHIFT and striking the pad of choice.
We’ve improved the Effects, Synth and Mixer pages by adding a new Take Over Mode to the knobs and sliders. This is a great help when going between many different pages where you are using the Q-Links to change parameter values. Parameter values will not jump to the position of the knob or fader until the original values zero crossing is passed. This allows for seamless mix and edit moves in realtime.
It pays to play. Improving upon the all ready impressive mixing capabilities of the MPC5000, you can now toggle between the hard disk Audio Track Mixer and the Sequencer Track Mixer with one button without having to interrupt playback of the song. This speeds up track creation in a big way. You can now quantize Track and Pad Mutes in real time to the internal clock or that of an external device. This means that if you use an MPC5000 to trigger clips and tracks live, your mute punches will be perfectly in time.
Marrying performance and production, the MPC5000 now supports full automation of the mixer and effects.If you have an MPC5000, you know it comes loaded right out of the box. Now that even more capability is coming to should check out the new OS for your MPC5000. Or upgrade to the flagship MPC and get all of these new features along with it.
MPC5000 OS 2.0 will be a free download in Spring 2009 from the Documents and Downloads tab on the MPC5000 page
And finally, there’s the EWI USB, which had already been announced…
EWI USB is an electronic wind instrument for musicians looking for an easy-to-play, easy-to-use controller. Akai Professional’s decades of experience in wind and electronic music instruments are rolled into our most user friendly — and most affordable — EWI ever.
PREMIUM PEDIGREE
Akai Professional is the first name in electronic wind instruments. For over 20 years, Akai Professional has studied the art of playing saxophone, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and other traditional winds, and developed electronic wind instruments that enable wind players to enjoy the same expressive control as in an acoustic instrument. We designed EWI USB to give wind players the expressive musical capabilities previously found only in much more expensive instruments.
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE
EWIs are the only choice for serious wind players looking to make music electronically. While EWI USB is easy and fun to use, it’s also powerful, flexible, and most importantly reliable enough for use on stage and in the studio by professional musicians.
COMPUTER CONTROL
EWI USB is the most flexible EWI because it harnesses your computer to generate its sounds. Its USB interface means that all you need is nearly any Mac or PC and the included EWI USB software, and you’re ready to practice, perform, create, and record with a full collection of wind instrument sounds. Aria Player software was produced specifically for use with EWI USB, providing wind players with an unprecedented level of expressive control.
LARGE SOUND PALETTE
You get over 75 different orchestral, concert band, jazz band, and synthesizer sound sets expertly recorded and programmed by Garritan, renowned for its ultra-realistic instrument sound libraries.
MULTI MODE
EWI USB offers multiple fingering modes including sax, traditional EWI, flute, oboe, and EVI (brass), so whether you’re just starting out as a woodwind student or an old pro wind player, you’ll find EWI USB easy to play. EWI USB is designed for you to spend your time playing music; not learning technology.
SURPRISING AFFORDABILITY
Historically, electronic wind instruments have fallen into two different categories: high-end, professional instruments and toys. EWI USB breaks the price barrier, bringing professional quality, expressive control, and a studio-ready sound library to a price the professional-wind-instrument world has never seen.
Discover the world of expression that only wind instruments can offer with EWI USB.
And just to top things off….
Vintage Beat Machines Sample Pack
Authentic, classic drum machine sounds for your MPC.
Old school drum machines have a certain sonic style that producers worldwide turn to for unmistakable cool. Dropping ‘80s kick and snare sounds into a track will bring a smile to your face and feet to the dance floor. Building a library of these sought-after sounds has always meant committing lots of time and money. But now, Akai Professional has done the work for you with the new Vintage Beat Machines Sample Pack for MPC.
Your days of searching for 8-bit treasures will soon be over. This new sample pack will work with all MPC models and contain a huge collection of analog and digital samples from the early days of drum machines — and the founding days of many of today’s hottest musical styles.
The Vintage Beat Machines Sample Pack for MPC is coming in Spring 2009. Only for the MPC series.
New from Akai & Alesis @ Winter NAMM 2009
Three new products from the Akai/Alesis stable. I am reliably informed that other exciting news from the Jack O’Donnell triumvirate is imminent, including some worthwhile firmware updates )
But, for now, feast your eyes on these three…
Akai MPK25
The MPK25 draws on the design of the popular MPK49, the first keyboard ever to feature genuine MPC pads. It features a 25-key, semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch, 12 MPC pads, Q-Link controls and MPC technology. Its smaller, more portable size makes the MPK25 the perfect travel companion. Its small footprint can fit in a musician’s lap on the couch or on a plane, enabling them to create tracks whenever inspiration strikes.
The MPK series features Akai Professional-exclusive MPC pads that are pressure and velocity-sensitive to capture every nuance of the user’s creativity. The pads can access four banks of sounds, so performers can have 48 samples at their fingertips with the touch of a button.
The MPK25 offers extensive assignable controls through its Q-Link section. The MPK25 gives players 32 parameters of hands-on control through 12 virtual knobs and four virtual buttons, each of which can access two different banks of assignment via a bank-change control.
Two technologies pioneered in the MPC series and built into the MPK series are MPC Note Repeat and MPC Swing. These note-modifying features can be heard in many of the most popular tracks over the last two decades. MPC Note Repeat automatically plays a rhythmic pattern, such as 16th notes on a hi-hat, for accuracy and speed of entry. MPC Swing is sometimes referred to as “the heart and soul of hip hop”. Users can specify exactly the degree and timing of swing they want to apply for the perfect feel.
The MPK25 has an arpeggiator, which enables performers to develop creative riffs in seconds. The arpeggiator features six different modes and can have its own swing settings independent of the MPC Note Repeat settings.
Because MPK series controllers are USB class compliant, they do not require custom drivers to work with Mac or PC computers and will work with all MIDI recording, sequencing and performance software. The MPK series is perfect for musicians, producers, DJs and VJs.
The MPK25 comes with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition software, one of the most popular and powerful performance and production programs in the world. Ableton Live Lite enables musicians to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment.
“This new addition to the MPK line takes the expressive, creative capabilities of the MPK49 to new places,” said Gregg Stein, Director of Marketing, Akai Professional. “The MPK25 can go away for the weekend with you and it is easy to integrate into on-stage setups for multi-instrumentalists and drummers.”
The MPK25 keyboard controller with MPC pads will be available from pro audio and musical instrument retailers in Q2 at an MSRP of $399.99 and an estimated street price of $299.99.
Alesis iMultimix16 USB
iMultiMix 16 USB is the second entry in a new class of iPod mixers that started with the popular iMultiMix 8 USB. iMultiMix 16 USB features a Universal Dock for iPod that enables recording directly to any iPod Classic, 5th generation (video) and 2nd or 3rd generation iPod nano. The mobile recording mixer has iPod transport controls and a control wheel built into the surface for complete control of the iPod while it is docked in the mixer. For clean live recordings of nearly any performance, including home studios, musicians, podcasters and houses of worship, iMultiMix 16 USB is the ideal solution. The USB connection delivers convenient transfer of tracks into iTunes upon connection to a computer. Files recorded into the iPod are CD quality, 16-bit, 44.1kHz WAV files.
Mac and PC recording engineers can connect iMultiMix 16 USB using USB for direct-to-computer recording. In addition to its computer connectivity, iMultiMix 16 USB offers eight analog inputs, 100 digital, 28-bit effects, phantom power and two switchable mic/line/guitar inputs.
Steinberg Cubase LE 4 and Ableton Live Lite 7 recording and performance software are included, completing the total-studio package.
“iMultiMix 16 USB is supremely versatile,” said Jim Norman, Product Manager, Alesis. “You can record any source in a studio, stage or rehearsal-room environment, add the onboard effects and then route your mix out to a PA, computer, hardware recorder, iPod or combinations thereof.”
iMultiMix 16 USB is available from pro audio and musical instrument retailers. It has an MSRP of $799.99 and a street price of $599.99.
Alesis ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit
The Alesis ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit combines the innovative ProTrack handheld recorder for iPod with Alesis’ new AM2 Stereo Microphone Set. The kit enables musicians and recording engineers to record high-quality stereo sound directly to their iPod from a wide variety of sources.
The ProTrack provides direct-to-iPod, stereo, digital recording in a portable, handheld form. Consumers can capture live audio anywhere and anytime with their iPod. The ProTrack’s design integrates the iPod into the recorder and clear, protective covers securely mount the user’s iPod to the recorder.
Users can record detailed, stereo audio using the ProTrack’s onboard dual condenser microphones, which are fixed in XY-stereo configuration for reliable stereo imaging. While the onboard microphones are capable of capturing quality sound, the ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit includes the AM2 Stereo Microphone Set, a matched-stereo, cardioid condenser microphone kit with two AM2 microphones, windscreens, clips, a padded hard case and an XY-stereo mount.
Using the ProTrack with the AM2 microphones enables the user to place a microphone with near-limitless flexibility in both stereo-miking techniques and applications. For example, drummers can use the AM2s to capture their drumset, guitarists can capture a stereo image of their acoustic guitar or amplifier and bands can record their sets live, in stereo. The ProTrack supplies the necessary 48V phantom power to power the AM2 condenser microphones.
AM2 microphones are low profile, miniature cardioid condensers with switchable -10dB attenuation and high-pass filter. With a clean fet amplifier and a transformerless output stage, AM2 microphones offer low-self-noise, high-resolution audio capture. Their small diaphragm condenser capsules offer excellent pickup of the “air” that characterizes high-quality small diaphragm condensers.
AM2 microphones can be used very close to a sound source without the sound becoming harsh. The switchable high-pass filter reduces interferences through subsonic and low frequencies and compensates for proximity effect. The attenuation switch enables the microphone to handle high sound pressure levels without distortion.
“The ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit makes the ProTrack even more flexible,” said Jim Norman, Product Manager, Alesis. “You can place these tiny, quality mics nearly anywhere and grab excellent audio.”
The ProTrack Mobile Recording Kit is available now from pro audio and musical instrument retailers at an MSRP of $399.99 and an estimated street price of $299.99.
New toys from NAMM 08
Sorry for the long hiatus. My day job is all consuming now and I get little time to search the net for new tit bits for our consumption, let alone post my witty, inciteful comments for you all to roll around laughing at ;o)
Anyway, January brings with it the NAMM show and so far, here are the toys I’m either chuffed to see or have been involved with in some fashion….
Alesis DM5 Pro with SURGE Cymbals
Other than these, there’s little else to excite me this year. Roland released the Fantom G…
….proving yet again that dead horses can truly be flogged.
It’s NAMM time again
Winter NAMM 2007 kicks off in about 14 hours in Anaheim, California. One of the music industry’s biggest trade shows, it sparks a bit of a silly season in the gear world. The three posts below this are testament to that. Some bullshit also comes out too, along with a fair amount of vapourware.
As it is trade only and as it is 6000 miles away, if you hear of any good stories that are worth covering, don’t hesitate to drop me a line )
