Softmachines are celebrating their 4th Birthday with the release of this fantastic 303! To honour this monolith of culture changing synths, each 303 gets an extra ACID smiley sewed on!
"Berlin, October 10, 2012 – Native Instruments today introduced ACTION STRINGS – a phrase-based instrument featuring a 60-piece string orchestra. Running in KONTAKT 5 or the free KONTAKT PLAYER, ACTION STRINGS delivers driving string phrases and short motifs with an extremely natural and expansive sound. The flexible instrument provides producers of all skill levels with a inspiring resource for adding drama and movement to film and game scores, as well as rock, pop and urban tracks.
Performed by the FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague, Action Strings provides producers with over 14GB of musical phrases, carefully sampled by renowned score production company Dynamedion. The orchestra is made up of a high ensemble featuring 22 violins, eight violas and six cellos, as well as a low ensemble containing ten violas, eight cellos and six basses. The phrases range from basic rhythmic patterns to intricate melodies, each recorded live in every key, and in two dynamic levels.
With ACTION STRINGS, these phrases become playable and adaptable to any project. Producers of any expertise level can instantly create 'big screen' orchestral results, selecting phrases with the left hand while controlling chords, melodies and tonality with the right. Created with ease of use and flexibility at the forefront, ACTION STRINGS allows for blending between dynamic levels via the mod wheel, and simple switching of the harmonic patterns to minor or major via velocity level.
All of the over 150 phrases are organized into themes of five, with five additional custom slots available. All slots can be assigned or changed easily via the phrase browser, with every phrase being playable in all keys. The phrases are selectable via keyswitch and can be played in trigger mode or synced to the '1' of a host software's tempo. Utilizing KONTAKT's Time-Machine Pro time stretching algorithm, tempo can be adjusted in real time, allowing for the creative use of effects such as Ritardando or Rallentando.
ACTION STRINGS was created by Dynamedion – soundtrack composition specialists renowned for their work in the European computer game market. High profile projects such as Halo Legends, Call of Duty 4 and Battleforge games – as well as movie trailer scores for The Last King of Scotland, The Bourne Ultimatum and 10,000 B.C. – have won the company numerous prizes and music awards in the past decade.
ACTION STRINGS runs in KONTAKT 5 or the free KONTAKT PLAYER, and is available now from the NI Online Shop for $339 / 299 € / 33800 ¥.
Additional information on ACTION STRINGS is available at:
www.native-instruments.com/actionstrings"
"Using the SonicProjects OP-X PRO-II virtual analog Oberheim VSTi plugin to play the famous Pink Floyd "On The Run" sequence from their legendary "Dark Side Of the Moon" album.
The used preset is "Floyd On The Run" which can be found in the famous bank which comes with the synth. To be able to fill in the notes step by step the arpeggiator preset has to be switched to "Record" which is a small 8-step sequencer.
After playing in the single note steps the sequencer playback can be started hands-free with the damper pedal by quickly depressing and releasing it again within less than half a second (time filter). The same action again stops the playback.
The original synth used for this sequence was an EMS VCS3 which also exists as a more handy case version with included foil keyboard called EMS Synthi A.
OP-X PRO-II is hosted in an Acer Aspire One 270-26Dkk netbook using Hermann Seib SaviHost as vst host and Asio4all drivers over the built in audio card which manages to process up to 10 voices including effects glich free. Because of the small screen the virtual keyboard of OP-X PRO-II doesn't fit the screen and so ony the operation panel of can bee seen which itself luckily fits.
The used MIDI keyboard was an E-MU Xboard 61 which is connected direcly over usb to the netbook which also powers the keyboard.
The patch also can be auditioned with the demo version of the synth:
http://www.sonicprojects.ch/opxpro2/freedemo.html
Related:
Pink Floyd On The Run VSTi
EMS VCS3 Synthi A VSTi"
"The Korg Polysix is a great source of rich pads and morphing harmonics. The strings can be warm, dark and atmospheric.Has that swirly, warm but aggressive filter and rich buttery VCOs, both due in no small part to the SSM chips used in the Polysix. The analog phaser and chorus effects are excellent and add an extra dimension to the Polysix sound.The arpeggiator is smoother than smooth and the chord tracking feature is a real throwback to the 1980s.
With a knob, switch or button for all parameters makes it easy and intuitive to program and gives you great results quickly."
"RackAttack integrates classic analog sounds of the 80s with the ambitious electronic club drums of the 90s, for music of the 21st century.
The RackAttack's virtual modeled circuitry synthesis is optimized for drums and percussion. Beyond those, leads, basses and effect sounds are possible too. The RackAttack has the same easy-editing user interface found in the microQ series, perfect for live acts - perfect for the studio! The integrated pattern play mode turns the RackAttack into a true live-machine. Get your kicks from up to 24 synchronized patterns – triggered simultaneously by one MIDI-note. Assign one of the four effect units to each sound and spice it up with reverb, a modulation delay or the Lo-Fi effect."
via the listing: "This is a great collectible, the ultimate synthesizer poster! It was originally a HUGE painting that hung in the reception area of Oberheim's Los Angeles factory. The picture was of all the sounds that could be made from a synthesizer, circa 1982! Wind, angels, horns, harp, helicopter, bass, guitar, flute etc. A great concept and beautifully painted. Underneath it all, you see the Oberheim synth (I think an OB-XA). The painting was so popular that it has reproduced as a promotional poster for dealers. I have a framed one in my studio and kept this one as a spare. It's about 24x32 approx. This poster has never been framed or hung, and I would say is in 9 out of 10 condition, near perfect..."
"Electrocomp EML 101 synthesizer with 400-401 expander module also electrocomp synthesizer 200-300. in great original condition with all patch cords. cases are in great shape with original latches and handles. Very rare complete set bought new in the 70's and have only been used in a studio since then..."
