NAMM: Blofeld - Very Nice Indeed

follow-up to this post
Pictures taken by three crazy Waldorf betatesters: Dr. Georg Müller, Till "keep on turning these knobs" Kopper and Boele "SCD" Gerkes.

http://www.waldorfmusic.de
Note: Waldorf stated that they have NO part in this and may consider looking out for more sane beta-testers... :)

Note this is the last in the series of the unofficial Blofeld teasers from the three blomigos. :) Waldorf is one lucky company to have such support like this. They did a fantastic job! I have never seen this level of support and enthusiasm for a synth company before. I'm an old Waldorfian myself actually. They are a great company. The official release is coming up next. :)

NAMM: Metasonix

http://metasonix.com/

If anyone has images and/or more info feel fee to share.

New products of course are the KV-100 and R-51.

via Dave who does the classy artwork for Metasonix.

NAMM: Roland ARX-03 for the Fantom G

"Powered by Roland’s unique SuperNATURAL engine, ARX-03 is packed with high-quality brass instruments under the control of a custom graphic-editing interface. ARX-03 enables authentic performance never before achieved with conventional keyboards. The card is loaded with solo instruments and ensembles, including trumpets, flugelhorns, trombones, saxophones, and more.

Essential brass instruments and ensembles onboard
Visual editing interface; 50 user memory locations
Customize every instrument with unique features such as Growl, Noise
High-quality effects onboard: EQ (6 systems), reverb (8 types), multi-effects (15 types)"
http://www.roland.com/products/en/ARX-03/index.html
http://www.roland.com/synth/Fantom/

NAMM: Roland V-Synth GT V2.0

"V-Synth GT System Program Version 2.0 now available!
One year after its triumphant debut, the world’s most expressive synthesizer evolves with a Version 2.0 software update. Features include a recharged cutting-edge sound set, dozens of newly enhanced effects, an Import Files feature, an enhanced user interface, and more. These new features strongly support sound design and live performance. Version 2.0 is available to all V-Synth® GT owners via free download.

New Features
- Recharged cutting-edge sounds
- Newly enhanced effects: 22 tone effects and 5 reverbs
- Chromatic-scale pitch bender function
- High-resolution knob response and tonal control
- Import Files function (Patch/Tone/Wave/Sample)
- Enhanced user interface
- Enhanced USB functionality
- Available to all V-Synth GT owners via free download

Multiple forms of advanced synthesis under the control of a friendly, icon-driven interface
New AP (Articulative Phrase) SYNTHESIS technology models the performance behavior and nuance of musical instruments
Includes Roland’s proprietary Elastic Audio Synthesis engine plus Vocal Designer, playable simultaneously
Sound Shaper II offers incredibly easy and efficient user programming
Futuristic, high-quality industrial design
Color Touch-screen Display with wide viewing angle"


http://www.roland.com/V-Synth/
http://www.roland.com/products/en/V-Synth_GT/index.html

NAMM: Akai APC40

"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.

Ableton and Ableton Live are trademarks of Ableton AG."

http://www.akaipro.com/apc40

NAMM: MOTU BPM

"What is BPM?
Sound libraries these days are awash with loops. And what is a loop, exactly? Someone else's beat. Isn't it time to take back creative ownership over your grooves?

Isn't it time to once again release your own unique, inspired beats on the world? If only you had a rhythm production instrument that let you program beats as fast as your mind can "hear" them. There just hasn't been anything even close...until now.
Experience the ultimate Beat Production Machine

BPM unites drum machine-style operation with advanced virtual instrument technology to give you the ultimate rhythm programming experience. Combine drum kits, sequenced patterns, sliced loops and instrument sounds to realize your rhythmic vision, mixing and matching any playing style with any drum kit. Or plug in your pad controller or MIDI keyboard to capture your live, groove-quantized performance directly in BPM.
Explore a new universe of new sounds

Browse BPM’s vast 15 GB sound library of expertly recorded and mastered 24-bit 96 kHz rhythmic material for urban, R&B, hip hop, techno, electro, house, pop, rock and other music styles. Sample your own drum sounds directly into BPM’s drum pads, or simply drag and drop clips from your computer desktop, to add infinite possibilities to your own, unique sound. Add further punch with BPM’s Drum Synthesizer. Combine unlimited sample layers per pad with programmable layer switching. Now add guitar, bass and other multi-sample instrument sounds from BPM’s included library, MachFive or any other MOTU or UVI sample instrument library.
Let your beats flow, from start to finish

Windows compatibility

Trigger scenes during live performance from pads or MIDI notes. Drag and drop scenes into a song to build an entire track in seconds. Finalize your track with BPM’s comprehensive graphic mixer, unlimited effects processing and dozens of world-class effects, including multi-band EQ, filter, delay, drive, distortion and convolution reverb. Advanced features include drag & drop audio import/export, multiple outputs, universal plug-in compatibility and stand-alone operation.

Universal Binary Mac compatibility

Let BPM turn your computer into a rhythm production powerhouse. Watch the BPM movie to see BPM in action."

http://www.motu.com/products/software/BPM

Another scan leaked and linked in the comments of this post.

NAMM: Native Instruments MASCHINE

In case you missed the comment in this post [thanks Adam!] here's a leaked scan of the new Native Instruments MASCHINE from a magazine. According to the website, more info will go up tonight.

NAMM: Access Virus TI2

They and we is pleased. :)
Note that "Learn more" link isn't working for me in Firefox or IE. I found the following under News.

"OS3 Public Beta available for download
01/15/2009
We is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the Virus TI2 series. The successor of the acclaimed range of totally integrated synthesizers adds 25% more calculating power and sports a redesigned housing and front panel. We also used new materials to bring down the weight of the keyboard versions. On the software side of things, a major feature update, OS3, will be available by the time you read this. The new operating system adds several new FX such as a Tape Delay, Frequency Shifter and several new Distortion algorithms along with a new feature called Character.

Character allows you to adjust the overall tone of a preset reminiscent of several vintage and well-known synthesizers. In addition you can emphasis certain aspects of the patch to allow it to cut better through the mix, or fade it into the background with an extra-wide stereo field.

The new distortions were built from scratch and feature an extreme dynamic range along with sophisticated controls to tailor the sound to your specific needs. They can add everything from warm, tube-like overtones to complete sonic deconstruction more reminiscent of circuit-bending. The new algorithms also include a revamped bit and sampling-rate reduction, allowing you to change the quality and cutoff point with precise, continuously variable control.

The stereo Frequency Shifter and the new Ring Modulator are state of the art algorithms modelled with old '70s stomp boxes in mind.

The Tape Delay goes way beyond the possibilities of the real Tape Delays in the '60s and '70s. It smoothly syncs to tempo, lets you decide if a Doppler effect takes place when changing the tempo, and even switching the delay time between presets is all smooth, making it perfect for performers. Last but not least, a modification to the main "VCA" algorithm enables OS3 users to design gating FX known from electro and minimal influenced music.

Virus Control has received a completely redesigned user-interface thanks to various improvement requests over the last years. The plug-in now features a side chain input allowing you to mangle audio from a sequencer track with the FX and sound engine of the hardware Virus (for selected hosts only). The best news, however, is that OS3 is compatible with all legacy Virus TIs and the Virus TI Snow, thus enabling Access' vast user base to update their existing instruments with all the new software features totally free of charge.

OS3 will be available immediately. The Virus TI2, which comes in the following flavours will also be available shortly after NAMM.

Virus TI2 Desktop 19" desktop synthesizer with wooden front application.
Virus TI2 Keyboard 61 keys (semi weighted) keyboard model with wooden side panels.
Virus TI2 Polar 37 keys (synth action) keyboard model with alloy and wooden side panels.
For pricing information please contact your local dealer or distributor.

Download page"

http://www.access-music.de/index.php4

NAMM: Roland AX-Synth

click for the full size shot.
"Step Into the Spotlight
It’s time to escape the keyboard rig and rock the stage. The stylish AX-Synth represents Roland’s new generation of remote keyboards, but for the first time, this one has a sound generator onboard. It’s self-contained and equipped with powerful, solo-oriented sounds from Roland’s latest, greatest synths. Strap on an AX and steal the show.

Built-in sound engine with voices from Roland’s latest synthesizers

Ribbon controller, D Beam, modulation bar, knobs, and easy to see display for stage

USB MIDI for easy connection to PC
Dedicated V-LINK button for video/visual control
Long battery operation (approx. 6 hours)

Keyboard
49 Keys (with velocity)
Sound Generator
Maximum Polyphony
128 voices
Special Tones 8
SuperNATURAL 4 (included on Special Tones)
Controllers
D-Beam, Ribbon Touch, Modulation Bar, Volume Knob Controller, Aftertouch/C1 Knob Controller, Portamento On/Off, Hold button On/Off, Bender Mode: Normal/Catch+Last
Connectors
Output Jacks: 2 x 1/4' inch phone type (L/MONO, R), Headphones (Stereo 1/4' inch phone type), Foot Pedal, USB connector (USB MIDI), MIDI connector (IN/OUT), Power Adaptor
Others
Battery
8 x Ni-MH rechargeable Batteries
Display
(3 x 7) segment LED

Accessories
Owner's Manual, Shoulder strap, CD with PC/MAC Editor plug-in, Cushion
Size and Weight

Width
1,145 mm
45-1/8 inches

Depth
265 mm
10-7/16 inches

Height
90 m
3-9/16 inches

Weight
3.7 kg
8 lbs. 3 oz.



http://www.roland.com/products/en/AX-Synth/index.html

NAMM: Roland Press Releases

No images or further details in my feed, but here there are. A new Keytar! :) I'll keep you posted. If you know more on Roland or anything else for name feel free to comment or send it in.

ROLAND ANNOUNCES ARX-03 BRASS FOR FANTOM-G
New Expansion Board Features Ultra-Realistic, Customizable Brass Sounds

ROLAND ANNOUNCES NEW FR-1 DIGITAL ACCORDION
Newest V-Accordion® Delivers Small Size, Big Performance

ROLAND ANNOUNCES VP-770 VOCAL & ENSEMBLE KEYBOARD
Endless Vocal Possibilities for Pop, Worship, R&B, Hip Hop, Dance Genres

ROLAND INTRODUCES CUBE-80X GUITAR AMPLIFIER
New CUBE-Series Amp Offers More Power, Advanced Features

ROLAND INTRODUCES NEW RM-700 DIGITAL PIANO
Entertainment And Educational Centerpiece For The Home

ROLAND INTRODUCES PRELUDE PORTABLE KEYBOARD
New Prelude Provides Contemporary Sound Set at Friendly Price

ROLAND INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY VB-99 V-BASS™ SYSTEM
A Milestone in Bass Guitar Technology

ROLAND PRESENTS DT-HD1 FOR HD-1 V-DRUMS® LITE
PC Software Makes Learning Drums Easy for HD-1 Owners

ROLAND RELEASES RTAS EDITOR FOR SONIC CELL
New Software Editor Allows For Pro Tools Integration

ROLAND RELEASES VERSION 2.0 FOR V-SYNTH GT
New System Update Enhances Functionality of Highly-Acclaimed Synthesizer

ROLAND UNVEILS AX-SYNTH SHOULDER KEYBOARD
Next-Generation Synthesizer for the Performing Keyboardist

ROLAND UNVEILS HISTORIC V-PIANO™
New Instrument Melds Classic Piano Design with Cutting Edge V-Technology

ROLAND UNVEILS LX-10 DIGITAL UPRIGHT GRAND PIANO
New Digital Piano Placed Above HP-207 with a Wide Customer Appeal

ROLAND UNVEILS TD-4S V-DRUMS® KIT
Newest Model In Popular V-Compact™ Series