Cheez
Moderator
There appear to be a lack of info on software/softsynths/VSTis etc during this year's winter NAMM (2007). HC's coverage is quite pathetic with many reports put into the wrong category (for unknown reasons - eg VSL is put under "Live Sound" section...why????). HC's review is a disappointment this year. I'm not surprised it is run totally by guitarists, seeing the bias in their coverage.
So, here is an attempt to cover the software section. For those who can find other news, please add on!
1. Audio Impressions DVZ. This is really an interesting piece of software. DVZ is short for divisi - which means to divide (if you play in a wind band or orchestra, you'll understand). Samples usually record entire sections. The problem arise when you play divisi (more than one note in at one time). Let's say a violin section has 30 string players recorded. If you play 2 notes, that becomes 60 strings; if 3 notes at a time, then you ahve a 90 string players - which becomes too thick and unreaslitic. DVZ overcomes that by sampling multiple individual soloist (at the most, 2 players in one music stand). Then they layer it to form a section. Their technology then interpret the division automatically. That means if you choose a 30 string section and play one note, 30 string players will sound; if you play 2 notes, each note becomes 15 playersl if 3 notes, each note becomes 10 players. That's supposed to create better realism. Only question is how much CPU and RAM power it needs and how many polyphony it can achieve in real time. Definitely a ground breaking technology.
2. Arturia. We all should know by now that Arturia announced it's Jupiter 8 softsynth. Definitely going to be a hit. I'm sure most would have heard of their first hardware synth "Origin" by now. So much coverage on this already - no point saying more.
3. Spectrasonics. They have remained quiet this year. Eric Persing is supposed to be developing something groundbreaking and said they have decided to concentrate their resources and manpower to developing it instead of going to NAMM. Presumably, this is an update to their RMX engine. Whatever they are doing, it's going to be exciting to see - but not this NAMM. Musikmesse maybe? Or parhaps even later in the year.
4. Garritan. They showed their new Gofriller Solo Cello - and definitely nothing short of excellence like their Stradivarius. They also showed the Authorised Steinway Piano and previewed their concert marching band library. But the exciting thing is their new Sample Engine with Drag and Drop interface. This enables one to drag and drop instruments into a spacial environment. More than that, it handles high-definition midi (see below), low latency convolution, 64-bit, and runs on Intel Mac! Definitely something to keep our eyes on. This may be the next generation sampling engine! They don't have an official name to it yet...
5. Midi Manufacturer's Association. It appears that high-definition midi is going to happen. There are changes in the specs in the midi messages, greater resolution for midi data values, and (drum roll....) increased number of midi channels (!!!). Finally, we may be breaking out of the 16 channel limit.
More to come...
So, here is an attempt to cover the software section. For those who can find other news, please add on!
1. Audio Impressions DVZ. This is really an interesting piece of software. DVZ is short for divisi - which means to divide (if you play in a wind band or orchestra, you'll understand). Samples usually record entire sections. The problem arise when you play divisi (more than one note in at one time). Let's say a violin section has 30 string players recorded. If you play 2 notes, that becomes 60 strings; if 3 notes at a time, then you ahve a 90 string players - which becomes too thick and unreaslitic. DVZ overcomes that by sampling multiple individual soloist (at the most, 2 players in one music stand). Then they layer it to form a section. Their technology then interpret the division automatically. That means if you choose a 30 string section and play one note, 30 string players will sound; if you play 2 notes, each note becomes 15 playersl if 3 notes, each note becomes 10 players. That's supposed to create better realism. Only question is how much CPU and RAM power it needs and how many polyphony it can achieve in real time. Definitely a ground breaking technology.
2. Arturia. We all should know by now that Arturia announced it's Jupiter 8 softsynth. Definitely going to be a hit. I'm sure most would have heard of their first hardware synth "Origin" by now. So much coverage on this already - no point saying more.
3. Spectrasonics. They have remained quiet this year. Eric Persing is supposed to be developing something groundbreaking and said they have decided to concentrate their resources and manpower to developing it instead of going to NAMM. Presumably, this is an update to their RMX engine. Whatever they are doing, it's going to be exciting to see - but not this NAMM. Musikmesse maybe? Or parhaps even later in the year.
4. Garritan. They showed their new Gofriller Solo Cello - and definitely nothing short of excellence like their Stradivarius. They also showed the Authorised Steinway Piano and previewed their concert marching band library. But the exciting thing is their new Sample Engine with Drag and Drop interface. This enables one to drag and drop instruments into a spacial environment. More than that, it handles high-definition midi (see below), low latency convolution, 64-bit, and runs on Intel Mac! Definitely something to keep our eyes on. This may be the next generation sampling engine! They don't have an official name to it yet...
5. Midi Manufacturer's Association. It appears that high-definition midi is going to happen. There are changes in the specs in the midi messages, greater resolution for midi data values, and (drum roll....) increased number of midi channels (!!!). Finally, we may be breaking out of the 16 channel limit.
More to come...
