Korg has announced a limited edition of the WaveDrum with a solid black metallic rim and an exclusive black suede Remo drum head.

The original Korg WaveDrum was introduced to the music world back in 1994. This innovative musical instrument was known for its innovative design, performance possibilities, unique sounds and whopping price. Out of nowhere, Korg released a next-generation Wavedrum Digital Percussion Synthesizer in 2009 with a much more reasonable price point, which has created a new fan base.

The WaveDrum Black can be used as a stand-alone percussion instrument, or integrated into an existing drum kit or percussion rig. Unlike digital trigger-based systems, Wavedrum uses a real drum head as the playing surface, providing an authentic and familiar feel. (It is the only electronic percussion instrument available that “understands” hand-drumming technique. —Ed.) This allows the performer to employ sticks, brushes, mallets and/or traditional hand-drum techniques (mute, slap, bend, etc.) to play with comfort and confidence.

The Korg WaveDrum Black will be available sometime before the holidaze. No price has been announced.

Wacom has announced the second generation of nextbeat, their DJ MIDI controller. Now we can’t say that we’ve seen many of these puppies in the wild, but Wacom is giving the platform at least one more refresh to see if it can garner some additional market share.

nextbeat MK2 is a fully integrated DJ system, incorporating touch sensor controls and live performance functions. Its wireless portable control unit enables performers to move free from the main device, resulting in more engaging live performances, contrasting to the traditional style of DJs performing inside booths.

Nextbeat MK2 Enhancements:
» BPM Sync
» 16GB Storage capacity
» Multi-format: WAV, AIFF, MP3 and AAC-LC

Nextbeat MK2 combines two digital players, a two channel mixer, an effects processor and sampler in a single, lightweight and record-sized unit. Its 3.5-inch LCD panel displays information such as the track information, waveform, cue points and loop points providing all the functionality a DJ needs for playing music. In addition, nextbeat MK2 does not require a PC like many other DJ systems allowing DJs to quickly setup their gear and to reduce the necessary equipment.

Nextbeat MK2’s touch controls provide an intuitive and direct way to interact with the system, modify and control sounds and samples or add effects. Its circular touch sensor allows users to quickly switch between an analog style turntable, an effects processor and a sampler. Nextbeat also provides separate, independent touch sensors for controlling pitch fader, volume fader and crossfader.

All digital Audio files are downloaded to the system either directly from a computer using a USB connection or stored on CF cards. MK2’s sampler function can be used to directly record digital sound sources, allowing sampled sounds to be incorporated into performances and modified. The effects processor features six types of effects, which can be assigned to channel A, B or Master.

Nextbeat MK2 will be initially launched in Europe for €999 in the near future. More information on Wacom Nextbeat MK2.

Vienna Symphonic Library has released Vienna Instruments PRO, a new software sample player based on their proprietary and improved audio engine.

While it provides full compatibility with all existing and future Vienna Instruments sample collections, it features several innovations, such as a Humanize function that brings human behavior into the virtual world of sample-based orchestral production.

Vienna Instruments PRO offers many options to customize patches and articulations to suit the user’s personal workflow, making the creative process faster and easier. With the innovative Human Performance Control feature users can adjust the performance accuracy in terms of timing and intonation of the virtual musicians in real-time, at the touch of a single fader. Up to eight instruments and articulations can be stacked in a single cell of a matrix, allowing for individual adjustments of volume and panning in the rack mixer and the creation of powerful multi-instruments in a single instance of Vienna Instruments PRO that even allow for polyphonic legato-playing.

Sample lengths of fixed performances, such as runs, fast repetitions or arpeggios can be matched to the required tempo with the time stretching tool. Users with a special interest in ancient or non-western music are presented with microtuning scales such as “just intonation”, Werckmeister or several Arabic, Turkish or Chinese scales, with an option for creating their own scales. Vienna Instruments PRO’s features include fast loading times, a new browser with a search function, built-in reverb and Equalizer, as well as an all-new user interface with basic and advanced views.

While the former Vienna Instruments Player is still included with any Vienna Instruments Collection as free software, the new Vienna Instruments PRO player will load all existing and future Vienna Instruments sample collections, including factory and user presets. Customers who purchase Vienna Instruments PRO through September 15, 2010, will receive the all-new download instrument Flugelhorn free of charge.

Vienna Instruments PRO is available as a download product in the webshops of the Vienna Symphonic Library and ILIO for $163 / €125. More information on Vienna Instruments PRO.

Native Instruments have announced KOMPLETE 7, an expanded version of its studio-standard software bundle. The next generation of KOMPLETE now combines 24 instruments and effects – including five entirely new products – with over 10,000 sounds and 90 GB of samples.

KOMPLETE 7 includes the latest versions of Native Instruments’ full-featured instruments and effects, ranging from ABSYNTH 5, BATTERY 3.1, FM8, GUITAR RIG 4.1, KONTAKT 4.1 and MASSIVE to the upcoming REAKTOR 5.5. As the next generation of the legendary modular synthesis studio, the new REAKTOR version adds powerful modal and additive synthesis, a revised user interface, the unique “Lazerbass” synthesizer and many enhancements for both instrument builders and musicians.

KOMPLETE 7 also integrates a wealth of instruments and effects based on the player versions of KONTAKT, KORE, REAKTOR and GUITAR RIG. Products added to the bundle include the acclaimed ABBEY ROAD 60s DRUMS vintage drum library, the radical performance effect THE FINGER by Tim Exile, the sampled electric bass SCARBEE MM-BASS and all four electric pianos from the SCARBEE VINTAGE KEYS series by sampling mastermind Thomas Scarbee, all four acoustic pianos of the CLASSIC PIANO COLLECTION, the cinematic ACOUSTIC REFRACTIONS instrument and the distinctive REAKTOR SPARK synthesizer.

KOMPLETE 7 features five completely new products that further expand the creative potential of the bundle: The powerful studio reverb REFLEKTOR with its advanced zero-latency convolution engine; the REAKTOR PRISM modal synthesizer designed by NI founder Stephan Schmitt; the performance effects suite TRAKTOR’S 12, derived from Native Instruments’ leading DJ software; the new VINTAGE ORGANS instrument with its comprehensive arsenal of painstakingly sampled electromagnetic organs; and the new RAMMFIRE amp emulation that was developed in close collaboration with one of Rammstein’s guitarists, Richard Z. Kruspe.

Every copy of KOMPLETE 7 also includes an NI Online Shop voucher worth $60 / 50 EUR, valid towards any product from the KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects range that is not included in the bundle.

Native Instruments’ KOMPLETE 7 will be available in September 2010 for a suggested retail price of $559 / €499. An update for owners of KOMPLETE 2/3/4/5/6 will be available for $229 / €199. More information on NI’s KOMPLETE 7.

PSP Audioware has unveiled the PSP 85, a new delay plug-in that is the successor to their PSP 84.

The PSP 85 contains aggressive algorithm optimization and adds numerous significant new features while retaining full preset and bank compatibility with the PSP 84 delay. The plug-in comes with 60 new presets designed to highlight its exciting new attributes, in addition to a supplementary bank containing more ‘bread and butter’ PSP 84 factory programs.

Features:
» pre-delay for creating complex rhythmic patterns
» delay line output panning
» delay gating, which offers extended control over number of echoes and their level
» automatic ducking (with auxiliary sidechain input option), an invaluable tool for helping to preserve sound clarity by attenuating superfluous echoes that would have been otherwise masked by a hot input signal
» filter resonance modulation
» LFO song position synchronization for repeatable playback results
» input muting, allowing you to connect the delay lines in series when used on mono tracks
» 64 bit audio stream support (VST format only)

PSP Audioware’s PSP 85 costs $149 and is available now, arriving in the AU / VST / RTAS flavors. A trail version is also available to download. More information on the PSP Audioware PSP 85.

Reloop have announced a limited edition of their Digital Jockey 2 controller for Native Instruments’ Traktor DJ mixing software. The Interface Edition will come in a white finish with red LEDs. No additional features have been deployed.

Features:
» Professional DJ USB/MIDI controller with integrated audio interface
» Integrated 4 channel USB audio interface with 16 bit/48 kHz
» Stereo RCA inputs (with phono pre-amp) in order to connect CD players and turntables plus 6.3 mm microphone jack (with an equalizer of its own)
» Stereo RCA outputs for the connection of a master sound system and 6.3 mm headphones jack for direct monitoring (with an equalizer of its own)
» Record gain at the device’s front side
» ASIO drivers with minimum latency and best audio characteristics
» Optimized for the world’s leading mixing software Traktor PRO (clearly arranged shift double assignment, control of up to 4 decks)
» Comes with Native Instruments Traktor LE
» All controllers in full size
» Altogether 73 MIDI controllers (42 buttons, 5 faders, 9 encoders, 6 push encoders, 9 turning knobs, 2 touch-sensitive jog wheels)
» All MIDI controllers are freely assignable
» USB bus power: power supply also possible via USB
» Anti-theft device: Kensington safety slot
» Mac OSX and Windows XP/Vista compatible
» Clearly arranged mixer/CD player design for quick and easy access

No pricing has been announced, but if you want this puppy, contact your Reloop dealer immediately, since there will be only one small batch created. More information on Reloop.

MOTU has updated Digital Performer to version 7.2, adding new features and enhancements, including customizable UI Themes, which allow users to completely change the look and feel of Digital Performer’s entire user interface with one click.

The supplied preset themes vary considerably, with names like “Carbon Fiber,” “Zen,” “Plasma,” and “Producer.” Users simply click a theme to apply an entirely different look to Digital Performer’s appearance on screen. Four shades of DP’s customary default look are also provided, from light to dark.

Power users with basic Photoshop skills can create their own themes by duplicating and modifying the factory-supplied themes, which are stored as standard .png graphic files in the Mac OS X Application Support folder. Users can also fine-tune waveform display colors and the color of audio level meters to carefully match their favorite theme. Other new features introduced in Version 7.2 include right-click menu access and live searching in list windows.

Digital Performer 7.2 is available now as a free download to registered Version 7 users. More information on Digital Performer 7.2.

Kurzweil has announced the next generation of their PC3 synth, the PC3K8. The PC3K8 allows users to tap into the samples and programs developed for their K Series over the past 18 years and adds some modern capabilities. Capable of loading .KRZ/25/26 sample files, WAVE and AIFF files, as well as most of the K Series programs and setups, the PC3K presents a whole new world of choices to players.

Users can choose to delve into the extensive libraries of existing K Series samples or decide to fill the PC3K8’s flash memory with their own signature samples. In either case, you’ll have Kurzweil’s V.A.S.T technology at your fingertips to help sculpt your sound. Sample files can be loaded via USB from a thumb-drive or directly from a computer.

Tthe PC3K offers 128 megabytes of user sample memory and compatibility with K Series files, while also allowing user samples to remain intact while power is off. Once samples are loaded into the PC3K’s flash memory, there is zero load time for those samples when powering on the instrument.

Advanced program, keymap and sample editing features allow you to customize your sounds. You’re able to map any sample to any key, tune individual samples, change the start, alt start, loop point and end point of samples and even assign a controller to adjust sample start point in real-time.

Under the hood of the PC3X is simply the most powerful synthesis engine ever created by Kurzweil. Dynamic V.A.S.T. picks up where the K series left off. Having up to 32 layers per program means that emulations of real instruments can be extremely detailed and accurate, while the synthesized sounds can be extraordinarily large and complex. Expanding upon our V.A.S.T. architecture, the PC3X’s new architecture delivers more power and flexibility combined with unprecedented ease of use. Users can now create and store their own DSP algorithms, with nearly limitless possibilities for routing.

Another development, is that Kurzweil resurrected the VA-1 Virtual Analog Synthesizer, having built it’s synthesis engine right into the new system. The VA-1’s power-shaped, anti-aliasing oscillators (including supersaw, triplesaw, and hard sync oscillators) combined with a newer, larger set of V.A.S.T. filters (like the classic-style 4pole low pass w/ resonance) is something that Kurzweil hopes will be the icing on the cake in terms of attracting new buyers.

The Kurzweil PC3K8 will cost $4199 when it bows this Summer. More information on the Kurzweil PC3K8 Synth.

Avid is set to release new versions of its Axiom USB MIDI keyboard controller series designed for live performance and software-based music production: Axiom 25, Axiom 49, and Axiom 61.

Main Features:
» DirectLink technology: Provides dedicated control surface functionality that automatically maps keyboard controls to common mixer and virtual instrument parameters, giving users hands-on control over their mix and their music, without any complicated set up or user configuration required. DirectLink works with popular DAWs, including Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro and Steinberg Cubase.

» Enhanced keybed: An updated semi-weighted piano-style keyboard.

» Redesigned user interface: Offers better ergonomics for the studio and stage with an angled top panel that makes controls easier to access and view in any environment. New low-profile mixer-style faders (Axiom 49 and Axiom 61 only) enable a hands-on mix experience, while rotary encoders provide control over software and MIDI parameters. All models provide informative feedback via a graphic LCD, which is centrally positioned on the Axiom 49 and Axiom 61 for easy viewing.

Avid’s Axiom 61 costs $499.95; the Axiom 49 is $439.95; and the Axiom 25 is $319.95. The new controllers will be available on July 18. More information on Avid’s New M-Audio Axiom Line.