Piano and Synth Blog

LinPlug announces the release of the CronoX3 Sample Synthesizer. The third version of this sample-based synthesizer adds features like a modulateable filter type, and native 5.1 support, together with more than 550 new presets. The main features of the CronoX3 are:

• Free Filter with new, continuously adjustable, modulatable filter-type.
• Loop Sampler Generator with individually modulatable loop-points and start-point.
• Versatile architecture with 4 generator modules that are mixed into two filters.
• Easy-Edit panel allowing preset browsing and quick access to main parameters.
• Powerful, editable arpeggiator with up to 32 steps.
• Stereo and 5.1 support (2 generators, both filters and 3 of the effects units can be mixed in 5.1 format. Settings are stored as part of the preset).
• Analogue-modeled Oscillator Generator for real-time analog-style synthesis.
• Time-Sampler with independent real-time time-stretching and pitch-shifting.
• Wavetable (Schrader) Generator that offers wavetable-like operation using any sample.
• Capable of loading up to 64 samples per loop sampler.
• Sampler Generators support audio formats incl. WAV and AIFF up to 24bit/96kHz.
• 2 analog-style multimode stereo filters with modulatable cutoff frequency and resonance.
• 7 ADSFR-type envelopes for controlling output amplitudes and cutoff frequencies, as well as two freely assignable Modulation Envelopes.
• 4 independent LFOs with various waveforms and midi-sync capabilities.
• LFO Waves have adjustable delay, attack and decay time and waveform-symmetry.
• Modulation Matrix with 10 routings for connecting 30 sources and 56 destinations.
• Fully recognizes Velocity, Aftertouch, Pitchbend, Modwheel and various other MIDI controllers, and includes a MIDI Learn function for easy controller assignment.
• 6 simultaneously available effects units, including various Delays, Chorus, Phaser, Filter, Flanger, Gator, Stereo Enhancer, Parametric EQ and Crusher.
• Mono/Polyphonic Portamento/Glide featuring “Fingered” mode and Auto-Bend Modes.
• Full microtonal capabilities (TUN/Scala support)
• 32-voice polyphony (CPU dependent)

CronoX3 costs 149 euros, the download version costs 109 euros and the upgrade from CronoX 2 to the download version of CronoX 3 is 50 euros.

Cory Reese has just released his most recent CD entitled “Witness.” It is a compilation of piano pieces beautifully suited for the Sabbath day. Cory has also released other CDs, including a Christmas one called: “Silent Night: Instrumental Music for the Christmas Season.”

Cory has accomplished so much with his music in just a few short years, on top of being a social worker, husband, and father. Latter-day Saints like this always inspire me to push forward in the gospel. Cory was kind enough to spend a few minutes with me. I hope you enjoy learning about and from him as much as I did!

Link (BellaOnline.com)

Yamaha, the world’s largest musical instrument manufacturer and the leader in portable keyboard technology, presents the DGX505. Targeted to the first-time buyer, the DGX505 offers 88 piano-style keys and a true stereo sampled grand sound - giving it the look and sound of a digital piano, while remaining compact enough to fit almost anywhere. A fully integrated matching stand, AC adapter and foot switch complete this incredible package.

“The DGX505 provides an alternative to a large acoustic piano for customers that have space or cost limitations” says Mark Anderson, marketing manager, Portable Keyboards. “The real selling point of the DGX505 is not just about looks - it’s about the sound. The high-resolution stereo sample of a grand piano has a quality that must be heard to be appreciated. The discerning ear can tell the difference.”

Currently available, the DGX505 features a large LCD screen to display lyrics and musical scores, a 6-track sequencer for easy recording, a built-in speaker system, a large selection of onboard songs (including selections of classics and today’s hits), and some of the best instrumental sounds available, including Yamaha’s ultra-realistic XG-lite/GM voices.

A separate PC Button makes it simple to connect to a computer. To aid in that connection, the new DGX series of Yamaha keyboards also features USB MIDI connections for a true ‘plug-and-play’ computer interface.

Beginners will enjoy the built-in Yamaha Education Suite 4�Ѣ teaching system. Features include exercises, interactive lessons and the innovative ‘Your Tempo’ learning mode, which allows the user to learn songs by progressing at a suitable rate and repeat any difficult sections. Also included is the intuitive Easy Song Arranger, the fun Performance Assistant feature and more.

“The DGX505 is perfect for customers that have contemporary tastes and a discerning ear who also want modern features like SmartMedia and USB connectivity” adds Anderson. “With the Lyric and Scoring capability, you can simply press the Score button and see the notation - even for the songs you’ve recorded yourself.”

For more information on the DGX505 portable keyboard, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Portable Keyboards, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com.

“Give me the last four digits of your phone number,” Terry J. Lower said to a visitor.

One by one, he played the piano key that corresponded with each phone digit, then added chords and a melody — all based on four numbers he had just heard spoken seconds before.

The Battle Creek native’s musical talents are obvious while watching him play the baby grand piano he affectionately calls “Barry the Baldwin.” He practices on “Barry” in the basement of his Ceresco area home, which also has an upright piano near the living room entrance.

Lower, 51, has made a 28-year career of playing the piano. He’s an accomplished professional jazz pianist who has performed with Dave Brubeck, Lou Rawls, Rosemary Clooney, Nelson Riddle, Sarah Vaughn and the Mills Brothers, among others. He has performed on about 20 CDs, but he hadn’t recorded his own CD until now. The Ceresco resident is preparing to release “Step By Step,” his first CD as a band leader, between June 7 and 15. It features three of his original compositions including the title track.

Link (Enquirer.com)

Well-known pianist Dr James Vadiveloo died yesterday of heart complications.  

According to news reports, he collapsed in the midst of a squash game. 

He was 56 years old.  

Link (The Star Online)

A couple yesterday won the right for their daughters to practise the piano at home after overturning a noise abatement order.

Richard and Felicity Wood were served with the notice last October after neighbours complained about the playing at their semi-detached home in Seagrave Place, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs. But the town’s magistrates’ court upheld their appeal.

Link (Telegraph Online)

Compose your own ringtone, melody or complete arrangement with ease! Able MIDI Editor is a powerful and inexpensive MIDI Editor for Windows based on the piano roll interface. ‚Ä®‚Ä®Among the basic functions of Able MIDI Editor are included the capability of adding and deleting musical notes, adjusting the pitch and duration of notes, and playing back results. The Editor provides the means for working with tracks with a wide range of possibilities for grouping and combined note editing. Custom tools such as Note Map and Note Filter make life easier, and different Color Schemas make it comfortable. ‚Ä®‚Ä®Able MIDI Editor’s unique feature is ability of precise bar-line arrangement. You can adjust bars manually or with Tapping Tool, so that majority of notes do not cross bar lines, without altering the tempo nuances of the piece. In particular, this might be very useful when preparing data recorded with a MIDI Keyboard for score printing. ‚Ä®‚Ä®Able MIDI Editor is evolved from the TrueTone Editor included in WIDI Recognition System, ‚Ä®which is designed for music recognition (process of extracting note information from digital audio recordings - MP3 to MIDI conversion, etc.). TrueTone Editor enables you to quickly and efficiently correct the results of automatic recognition. Unlike Able MIDI Editor the Editing Area of TrueTone Editor combines the spectrogram of the initial musical piece and the recognized notes. This way TrueTone Editor enables the visual comparison of spectrogram peaks (reflected by color) and notes. Visit widisoft.com to get your free evaluation copy of WIDI Recognition System and check for updates of Able MIDI Editor.

Find out more

Being a long time Windows PC based user, and having a love affair with songwriting and music composition, almost predicates that you are also a long-time Cakewalk user. Sure, there have been other products out there at higher and lower price points, but for the longest time the Average Joe didn’t have many choices in a price range that is attractive to the home recording enthusiast. After all, if you weren’t a Mac user but still wanted to write and record your own music – you were sort of out of luck.

Even back in 1995 when Cakewalk released Pro Audio, combining MIDI functionality with digital audio recording capabilities, there weren’t many players on the PC platform. You basically became a Cakewalk user out of necessity and whether you embraced the plethora of features and learning curve that many experienced or not, you had no choice but to take the time to study the program and familiarize yourself with it.

Fast forward 10 years and the landscape changes slightly. Although there are many players in this market space, there is still only one leader at a price point that’s so attractive to a broad base of professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts. Without taking advantage of the dominance that Cakewalk has enjoyed over the years, they’ve continued to improve upon and expand the toolset. The fascinating thing is, the product continues to get easier to use!

Link (MusicGearReview.com)

A piano that once belonged to jazz legend John Coltrane will return to this town where he lived as a child.

Coltrane was born in Hamlet in 1926 and later lived in High Point. He and family members played the piano in their home here.

He moved to Philadelphia after graduating from William Penn High School in High Point in 1943, and later brought the piano with him.

Link (Newsday.com)

To paraphrase that common saying about the weather: If you don’t like what Michel Camilo is doing, just wait five minutes and surely, something different will come along.

During a long and varied performance as the closing act in this year’s Jazz at the Sheraton series, the dynamic pianist blended elements of classical, New Orleans, calypso, tango, Latin, ballad and even blues sounds between and within his intricate pieces, accompanied by bassist Charles Flores and drummer Dafnis Prieto, both from Cuba.

Camilo grabbed series co-founder Michael MacKay for a big embrace before he took the stage, starting off slow and thoughtful but quickly growing boisterous in the delightful New Orleans-infused “Cocowalk.”

Link (Salt Lake Tribune)