Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your role in the "Steinberg Virtual Instrument Team", if I can speak it so? My name is Michael Ruf and I am the project and team lead of what we call the "HALion Team", which is in fact the team that is responsible for most of the Steinberg instrument plug-ins. Besides my managing tasks I am also designing the user interfaces for the instrument plug-ins and expansion libraries. Thanks to our Steinberg UI framework and, recently, the addition of the HALion Macro Pages Designer, I am also able to build a lot of UIs, independent from our programm ..read more

In this article I will guide you through ALL Cubase Pro 9.5 new features. If you want to know each and every new feature and where to find them, then this video is for you! You'll also find the outline of each new feature below, but to get a full insight please watch the video fully. The statements below reflect the state of the release at 15 November 2017. CONTENT: 00:22 - Bezier Curved Automation 01:36 - 16 Insert Effects, Free Pre / Post Fader Configuration 02:31 - New Metronome Features 04:11 - Sampler Track Improvements 06:20 - Direct Offline Processing 09:34 - 64-Bit Mixing Eng ..read more

As you probably know, Access Virus synthesizers exist not just in physical form, but also as virtual instruments. Most of you know the latest – combined physical and integrated virtual – versions (the Virus TI / TI2 / Snow synthesizers) due to their popularity, amazing sound, tactile control, the possibility to use them as a standalone instrument and they look good on the stage anyway. But Access has recognized the importance of computer integration much earlier and realized it already in the early 2000s'. This solution was primarily for power users who appreciated the quick operation and ..read more

This is a speculation type of post, using some specifics gathered and trying to deduce a conclusion about the future of the Access Virus. Only time will tell what will be realized, and anyone can think of what can be or can not be expected in view of these facts. So take it as much seriously as you want, call it a gossip, rumour, whatever… so read it like this… or skip! The origins First we should talk a bit about the special computing chip, the heart of every Virus synthesizer, a certain version of the Motorola 56k DSP (digital signal processors). The origin of the DSP 56000 series came from ..read more

In this Access Virus tutorial and the related video you'll find ten tricks to use your Acces Virus synthesizer more effective. These methods work with any kind of Access Viruses, including the TI series. Re-create the steps on your Virus from the Init patch, or just download the 10 Access Virus patches showcasing the settings of each scene. You will find the exact patch name below the title of each section. I strongly recommend watching the video below (either multiple times or in parts) as it explains the topic in greater details, using in-depth examples.    Content: Listen ..read more

Intro Late nineties was an exciting time for musicians: the virtual analog / wavetable evolution based on DSP chips running software code started in 1995 with the Nord Lead, then followed by a number of competitors: Access Virus A (1997), Waldorf Microwave II/XT (starting in 1997), Novation Supernova 2 (1998), Roland JP 8000 (1997) and Yamaha AN1X (1997). They all became legends at that time, and these instruments and their newer reincarnations (like Nord Lead 2x, 4, Blofeld, Nave, Virus TI) all involves a kind of 'magic' and 'charm' that made them very popular and are being used to this day ..read more

VPS (Vengeance Producer Suite) Avenger from Vengeance Sound is the long awaited synthesizer from the successful German sound ware company Keilwerth Audio & sound wizard Manuel Schleis from Vengeance Sound. I own a few plug-in products from Vengeance Sound and I like the way they operate. They plan and realize their plugins according to musician needs right from the initial version, so you rarely have to ask developers to implement this and that later. Nearly everything works the way it should be - out of the box! The "from musicians to musicians" approach permeates all of their plug-ins: t ..read more

U-he Zebralette is a great little free VST instrument from u-he, a cut-down version of their flagship Zebra2 synthesizer. Despite of the fact that several components were removed I always liked it from the first moment I started using, and here is why.  It employs a single window interface where you can inspect and edit all the settings of a sound within seconds (except the effects settings, but that's also a click away). What's more, it is resizable between 70 and 200 percent, so you can optimize it to the size of your computer display.  It is serious stuff! Despite the relatively ..read more

Synth1 - Blessing or Curse? Synth1 is one of the most popular long time free choice for aspiring producers to create music with a plug-in synthesizer. I've used it in some of my songs and created a patch bank for it, and I still have a very controversial and mixed feeling about it. It is a decent synthesis powerhouse with lots of potential on one side, and also a source of swear, unexpected trouble and missed opportunities on the other.  Synth1 vs. Nord Lead 2 - Do They Blend? Synth1, the creation of Ichiro Toda originally started as a Nord Lead 2 clone in around 2002 to deliver ..read more

Contest Winner: The Waldorf NAVE give-away has ended.  The lucky winner after the random selection is: Diego Callegari from Fratta Polesine, Italy! Congratulations Diego for the prize, have fun with your Waldorf NAVE synthesizer! Waldorf NAVE give-away You can win a brand new copy of the boxed version of Waldorf NAVE wavetable synthesizer (VST/AU/AAX version) from Synthmorph worth 149€. Rules: The 'Win a Waldorf NAVE' giveaway runs between 5th and 30th September 2016. A winner will be randomly selected and announced here on 4th October 2016. Only one entry per email address ..read more