Canadian Musician - September/October 2020 | Page 64

HOT GEAR Akai MPC Live II Portable Music Production Centre Akai Professional has released the MPC Live II portable standalone music production centre powered by MPC software. The MPC Live II builds on the original MPC Live released in 2017, introducing built-in monitor speakers for a full standalone music-making experience. The 7-in., multi-gesture touchscreen enables producers to access the features needed to create a beat or a recording from start to finish. The MPC Live II also adds five new hardware buttons to improve the editing workflow. With features including mute, time correct, and mix, users can edit and tweak tracks on the go. As well, the MPC Software 2.8 update turns the MPC Live II into a MIDI sequencing studio centerpiece. Now users can simultaneously connect and route all the MIDI gear in their studio, including classcompliant USB keyboards, MIDI interfaces, and USB to CV modules, enhancing the MPC Live II’s I/O capability. For more information, contact inMusic Canada: 450-619-7710, [email protected], www.inmusicbrands.com. Godin Nylon Series Guitars Godin Guitars has launched the Nylon Series of guitars – a tribute to the long-standing heritage of the La Patrie brand of nylon-stringed guitars, which is now rebranded under the Godin moniker to complement the existing line-up of Godin Acoustic steel-string guitars. The Godin Nylon Series features unique design and build features, such as high-grade and lightweight tone woods, select pressure-tested solid tops, mahogany necks, a slight fretboard radius for enhanced playing comfort, and high-end optional electronics for live performance. The nylon-string line offers unique models with various body types and sizes for all levels of players, including the entry-level Etude or Motif, the midrange Concert and Concert CW, the higher-end Collection and Presentation, and pro-level Arena models. Godin Nylon guitars will continue to be made in La Patrie, QC like the previous La Patrie brand guitars. For more information, contact Godin Guitars: 514-457-7977, info@ godinguitars.com, www.godinguitars.com. 64 CANADIAN MUSICIAN Rob Papen QUAD Virtual Instrument Plug-In Rob Papen Inspiration Soundware has released QUAD as an AAX-, AU-, and VST-compatible virtual instrument plug-in for Mac and PC. QUAD was originally released as the first Rack Extension synthesizer built from the ground up by the Dutch company for Propellerhead Reason. Like its namesake Rack Extension synthesizer predecessor, the 16-voice QUAD features two oscillators (OSC 1 and OSC 2), extended – when compared to the original’s selection of classic subtractive waveforms – to include a wide range of analog-modelled waveforms with Sine, Saw, Square, Triangle, W (White) Noise, and P (Pink) Noise, Rez 1, Rez 2, Rez 3, HalfSine, SineSaw, SineSqr, SineRez, SawSqr, and SqrRez available alongside Additive Waves and Spectral Waves. As well, each oscillator also has a SUB oscillator offering Sine or Square waveforms when respectively turning the dial to the left or right of the centre position. Turning each adjacent Spread dial generates a multiple-oscillator sound with increased detuning between the oscillators, and each dedicated Drift dial simulates analog drift of the associated oscillator. As well, the sound sculpting tools that differentiate QUAD from other Rob Papen virtual synthesizers are the Phase Distortion and Wave Shaper at the heart of each oscillator section highlighted in its GUI. Many dropdown distortion types are available, which are then brought to life by two X-Y pads that can be moved through the eight-slot Modulation matrix. For more information, go to www.robpapen.com.