Music Tech News Roundup July 2015: Mikme, System-1 VST, Launchpad Pro, Akai MPD2

In this music tech news roundup, we check out the Akai MPD2 Drum Pad Controller, Mikme’s wireless microphone, Novation’s Launchpad Pro, Roland’s System-1 Software Synthesizer, and a short documentary released by Ableton about Warp recording artists Battles.

Akai MPD2 | Drum Pad Controller

Akai have extended their line of MPD MIDI control surfaces with the MPD2 line which feature three different combinations of pad, knob, and slider control with some touches that look like they come from the APC line of controllers.

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“Building on the success of the original MPD, the all-new, feature-packed MPD2 Series gives you amazing creative musical ammo with Thick Fat backlit MPC Pads, improved controls and new bundled software. The MPD2 Series is a product of over six years of detailed customer research and user feedback. They asked what you wanted and they listened closely. They’ve took what you told them and turned it into the most capable and user-friendly line of pad controllers Akai Professional has developed to date.” Read more at Gearjunkies.

Mikme | GoPro of Microphones

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Create Digital Music’s Peter Kirn investigates the crowd sourced Mikme line of microphones which aims to make sound recording more portable and flexible.

“They’ve drawn on talent from professional audio engineering, with a 1″ true condenser capsule – one they say bests the little capsules in current mobile recording solutions from the likes of Zoom. Those rely on smaller electret condensers.” Read more at Create Digital Music.

Launchpad Pro | Comprehensive Guide

Create Digital Music’s Peter Kirn gives a thoughtful overview of Novation’s latest Launchpad Pro MIDI clip controller and comes to positive conclusions:

“The Launchpad line of controllers has always been about simplicity. Even when the original Launchpad was introduced, it did less than its nearest rival, the AKAI APC. But it was popular partly thanks to being simple, light, small, and affordable. That fits many users’ needs, and can be nicely combined with other hardware. The Launchpad Pro keeps to that approach, but with more features to round it out as a production tool and performance controller. And it isn’t just for Ableton Live, either – it has a respectable feature set when used with other MIDI software and hardware. I’ve got one of the first units and have been carrying around using it.” Read more at Create Digital Music.

Roland Announces System-1 Software Synthesizer

“Get all the sonic power and versatility of the acclaimed SYSTEM-1 synthesizer in a VST and AU compatible plugin. Like the SYSTEM-1 hardware, this software version breaks new ground with remarkable flexibility and a vast palette of stunning sounds. It has the bold, unmistakable character associated with Roland synthesizers for over four decades. For SYSTEM-1 hardware owners, the software provides advanced editor/librarian functions and total DAW integration. For in-the-box producers, it delivers the mighty sound of the SYSTEM-1 without the need for hardware.” Read more at Roland’s website.

Battles | The Art of Repetition

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Ableton have recently released this fascinating short documentary on Warp recording artists Battles and the creative processes that drive their influential / experimental sound.

“Over the course of two albums and multiple EPs, the New York City-based trio Battles have been refining their intricate, propulsive music to a degree of precision few bands ever hope to achieve. Their upcoming album “La Di Da Di” promises to be a continuation of this process and is described as a mushrooming monolith of repetition, an organic techno thrum of nearly infinite loops that refuse to remain consistent.” Read more at Ableton’s website.

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