Musikmesse 2018 Rolling Report: All The latest news from Frankfurt

Musikmesse 2018 is well under way, and although the show has got a lot smaller overall over the last few years, we nosed around and managed to dig up some nice bits of gear for your perusal. Have we missed ...

oeksound introduces spiff adaptive transient designer plug-in

spiff is a transient designer made for boosting or attenuating transients in "extreme detail". The processor analyses incoming signal and applies processing only on parts which contain transient information.

Musikmesse 2018: StudioLogic Mixface USB MIDI controller

A MIDI and DAW controller designed to host a USB keyboard and direct it to 4 zones of control via Bluetooth and USB. Control your iPad and computer from one place. Ideal for the Studiologic SL88.

Musikmesse 2018: Nord Piano 4 – this time it’s personal

We thought the Nord Piano 3 was the pinnacle of all red pianos, but just two years later the virtually hammered machine returns as the Nord Piano 4. It's red, it's seamless, it has crossfades and filters.

Musikmesse 2018: CHRT analog monophonic valve synthesizer designed for blowing

A gloriously shiny valve based monophonic synthesizer designed for a wind controller to produce a uniquely expressive and electronic sound. The tubes are used at every stage to create the sound.

Musikmesse 2018: Hiwatt turn up the volume with DR401 400 W Bass Top

Hiwatt has chosen Musikmesse 2018 to launch the DR401, a full-on 400 W bass amp head built at its Custom Shop facility in Doncaster, England, incorporating a total of 12 valves!

Musikmesse 2018: AMT intros 5 mini-format tube preamp and drive pedals

Siberia's AMT Electronics has a new set of 5 "Blocks", tube-powered overdrive/preamp pedals - in a mini-sized enclosure - with future plans to launch a modular pedalboard system.

TK Audio BC1Ltd. compressor: A snow-white boutique rarity

The BC1Ltd. was designed to commemorate TK Audio's tenth anniversary and also bring some user-requested features to the compressor - and it's even (kinda) reasonably priced....

Metallica’s new ‘old wood’ guitar – Garage Days Revisited?

Metallica's James Hetfield is now wielding a unique guitar named Carl and one that has been built from reclaimed timbers from a very special garage indeed!

Apple confirms 2019 (at the earliest) release for new, modular Mac Pro

Apple has officially confirmed that the redesigned, modular Mac Pro won't arrive before 2019 at the earliest. The modular design direction allowing for easy upgrades has also been confirmed.

Tracktion BioTek 2 public beta oozes out of the undergrowth

Tracktion has released the public beta of BioTek 2. It's a new evolution of their organic/mechanic hybrid virtual synthesizer and brings new oscillators and presets by Richard Devine.

Musikmesse 2018: Steinberg teams up with Rupert Neve Designs on new USB interfaces

Two new USB interfaces by Steinberg, with transformers by Rupert Neve Designs, no less. Will these worry makers of luxury 2- and 4-preamp units already on the market by Focusrite and others?

Polyphonic Solina strings in your Eurorack? Meet StringTheory

Make Synths Not War has created the StringTheory module that brings 4-voice Solina Strings into your Eurorack. It's played by MIDI, not CV which won't suit everyone but makes it very good value.

Neural DSP recreates coveted Darkglass distortion pedals in plug-in format

Developer start-up Neural DSP has a new distortion pedal emulation created in partnership with Darkglass Electronics and models their super-nice (and pricey) Ultra pedal series.

Zen Delay: Are Ninja Tune getting into desktop effects boxes?

A bunch of photos of an unannounced prototype desktop effects box emerge. The Zen Delay has record labels Ninja Tunes name on it, an Erica Synths flavour, a filter, drive and nice fat tube.

Apple Mac Pro 2018 rumours: An all-new modular Mac with easy upgrades in the offing?

The new Mac Pro has already been in the works for some time and could be showcased in June at Apple's WWDC event, envisioned as the highest-end desktop system in the Apple line-up.

Spotify is building hardware, likely an in-car streaming player

As Spotify is gearing up for an April 24 event, informed speculation arises that the music streaming giant is about to launch its first hardware device, reportedly an in-car controller or player.

Magpha mastering EQ sounds analogue “all the way up to 20khz”

Featuring an extremely minimalistic, distraction-free user interface, this EQ offers true analogue phase behaviour up to 20kHz and very broad Q factors (<0.1) for final wideband tone sculpting.

NI Maschine MK3 becomes a Logic Pro X controller after latest update

With the latest update (v. 2.7.3) to its Maschine production platform, NI has added integration with Logic Pro X to the Maschine MK3 hardware controller. The unit's displays now showcase the Logic mixer.

Musikmesse 2018: RME debuts Digiface Dante and AVB audio networking interfaces

RME is furthering its audio networking catalog with the impending launch of Digiface Dante and Digiface AVB. Both are USB 3.0 mobile audio networking interfaces that offer different things.

Pen2Bow app turns the Apple Pencil into a legitimate iPad MIDI controller

Developer Dimos Gaidatzis created Pen2Bow, an EUR 9 app that turns the Apple Pencil into a violin bow MIDI controller. The algorithm detects linear and circular motion, generating four MIDI streams.

Musikmesse 2018: Drawmer intros a pair of CMC monitor controllers

At Musikmesse 2018, British manufacturer Drawmer will introduce a pair of new monitor controllers: CMC3 and CMC7. The CMC3 is the compact model, while the CMC7 is designed for Surround setups.

Deal: Boom 3D turns your Mac speakers Surround for only USD 8

The makers of Boom 3D claim their software enables a 3D Surround Sound audio experience using just your built-in Apple speakers on the iMac, MacBook Pro, or whatever fruity computer you have.

Audiority packs three classic distortions into EUR 45 plug-in bundle

To give guitar players some Easter inspiration, Audiority released a pack of three distortion plug-ins. They emulate actual pedals which have seen plenty of action in pedalboards across the planet.