MOTU Ethno Instrument is a virtual instrument that delivers expressive ethnic
instrument sounds, combined with authentic world music loops and phrases, available
in one easy-to-use window. From solo instruments to full ensembles, the software
delivers exotic textures and ambience from around the globe.
The library for this instrument consists of 4GB library of instrument samples
from all over the world, recorded with pristine audio fidelity and careful
attention to detail. An additional 4GB of authentic loops and phrases will
instantly tempo-lock to the host software time line. Loops can be sliced with
one click to trigger each beat from a keyboard, or dragged and droppewd into
your host software tracks.
The Ethno Instrument's built-in convolution reverb processor allows the recordings
to be placed in real acoustic spaces, from primordial caves to towering forests
to remote canyons. The software virtual instrument is supplied as both a stand-alone
application and as a universally compatible plug-in available in all major
plug-in formats for Mac OS X and Windows XP.
| Features |  |
Expressive instrument sounds
With 4GB of expressive ethnic instrument sounds combined with another 4GB of
authentic world music loops and phrases, Ethno Instrument delivers all of
the exotic textures needed to take recordings to the four corners of the
globe. Ethno's multi-column preset browser clearly organizes both instruments
and loops by regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Celtic,
Eastern Europe, India, Middle East, Mediterranean, West Indies, Occidental
and others. Instrument sounds may also be browsed by instrument categories,
including Woodwind, Stringed, Bell/Metal/Gong, Key, Voice, Percussion and
others. When the user loads a sound, a map displays the area of the world
that the instrument comes from. If the user then clicks the map, a picture
of the instrument appears so that the user can see what it looks like.
Musicians who specialize in each instrument were recorded in world-class studios
with pristine audio fidelity and careful attention to detail. For example,
many of the included instruments do not conform to Western tonality, so two
different Ethno presets are provided: one preset with original, unmodified
tuning and a second preset with each note tuned to conform to a Western 12-tone
chromatic scale. Users can then play the instrument in its truly authentic
form or easily incorporate it into music with conventional Western tonality.
Authentic loops and phrases
Ethno Instrument's 4GB of stylistically authentic loops and phrases include
percussive rhythms, vocal utterances, solo and ensemble voices, single-instrument
chord progressions, multi-instrument rhythm sections, ornamental flourishes
(such as harp glissandos), and much more. Rhythmic loops always play in tempo
with each other, wherever possible, and a "Sync to Host" button
allows loops to play in tempo with the time line of plug-in host applications
such as Digital Performer, Pro Tools and Live. State-of-the-art time stretching
technology ensures sound quality, even at extremely slow or fast tempos.
Many additional looping controls are provided, such as Sample Start adjust,
Double/Half Tempo and Latch mode for starting and stopping loops with a single
keystroke.
Highly rhythmic and percussive loops are stored as sliced loops, similar to
REX2 files. With a single click on the "Map" button, loop slices
can be automatically mapped to MIDI notes as single hits or beats. Users can
then trigger (and record) the individual beats from a MIDI keyboard, drum pad
or other MIDI controller to completely rearrange (or otherwise manipulate)
the beats any way they wish.
Drag and drop convenience
To import a loop into the host for further editing, processing and manipulation
directly in the host, users can simply drag and drop the loop from the Ethno
Instrument window into a host audio track. Sliced loops (described earlier)
can be dragged into a MIDI track as MIDI data, where all of the MIDI sequencing
capabilities of the host application, such as randomization and groove quantize,
can be brought to bear on the MIDI notes that trigger each slice.
Sound sculpting and convolution reverb
The sound of all loops and phrases can be independently adjusted with a variety
of intuitive sound-shaping tools, including an amplitude envelope, multimode
filter, LFO, two-shelf EQ, pitch controls, and MIDI velocity response curves.
Stunningly realistic built-in convolution reverb allows users to place their
sounds in authentic acoustic spaces, from natural settings like caves and
forests to spacious concert halls and soaring cathedrals.
Plug-in and stand-alone operation
Ethno Instrument can be used on the Mac or PC as a plug-in with any compatible
host application (VST, DXi, MAS, Audio Units and RTAS) or as a stand-alone
application (included), where users can load up to 64 different instruments
per instance (triggered independently via 64 MIDI channels) to create ensembles
of any size and scope, sub-mixed to as many as 17 independent stereo outputs
(under stand-alone operation or under hosts that support multiple outputs).
Save settings as Multis
A snapshot of all Ethno settings can be saved on disk as a "multi".
Multis can then be freely transferred and exchanged among computers and host
programs. For example, an Ethno multi created in Digital Performer on Mac OS
X can be opened in Ethno Instrument running under Pro Tools on Windows. Disk
streaming can be enabled on a per instrument basis to conserve RAM resources
and quicken load times. For live performance, "Expert Mode" provides
advanced programming features, such as key switches, velocity layers and keyboard
splits (zones). Ethno Instrument is powered by the second generation UVI Engine,
renowned for its sound quality and performance.
| Specification | |
System Requirements
Mac
G4 500MHz or faster (G5 or Intel-based Mac recommended)
OS 10.3.9 or higher (10.4 or higher recommended)
512MB RAM minimum (1GB recommended)
8GB hard drive space
For plug-in use, host software that supports MAS, AU, VST or RTAS/HTDM formats
Free USB port for iLok key
PC
800MHz Pentium III-based PC compatible or faster
Windows XP
512MB RAM minimum (1GB recommended)
8GB hard drive space
For plug-in use, host software that supports VST, DirectX or RTAS/HTDM formats
Open GL-compatible video card with the latest graphics drivers
Free USB port for iLok key
International: 408-573-1400
