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Korg MIDI Bundle (nanoKEY, nanoPAD, nanoKONTROL)

An industry giant unveils compact MIDI devices for music makers on-the-go!

The new nanoSeries devices of Korg are particularly designed to meet the needs of artists who are always on the move – making music anywhere, anytime, without compromising the control department. Its range of MIID controllers features three compact products – the nanoKEY, the nanoPAD, and the nanoKONTROL.

Expected to be tough, the nanoKEY is no ordinary keyboard – it is a 25-note, velocity-sensitive model. Aside from being very handy in recording chords and melodies, the nanoKEY can also be used to send MIDI data, further expanding its power. It has an Octave Shift function that provides immediate access to the entire MIDI note range. There are pitch and modulation buttons provided as well, allowing your performances the kind of expression natural to any controller, regardless of its size.

The Korg nanoKEY is also very small. In fact, you can put it right in front of your laptop, your recording station, on a recording console, or wherever you need a versatile control over your virtual instrument or DJ software. But despite its size, the nanoKEY comes with several benefits when it comes to functionality, but its intuitive layout makes operation a breeze for any user.

The nanoPAD has 12 highly responsive trigger pads (including an X/Y pad) that are perfect both for laptop DJs and drum programming because of its roll and flam functions that provides unique interface ideal for realistic drum programming. It is USB powered, and is also capable of sending both notes and MIDI control data.

The nanoPAD also has a Chord Trigger function that lets you enter chords onto a single pad, which helps you to make the most of the work surface as you create. The pad also makes a great interface for soloing or muting tracks because it can transmit control change messages. You can turn objects on and off, or trigger clips during your live performances.

Finally, Korg wraps the MIDI bundle with the nanoKONTROL. It offers 9 faders, 9 knobs, 18 switches plus a full transport section for expansive control. That means that is the perfect DAW and plug-in control, although it also has a note input mode that will help you lay down your next big groove.

For each of the four programmable scenes that the nanoKONTROL offers, you have the freedom to set the controllers any way you need them. That means that you can send a total of 168 different MIDI Control Change messages and MIDI notes using the switches. Each of the 6 transport buttons can send either MIDI Control Change messages or MMC messages to control functions like start, stop, loop, or record on your DAW software.

Thanks to the Korg MIDI Bundle, taking full control over the quality of music that you create is now possible.

Get the nanoKEY, the nanoPAD, and the nanoKONTROL today!

A Review of the Steinberg Cubase 5 Audio Midi Software

In an industry that churns out mediocre products and poor quality sound, the Steinberg company has come out with the Steinberg Cubase 5 Audio MIDI Software that does deliver the goods. The Steinberg Cubase 5 has certainly lived up to already high expectations.

The Steinberg Cubase 5 has a new innovative workstation that has a large number of features that challenges any other competitor in the market.

The Steinberg Cubase 5 hosts a lot of new features that can be perfect for any producer in the music industry and a prime example of this is the Vari Audio, this enables the producer or whoever is using the device to use different effects on the pitch of the vocals and they can then be changed if needed to be. This does open up a whole new level in the music industry where people who are not the most amazing singers in the world can edit their voice to make it sound so much better and then go on to sell millions of records. In addition to this there are now new ways to create beats, and this can be done using the Groove Agent ONE, this virtual instrument that can be used when making new sounds.

It is also very easy to make changes to pitch and can be done quickly and conveniently at ease with the new features of this software. When you first try using the software it can be a little complex but this then outweighed when you discover just how much the software can do and achieve. Once you are comfortable with the Pitch Control feature, you will be able to see just how much promise it has to offer.

Along with many of the other features that stand out with the new Cubase, there is no need to bus a specialized keyboard when using the software and all can now be achieved when just using a normal standard keyboard and it will still give you the effect that you wish for. This, unlike the past, makes the software more compact and easier to use, making things just a little bit simpler when it comes to making music with the Cubase 5 MIDI.

There is also a Digital Audio Workstation that has given some edge to Steinberg and unlike the previous model this version is not prone to crashing continuously or at all. There are no faults or problems that occur with this new model and the company has done a great job of making sure it is close to perfect.

There is also a new feature that gives the ability to allow reverberations within specific environments to be emulated. This new additions allows producers to do so much more with there sounds and can see what the music can sound like in different locations, such as larger open areas for example a church. It is becoming a popular type of software with other competitors but it is one of the many amazing features that the Cubase has to offer.

The Cubase can be amazing at multi-tasking and for such a simple device it can do so many things, eliminating the need for using lots of different pieces of software to do different tasks as the Cubase can do them all in one, simplifying everything and making it so much less time-consuming.

In conclusion the Steinberg Cubase 5 Audio MIDI Software, has lots to offer and can be perfect for any producer that has a lot to do and a lot of music to create, for someone who wants the best and easiest way to do things then the Steinberg Cubase 5 Audio MIDI Software is the best to use.

Buy the Steinberg Cubase 5 Audio Midi Software now, and for a limited time, you can buy it through Gigasonic’s 0% interest or lay away programs.

Recording Tips: MIDI Mapping Made Easy

Using multiple applications for your productions? Do you have thousands of sounds and plug-ins that you share and swap between them? Is mapping all that a huge time constraint for you?

You’re not alone.

The number one concern regarding MIDI for most professionals is the challenge you face when Mapping MIDI controls and sounds between multiple applications. This can be a laborious task, especially for those who prefer the creative aspects of this craft and find the technical side a little challenging if not outright frustrating. There is a way to make it easier and faster… Automap.

What is Automap?
Automap is a piece of software that comes with all Novation controllers. It has been designed to make the job of assigning your hardware controls to various software parameters quick and easy. Although there are many great controllers out there, the ones from Novation stand out as a “must have” due to their economical cost and this time-saving feature.

Out of Control?
Despite having knobs and sliders, most MIDI controllers are no good at controlling plug-ins. You have to read through the manual, find out the MIDI controller numbers for each control, and manually assign and name each parameter, letter by letter. Some controllers come with templates, which just fix controls to a few parameters on a hand-full of plug-ins.

In Control
Automap enables knobs, faders and buttons to instantly control plug-in instruments/FX, as well as your sequencer’s mixer, transport controls and more…

  • With Automap, when you open a plug-in, you have instant access to all the plug-in parameters, allowing you to assign knobs, faders and buttons, by simply clicking on the software parameter, and touching the control.
  • Automap’s edit page graphically shows you the entire control surface, labeling each control so you can see exactly what is assigned to what.
  • Automap feeds back information from the plug-in, telling you what each parameter is called, and its current value: e.g – dBs, cutoff, LFO speed etc.

So, if you are working with different applications such as Ableton, Reason, Cubase, ProTools, AbSynth, Kontakt, virtually any MIDI supported software package…you should definitely have a Novation Controller with Automap in your toolkit.

For an exceptional value, I suggest getting your hands on one of the ReMOTE SL Compact models. Although these models have been recently discontinued, they are loaded with features and perform very well. They may not be available everywhere, but you can still find them at places like GigaSonic. We have priced them to move, but have limited quantities available. Click here to check out all the Novation Controllers featuring Automap.