Woohooo, came across this info today. Hope it won't be vapourware.
Finally they're going VSTi... (and AU)



Strangely, info is from a chinese site.

Babelfish translations here

Note: the last bit, the chracters that didn't translate mean "Slide Note (Poly or Mono) and Portamento" (I think)

BTW, another news on this site has stated v1.5 of the akai z4/z8 will support disk streaming and complete Roland/Emu4 import. So it seems Akai is taking the idea seriously. VSTi at home, then take the real Z8 on the road....

Quite good news...
Merry christmas.

wow thats excellent

i hope this isnt just a front end gui for the actual sampler tho.. would suck if you needed the actual hardware sampler to use this..

No, if it happens it's definitely gonna be a VSTi.....that's one of few
plainly English "words" on the site. This great news! Can't wait!

Cheers....CL

apparantly, the new future music magazine shows the new synthline from novation, the ks5.

its also vsti.

that to me is bigger news. but i havent seen any info on it, (anyone have the subscription release yet?)

prophet wrote:

apparantly, the new future music magazine shows the new synthline from novation, the ks5. its also vsti. that to me is bigger news. but i havent seen any info on it, (anyone have the subscription release yet?)

A Novation VSTi Could be Sweet!!
It's always nice to see hardware companies jumping on the virtual bandwagon.

It's a VSTi, but from what it says, you can still use ak.sys as front end of the hardware, and also "network" up to any Z4/Z8/MPC4000/S5000/S6000. Could use both together or transfer between them, no soft/hard difference. The "tow - puts" translation, i think, means "drag & drop".

In fact this is what I always thought they'd do one day - so when you're done with the software sampler, u could just send into the hardware and take it to do live. Good move, Akai!

Now I hope one day, all synths/samplers will come with software VSTi (instead of just a sounddiver adatation, even if the hardware acts also as a dongle.

Wonder if the novations are taking on this route...?

I,ll try and get this translated for us all by the morning then post it up, it looks interesting though.

OK, I've done a bit of translations, should be over 80% correct.

Akai Software Sampler Preliminary Information

News Posted 12/23/2002 4:42:25 PM

Akai plans to release a software sampler, in August 2002, preliminarily named VZ8.
It has the same spec as the hardware Z8, and will be available as VSTi on the Windows platform, and as Audio Unit on Mac OSX.

VZ8 has 24bit/96kHz performance, 64 voice polyphony, 16 audio outputs, with the same 30 types of filters as the hardware.
It even includes the unique "Triple" mode (36/6-pole resonant) filter types as found in the Z8.

VZ8 also features the matrix modulation as the hardware Z8, with 35 control sources and 50 mod destinations and also 8 virtual Q-links for flexible realtime performance controls.

VZ8 is very simple to use, with a friendly interface, basic "drag & drop" using the mouse will cover most operations.
Sounds/Samples can be imported from the PC/Mac harddisks, or by using the browser in ak.Sys to import from CD-Rom libraries.

The supplementary Q-edit included in VZ8 can be used to do simple/quick editing. If further advanced editing is needed, the specialised ak.Sys can be used.

ak.Sys also enables networking functions in VZ8, and can simultaneously control/transfer data to/from any Z4/8, S5/6000, MPC4000 that are linked in the network, by just simple "drag & drop" (mouse operations).

Sounds/samples that are made/built with the software can be easily transfer to the hardware on the network, with no sound difference.
A first in the world example of the this kind of technology used on software samplers.

Specifications:
- 24-bit/96kHz operation
- 64-voice polyphony (CPU performance dependent)
- Streaming function. Read directly from harddisks, no sample size limit, same "mysterious function' as GigaSampler
- 16 audio outputs
- 128 layers, assignable to 16 Midi Channels
- Multiple instance if CPU performance allows
- Q-Edit software can be easily updated
- Q-Link knobs can be separately assigned to allow flexible realtime performance control of essential sampling parameters
- ak.Sys can be used as advanced editor
- complete Sound Library compatibility with S1000, S1100, S2000, S3000, S3000XL, S5000, S6000, Z4, Z8
- Networking to Z4/8, S5/6000, MPC4000 via ak.Sys software allows you to transfer data between soft and hardware
- 34 types of filters (2-, 4-, 6-pole Lo-Pass, Hi-Pass, Band-Pass, highpass plus notch, peak dual notch, dual peak and many more
- special 'Triple' mode filter also allows new variations such as the triple filter consisting of three independent 2-pole filter blocks.
- 3 envelope generators on each sound
- Dual independent LFOs with internal and external modulation control and MIDI clock sync
- Modulation matrix of 35 control sources and 50 destinations
- Velocity switch and zone/split/crossfade controls
- Portamento Glide (Poly or Mono) and mono legato playback modes that can accurately re-create classic vintage monosynths

This could be interesting. I assume this is their direct response to Emu's Emulator 5 software. We'll see if these two finally do this. I think the one good thing about it is that it will also work with their hardware which makes it nice to go back and forth between VSTi and hardware for studio/live work.

Although, it's a little late in the game for them to start joining in. You have to wonder how much better it necessarily is going to be than Kontakt, Giga, EXS mk2 and others... Well, each sampler has it's plus and minus points. If they do this we'll support it but I don't know how many other sound developers will. There are kind of too many software samplers to choose from already. We'll see what happens. At least it will read Akai well! (supposedly).

We made some killer Emu E4 format libraries though and I was kind of hoping the Emulator 5 (soft) would be able to read that well. It's a strange time for the transition between the good old hardware samplers and software samplers. It's about time Akai stepped up. I wonder how it will sound. I can't say I like the look of the Z8 though. I much prefer the look of the S5000/6000 range.

Interesting though. Thanks for posting about it. I wonder what is up with that Mach 5 sampler too. I guess NAMM should be interesting this year. I don't know who else from here is going but I'll be glad to look into some stuff and report what I find. I'll visit the Akai booth and grill them on this one to see what's up.

Kool, well said Squids

I bet sooner or later Roland and Korg will move into software as well, but they'll never give up on the hardware due to live requirements.

One thing I find, the long term hardware samplers users tend to have built up some faith or habit in their samplers. Be it Akai, Emu or even Kurzweil. So many of these will get their software version rather than risking into Halion, Kontakt etc (...deliberately left out...)

So it's never too late for them to join in. (And maybe sooner or later we'll then see Sonic Station Version 4 supporting 20 different formats!)

Too little too late. They'll probably sell a few to those that don't like software anyway, and meanwhile the world has moved on.

EMU said that the Emulator soft sampler wont have the z-pole filters from the hardware so it wont be a true clone, but if Akai can clone their Z8 perfectly into VSTi form then that would kick some serious ass.

Akai seems to be the leader (out of the big hardware companies) in embracing computers in music which is a great thing. If only the others would wake up.

bioroid

I'm not a cantonese speaker but how do we know that it's not a hoax? The interface looks very amateurish. Why wouldn't this be announced on the Akai site? I'd like to see an Akai vsti so I'm playing devils advocate.

Google only finds the Casio VZ8M

Silent says: A Novation VSTi Could be Sweet!!
It's always nice to see hardware companies jumping on the virtual bandwagon.
I´m sorry, but i must correct you on this.
NO - it´s a disaster when hardwarecompagnies are jumping to plugins. See the case is that they have no choice. The market for hardwareboxes are falling faster than TwinTowers. There´s no doubt that the future belongs to plugins. But you can´t make money on plugins yet because of softwarepirates. So try to imagine TC-electronics VSS-6.1 reverb (from System-6000) as a VST-plugin. They´ve spend more than 30 manyears on the development. The day after release the plugin can be downloaded for "free" on LimeWire. Only complete idiots will continue to develop on that level. That means that the overall quality will decrease until a bulletproof softwareprotection is invented or people stop piracy. A plugin will allways be cheeper to develop than a hardwareunit, but to create real superiour algoritms is expencive. Take a compagni like e.g. Native Instrument; are they really so innovative as they say? Or do they make enough money to survive? I don´t think they do.
So right now a lot of new "musicians" are very impressed over the quality of plugins because they don´t know how "real" effectmachines sounds. Remember Steinberg in the older days of VST, claiming that you could have a complete professional studio in your computer. That wasn´t exactly the whole thruth. But too many people still believe in that.

Cheers
HC

nuffink wrote:

Too little too late. They'll probably sell a few to those that don't like software anyway, and meanwhile the world has moved on.

I completely agree. Akai and Emu have a lot of catching-up to do as far as virtual samplers are concerned. They might dominate the hardware sampler arena but virtual is a diffrent story. I remember Akai came out with a little virtual sampler already, I think it was called the vS1000 or something like that. I didnt come close to any of the samplers already out. Especially Kontakt. I just dont think that people will be flocking to their new line of virtual gear like they do to their hardware. I use my friend's MPC2000xl and S3000 all the time and they both seem soooo outdated and clunky compared to virtual samplers.

I think a virtual synth like Novation VST would definitely do well in the market becuase people will want to get that signature sound. I mean I would get a Mini Moog Vst, or a Novation Vst, or a Access Virus Vst, or a Nord Lead 3 Vst right now if they made one. Its gonna be easier for synth companies as opposed to sample play back companies I think.

Hardclipper,
Don't know kind of music your into, but there are a lot of dance records being released produced on nowt but Reason. Why people are worried about the nuances of one kind of reverb vs another, hundreds of 16 year olds are turning out little slices of magic in their bedrooms. There's a revolution happening in the music industry. The very fact that you're here shows that you're aware of it. Nobody ever walked off a dancefloor because the reverb wasn't real enough.

nuffink wrote:

Nobody ever walked off a dancefloor because the reverb wasn't real enough.

So True

nuffink wrote:

Hardclipper, Don't know kind of music your into, but there are a lot of dance records being released produced on nowt but Reason. Why people are worried about the nuances of one kind of reverb vs another, hundreds of 16 year olds are turning out little slices of magic in their bedrooms. There's a revolution happening in the music industry. The very fact that you're here shows that you're aware of it. Nobody ever walked off a dancefloor because the reverb wasn't real enough.

The man speaks the truth. Reason is amazing. I think it can replace a whole room of hardware by itself. I think software reverbs still can't match harware reverb except for DSP cards like the UAD-1, and Powercore. But eventually it will happen. Its just a matter of time. The revolution will not be televised . I'm a graphic design student and we were studying how graphic designers HATED computers when they first came on the scene. Now there is no graphic design industry with out computers and programs like Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator. Actually a lot of the comments I hear from Hardware freaks remind me a lot of the comments graphic designers used to say in the 70's 80's when comps first stepped on the scene. Ofcourse Hardware will still be around for live work etc. But I think it'll become more of a niche market type thing. The only thing that will alwayz be around is actual real instruments. They'll be around for ever.

munchkin wrote:

how do we know that it's not a hoax? The interface looks very amateurish. Why wouldn't this be announced on the Akai site?

Actually,I read about this Akai project a few months ago in either Keyboard or Electonic Musician.Akai never was known for slick gui's as evidenced by thier VST plugs.

Hi Nuffink and AD80

I´m not claiming that hardware sounds better than software in general. And the future belongs to plugins - and i just love plugins!! My point is that plugins are spinning of on a hardwarelegacy. And there´s nothing wrong with that, but who´s gonna invent the new breathtaking synth or reverb, if they can´t make money on it? Who are stupid enough? A hardwareunit is copyprotected, so you can be pretty sure to get your investment return. It´s not possible to earn money on an unprotected plugin, unless you´re working for free. So plugins are eating the whole market, but no one can earn money on them. Therefore i claim that it´s a dissaster that hardwarecompagnies are forced to adapt their products to plugins.

Cheers
HC

Hardclipper I think hardware companies would be able to work on a middle ground. Lets say we get a new Virtual Analog synth from Novation or a new Lexicon reverb unit, now it's basically software in a box running off of DSPs. The company at that point could say hey we can release a software version of this giving users even more flexibility that would function just like a plug-in but still require the hardware to run. At that point either the software could be installed into the comp, or the processing could even be done via USB/Firewire from the computer to the hardware to save on CPU. This could totally be done. If hardware companies were to wisen up and do something along these lines they'd be bringing themselves totally up to date in the plug-in world, while still retaining the need for hardware, as well as the safety (in regards to piracy) that hardware provides. It seems like Line 6 with the Guitar Port and PodXT have gotten close to this idea, they just need to implement some sort of plug-in support system and they'd be set. From what I understand both of those units should be capable of this from the hardware standpoint, someone would just need to write the ASIO/WDM driver and plug-ins. Now I'd be all over a solution like this as I could finally get that Lexicon reverb plug-in I've been waiting for.

Hi Funkybot

I agree on that. A clever, seamless integration of hardware (synths, effects or DSP-Blackboxes) and DAW´s is the only way for the hardwarecompagnies, to survive. The monkey is on the DAW-developers shoulder. They must open for a better integration. UA and PowerCore DSP-cards shows that the existing standards don´t work for that purpose (latency, stability ect.)

Cheers

HC

First let me say that I am not down with piracy...
However I am not sure that it is the disaster that many of us tend to fear it may be. And the reason is, that despite the fact that mp3 is here to stay, I have actually bought more CD's since I got online (cable) a couple of years back, because I have heard lots of music through downloading mp3's that I never would have without.

Admittedly, not everyone is like me, but I am not unique either. I hope that the same thing happens with downloading unstable hacked software that has no customer support... if someone gets an old version of Orion 1.6 off Kazaa, falls in love, and saves up for Platinum 3.X then maybe things will be ok?? I don't know... I am just hopefull, that's all. Cheers, you guys. Happy new year!

KrYoS

Quote:

Akai plans to release VSTi of Z8 Sampler (2003 August)!!

Can i just say, Who cares I mean its almost a year away anyway, and the curretn samplers which there are many of will be so stable and kickarse by then, I think Akai are crazy. not to mention, the price of their vst plugs is so high, i can only imagine what this would cost

hardclipper wrote:

Quote:

My point is that plugins are spinning of on a hardwarelegacy. And there´s nothing wrong with that, but who´s gonna invent the new breathtaking synth or reverb, if they can´t make money on it? Who are stupid enough?

I don't think that's necessarily true. The software scene over the past two years has seen WAY more innovation (Absynth, Kontakt, Z3ta+, Virsyn TERA, Phat Pro... the list goes on) than any of the hardware companies have done in YEARS. Most of the big-selling hardware synths are based on technology that made its debut around the time of the Roland D-50 (1987) or even the Fairlight (1981?). Akai's more recent samplers are only incremental steps forward from the original S1000/S1100 (1989?). Because it doesn't take that much money (on the grand scale) to start a software company, people with innovative ideas can afford to take chances in the plug-in biz without spending years trying to persuade investors to part with capital.[/quote]

I think the big advantage of an Akai or E-mu soft sampler is the ability to link studio and stage. Most people are not yet comfortable using a laptop on stage. A hardware sampler is more dependable and stable. If you can us a software sampler for creating special sounds and recording them, and then dump those sound onto a hardware sampler for the road then then things get easier. This may change in the future when VSTi's mature and computer systems get more durable and stable. If that ever happens.

Robert

nuffink wrote:

Hardclipper, Don't know kind of music your into, but there are a lot of dance records being released produced on nowt but Reason. Why people are worried about the nuances of one kind of reverb vs another, hundreds of 16 year olds are turning out little slices of magic in their bedrooms. There's a revolution happening in the music industry. The very fact that you're here shows that you're aware of it. Nobody ever walked off a dancefloor because the reverb wasn't real enough.

Everything you say in this quote is true, but remember, 16 year olds have always thought they were the center of the current music revolution. When they are 40 and broke they seem to realize that strings were still being pulled by corporate executives. File sharing threatens that system. Not just illegal file sharing. Record executives are just as afraid of legal methods that distribute mp3's of unsigned bands. Once artists find that they don't need the corporation, where does that leave the executives?

Robert

hardclipper wrote:

Silent says: A Novation VSTi Could be Sweet!! It's always nice to see hardware companies jumping on the virtual bandwagon. I´m sorry, but i must correct you on this. NO - it´s a disaster when hardwarecompagnies are jumping to plugins. See the case is that they have no choice. The market for hardwareboxes are falling faster than TwinTowers. There´s no doubt that the future belongs to plugins. But you can´t make money on plugins yet because of softwarepirates. So try to imagine TC-electronics VSS-6.1 reverb (from System-6000) as a VST-plugin. They´ve spend more than 30 manyears on the development. The day after release the plugin can be downloaded for "free" on LimeWire. Only complete idiots will continue to develop on that level. That means that the overall quality will decrease until a bulletproof softwareprotection is invented or people stop piracy. A plugin will allways be cheeper to develop than a hardwareunit, but to create real superiour algoritms is expencive. Take a compagni like e.g. Native Instrument; are they really so innovative as they say? Or do they make enough money to survive? I don´t think they do. So right now a lot of new "musicians" are very impressed over the quality of plugins because they don´t know how "real" effectmachines sounds. Remember Steinberg in the older days of VST, claiming that you could have a complete professional studio in your computer. That wasn´t exactly the whole thruth. But too many people still believe in that. Cheers HC

Well, it is a fact that illegal software is killing the market (also in the music industry). A crack user even did ask me if I could make some more patches!!! (RP VSTi -Albino-)
Bulletproof is only hardware. The problem is the attitude of people.
They don't mind to steal software.

Rob

Rabid wrote:

I think the big advantage of an Akai or E-mu soft sampler is the ability to link studio and stage.

I think that is the way they're heading for.

I know so many musicians who still wouldn't give up their Emu's or Akai's, even though they know they're missing the fun bit of the plugin samplers. Nor would they go for GigaSampler, since all those Mac heads still don't trust PCs.

Furthermore, they need all those hardware gears to impress clients in their studios and/or gigging.

You never know, maybe Akai would eventually produce a soft/hard system that could even import/run giga samples perfectly. Then it'll be a different story.

Hi Kryos & Angus_FX

First Kryos: I heard the other day, that 40 % af all medias containing music are illegal copyes. Thats f.... too many. But piracy is allso a grayzone. The "demos" you are talking about (buing the original when you have investigated the copy) is one of Adobes reasons to succes.

And to Angus_FX

I totally agree with you on the hardwaresynth-area. And i allso think that the last couple of years analog-modelling-hardware-synth-race has become a little bit boring. But i don´t agree that plugins is more innovative. Absynth and a few others are unique, but the rest is mainly remakes or variations of vintage classics, and thats not innovation to me. And it doesn´t matter how cheep it is to start a plugin biz, if you can´t make money. I work for one of the hard/softwaregiants in effects and i know how many manhours it takes to get from idea to product. It´s fast and easy to take some basic technology and create a fancy UI with wooden panels and images of glowing tubes. But to create something new in concepts and technology takes time (and money).
But maybe i´m biased a little. I mean could you say that delivering the exact same features as a hardwarebox to a tenth of the prize in a plugin is innovation??

Cheers
HC

I am wondering about something since reading through these recent posts, and it pertains to freeware pluggins.

I am interested in hearing from people who have been directly involved in commercial VSTi developement, but not exclusively... My question is how do you see the proliferation of free VSTi/VST plug's in relation to the commercial developemnt of software instruments? Do you think that the huge amount of freeware synths and samplers (many of which are truly excellent now days) is a contributing factor to the reluctance of hardware companies getting into the software game? Don't get me wrong, I love good freeware synths!! My interest is in how commercial software is affected by freeware as opposed to cracked software? And finally, how difficult is it to make back your investment in time and money in virtual instruments?

Thanx, KrYoS

kryos wrote:

I am wondering about something since reading through these recent posts, and it pertains to freeware pluggins. I am interested in hearing from people who have been directly involved in commercial VSTi developement, but not exclusively... My question is how do you see the proliferation of free VSTi/VST plug's in relation to the commercial developemnt of software instruments? Do you think that the huge amount of freeware synths and samplers (many of which are truly excellent now days) is a contributing factor to the reluctance of hardware companies getting into the software game? Don't get me wrong, I love good freeware synths!! My interest is in how commercial software is affected by freeware as opposed to cracked software? And finally, how difficult is it to make back your investment in time and money in virtual instruments? Thanx, KrYoS

There is still a difference between freeware and commercial software. In quality and features.
The biggest problem is cracked software right now for commercial software developers.

I know that hardware sales of synthesizers/samplers dropped down heavy. This because of software synthesizers/samplers.
These again have problems with the illegal use of their software synthesizers/samplers.

So what will be the end of it?
I am surley not going to waste my time, making sounds for freeware synthesizers!

Rob

hmmm

If BMW made a new mass market friendly car would it sound the death knell for the premium car industry. No - BMW already do this. Ferrari are not worried. Akai bring out a VST sampler - why because its a conversion job - more money from work already done.

But the notion that this is the death knell of hardware is ridiculous. The companies doing expensive algorithm reasearch will sell hardware - to avoid pirates. And studios will buy it (at whatever price charged) because they want the best. After all how many reverbs do you think lexicon sell a year to stay in business - a lot less than Native Instruments etc.

No-one walked of a dance floor cos the reverb wasnt right - but lots of people listening to music at home would turn off if the Reason reverb was on the vocals. In the UK young peoples music is not what keeps the industry going - no-one makes money on singles cos of promotion costs - the money is in albums. Albums sales are dominated by singers and the like - where no-one is using Plug ins - other then pro tools ones !

I think it is good that their is a trickle down so that cheap amateurs like me can get hold of some amazing technology, but the studios who make a living from their clients will always pay large sums of money for whatever is better - and 10 years later i will get to play with the cut-down version. Patience is a virtue i have lots of !

ericj23 wrote:

hmmm I think it is good that their is a trickle down so that cheap amateurs like me can get hold of some amazing technology, but the studios who make a living from their clients will always pay large sums of money for whatever is better - and 10 years later i will get to play with the cut-down version. Patience is a virtue i have lots of !

The Korg MS-20 was a budget synth and still it does not sound very well.
But after Madonna's producers used it everybody talked about it.


Rob