ILIO has announced Samplebase and Satellite, a new sample download service (samplebase.com) combined with a plug-in sample player instrument (Satellite).

The Satellite sample player is the result of a 2-year collaboration between ILIO, distributor of sample libraries and virtual instruments, and Muon Software, developer of the 64-bit Tachyon virtual instrument engine. It is at the heart of Samplebase - all sounds available on the Samplebase site will be formatted for the custom Satellite player thereby eliminating the headaches and hassles of managing and supporting multiple instrument formats.

Satellite screenshots: 1 2 3 4

Samplebase aims to bring artists, producers and sound designers to the forefront of this easy-to-use service. By opening the Samplebase site to sound developers from around the world, ILIO aims to create a global community of artists who will produce the sounds and beats that inspire a new generation of musicians, songwriters and composers.

If you are a sample developer and you would like to become a part of this new service, visit Samplebase.com and fill out the online developer form for further information.

Satellite Free Specifications:

• Available as a free download to all registered Samplebase users.
• Plays back all Samplebase instruments and loops with no restrictions.
• Cross-platform support including Windows VST and Mac VST/AU versions.
• Easy-to-use interface with features and functions that balance the needs of "power users" and novices alike.
• Extremely efficient yet flexible sample playback engine with up to 127 velocity zones per key and a multitude of sample and zone-level parameters.
• Up to 1,024 voices of polyphony (CPU dependent).
• Powerful synthesis engine with 10 filter types along with dedicated envelopes and syncable LFOs (with multiple waveforms) for the Pitch, Filter and Amplitude sections.
• 16-part multi-timbral with convenient key split and layering capabilities at the multi level.
• Integrated 16 channel mixer with 2 effects sends and 2 aux busses (each with their own send controls) per channel for flexible effects routing and processing.
• 17 high quality built-in effects.
• 8 "Quick Edit" control knobs available per patch for fast parameter editing and automation.
• All interface controls automatable via standard MIDI controllers including min/max parameter range settings.
• Ability to load up to 1,000 multis (each with their own 4 FX patches) and 1,000 instrument/loop patches into memory simultaneously.
• Integrated "List" screen for managing (renaming, duplicating, initializing, deleting, etc.) multis, patches and FX patches.
• Artist/Developer picture or logo storable per patch along with detailed info "tags" and patch comments.
• Standard MIDI file playback (including import/export functions) available per patch.
• Sliced loops (e.g. REX loops) automatically sync to the host tempo and can be transposed "on-the-fly" from the keyboard.
• Real time high quality time stretch functions for syncing/transposing Wave and AIFF loops to the host tempo and song key.
• Lossless compression reduces file sizes by up to 50%.

Additional Satellite Pro Features:

• Dedicated Patch and Effects screens for full synth and effects parameter editing.
• Keymap screen with sample list and graphical zone editor for building and editing patches including the option to edit parameters in both relative and absolute modes.
• Ability to import user Wave/AIFF samples (16 or 24 bit at variable sample rates).
• Sophisticated sample "Automap" and "Assign" functions that make it simple to build patches from scratch.
• Integrated graphical waveform editor with zoom in/out controls and zero-crossing functions for adjusting sample and loop start/end points and playback modes.
• Powerful batch processor with various simultaneous sample editing functions including gain change, normalization, truncate (attack, end, trim, to loop, after loop,) and fade in/out (available in both absolute milliseconds and relative percentage modes).
• Graphical crossfade loop editor with proprietary algorithm for creating perfectly seamless sample loops.
• Ability to load industry standard REX/RX2 loops, Acidized Wave files or AIFF/Apple Loops with automatic tempo detection and host sync.

Samplebase will be launched in 2006. More info when we get it.