Zynaptiq has announced the release of Pitchmap, the worldʼs first and only audio plug-in capable of polyphonic pitch-correction and pitch-mapping in real-time.

Pitchmap allows real-time correction of pitch inaccuracies within mixed signals, as well as completely altering the tonality, chords, harmonies or melodies of a musical signal on- the-fly, a process Zynaptiq refers to as Pitch Mapping. Pitchmap does this using Zynaptiqʼs proprietary, artificial intelligence based MAP technology (Mixed-Signal Audio Processing) to de-mix an incoming signal – like, for example, a full mix – into individual elements, and then allows the user to arbitrarily or automatically correct and modify their pitches. Additionally, Pitchmap provides means to deliberately induce processing “errors” to make results sound synthetic in a very futuristic and unique way.

“Our DSP Developer Stephan M. Bernsee has come up with what we believe to be a real game-changer.” Zynaptiq CEO Denis H. Goekdag said. “Pitchmap lets you reach into a recording and change the pitch-related aspects of the composition on-the-fly. You can change an entire song from minor to major with just a couple of clicks, simultaneously correcting any tuning issues and changing the key. While there are other pitch processing solutions available, Pitchmap combines polyphonic capability, a real-time workflow and an exceptional processing quality based on techniques that model the human auditory system, thus opening up a whole new level of creativity.”

Pitchmap provides all of the following functionality in real-time:

• Automatic correction of pitch inaccuracies in polyphonic/mixed signals
• Pitch Mapping: Change harmonies and melodies on the fly
• Pitch Mapping via GUI-created source/destination maps or real-time MIDI-input
• Macro controls for near-instant creation of harmony- and key-changes
• Snapshot functionality for fast workflow and easy automation
• Perceptive modeling based Natural mode for voice-adapted processing
• Continuously variable Electrify parameter for making results sound synthetic in an exciting and unique way

On the Mac, Pitchmap requires OS X 10.6 or later and an Intel CPU with at least 2 Cores. Pitchmap will initially be released as an AU (Audio Units) plug-in, with VST and AAX support for both Mac and Windows platforms planned for later in 2012.

Pitchmap is priced at $399. A free trial is also available for download. A special introductory price of $269 will be available until 1 April 2012.

www.zynaptiq.com/pitchmap

Zynaptiq GmbH, based in Hannover, Germany, creates audio software based on artificial intelligence technology, and was founded in 2011 by Stephan M. Bernsee and Denis H. Goekdag, known for their involvement with Prosoniq, Hartmann Music, Surround SFX and the DSP Dimension, amongst others.

Roland is proud to announce R-MIX, a new audio processing application that gives recording professionals and those just starting out the tools to manipulate a stereo mix audio easily, visually and intuitively in real time. Featuring the newly developed proprietary V-Remastering technology and the highly-acclaimed VariPhrase technology, R-MIX allows you to see the individual components of a stereo mix as color-coded clouds of harmonic matter and to apply effects or center cancel exactly where and as you wish within the mix.

By graphically breaking down the stereo mix data into three elements (frequency, panning, and level), R-MIX makes it possible to actually see the instruments inside a mix using Harmonic Placement. Change the panning and level, erase, extract, and add effects, and independently adjust the pitch and speed of the playback as desired. Lower the level of the vocal or any other instrument within the mix to create minus-one karaoke files or create remixes using two pairs of stereo tracks. Mastering live recording sources is also possible by adjusting the instrument levels and applying noise reduction and effects, and with R-MIX, you can create the highest quality sound and then export your project as an audio file for music player playback.

Since there is only one R-MIX screen to operate, workflow increases, and there is no need to switch screens. Menus are aligned according to the workflow, easing navigation, and a simple help window for each task allows for hands-free operation. Windows/Mac compatibility and the intuitive design also make it accessible to everyone from serious DAW magicians to novice users and integrates easily into education and video production settings.

Roland’s innovative V-Remastering digital signal-processing technology gives you total control over the elements within a stereo audio file. Built into R-MIX, V-Remastering makes it possible for you to see each stereo mix as color-coded clouds of energy and harmonic matter, and easily isolate the individual instruments or elements within the mix and change their panning positions and levels. V-Remastering also gives you the ability to erase, extract, or add effects to each element within a mix. V-Remastering enables music-editing capabilities never possible before.

In conjunction with V-Remastering, R-MIX employs Roland’s acclaimed VariPhrase technology, which can make your audio “elastic.” The secret to elastic audio is the independent control of pitch, time, and formant. Smoothly adjust pitch without changing tempo, for example, or adjust tempo without changing pitch. Audio is elastic, and freely under your control in real time. All of this can be done without changing the sound quality of the original recording.

R-MIX Tab, a simplified version of R-MIX, will be available for the Apple iPad later this year. This iPad application also uses the V-Remastering technology to extract audio elements and easily creates minus-one data from an audio file.

On the Mac, R-MIX requires OS X 10.5.8 or later, an Intel Core2 Duo processor and a minimum display size of 1024 x 768 pixels.

R-MIX for Mac OS X is expected to ship in December with a street price of £85.

http://www.RolandConnect.com/product.php?p=r-mix

SoundHack is pleased to announce Pvoc Kit, a four plug-in bundle exploring the classic Phase Vocoder and Granular Synthesis algorithms to achieve pitch shifting, harmonizing, time stretching, layered loops, phase mangling, ambient clouds, resonant stuttering and more. These are essential tools for adventurous musicians and sound designers.

The plug-ins each have a small number of powerful controls designed to quickly access a large variety of sounds. Pvoc Kit controls can also be automated by MIDI controller messages.

+pitchsift

Classic pvoc pitch shifting and MIDI vocoder. +pitchsift offers both FFT and sinebank pitch shift engines with control over harmonic tracking and reproduction. This allows a wide range of sounds from clean pitch shifts to overly smeared harmonics to chaotic warbling. Pitch can be controlled in equal temperament by cents or by just tempered ratios. Also included is a unique vocoder which locks any live harmonic to the closest MIDI harmonic.

+spiralstretch

A live input time stretch which works by dividing the input into multiple simultaneous time stretchers. The result creates beautiful, layered ambiances which sound like a cross between time stretching, reverb and tape delay. +spiralstretch uses your choice of pvoc or granular time stretch engines, and stretch times from 1x to 100x.

+pvocloop

+pvocloop combines the time stretching and pitch shifting algorithms of +spiralstretch and +pitchsift into a four-voice looper. Loops can come from soundfiles, or be sampled live, and can be played and modified under MIDI control.

+phasemash

Destructive pvoc phase processing. +phasemash combines a number of simple phase manipulation techniques to give you pitchless sounds, inharmonic frequency shifting, resonant robotic sounds, ambient washes, harmonic scrambling or any combination of these. Perfect for live processing of rhythm loops and tracks.

On the Mac, the VST and AU plug-ins require at least OS X version 10.4 or later.
The RTAS plug-ins require ProTools 8 or later. They will run on either PPC or Intel processors. 64-bit compatibility is under development.

Pvoc Kit is available as a direct download for $99.00 from SoundHack.

www.soundhack.com

Sugar Bytes today released Turnado, a multi-effect tool crafted especially for massive and real-time audio manipulation, providing countless unique effects, promising sounds unheard of every time you turn it on. Turnado is both hands-on stage performance boost and serious tool for studio perfectionism, giving you direct control of up to 8 different effects at any given time, with a total of 24 effects available.

In the studio, simply dial in your effect from a super-sweet selection of 24 pro-quality algorithms, then mash up your audio content with minimum fuss, quickly adding dynamic variation to your arrangements. Take it to the stage and unleash Turnado’s true power. With instant access to eight effects and immediate control over key parameters, Turnado is guaranteed to cause devastation on the dance floor, shredding beats and crunking breaks to insane proportions.

The idea is simple:

1. Turn a knob and the effect is on.
2. Turn the knob further to adjust effect parameters and apply modulations.
3. Turn the knob down and the effect is off.

With its instantaneous, one-knob, multi-parameter modulation features, Turnado will lay waste to the audio landscape. Giving you the power to crunch, chop, twist, mash and elevate your music to new levels, Turnado will have you creating wicked new sounds that will blow any crowd away.

Unlocking the power of your MIDI controller each effect requires only one knob to control it. Underneath this simplicity lies a matrix of effect parameters and modulation engines, all controlled by the main knob. This control matrix provides serious depth to the plugin and gives you the ability to create original and truly unique effect programs.

If the power of one-knob action still doesn’t rock your boat, the awesome “Dictator” mode will sink your battleship. It allows you to animate all the main knobs and run that animation with just one fader. That’s one fader, controlling up to 8 different effects, with potentially hundreds of parameter changes!

Turnado’s primary focus is on beat manipulation, so you will find lots of loopers, slicers and grain tools in the rack. Alongside these beat-mashing effects are an arsenal of distortions and filters as well as first-class delays and reverbs. With extensive modulation possibilities each effect can produce millions of unbelievable variations that can be morphed and twisted into something new every time you tweak those knobs.

On the Mac, Turnado requires OS X 10.4 or later, a minimum 2 GHz processor, and at least 1 GB of available RAM. Turnado runs as a standalone application or as a 32 or 64-bit VST/AU plugin.

Turnado is available via direct download from Sugar Bytes for $179 / €139. A free trial version is also available.

http://www.sugar-bytes.de/content/products/Turnado/

Discuss Turnado on our Effects forum.

iZotope today released Nectar, a new plug–in which offers dozens of professionally designed vocal production styles powered by eleven processing modules. Users can select an included style and then customize it with faders tailored to that style. For further customization, switching to the Advanced View allows access all of the controls of the underlying modules that power the plug-in.

“Nectar takes the pain out of vocal processing,” says Hart Shafer, Vice President of Product Management for iZotope. “The combination of its innovative style-specific interface and access to eleven advanced modules mean that users can quickly dial in great vocal sounds without being creatively restricted.”

Nectar includes Pitch Correction, Breath Control, Compressors, DeEsser, Doubler, Saturation, EQ, Gate, Limiter, Delay, and Reverb modules. Among other innovations, Breath Control offers users a target mode, which allows them specify the desired level of breaths detected in the track. Pitch Correction includes both auto and graphical pitch editing controls.

iZotope Nectar is ideal for audio engineers, voice over artists, singer/songwriters, recording enthusiasts, podcasters, and anyone else who records sung or spoken vocals. Its dozens of styles cover genres including: Alternative & Indie, Blues/R&B, Classical, Country, Dance & Electronica, Hip Hop & Rap, Jazz, Pop, Rock, and Spoken Word.

On the Mac, Nectar requires OS X 10.5 or later (Universal Binary). It comes in Pro Tools 7+ (RTAS/ AudioSuite), VST, MAS and Audio Unit plug-in flavors.

Nectar is available at pro-audio retailers and directly from iZotope.com for $299. An introductory price of $199 will be available until 13 December 2010. A 10-day free trail version is also available.

www.izotope.com/products/audio/nectar/

Discuss iZotope Nectar in our Effects forum.

Celemony Software has announced that Melodyne editor is now available in their online shop. Melodyne editor is the first Celemony product to feature the company’s pioneering DNA Direct Note Access technology allowing access to individual notes in polyphonic audio material. Celemony are also presenting their new product line today: Melodyne studio bundle, Melodyne editor, Melodyne assistant and Melodyne essential RTAS.

Melodyne editor caused tremendous excitement all over the world when it was first presented, as its DNA technology made possible something that had always been considered impossible: The editing of individual notes in polyphonic audio material. Now that all registered Melodyne users have had a chance to put the eagerly awaited product through its paces in the course of a public beta test phase, Melodyne editor is ready for its worldwide sales launch.

As with the already-familiar editions of Melodyne, Melodyne editor offers a variety of different tools that make it possible to edit audio material in a highly intuitive and musical way — now, thanks to DNA, even if the source is a polyphonic instrument. With their totally new technical infrastructure, both the plug-in and stand-alone implementations of Melodyne editor boast numerous improvements over previous editions of Melodyne, including a very short loading time, a resizable plug-in window, still further improvements in the note detection process and sound quality, and much more.

“The feedback from the public beta testing was exceptionally positive. Many thanks to all who participated! Having subjected Melodyne editor now to an exhaustive series of quality controls, we are greatly looking forward to being able to release the application worldwide. At the same time, we are eager to see how users will take to the totally novel possibilities for audio editing the new technology affords,” says Anselm Rößler, Celemony’s Managing Director.

Melodyne editor runs stand-alone or as a VST, AU or RTAS plug-in with compatible DAWs under Mac OS X 10.4 or later and requires a dual PowerPC G5 or Intel dual core processor with 2 GB RAM.

The list price of Melodyne editor is $349 / €349. With the launch of Melodyne editor, Celemony are also restructuring their entire product line. This now includes Melodyne assistant (equivalent to Melodyne editor but without DNA: $249 / €199), Melodyne studio bundle (contains Melodyne studio 3 as well as Melodyne editor: $699/ €699) and Melodyne essential RTAS (the new version of Melodyne essential, which is only available in the Digidesign bundle).

www.celemony.com/cms/index.php?id=products_editor

Discuss Melodyne editor in our Applications forum.

Celemony Software GmbH is proud to announce two new products: Melodyne assistant, which offers the world-renowned Melodyne technology for the editing of vocals and monophonic instruments in a more affordable yet nonetheless improved format, and Version 2 of the bundle edition Melodyne essential, which now runs directly as a plug-in in the Pro Tools environment and brings with it numerous improvements over Version 1.

Melodyne assistant is the most affordable entry into the world of Melodyne and ideal for the correction and optimization of monophonic and rhythmic audio material. The user can with Melodyne assistant correct intonation or timing problems by hand, transposing notes, moving them forwards or backwards in time, deleting them, adjusting their amplitude and their formants, as well as copying them to new locations.

Melodyne assistant works as a plug-in (VST, AU, RTAS) directly in compatible hosts, allowing you to use Melodyne’s possibilities in a particularly convenient manner, and the user can conduct all editing in the context of the other tracks of his project. For the swift editing of a sample between times, Melodyne assistant can also be used as a stand-alone application.

Melodyne assistant will appear, most likely, in the beginning of November and will cost $249 / €199. The investment will prove particularly profitable if a user later wants to change to Melodyne editor (also polyphonic material) or Melodyne studio (multi-track), as attractive upgrade options are on the table for each.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer in Melodyne assistant an economical product based upon our new and markedly better Melodyne technology,” says Carsten Gehle, Celemony’s Technical Director. “For users wanting primarily to edit vocals and monophonic material, Melodyne assistant represents a very attractive tool that, in terms of quality and user-friendliness surpasses all previous editions of Melodyne and yet is nonetheless highly affordable.”

Also new is Version 2 of Melodyne essential, which offers the basic Melodyne functions for the editing of monophonic or rhythmic audio material. It is intuitive and simple to operate as well as offering the same sound quality as the new Melodyne editions editor and assistant.

Version 2 now operates directly in Pro Tools as an RTAS plug-in. That makes it still easier to enjoy the rewarding editing possibilities Celemony affords. And not only that: in Melodyne essential 2 you will also find the tried-and-tested Melodyne macros for pitch and time correction.

Melodyne essential 2 is also scheduled to appear at the beginning of November. It will be available only as part of Digidesign’s Ignition Pack software bundle and cannot be acquired separately. For products registered prior to June 2009, the update to Melodyne essential 2 will cost $59 / €49. For first registrations subsequent to June 2009, the update will be free.

www.celemony.com

Shift is a real-time diatonic granular pitch shifting and delay effect. Shift has three independent true stereo delay lines with discrete time, feedback, pan, and volume controls. Each delay line can be set in one of three pitch shifting configurations (Chromatic, Recursive, or Diatonic) and transposed by as much as an octave up or down using both coarse semitone and finely grained cent controls.

In Diatonic mode the accurate and responsive pitch tracker follows any monophonic audio source and tunes the pitch of the delay line harmonies to remain in key and in scale.

Shift‘s echoes can either be synced to the host tempo (expressing delay times as musical subdivisions of a beat, with each echo exactly in time with the host) or in free-time mode (allowing fine tuning of the delay times, up to 2 seconds.)

Each delay line can be modulated using the straightforward Pitch and Time modulation controls, capable of generating a wide range of sounds from subtle detuning to extreme audio mangling.

True independent stereo processing means that left and right channel separation is preserved. Shift is also capable or running in mono, or even mono to stereo.

With optimized audio algorithms that won’t overload your processor, rock-solid stability, and easy integration with any MIDI hardware controller, Shift is ideal for live work. With a simple and intuitive interface, flexible Bank and Program management, and total parameter automation, Shift fits right into your studio environment.

Shift is available in Audio Unit, VST plugin, RTAS for Pro Tools 7 and above, and Standalone application formats. The Mac version requires OS X 10.4 or later, an Intel processor 1.0Ghz, or above, with SSE, or PPC based processor 1.0Ghz, or above, and 512 MB RAM.

This Harmonized Pad audio demo uses Shift to add chromatic harmonies to a monophonic pad. First we have the dry synth pad sound. Then the pad is routed through Shift which creates a Major chord by adding harmonies at 4, 7, and 12 semitones. Finally, we create Minor chords by adding chromatic harmonies at 3, 7, and 12 semitones.

An evaluation is available for free download, with the following limitations:

• User created Program and Bank configurations can be saved, but not loaded.
• Output will be periodically interrupted, approximately every minute, by a short moment of silence.
• Audio output will stop after 30 minutes of continuous use. The only way to continue using Shift is to restart the application.

Purchasing a licence will remove these evaluation limitations. Shift is available as a direct download from Loomer for £35.00 (currently around $59 US).

www.loomer.co.uk/shift.htm

Discuss Shift in our Effects forum.

Breakfast Quay is announcing its new Rubber Band Audio Processor, which is a nice straightforward audio time-stretching and pitch-shifting application, written using the respected Rubber Band library from Breakfast Quay.

This small commercial standalone application (£20 UK, and there’s a very functional free demo version) offers tempo estimation, adjustment by BPM, and tap tempo — useful for loop editing and management. It can handle both very
fine and very extreme stretches, as well as pitch shifting by mere cents or multiple octaves. Available for Mac OS/X 10.4+, on Intel only at present.

Come on into the Forums to discuss the Rubbed Band Audio Processor.
Website: http://breakfastquay.com/