The new year means new opportunities to take your music-making to the next level. Here are a few notable new hardware and software releases that can help you elevate your sound. 

Hardware

EaganMatrix Micro
By Haken Audio

Link: https://www.hakenaudio.com/eaganmatrix-micro

Price: $449.00

Haken Audio has announced its smallest product ever, the EaganMatrix Micro. The small self-contained form factor houses a full-featured EaganMatrix sound engine, powered and controlled via USB. This is great news for everyone who has been coveting the sounds of the Expressive E Osmose, powered by the same digital synth engine, but couldn’t afford the cost. The same technology is also internal to the Continuum Fingerboard and ContinuuMini. However, with a weight of only 0.075 kg (2.6 oz), the EaganMatrix Micro is the smallest implementation by far. According to Haken Audio, it is the perfect companion for the Warbl Wind Controller and provides a versatile framework for both studio and live performances. This is thanks to its robust implementation of MPE and MPE+ MIDI. 

For more information and the full specifications, visit the official Haken Audio website. The video below showcases the sound of the EagnMatrix Micro when controlled by the Warbl Wind Controller.

Confundo Funkidos
By Noise Engineering

Link: https://noiseengineering.us/products/confundo-funkidos/

Price: $345

Noise Engineering has announced their new four-part probabilistic rhythm crossfader, called Confundo Funkidos. It enables users to patch two pairs of rhythms to the left and right inputs, then fade between them and combine them in different ways using the CV-controllable crossfader and three Curve algorithms. A voice can also be brought in and out of a patch at will thanks to the mute switch of each channel. For instant fills, users can tap the “Burn” button. Confundo Funkidos also features four Accent outputs, which is an improvement over its 2016 predecessor, Confundo Funkitus. Other improvements include the addition of a potentiometer for the Burn functionality, three positions for the Mute switches, and more.

Watch the video below for an introduction to Confundo Funkidos and visit the official Noise Engineering website for more information.

Software

Liminal: Handpan Explorations
By Crocus Soundware

Link: https://crocussoundware.com/Product_HandpanExplorations.html

Price: $42 (Regular Price $70)

Crocus Soundware has released Liminal: Handpan Explorations for the full version of Kontakt 6.8. Liminal is a library of a deeply sampled Steel Handpan instrument, which some may know as a “Hang” or “Hang Drum.” With Liminal, Crocus Soundware is also introducing its new Polyrhythms engine, allowing users to perform evolving, tempo-synced polyrhythmic samples by layering MIDI notes on top of each other. Liminal features phrase-like Polyrhythmic samples as well as samples of more aleatoric and textured performances known as “clusters.” According to Crocus Soundware, these can be used as naturalistic pads for adding humanistic details. In addition, the library contains six one-shot strike articulations from the performer using their hands, fingers, and mallets. These articulations each have 42 velocity layers. 

Features:

• Made for the full version of Kontakt 6.8 or higher (Not intended for Kontakt Player)

• VST3, VST2, AU and AAX compatible host
• 3.8 GB of samples uncompressed, Stereo samples(1.7GB using lossless compression)
• 45 Polyrhythmic Articulations
• 6 Basic Strikes with 42 Velocity layers
• 7 Clusters
• 5 Tempo-synced Clusters
• 6 Pads derived from processing Cluster samples.
  
  Watch the video below to hear Liminal in action and visit the official website for more information.
  
  

Skein
By Glitchmachines

Link: https://glitchmachines.com/products/skein/

Price: $89

Glitchmachines has released a new FM synthesizer plugin called Skein, which is focused on experimental sound design and electronic music production. It features four operator modules with Skew and Noise, an FM Matrix with per-cell modulation, eight overwriteable factor FM algorithms, and a flexible modulation panel system. Skein also boasts 4 LFOs with 15 wave shapes and scopes, 4 sequences with 32 steps and utilities, 4 multi-mode amplitude envelopes, and 2 versatile multi-mode filters. The package is rounded out by a poly mode with 12 voice polyphony, a monophonic mode with glide, and a quad multi-effects chain with seven effects. Users who want to quickly jump in and hear what Skein is capable of can make use of the 160 presets across four preset banks.

Skein is available now for Windows and Mac in VST3/AU format. Check out the video below for a complete overview and visit the official website for more information.