Final Spurts

18.Apr 2008

Time rushes, doesn’t it ? But finally we’re getting there. In-house testing is almost done, beta testing starting next week, but it looks already so finished that we’ld love to release it better today than tomorrow. However, quality first, it will take a few more days, here’s a new screenshot, a 99% finished GUI, by far not showing whats under the hood :-)

New features

1.Jan 2008

Most of the RMV's new features have been coded and are currently being tested and fine-tuned. The following features are most likely to be present in the first release of the RMV. Note however, that this list is provisional and might change if we come across any problems during testing.

• A new Loop tool has been integrated. The Loop tool allows you to import any loop as a raw sample and automatically slice it. Slice points can be adjusted manually if required. REX loops can now be imported. The Loop tool contains many new and innovative features making it superior to any other loop tool currently on the market. For example, the Loop tool includes:
• Intelligent automatic slicing for super-accurate results
• Manual adjustment of the number of slices, as well as the position of slice points, with or without assistance
• Each slice can be individually processed. Slice processing capabilities include various envelopes, LFOs, a Filter and a complete Modulation Matrix
• Slice processing is non-destructive
• Six loops can be loaded simultaneously
• Each loop is fully independent and can be processed individually
• Each loop has access to an extensive effects section. Both insert and send effects are available, creating a complete mixing environment for each loop
• Editing Groups allows the simultaneous editing of multiple slices
• A new Librarian has been integrated. The Librarian is superior to any other audio browser for drum tools currently available. It features detailed search and management tools for Drum Kits, single Hits, loops and MIDI files. Existing Libraries can be imported and managed by the RMV Librarian.
• Enhanced content. The new RMV comes with the complete library of Drum Kits and single Hits found in the RM IV. In addition to this, several new Kits and a large selection of up-to-date and exciting Loops have been added. The new Kits and Loops have been produced exclusively for the RMV by some of the world's best sound designers
• New Drum Synthesizer. After several suggestions from our users, we decided to add a dedicated, universal drum synthesizer. The drum synthesizer is simple, versatile and sounds amazing! We're confident that you won't need any other drum synthesizer. The new drum synthesizer features an oscillator with a wide frequency range, multiple source waveforms, a noise oscillator with a multimode filter, and a bunch of wicked modulation possibilities!
• Improved Audio Engine. Several new features have been added to the RMV's audio engine. These include:
• Voice Limit per Hit
• Fixed position per Pad. This ensures that a Pad always has the same pan position, independent of the Kit or Kit type that is currently loaded. This means that a sound's pan position remains constant whether it's part of an RM IV Kit, an RMV Kit, or any of the supported import formats. Sounds are panned where you expect them and so that they maintain a 1:1 match with your hardware controller (this feature supports any Akai MPD or MAudio Trigger controller).
• Parameter Readout upon mouse-over
• Adjustable Envelope shape
• Many improvements in the dedicated drum synth modules (clap, kick, snare, etc.)
• The Modulation matrix has been extended so that it now has 12 slots. It also contains several new modulation possibilities
• Modulation in the Matrix can now be “one-shot” or continuous. In the case of “one-shot” modulation, a modulator's current value is captured as a “snapshot” when a sound is triggered. Alternatively, a modulator's value can be used to continuously modulate a sound.
• Each Hit and each Slice now have 3 individual LFOs
• Envelopes can now be used in Normal Mode, One-Shot Mode or Loop Mode
• The RMV can now automatically switch between the currently selected Pad and the Pad that is currently playing. This means that the current Pad can be selected by playing an external MIDI device. This makes editing Kits or Loops much faster. Of course, this feature can be switched off when it is not needed.
• MIDI Mapper. A new, “intelligent” MIDI Mapper ensures that MIDI files are played back correctly even when the Kit used to play them does not exactly match the contents of the MIDI file. The Mapper ensures that the closest matching sound in the current Kit is used to play back the MIDI messages. For example, if a specific HiHat sound is not in the current Kit, the Mapper selects the next-best HiHat sound from the kit.
• Kit size has been increased. The size of an RMV Kit has been increased to 48 Pads. The 48 Pads are arranged into 3 groups of 16 so as to match current hardware controllers. Because the 48 Pads are arranged into 3 groups of 16 it also means that there won't be a large number of unused Pads when you work with small Kits.
• Extensive Effects section. The RMV features 3 insert effects for each pad or slice, and three send effects. The available effects include Delays, Reverbs, WahWah, Distortion and Filter, Equalizer, Compressors, Flanger and Phaser..

GUI Update

1.Nov 07

We last minute switched the 18 pads layout of the RM IV to a new 4x4 (=16 pads) layout. The main reason is, that most hardware controllers do also feature this 4x4 design and it probably makes the use of RMV a lot more logical when it has the same layout. Together wit the planned new feature of locking certain Notes to certain positions its should always give you an exactly 1:1 response of your controller and the RMV. Peter tried it and its a bigger plus as one would expect at the first moment, and, RMV will be the first drum solution wit this feature.

First design preview

02.Oct 07

Over the past few months, the LinPlug lab has been hard at work on the new version of our RM series. We've been contacted by many people interested in what it will be like so we thought we'd give you a special sneak preview here. First of all, a priority has been given to preserving the ease of use that we achieved with the RM IV. This means that the overall look of the instrument has not changed too much. The instrument has been given a new colour scheme that is even easier to read, even after hours in the studio. Key parameters are easy to adjust, and the number of mouse clicks required for general use is minimal. It's definitely a "hands on" instrument, even more so than the RM IV.
Attention: The screenshot above is about the GUI look, dont look at the features( there are some that wont appear in the next RM as well some essential ones not being shown).

Release planned for December 2007

02.Oct 07

Coding of the next RM began a couple of months ago. Thanks to Bart, our new coder, things have been progressing much faster than in the past. Currently we have 4 people working on it. Bart is coding new features and improving existing features, Pavol (who usually works on the Mac aspects of the instruments) is helping with that too. Branis is working on GUI design and Peter is organizing the project and coding as much as he can.

Fortunately, thanks to you, our large user-base, we didn't feel the need to make something "new" just to get noticed. Instead, we've focused on the practical needs of musicians doing daily studio work. As a result, you won't find features like adjustable microphone positions and multiple gigabyte kits in the next RM. Rather, you'll get more than 50 detailed improvements and several new features, all of which will help you to "get the job done". Our main focus in designing the next RM was that nothing should become too complicated, and that no operation should take longer than it already does. Features that you don't use won't interfere with your workflow, while features that are used often are right at your fingertips. We have spent a considerable amount of time dealing with conceptual design questions and we're confident that the next RM is going to be an industry-leading percussion instrument

Its just there! Adjust a pads volume or pitch, mute or solo it right without switching screens. Just one out of many design details.

Grace period started

02.Oct 07

Though the final price of the next RM is yet to be determined, there are two facts that you can count on: it won't be more expensive than the RM IV, and you'll be able to upgrade to the next RM free of charge if you bought the RM IV on or later than 1 July 2007. That's a 5 month upgrade period so don't let the impending release of the next RM put you off purchasing the RM IV. The next RM will be available primarily as a download, although it will also be available on DVD (in the case of the DVD version there will be a small additional cost for shipping/handling).