This is the place to catch up on all the biggest product announcements, hardware, apps, synths, Logic/GarageBand instruments and so much more in the world of iOS/Mac music production. This week we have some really interesting new virtual gear for Mac including a stylophone-based sampler instrument, the GEM TapeDesk analog console emulator, a completely free Casio VL-1 for your Logic setup and more…

TAPEDESK analog console/tape machine emulation for Mac

GEM TapeDesk is a new analog console and tape machine emulation plug-in for all major DAWs on Mac. It features a number of virtual console pre-amps and output modules to emulate the process of sending audio through a vintage console, to the tape machine and back through the console again.

  • Simulation of 3 legendary analog consoles
  • Simulation of a 2 inch 24-track tape machine
  • Faithful interactions between the console and the tape machine
  • Precise metering in any point of the sound chain
  • Simulation of all transformers in the original units
  • Very low CPU usage: all your tracks can have one
  • Lots of presets designed in real mixing sessions

It is available now in AU (Logic Pro X), AAX64 (ProTools 10 and 11), VST and standalone formats (32 and 64-bit) at an introductory price of $129 (Reg. $199).

New Stylophone-sampled Kontakt Instrument

The headline doesn’t really do it justice, give that video above a play while you’re reading this. The sampler instrument is based on  the old Stylophone instruments that are played using a stylus. It runs on NI’s Kontakt 5 platform and features over 128 instrument presets, 2 LFOs, 2 step sequencers, 18-effects and you can even have full control over the sound of the stylus tap and releases noises. Users can save the state of all the parameters to seven different keyswitches.

Synthophone for Kontakt 5 is available now for introductory price of $24.99 before it will jump up to the regular $39.99.

This instrument was accurately sampled to behave just like the original unit, capturing each note in all three registers, including noises for the stylus tap and release, with the ability to mix and choose between MIC input and LINE input sources giving further tonal versatility.

Free Casio VL-1 Virtual Instrument

Nothing like a good freebie. Autodafe has just dropped a free Casio VL-1 plug-in for Mac. The creators say it features sampled and looped versions of the instrument’s original presets. As you can see in the video above, it looks like we get some basic envelope controls, preset selection menu and additional vibrato depth/speed controls, alongside a built-in reverb unit.

You can download the Casio VL-1 Plugin for Logic and other major DAWs (Mac, AU, VST) for free right here. But you should consider dropping a donation down if you end up liking what you hear.

The adidas Roland TR-808: Disturb the Peace shoes

These epic TR-808 inspired adidas feature the drum machine’s classic colorways and even feature built-in beat making technology. Unfortunately they are just in the prototype phase at this point:

More details here.

Inspired by the famous Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, break dance culture, and “808” (police code for “disturbing the peace.”)…Not only do these kicks look fierce, but brace yourself: They actually. make. beats. The shoes are equipped with volume control and six different pre-programmed settings so you can recreate your favorite scenes from Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo in your mom and dad’s kitchen on a broke down cardboard box from Costco.

More:

  • Deckard’s Dream 16-VCO poly-analog synth now up for pre-order
  • The Ones: Genelec drops new three-way Smart Active Monitor Speakers
  • Junkie XL Studio Time Episode 5: Batman v. Superman Fight Cue details
  • John Carpenter shares his favorite music memory in this short animated film
  • Synclavier³ control for iPad: free-to-try or $80 full

ICYMI: Here’s all of the biggest news and updates from last week…

See anything cool in the world of music production we missed? Let us know in the comments below.

The Logic Pros are: Justin Kahn and Jordan Kahn, who also front Toronto-based electronic/hip-hop group Makamachine.

Want more Logic Pros? Check out the archives here and stay tuned for a new installment each week in 2017.