Publisher : ThePhonoLoop
Format : Kontakt (7.10.5+)
Quality : Stereo 44.1 kHz 24 bit
- 9.6 GB
Description :
A creative space that reveals the charm of the imperfections of the old mechanism
A vintage electromechanical keyboard from the 1970s with 16 dynamic layers, as well as 60 additional sounds obtained by distorting the source material through Eurorack modules and tape loops, supplemented by resonant effects and synthesis based on physical modeling. All this is realized on an MPE-compatible engine equipped with two independent modules – a looper and a granular synthesizer designed for both slow, gradually changing textures and sharp, rapid impulses. Loading of user samples is supported.
Let your adventure begin where all familiar paths end.
An exploration of a 70s classic
We’ve long wanted to capture the essence of this electro-mechanical classic – and by essence, we mean all the mechanical clicks, noises, and beautiful imperfections of a machine over 50 years old.
At first, we saw it as a natural evolution of our Cassette series, taken a few steps further: 16 dynamic layers, release and mechanical samples – all still passed through tape in the end. Then, out of curiosity, we loaded the raw samples into the Tapes engine and started playing around – and it quickly became clear how we should shape its final form.
The result? A deeply sampled, expressive instrument – a playground of evolving textures, all housed in a sound engine built for discovery and experimentation.
Just the way we like it.
Two independent granular engines
While themkI builds on the engine introduced in Tapes.01, it’s not meant to be version 2. Instead, it takes things in a different direction, better suited to the sampled material.
Animated mode (known as Swarm mode in Tapes) now features polyphonic modulation, with each layer running on its own independent engine (which also makes it MPE compatible). This setup allows you to combine standard polyphonic playback (Single mode) with sequenced / granular, two Single modes or two sequenced / granular.
We’ve also introduced a system of instrument modes, 16 at the moment, designed to keep things simple and fun while still encouraging deep sound exploration.
Two independent sequencers
Each layer has its own 16-step sequencer, available in both Animated and Single mode, where it can act as a voice-specific modifier. For example, you can set it to play one sound source on notes 1–3, another on notes 4–6, shift every third note up an octave, reverse every fifth note, detune the last few notes, or set a unique sample start position per note. The list goes on.
Another example, first layer might play single notes with a classic ’70s soul vibe, while the second is faded in via the mod wheel or an MPE controller, scanning through the waveform in a granular fashion or playing micro-loops with duration and position set by the voice sequencer / modifier.
Features :
• 10.50GB Size (after NCW compression)
• 500 Presets
• 12507 Samples
• Main sources:
◦ clean (DI through tube preamp) plus two recorded on different cassette decks (deck A, deck B)
◦ 16 dynamic layers
◦ 16 dynamic layers release samples
• Mechanical samples:
◦ 6 dynamic layers
◦ 6 dynamic layers release samples
◦ 4x round robins
◦ additional pedal noise samples with 4x round robins
• Sound design sources:
◦ 60 sound sources in 7 categories: stacked, tape loop, pulses, mechanical, slices and one shot
◦ up to 5 dynamic layers
• Noise samples
◦ 126 noise samples in 5 categories: hardware, tape loops, vinyl, industrial and natural
