New Gear Alert: UAD’s Spark Subscription, ROLI’s Seaboard RISE 2, NS Pulse II Basses by Spector & More

UAD unveils the Spark subscription service.

Universal Audio announces the attractive Spark plugin subscription model.

UAD Spark is a new subscription service that puts pro audio industry standard UAD plugins and new UAD Instruments into the hands of music creators worldwide. The evolving collection runs natively on Mac for $19.99/month, with Windows coming later this year.

Included with Spark is a professional collection of UAD plugins and instruments from Neve, Moog, API, Lexicon, Teletronix, UA, and more. It will also feature UAD instruments including the Spark-exclusive Opal Morphing Synthesizer. There is no UA hardware required for Spark; it is compatible with all major DAWs that support AU, VST3, and AAX formats, and owners of perpetual UAD plugin licenses receive corresponding UAD Spark licenses for free.

For a full list of included plugins and instruments, click here.

A 14-day free trial of Spark is available; Apollo and UAD hardware owners who have purchased a perpetual license of any UAD plugin featured in Spark will be eligible to download the Spark version for free. All Volt users will be eligible for 1 month free.

ROLI unleashes the Seaboard RISE 2.

ROLI furthers their innovative Seaboard RISE with its second iteration.

The Keywave2 silicone playing surface is at the forefront of the improvements to Seaboard RISE 2. Perfected through rigorous testing with professional keyboardists and Seaboard players, Keywave2 provides tactile feedback with new precision frets, broadened surfaces, and articulated edges. Similar to a string on a guitar fretboard, this enables tonally precise and natural performances.

RISE 2 was designed in parallel with Equator2 to achieve unparalleled musical expression. Equator2 is a powerhouse hybrid soft-synth, built from the ground up for MPE. The $249 standalone program comes bundled with RISE 2, giving you access to over 1,800 presets, covering a wide range of genres, plus world-leading tools for designing and modulating sound.

Check out an introductory video to the Seaboard RISE 2 here.

Seaboard RISE 2 is available exclusively to preorder through roli.com, with limited availability for 2022. For pricing and further information, click here.

Spector introduces the NS Pulse II basses.

Spector’s NS Pulse II basses come in four-, five-, and six-string models.

Spector Musical Instruments announces an expansion of its NS Pulse series of basses with the introduction of NS Pulse II instruments, which include several new colors and wood choices, as well as a six-string model. These premium basses provide a uniquely comfortable playing experience for all players, featuring a three-dimensionally carved body that is a trademark of the Spector brand and represents the core of Spector’s design.

New four- and five-string models are available in three durable matte finishes (Black Stain, Black Cherry and Ultra Violet). Six-string models are available in Black Stain only. NS Pulse II basses feature a highly figured quilted maple top and swamp ash body paired with a three-piece roasted maple bolt-on neck, complete with a Macassar ebony fingerboard. The roasting process results in a neck that provides enhanced stability & resonance, while the Macassar ebony fingerboard ensures clear note definition and projection. These models are also equipped with EMG active pickups and a TonePump Jr. preamp, a combination that yields a range of impressive and aggressive noise-free tones. Additional features include a locking bridge, illuminating side dots, and a custom 12th-fret inlay.

Check out the launch video to the NS Pulse II basses here.

Spector NS Pulse II basses are now available in four-, five- and six-string models, with prices of $1,299, $1,399, and $1,499, respectively.

Impact Soundworks releases the Charisma Vol. 1 vocal library.

Impact Soundworks teams up with renowned opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff to deliver this enticing library.

Charisma Volume 1 is a vocal sample library of easily searchable, evocative phrases, composed and performed by opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff of The Charismatic Voice.

Elizabeth’s powerful, dramatic voice and creative melodies give Charisma a distinctive sound. Grouped in unique mood categories, the 111 wordless phrases have been recorded in multiple keys to provide versatility without sacrificing sound quality. A variety of search parameters such as key, tempo, meter, and mode allow for quick drag-and-drop use, instantly adding color and personality to music both cinematic, classical, and beyond.

Charisma Volume 1 also features single note patches with both “ooh” and “ah” vowels, multiple dynamic and vibrato levels, as well as 15 playable atmosphere sounds, to shape the melodies even further.

Charisma Vol. 1 is now available for Kontakt, priced at $69.

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