New Technology Makes Audio Elastic with Realtime
MIDI Control
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VP-9000
(Click for a larger picture) |
February 4, 2000
Roland releases new "VariPhrase" technology.
Found only in the Roland VP-9000 VariPhrase Processor, this elastic audio
technology allows audio to be altered by realtime MIDI control without
regard to pitch, phrase length, tempo, feel—and all in real time.
In short, audio is able to be manipulated in ways which were never before
possible.
With VariPhrase, any audio source can be transformed from a static recording
into a living instrument—free to be manipulated and "played"
under realtime MIDI control. A truly unique technology, VariPhrase works
by encoding audio in one of three modes for simultaneous realtime control
of pitch, formant, and time. This allows samples to be played across a
range of keys and manipulated instantly and non-destructively, all with
CD-quality sound. It also allows dramatically different audio phrases
to be "trained" to work together like never before.
VariPhrase frees itself from the limitations of sampling by making audio
elastic. For example, a vocal phrase can be rearranged into a different
performance by changing phrasing, key, inflection, length, or adding realistic
harmonies anywhere within the phrase. Or, use the Robot function to remove
all original pitch information, allowing a completely new melody to be
created from an audio phrase in real time. And because pitch, time, and
formant are processed independently, it is possible to pitch bend chords
from a single sample without a difference in note duration—perfect
for creating realistic brass falls, vocal harmonies, and much more.
Thanks to its ability to process formant, VariPhrase can convincingly
play a single sample across a wide range of keys, eliminating the need
to multisample. Even more impressive is its ability to instantly match
multiple phrase loops with different keys and tempos to a new, user-defined
key and tempo. VariPhrase can even Groove Quantize audio to make a straight
rhythm loop swing.
A non-destructive, realtime process, VariPhrase makes it possible to
timestretch/compress any audio source while maintaining CD quality sound.
For example, take an entire 30 second music bed and instantly change the
key and make it 28 seconds long. It also allows musicians to improvise
and truly "play" with audio samples much like a musical instrument.
With the VP-9000, Roland has succeeded in making audio truly elastic.
One of the most significant advancements in audio processing to date,
VariPhrase will truly revolutionize the way musicians interact with audio.
For more information,
visit Roland on the web at www.rolandus.com. |
