Difficult Audio – RetroSound MK100 (KONTAKT)

 

Emulation of the pearl of the 80s.
RetroSound MK100 is a combination of a synthesizer and a drum machine based on the MK100 of the early 80’s, lovingly recreated for the Kontakt sampler. All presets can be modified with different waveforms and envelopes just like a hardware device, along with chorus and tremolo effects. In addition, it is possible to connect the original sounds to the Kontakt synthesis engine, so each of the two synthesis levels can have its own independent filter and envelope settings. There are all pre-installed drum patterns, including whistles and a custom drummer. The drums’ voices are not limited to the exact preset sounds of the hardware device, but can be changed in several ways: when recording patterns in real time, in a graphic step editor that allows you to create your own patterns, as well as using a MIDI keyboard to conduct creative sessions in real mode time. The effects page combines all this together with reverb and delay, as well as some other effects for further sound shaping. Or you can just leave the FX off and use the usual plug-ins as needed.

Just inspiration : the MK100 was a small jewel among the home keyboards. Unlike contemporaries, the stereo chorus in the MK100 had 12 standard presets consisting of two layers, and you could adjust waveforms and envelopes, and each of which was used (the manual proudly proclaimed “1.376 sound possibilities!”). And it’s really great! And, although it’s not an FM machine, its sounds, waveforms and color scheme have been cut from an entirely new range of DX. As a result, it sounded new and looked amazing! But that is not all! Along with the pre-installed drum patterns, you had a programmable drum machine – yes, maybe for the first time on your home keyboard you could write your own drum patterns! A big advantage was the “Multi-Menu”, an innovative device that opened a new set of menu options, allowing the user to customize sounds, access to the user’s drummer, the user’s bass player and the Music Recorder function, and save / load data from the cassette.

Synthesizer : RetroSound MK100 is equipped with 12 basic preset sounds of the hardware device. Each preset can be individually adjusted by including Vari 1 and / or Vari 2 (Curves) and selecting different options – the first group of four in the menu, applying it to Wave 1, and the second group of four to Wave 2. Many presets there are additional “hidden” waves and / or parameters of the envelope, so different presets have different sound capabilities, true to the behavior of the hardware device. By turning on the Extended Synthesis page, you now have full control over the filter settings, envelopes, and cycle response for each of the two levels (or both together in the “Link” mode) to get more creative options while preserving the character of the instrument. You can also expand and expand layers.

Drums : The MK100 drum machine is equipped with 12 templates of pre-installed “styles”, each of which has three options, as well as its own pattern of fills and is synchronized with the tempo of the host. When Syncro Start is turned on, the drum machine starts either by pressing a key or it will follow your transport panel controls in the host. By including “Key Play”, patterns and fills can be started in real time from your MIDI keyboard. “User Drummer” contains a step-by-step editor and allows you to edit / create your own patterns. You can use both a step-by-step editor and a real time recording / deleting to create your patterns using 6 built-in drum sounds. “Voice” allows you to adjust each of the drum sounds – you can change the pitch, reduce the sound decay, change the tone and color (the effect of each of them depends on each voice), send to global reverb and delay (if they are included) and balance the level. If you selected a large number of outputs in the Kontakt output configuration, and not just stereo output, each drum will be redirected to its own output to your host for further processing.

Effects : This page contains global effects and other instrument settings. Global reverb and delay are available in the synthesizer (you can also send individual drum voices to each FX), as well as adjusting the slow and deep phaser. Output effects include tape warming, width and general compression settings. You can completely disable FX at the touch of a button, and use the “FX Lock” button to lock the selected state of all settings when viewing additional presets.

 

Sponsored Links