IK Multimedia announces a variety of major releases for its SampleTank 4®, the newest generation of IK's sound and groove workstation that offers professional-quality sounds, an intuitive interface and powerful editing and effects for musicians and producers. The new SampleTank 4 Custom Shop is a free download for Mac/PC that offers a powerful introduction to SampleTank 4, with more than 4 GB of professional-quality sounds plus editing and effects, with all the features of the full software. Users can take advantage of its many instruments and MIDI grooves to quickly and easily write songs and create tracks, then add effects, mix, and more.
A new public beta SampleTank Editor for all paid versions of SampleTank 4 offers even more creative freedom, letting users and developers easily create their own custom SampleTank Instruments and Libraries.
For further inspiration and song-ready grooves, six new SampleTank Libraries are now available, covering a range of instruments and loops.
Full SampleTank Features
SampleTank 4 Custom Shop offers musicians a full-featured, free introduction to the power of SampleTank 4 sound and groove creation workstation. Combining IK's award-winning sound engine with dozens of all-new Instruments and hundreds of MIDI loops, SampleTank 4 CS allows the creation of full tracks in a single plug-in, with the ability to expand as needed with additional sound libraries. All-new sounds cover all the essential instrument basics, and have been produced and specially programmed to make full use of SampleTank 4's deep sound creation features.
Key SampleTank 4 CS features include:
- 50 Instruments, with over 4 GB of sound content
- Comprehensive library; expandable with additional libraries
- 200 MIDI grooves to build tracks quickly
- Works as a plug-in or as stand-alone software
Best of all, users can take advantage of the full SampleTank sound engine and use features and included sounds with no restrictions. Like all versions of SampleTank 4, it also offers a re-designed sound engine with disk streaming; four Groove Players to animate sounds; a mixer with 70 effects, FX sends and master bus.
New instrument creation made easy
For those looking to bring their own sounds into SampleTank 4, the new SampleTank Editor is a free public beta sample import/programming tool that can be used to create new SampleTank 4 Instruments and Libraries. It's available to registered users of any paid version of SampleTank 4, and can be downloaded from User Area on the IK Multimedia website.
A streamlined, tab-based interface guides users through the process of constructing SampleTank Instruments - from the sample level all the way to the master Instrument. Instruments can be combined to create full Libraries.
The editor enables users to:
- Import and auto-map samples into SampleTank format
- Edit and adjust Zones and Oscillators
- Import custom icons and add descriptions and tags
- Export creations as SampleTank 4 Instruments and Libraries
Even more grooves and sounds
Also available are six new SampleTank Libraries in the expansion library series. Their wide selection of instrument types, ranging from drum loops to robotic sci-fi synths, will inspire diverse musical styles including funk, reggaeton, pop, indie rock, and more. They include:
L.A. Confidential - grooves from top L.A. session drummers
L.A. Confidential pairs award-winning producer Filippo Gaetani and three in-demand, L.A. super-session drummers: Fernando Sanchez (Chris Cornell, Luis Fonsi, Christina Perri), Kellii Scott (Queens of the Stone Age, Faith Hill, P!nk), and Tim Dow (Pete Yorn, Year of the Rabbit, Shiner). Recorded in one of L.A.'s hottest studios with world-class gear and techniques, L.A. Confidential delivers more than 2000 new grooves (over 10 GB of sounds) in dozens of styles, from smooth '70s grooves to alternative rock, breaks and more. Loops are included in stereo dry, stereo wet, and multi-track stem versions, as both loops and WAV files for maximum flexibility.
Alternate Keys - fresh chromatic instruments
This collection features unconventional keyboard instruments designed to add vibrant color to roots-oriented indie, folk, R&B, pop, rock music, and more. A variety of accordion, harmonium, chord organ, toy piano, harpsichord and melodica samples were recorded for the collection using top-quality instruments, microphones and studio gear. For added realism, round robins and appropriate multiple articulations have been included. The collection contains over 2.2GB of all-new, previously unreleased samples and more than 100 new SampleTank 4 instruments, along with pre-programmed control macros and effects.
Clavitube - funky, vibey, amped clavinets
Clavitube covers the full range of tones in the iconic Hohner® Clavinet from the 1970s. It was recorded in stunning detail using two meticulously maintained instruments: the classic D6 model and the road-oriented E7 model. The Clavinets are then processed through three guitar amp models from IK's AmpliTube guitar and bass tone studio. Clavitube also includes a selection of guitar-like presets using the unique Clavinet whammy bar modification along with amp models and effects from AmpliTube for extra attitude. This collection offers 1.6 GB of samples and 250 SampleTank 4 Instrument presets, plus pre-programmed control macros, sound effects and more.
Hitmaker - for that next big hit song
Hitmaker is a three-collection series with distinct styles for added expression, creativity and genre diversity. Each one offers 100 new SampleTank 4 Instruments, 50 MIDI loops, and 1.4 GB or more of all-new samples, as well as pre-programmed control macros and sound effects. All were created and processed with high-end studio gear to add warmth and punch. The collections are:
Reggaeton - track-ready, tropical-inspired reggaeton sounds and grooves
- Hard-hitting sounds and loops inspired by today's popular artists and producers
- Brand new drum kits, analog synths, guitars, pianos, brass, strings, vocal chops, MIDI grooves and more
Synthwave - vintage analog tones with a futuristic twist
- Retro-futuristic analog sounds and loops inspired by iconic '80s artists and films
- Bass synths, synth leads, electrified analog drum kits, dystopian atmospheric pads, soaring synth strings, evolving synth arpeggios and robot vocal chops
Trap - hard-hitting sounds and grooves
- Radio-ready sounds and grooves inspired by today's most popular artists and producers
- Heavy hitting drum kits, soulful pianos, dreamy pads, huge brass, distorted guitars, and more
Spaceport '77
Also available is Spaceport '77, the first expansion library for SampleTank 4, which was announced in fall 2019. Designed to give tracks some '70s and '80s sci-fi flavor, this collection was made using meticulously deep samples of two classic keyboards: the Oberheim® OB-1 synthesizer and the Yamaha® CP-30 electronic piano. It offers true-to-original details and classic sounds from the past voiced to deliver otherworldly soundscapes, galactic bass tracks and wizard-like celestial leads. This collection adds 100 new Instrument presets and 3.9 GB of content.
About SampleTank 4
Available for Mac/PC and iPad/iPhone, SampleTank 4 was designed from the ground up to be every musician's "go to" music creation workstation. It features a massively expanded sample library (up to 8,000 sounds across 260 GB of samples) a fully scalable/zoomable interface, and a cutting-edge sound engine that offers efficient hard-disk streaming and advanced sound design/editing possibilities.
The library and sound engine are complemented by innovative dynamic Groove Players (arpeggiator, strummer, pattern and loop player), 70 effects, a Mix window, and powerful integration with IK's iRig Keys I/O line of keyboard controllers. In addition, a Live mode lets musicians hit the stage with fingertip-ready controls for live performance and the ability to build an entire set list and create song presets.
Price and availability
SampleTank 4 CS is available for Mac/PC via direct download from the IK Multimedia website. The new libraries are available from the IK Multimedia online store and from IK authorized dealers worldwide as follows:
L.A. Confidential - Now available via direct download for $/€99.99*.
Alternate Keys - Now available via direct download for $/€79.99*.
Clavitube - Now available via direct download for $/€79.99*.
Hitmaker series - Now available via direct download for $/€49.99* each.
Spaceport '77 - Now available via direct download for $/€79.99*.