Yellow Tools announces Independence - Sonic Workstation

Yellow Tools has announced Independence, their new "Sonic Workstation" for sample libraries.

Independence enables you to use, edit, customize and manipulate your instruments in one familiar environment, featuring an intuitive user interface, unique file management, an ultra fast streaming integration and the Auto-RAM-Cleaner which allows you to load unlimited instruments in seconds.

Independence comes with a 7 GB sound library which contains a "best-of" collection of instruments from Yellow Tools products plus a lot of totally new content. Independence is fully compatible with Yellow Tools Modular Virtual Instruments Candy, Culture and Majestic and they plan to expand Independence continuously with more sound libraries. Additionally you can import WAV and AIFF files (up to 32bit/192kHz) and the Auto-Mapping Import feature lets you create your custom mappings in just a few seconds.

Main features:

• 7 GB of sample content.
• Intuitive User Interface.
• Unlimited number of Layers.
• Ultra-Fast Streaming Technology.
• Auto-Cleaner (all audio samples which you are not using, get deleted from your instruments automatically).
• Search Function for the sound library database.
• The Premium Mixer enables you to mix all your instruments in Independence without switching to your host application. Unlimited BUS channels, unlimited Custom channels (internal, virtual channels) and also more than 30 insert effects and filters are just some of the features of the mixer.
• Tune Model: Choose between more than 50 different presets of arabic, turkish or oriental tunes for your instruments. Furthermore you can also create your own tunes and add them to your preset list.
• Alternate & Legato Mode: Stepper, articulations, up to 32 different alternates and a legato mode give your instruments the human touch. All these options are customizable.
• Import Yellow Tools Modular Virtual Instruments Candy, Culture and Majestic sound libraries plus WAV and AIFF.
• The Audio Editor enables the subsequent fine-tuning of the start/end points of the sample and also the loop markers, volume, pitch, etc. of each single sample.
• Insert Effects: You can assign an unlimited number of inserts to each channel. 30 different effects are included (EQ, Compressors, Filters, reverb, etc.)
• Extended KeySwitch: Beside the standard keyswitch between several Layers Independence also contains a "layer-internal" keyswitch. So you can switch not only between whole layers but also inside a layer between different playing styles, for example.
• MIDI Learn.
• Flexible Modifier: Using the "Flexible Modifiers" you can connect any source to any destination. You can use this feature to customize and manipulate your instruments as well as to simplify and automate your work.
• Sync: Any time related modules and insert effects can get synced to the host as well as to the internal tempo. Beside the tempo in BPM you can also assign an individual beat synchronization to each module.
• Many Presets.

Yellow tools has also announced several software "Extensions" for Independence. These tools extend the performance of the Advanced Instrument Technology with features designed to user specifications.

There are initially three available:

1. PRO GROOVE EXTENSION
   Extend Independence with the option for tempo-independent grooves with unique manipulation of speed, sequence, length and pitch.
2. PRO SURROUND EXTENSION
   The Pro Surround Extension adds entire support of any professional surround formats up to surround 8.1 and also special features for multi channel samples, filter and effects.
3. PRO EFFEKT EXTENSION
   This Extension contains an additional insert effects bank with professional effects and filters, like Side Channel Compressor, Side Channel Gate, Pro Reverb, etc.

Independence will cost €/$499 and is expected to be released in August 2005. It will be available for Windows XP and Mac OS X in VST, AU, DX, RTAS, ReWire, and Standalone formats. The extensions will each cost €/$99.