Scarbee Classic EP-88s v1.1 Incl. Matrix Expansion KONTAKT

 

Links update: 04/03/2023

WHAT'S IN YOUR SUITCASE?
Scarbee Classic EP-88s has more samples, greater dynamics and more keys – 88 of them! (compared to Scarbee Mark 1) Anyone who has tried to restore an instrument like this knows that the lowest and highest octaves take as much time as the rest of the keys put together – It's a true battle where you need a lot of patience, lots of spare parts and some luck too.


We wanted to have the best possible sustain on each key, perfect balance of tone and as much bark too. There are harder strikes (compared to Scarbee Mark 1) - as well as softer ones.

We spend an enormous amount of time cleaning the samples for noise – each sample went through four stages, where the last two were done by hand. The reason for this was the fact that we wanted to be able to offer presets with extreme treble EQ settings without having extra noise – and without hurting any part of the recordings.

Try to select a Snapshot like 'Bahian Love Affair' – and turn the Instrument Noise totally down on the Settings page – and listen to the difference...

FINDING YOUR SOUND
cep88s FXEvery musician tries to find his sound - and producers love to be able to get exactly what they are looking for. We made it easy for you: There are 45 different snapshot presets ready for you - and if you want to make your own sounds? Get started with the 117 FX presets.

You can even select different routings and have some FX come before or after amp. The possibilities are there for sure. As a tribute to George Duke we created a 3 zone split EQ and a stereo knob so you can carry on what this great man started.

THE PURE JOY OF PLAYING
To make sure you guys will get the best out of SCARBEE CLASSIC EP-88s we made a smart Key Action Calibration utility that will reveal if you actually trigger all velocity zones with your current keyboard.

With our new electric keyboard library we also introduce several new systems that improve the playability and add further realism to virtual instrument keyboards.

 

 

CLASSIC ELECTRIC PIANO 88S
True Horizontal Release Sample Technology
Flexible on-board effects with alternate routings
88 keys, 30 velocities and 8294 samples

Advanced Release Sample System
We simply scanned all sustains from start to end and Nils Liberg and me (Thomas Hansen Skarbye) designed a system so that release the samples will always have the correct sound and energy- no matter the dynamics or the time sustain is held.

Release Sample Resonance System
We created a new way to control the "box" resonance so it would completely mimic reality.

Advanced Sus Pedal Behaviour
It wasn't enough to add pedal FXs of all kinds... we also changed the way the sustain notes affect each other when playing the same key repeatedly.

Note Off Delay
On the MIDI keyboard the release sound started a little to fast compared the the real instrument and repeated notes sounded too staccato like. The solution was to simply delay the note-off sent from the MIDI-keyboard or sequencer so that it would change in same time as the original instrument. It too made a real difference in the playing experience!

FULLY NKS READY
The NKS format allows SCARBEE CLASSIC EP-88S to be integrated with Maschine and Komplete Kontrol S-Series keyboards.
All of our 45 factory Snapshots are tagged and categorised - available while browsing in Maschine or Komplete Kontrol.

 

 

WHAT IS NEW IN VERSION 1.1
We have fixed a few bugs but also added some very cool new features like the MIDI Modulation Matrix and the PRE-FX Delay.

But before you get started it is VERY IMPORTANT that you convert your old user presets first. If you load and use them in the new .nki – you will not be able to use the new features.
(See Chapter 4.2.9 Export/Import in PDF)

 

Bug Fixes
Vibrato
Speed Sync: We have changed the sync system so that you can now set the right sync value in all tempi and not have to select tempo 120 before changing note value.

Setting the speed in Hz did not work properly – it has now been fixed.

Group Structure
Bass Key Pitch Drift
Due to a missing “dummy group” in the instruments internal group structure, the last group sus - treble (b) - pitch 2 did not get correct Vibrato settings if Bass Key Pitch Drift was set to Little. It has now been fixed.

FX Routing
If you loaded a Snapshot that used FX Routing 2 (FX1 – Keyboard Amp – FX2), then changed to Routing 3 (EXT Amp – FX) – the values on EXT AMP would be set to zero (0). It has now been fixed.

Settings Page
MIDI CC Modulation
If you are using the Scarbee Classic EP-88s for live playing, you may want to be able to do some smaller adjustments using ex. the Modulation Wheel to control the intensity of the Vibrato. Or if you want to create some more advanced, artistic sounds you can now select several FX parameters to be controlled by 1-3 controllers.

Matrix: Button takes you to the MIDI CC Modulation Matrix Page.

1 Modulation Wheel Menu: Click in window and select the parameter to be controlled.

4 Foot Pedal (MSB) Menu: Click in window and select the parameter to be controlled. 

Aftertouch Menu: Click in window and select the parameter to be controlled.

Up to 6 different parameters can be mapped to each of the 3 controllers.
Be aware that some of the parameters – especially the ones that sets Levels - can introduce small clicks. The solution is to limit the max/min range of these – or simply not to use them if you find it too anoying.

Min - Max: Alters the scaling of the assignment so that the automation values are mapped to a limited range of the assigned parameter. The reduced range can then be automated with finer resolution.

The FX Page
The Delay now have an option to be set th PRE FX so that the delayed signal now can be processed with example Reverb.

Delay
Pre FX: Toggles the Delay’s placement in the FX routing. When ON the Delay comes before the FX, when OFF the Delay comes after the FX.

Speed sync: Determines whether to sync to host tempo or whether the speed knob is an absolute speed in Hz.

Time: Determines the interval in milliseconds between hearing the straight signal and the first delay of the delayed signal. This Parameter can be synchronized to an external MIDI clock. Click on the arrow to select time value from the menu.

Damping: Reduces high frequencies in the delayed signal. With feedback applied, each successive echo has a progressively lower high-frequency response.

Pan: Setting a value higher than 0 results in a panning effect where each consecutive echo alternates between the left and the right channel. The higher the value, the greater the stereo spread.

Feedback: Sends a portion of the output back into the input of the delay line, which creates repeating echoes. A value of 0 produces only one echo, higher values give multiple echoes.

Level: Sets the level of the delay signal.

Requires KONTAKT 5.5.2 or or later.

Home page

CLiCK HERE FOR DOWNLOAD