2007 News

November 14
Scarbee Keyboard Gold Bundle Reviewed in Keyboard Magazine!



Scarbee Keyboard Gold Bundle have received a very positive review in October issue of Keyboard Magazine.

"If you prefer to work with a library in your soft sampler, KGB is king of the hill.", says reviewer Stephen Fortner.

Read full review here:

October 16
Black Bass reviewed in Sound & Recording

Reviewer Hans-Joerg Scheffler has written a very positive review of Black Bass in german magazine Sound & Recording:

"Black Bass not only sounds exceedingly good, but it also lets you play extremely intuitively without too much use of keyswitches on the MIDIkeyboard. No other bass library allows organic sounding implementation of bass lines on a keyboard to this extent. Play easily - the script takes care of the rest.

He also have created small audio demos of the bass playing - we are very grateful!!

October 15
SCARBEE releases Red Bass for Kontakt 2

SCARBEE today released Red Bass a sample library made for N.I. Kontakt 2.2. Scarbee Red Bass is built on the samples of J-Slap'n Fingered, but has been reprogrammed to take advantage of our highly advanced scripting technology originally developed for Black Bass.

Three pick-up settings: Bridge, Both and Neck have all been recorded in both a fingered and slapped version - without the use of compression, tubes or EQ to ensure maximum flexibility in the sound production. Red Bass was designed to be very easy to play live. Almost all articulations can be triggered without any keyswitches. Eg. legato playing triggers hammer-on and pull-off, legato playing with sustain pedal pressed triggers slides, fast legato playing triggers grace notes.

Read more and listen to the demos!

September 24
SCARBEE releases Black Bass Amped 1-4 for Kontakt 2
SCARBEE today released Black Bass Amped 1, 2, 3 and 4 - four reamped editions of the successful Black Bass library for N.I. Kontakt 2.2.

Each of these products has its own distinct sound and is designed to fit certain musical styles. The amped editions provide an easy way to get the sound you want out-of-the-box without the need for expensive amp simulators or tweaking amp settings. Other than the looks and the sound the amped versions work just like the original Black Bass D.I. library - they use the same sophisticated script and programming.

Black Bass Amped 1-4 is produced and recorded by SCARBEE director Thomas Hansen Skarbye himself and developed together with Kontakt script wizard Nils Liberg to create a truly innovative and highly playable instrument for musicians, composers, and producers looking for a unique bass sound.
Read more

September 13
Sonic State Podcast talks about Scarbee Black Bass
My good friend Richard Hilton talks about Black Bass and Bernard Edward's ancient strings in latest Podcast from www.sonicstate.com. Please go and listen - it's great fun to hear these guys chat with lot of laughs in between. Apart from Rich Hilton - member of Chic and main studio guy for Nile Rodgers you hear John Musgrave - experienced producer/engineer, PJ Tracy - musician and composer from Minneapolis, virtual instrument developer Dave Spiers from GForce Software and finally Mark Tinley - sound artist and experienced boffin whos work with Nick Rhodes keeps him on his toes.

August 17
SCARBEE releases Black Bass for Kontakt 2

SCARBEE today released Black Bass a sample library made for N.I. Kontakt 2.2. Black Bass is produced and recorded by SCARBEE director Thomas Hansen Skarbye himself and developed together with Kontakt script wizard Nils Liberg to create a truly innovative and highly playable instrument for musicians, composers, and producers looking for a unique bass sound.

"I wanted to record my own favourite four string bass - THE SOUND that I always come back to." says Thomas and continues: "I use flatwound strings to get that warm, creamy fingered bass sound of the 70's disco and funk.
Read more and watch the video!

June 20
Scarbee sounds on on Paul McCartney's Memory Almost Full!
I have been a beatle fan since I was 6 years old (1970) so it makes me very happy to discover that some Scarbee sounds found their way to Paul McCartneys brilliant album "Memory Almost Full". According to magical producer David Kahne, (who is a longtime Scarbee user) they used EEP on "See Your Sunshine" and they also used CEP in a couple of places.

I can't recommend this album enough: it's fresh, musically interesting, fabulously produced by David, and Pauls vocal have not been heard better. And as a bassplayer: thumbs up for Paul!! The bass is really upfront on this album with great playing. Maybe not all of you realize that McCartney basically defined the modern bass sound (deep bass on Abbey Road, ex. Come Together), but also invented the modern lyrical bass lines. So please go ahead and buy "Memory Almost Full" and enjoy the many great songs.

June 12
Nick Manson joins Artist lounge!
"Because of the Scarbee Keyboard Gold Bundle K2, my back is no longer killing me!, says Nick Manson.

Nick is a talented jazz pianist and keyboardist, the two time Emmy Award winning multifaceted Nick Manson is also a composer, arranger and producer who has excelled in several fields. His piano playing is swinging, lyrical, consistently inventive, and quite individual.

Recently he recorded JAZZ IMPRESSIONS: RAY CHARLES with saxophonist Andy Suzuki, bassist Dean Taba, drummer Kendall Kay and singer Roby Duke. Among the catchier performances are infectious versions of "Dawn Ray," "Hit The Road, Jack," "It's All Right" and "What'd I Say." Read more

May 9
Halion Player OEM Universal Binary Released.
Steinberg has just released Universal Binary (Mac/Intel) version of the Halion Player. This 3.3 version is relevant for owners of Vintage Keyboard Collection, Keyboard Gold Bundle and Imperial Drums XL virtual instruments. There is also an update for PC.

May 8
VKC-K2 and KGB-K2 now available as downloadable products!
We can now offer our customers downloadable versions of Vintage Keyboard Collection-K2 and Keyboard Gold Bundle-K2. You can select either the 16 bit or the 24 bit version.

VKC-K2 (Download) cost $299 and KGB-K2 (Download) cost $399.

Be careful to read instructions before downloading. Go to Shop now!

April 21
Scarbee now offers downloadable sample libraries!
We can now offer our customers downloadable versions of all our sample libraries.
You can select 16 bit or 24 bit versions and we give various quantity discount if you buy from 2-7 products. This way you can buy whole VKC in individual files.

J-Slap n' Fingered is split in 6 products, 3 x Fingered and 3 x Slap and cost $39 each. We also split Funky Electric Piano in 4 parts: CA, CB, DA and DB. Each version cost $59 and includes both a normal and a muted version. Be careful to read instructions before downloading. Go to Shop now!

April 19
Myron joins Artist lounge!
When I first heard songs from Myron's album "Free" - I was completely sold... this is already one of my favorite albums to listen to. When I discovered that Myron was one of my users - I was very proud as he is also a very sympathetic guy. Please - go to his site and check this great artist out!

You are a true blessing to the music industry. The quality and care that you put into the instruments you make brings the sound of a live band right to my desktop. Thank you. - Myron

Myron, soul singer and producer was introduced to the music industry in 1998 when Island Records released his debut CD "Destiny." Since then he has written and produced music with numerous artists such as Dru Hill, Maya, Isley Brothers, Kelly price, Boys II Men, Shu, Seven, Malachai 3 and soulstress Conya Doss..
Read more

April 10
SCARBEE on MYSPACE
Hey! Scarbee is now on Myspace - site is very basic right now, but I hope to have time to work on it soon and make it look cool. I'm currently finishing several songs now that I will add to Myspace site before summer.

You will be able to hear not just my bass playing but also my vocal! Style will be a blend of funk, jazz and pop. Hopefully it will all end up in an album - I'm currently unsigned though, but I may release it under own label.

Picture is from yesterday - this is how I look in year 2007... so hello to all of you!

March 28
SCARBEE Black Bass Announced!
SCARBEE announced today the release of Black Bass a sample library made for N.I. Kontakt 2.2. Black Bass is produced and recorded by SCARBEE director Thomas Hansen Skarbye himself and developed together with Kontakt script wizard Nils Liberg to create a truly innovative and highly playable instrument for musicians, composers, and producers looking for a unique bass sound.

The initial release will feature fingered playing style but two expansion sets for Black Bass are scheduled for release later this year: Black Bass - Fingerpick EXP - a special style where you use your index finger as a pick and Black Bass - Slap EXP - thumb and plucked style. Read more...

SCARBEE Black Bass Sample Library for Kontakt 2.2 will be priced EUR 79.00 and shipping in Q2, 2007. Download full press release in pdf.

Demos are comming soon!!

March 21
Scott Kinsey joins Artist lounge!
In addition to his work with Tribal Tech (feat. Scott Henderson and Gary Willis), Scott has performed and recorded with: James Moody, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Michael Landau (Live), Philip Bailey, Anne Sofie Von Otter, Bill Evans, Robben Ford, Gary Willis, WDR Big Band, Serj Tankian (System of a Down), David Holmes & The Free Association, Joe Zawinul, Danny Carey (TOOL), Norrbotten Big Band, Tim Hagans, Bob Belden, Nicholas Payton & Sonic Trance, Matt Garrison and many others.

Scarbee's sampled vintage keyboard instruments are so good and real sounding that I can almost smell the tolex!!! I love them! - Scott Kinsey

You can also hear Scott featured in the soundtracks to "Ocean's Eleven", "Code 46", "Stander", "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", "Brown Sugar", "Analyze That!" and 2005's hugely successful "Ocean's Twelve".
Read more

March 14
The new look....
As you noticed the Scarbee website now looks a bit different - hope you like it!.

February 28
Simone Coen leaves Scarbee to form own company. In early 2007 our drum producer Simone Coen decided to leave Scarbee and pursue an old dream: forming his very own company "Chocolate Audio". Read more

December 19
SID XL Receives 5 Stars in Sound On sound!!

We are very happy to announce that Scarbee imperial drums XL has received 5 out of 5 stars in Sound On Sound magazine. Read more

November 30
VKFX Mac-Intel AU version released!
Thanks to Alfonso De Prisco and Thomas Serafini we have now released Mac-Intel AU version of our Vintage Keyboard FX. Read more

November 24
Kontakt 2 updates for VKC - K2, CEP, FEP, SEP and more..
We are glad to release updates to Kontakt 2 versions of VKC - K2, CEP, FEP, SEP that fixes the K2 bug concerning sustain pedal and release samples. Read more

October 10
Scarbee K.G.B Awarded with 5 Stars in Sound On Sound!!
"Four essential, superbly-sampled '70s keyboards in one package - highly recommended.", says reviewer Dave Stewart from Sound On Sound magazine and gives top 5 stars to Scarbee K.G.B. in October issue of S.O.S.

October 1
V.K.C. 1.2 and K.G.B. 1.2 Released!"
We are proud to release V.K.C 1.2 and K.G.B. 1.2 for KONTAKT 2.11/1.5.3 and KOMPAKT and as a Virtual Instrument powered by Halion Engine.
The sample library version (k2) includes both a 16 bit version - a 24 bit version - suitable for Studio use. For Kontakt 2.11 we also included module graphics of all instruments with various controls directly available for the user (see screenshot).



Read more

October 1
Scarbee C.E.P., E.E.P, S.E.P. & F.E.P. Released!
We have now released 4 products ready to ship October 6:

We are happy to announce

Scarbee C.E.P. (Classic Electric Piano) - the sound of a hot-rodded wonderful electric piano from the 70s!

Scarbee E.E.P. (Edgy Electric Piano) has a dynamic and versatile sound and tends more towards an 'edgier' sound.

Scarbee S.E.P. (Sticky Electric Piano) has a sound that sonically lies somewhere between the reedy bite of the E.E.P. and the purer bell tone of another classic electric piano.

Scarbee F.E.P. (Funky Electric Piano) has a big round 'twanging' bottom end and a top end which was wiry and tight.

All the new keyboard libraries includes both a 16 bit version (Live) + a 24 bit version - suitable for Studio use.

Screenshots from Kontakt 2.11 versions. Read more

Juli 5
J-Slap'n Fingered Update 2.2 available!
This update fixes all bugs with the "monophonic" strings and also FINALLY fixes all problems with Key-triggers (Articulation)in Kontakt 2. Read more

June 7
C.E.P. and W.E.P. on the Baptism World Tour with Lenny Kravitz

"I used Scarbee C.E.P. and E.E.P. on the Baptism World Tour with Lenny Kravitz. They are by far the best sounding samples for classic electric pianos out there!", George Laks, keyboardist for Lenny Kravitz. Read more