this is an old school hack, but it works around the “only one instance can be open at a time” issue with the beat thang virtual vst plugin.

this quick video shows how to make it happen.

So the Beat Kangz recently released an update for beat thang virtual, version 2.0, which added AU plugin support for Mac users among other things.

That left us PC/Vst folks with a bad taste in our mouths…as we’ve been asking for a plugin version for a while as well.

They also released a beta version of the vst plugin.

What this means is, it’s a test version, that is close to release but isn’t in it’s final stages yet.

Luckily they opened the beta to all BTV users, so you can just download and try the VST version for yourself.

Also any new customers get to try the VST version as well.

I just put together a quick video showing how it works in Ableton Live, so fare it’s been very stable, I must say, with no crashes or anything at all.

check it out, and you can download it right from the beat kangz front page or if you don’t have BTV yet, you can get it now for 99 bucks (used to be 149) on the beat thang site

After literally MONTHS of waiting for an update to fix bugs and issues with the software, as well as add  much needed functionality, the beat kangz have released version 1.21 of their software.

Many features that we all were expecting didn’t make this update, things like being able to use it as a plugin, full ability to map midi, autochopping, etc….they aren’t there.

Maybe in the next update? Who knows.

Here’s a quick list posted by Rev of the beat kangz on the update and future updates:

What’s up Fam. Here is a quick overview of what you can expect from the BTV 1.2.1 update. Formal bug fixes will be posted soon:

1. Enhanced multi-timbral functionality: For all the heads that wish to use the sounds of BTV, but sequence from an external hardware device, we now have a separate multi-timbral mode. Just enable it in the systems dialogue, and you can use BTV as a tone module for your MPC or other MIDI hardware or software sequencer. (see new manual download for specifics).

2. Increased stability. Includes many crash fixes that you guys reported. (will be listed in formal crash fixes doc.)

3. Better handling of PACE installations, authorizations and updates.

4. New Tempo functionality. Tempo window now deals with decimal places. Just hold the shift key and adjust tempo for more precise tempo definition.

5. On the surface, it may not seem like much, but under the hood we added enhanced functionality that makes it possible to upgrade to version 2.0 for use as a plugin in your DAW. Within a matter of weeks, we will begin to release subsequent updates that implement AU and VST support for Logic, Live and then Cubase. Having 1.2.1 will position you to make the best use of these upgrades. And remember, all you early adopters get it for free.

6. Enhanced Snow Leopard support. Many OSX 10.6 bugs fixed.

I know it’s been a long wait, and we appreciate all of you early adopters that have supported us from the beginning and been so patient as we add features. We pay serious attention to your feed back so please keep it coming. You are helping us to make BTV a truly world class production tool.

Thank you very much! More to come soon. Peace.

-Cool Rev
Vice President
Beat Kangz Electronics

Let’s see what happens with the next update, let’s see how long it takes, I still can’t believe auto-chopping isn’t added yet, and it doesn’t look like it will be in the next update. Maybe a 2.0 feature?

we’ll see. You can get the update on the beat kangz homepage. www.beatkangz.com

New video from the Beat Kangz showing more footage of the beat thang hardward drum machine.

This time they made it talk!

check it out

If you’ve been following my uploads and twitter updates from NAMM last week, you know that last Friday I had a chance to actually sit down with the Beat Kangz and mess around with the beat thang hardware.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to get any video.

We were scheduled to hook back up the next day to get some video but it didn’t work out, both myself and the beat kangz had a full schedule at NAMM.

All I did was take this one photo in passing as we were chatting lol.

It’s real, they’ve updated the build quality to all metal, making the machine pretty sturdy.

Fear not, I will have plenty of videos for you when I get the thang in my hands….

Luckily for us Peter Kirn from createdigitalmusic.com did get some video of it, so check it out, and lemme know what you think.