PC and Music News

Shuriken has released Shredder, a sampler designed to be easy to use and fun to play with. It has 12 slots for samples that are controllable via MIDI notes or automatable parameters.

Shredder is free / donationware and is available as a VST plug-in for Windows and Mac OS X (UB).

KeyToSound has announced the Production Pack, a collection of four new signal processor plug-ins : Dynamic EQ, Essential Compressor, Precision EQ and Vintage EQ.

The Dynamic EQ is a 64 bit, zero latency signal processor that combines the functions of a compressor with the results of an equalizer. The Essential Compressor is a versatile and transparent compressor, designed for the discerning engineer who does not want any coloration or character added to the signal. The Precision EQ offers precise equalization, featuring an FFT representation of either the input or output signal, you can see your equalization results, even if your ears deceive you. The Vintage EQ gets its name from the warmth and character you hear when passing a signal through this EQ.

The Production Pack will be av ...

TC-Helicon is pleased to announce the immediate availability of their professional rackmount voice processor, VoiceWorksPlus. It features a complete suite of vocal processing from EQ, intelligent harmony, voice modeling, and TC-engineered studio effects to megaphone and distortions. The fourth generation intelligent harmony processing boasts more flexible and natural MIDI control, as well as new humanization technology.

VoiceWorksPlus is available for € 740 excl. VAT from TC-Helicon dealers. Note that video examples of presets can be found online at :

Rayzoon is pleased to announce that Jamstix 2, the long awaited successor to the original virtual drummer Jamstix, will be released on august 8th, 2007.

Features :

- real-time groove composition using dedicated style and drummer modeling (not static patterns!)
- in-depth drummer limb simulation, including triangulation of hand movements, ensures that the grooves are always humanly playable (no ten-armed drummer here)
- advanced feel modeling includes sound-specific pocket delays, power and timing variations and can play ahead, on or behind the beat
- real-time fill generator produces unique fills (no static patterns used!) that match the style and drummer in use
- streamlined interface with visual drum kit for editing as well as just watching the drums play
- part-based arranger ...

Cue 5 with Binary Drive by Hosa Technology is an affordable, all-digital monitor system featuring true class-D amplification. The Cue 5 system accepts 24-bit/96 kHz signals directly via optical or coaxial S/PDIF inputs. Bundled control software for Macintosh and PC enables users to tailor the unique sound stage of the Cue 5 system for critical listening in any environment. This lightweight, cool-running monitoring system is the ideal choice for desktop recordists, mobile DJs, and digital music enthusiasts.

Features :

• True-to-life sound stage for "visual" mixing
• Zero intermodulation distortion
• Zero noise in Toslink and S/PDIF modes
• Expansive analog and digital connectivity options enhance portability
• Source digital signals up to 96kHz directly vi ...

The newly founded company Vital Arts has just released its first product, Plectrum. This virtual instrument library features 185 original acoustic instruments, powered by Tascam's GVI streaming sample playback engine. Designed by Geoffrey Gee (pianist, composer, and former Senior Soundware Engineer at Kurzweil Music Systems), Plectrum's ultra-friendly interface presents these instruments in nine categories based on these sound sources: Strummed Strings, Struck Strings, Plucked Strings, and String Harmonics; Glass, Ceramics, Metals, and Found Objects, and Habitats. Each instrument features a round robin playback that enhances the organic feel and texture of an acoustic instrument. The instruments in Habitats use this feature to offer ever-evolving sound environments with names such as August Morning, Afternoon Rain, Forest Stream, and Crickets.

Plectrum is available at a retail price of $299 for PC in VST, RTAS and stand-alone versions, with Mac support expected in September '07.

Db audioware has just released two new dynamics processing plug-ins , Sidechain Compressor and Sidechain Gate. Created to satisfy a long-standing demand for side-chain capability missing in many audio software packages, both plug-ins feature db audioware's Universal Sidechains. This proven technology gives the plug-ins true multi track side-chaining operation in most audio programs running on Mac OS X and PC Windows, independent of the native routing offered by the host software itself.

Multi track side-chaining allows one track to control the dynamics of another. Traditional applications range from broadcast voice ducking to intelligent gating of drum tracks to remove crosstalk. Sidechain Compressor and Sidechain Gate are also aimed at more creative applications such as synchronised g ...

Motu has just announced the long awaited MachFive 2. The second version of this famous virtual sampler comes up with a lot of new features :

- Unique, unified design provides instruments, loops, phrases and synthesis in one simple window
- Second generation 32-bit UVI Engine, superb sound quality up to 24-bit/192kHz
- Unlimited parts (unlimited multi-timbral operation)
- Unlimited polyphony and ultra low software latency
- Unlimited sample keygroups and keygroup layers
- Up to 200 discrete audio outputs (depending on host)
- Up to 256 MIDI channels (depending on host)
- Three-dimensional layered keygroup mapping with unlimited layers and dynamic, programmable-rule-based layer switching
- Built-in graphic mixer with faders, FX inserts, metering and unlimited channels
- Disk stre ...

If you thought the forums PcMusic.Org were a little bit too spartan, rejoice ! We're creating a whole bunch of new ones especially for you, proud PcMusic.Org members. More than 25 for a start to clear the software (with the major contenders) and interfaces (ditto) forums and you can expect some more later on… As a consequence, in the next hours, we'll have to move threads in their proper places so if you see threads walking around, it's normal, Team at work ! Enjoy !