PC and Music News

M-Audio Releases GForce Virtual String Machine, a new virtual instrument that evokes '70's string synthesizers and more: over a dozen of the finest vintage string synthesizers. Emulations included : the Freeman String Symphonizer, Eminent 310, ARP Omni II, ARP Quartet, Crumar Multiman, Polymoog, Elka Rhapsody, Korg PE2000, Logan String Melody, Eminent Solina, Roland RS202, Yamaha SS30 and more. The software manifests in over 60 different Sample Sets spanning the many different settings of these venerable instruments—over 3,200 meticulous samples in all.

More than a preset device, the Virtual String Machine does not stop at simply emulating the best string machines of all time. It allows users to layer any two Sample Sets and apply synthesizer parameters to each layer—creating different envelopes, filter settings, pitch LFO, pan positions, fine-tune amounts and more. The master output stage then provides a vintage-style phaser and/or ensemble to the final patch. While fully programmable, this software instrument also ships with over 500 factory presets.

The Virtual String Machine can function as a stand-alone instrument in conjunction with a MIDI controller. It is also a plug-in compatible with most popular host applications including Pro Tools LE®, Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools M-Powered , Ableton Live, Cubase, Logic, GarageBand, SONAR, Digital Performer, and ACID. Compatible formats include VST 2.0 (Mac/PC including VSTi), RTAS (Mac/PC) and Audio Units (Mac).

The Virtual String Machine is currently available and carries an MSRP of $149.95 US.

KeyToSound today announced the release of the Production Pack, a suite of essential audio stereo processors, including the following 4 plug-ins:

The Dynamic EQ - a 64-bit, zero-latency signal processor.
- 4 bands with solo feature and individual metering, threshold, ratio, attack, and release settings
- Frequency, bandwidth, and gain settings per band
- Global metering with up to +12db gain output

The Essential Compressor - an extremely versatile and transparent compressor.
- 64 bit processing with responsive VU level indicator for input and output signal
- +/- 24db headroom

The Precision EQ -. Featuring FFT representation of either the input or output signal.
- 7 bands with 7 different filter types per band
- Graphical drag and drop curve, Q, Frequency ...

Samples logic's Ambience Impacts Rhythms has been taken to the next level. This free update has been redesigned to allow the user additional control to shape and effect each instrument. Along with new hot skins, ADSR and delay controls have been implemented to streamline your production process.

What's New and Fixed:
• Hot new skins
• Fixed various default panning issues
• Fixed various default volumes issues
• Added velocity intensity variations to percussive kits
• Added ADSR controls to all instruments
• Rerouted Reverbs and Delays as inserts, not sends
• Added additional delay controls
• Non-working instruments have been fixed

Mac OS 10.4 or later. Windows XP or later
Kontakt Player 2.2.3 / Kontakt 2.2 or later
VST, DXi, RTAS, AU, Standalone

Free update

Available now. Download

BIAS Master Perfection Suite, an ensemble of six professional audio processing plug-ins, has been updated to version 1.2 and now supports additional host applications on Mac and Windows computing platforms. The Master Perfection Suite is aimed at musicians, recording and mastering engineers, audio and video editors, sound designers and other audio professionals. This value packed plug-in bundle includes: Repli-Q (spectral matching), PitchCraft (pitch correction/manipulation), Reveal (analysis), Sqweez-3 & -5 (multi-band dynamic processing), SuperFreq (paragraphic EQ), and GateEx (gate/expander).The Master Perfection Suite now integrates with a broad range of Audio Units (Mac), RTAS(Mac/Win), and VST(Mac/Win) compatible host applications including: Audition, Cubase, Digital Performer, Live, Logic, Peak, Pro Tools, Sonar, Sound Forge, Wavelab, and more.

In addition to supporting Mac OS X v.10.3.9, 10.4 and Windows XP, the Master Perfection Suite is also fully compatible with Apple's new Mac OS X v.10.5 (Leopard) and Microsoft's Vista operating systems.

The Master Perfection Suite is now available for $599 US SRP through authorized BIAS resellers and distributors worldwide, and directly from BIAS. While the suite offers a savings of almost $400 US, the individual plug-ins may be purchased separately via download and start as low as $79 US (introductory price). Registered users of Master Perfection Suite may download the version 1.2 update at no charge from the BIAS web site. The Master Perfection Suite is also available as part of the Peak Pro XT package. Visit the BIAS web site for additional details.

Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH announces an update to its WaveLab 6 and WaveLab Studio 6 applications. The 6.1 updates offer a range of new internet publishing features including RSS 2.0 support, a built-in FTP client, templates for easy setup and much more. The 6.1 updates are now available as a free update for all registered WaveLab 6 and WaveLab Studio 6 customers from its website.

TC electronic which was announcing for some time the release of the new Powercore Software 3.0 for its DSP engines has postponed the release to December.

MHC Synthesizers and Effects announce the release of Industrial Tones 1.5 for Windows (VST). The Mac OS X version will be released in the next 2 weeks. Version 1.5 includes the following changes:

• New graphical user interface.
• 13 of the samples/waveforms were either improved or replaced.

Main features are:
• 1024 presets (if all soundpacks are installed).
• Crossfading and layered effects which feature distortion, filter banks, a resonator, flanger, sub oscillation, amp modulation, pitch shift etc.
• All knobs can be mapped to MIDI controllers with a simple "learn" function.
• Ensemble with adjustable amount and mix. Stereo delays.
• Full polyphony. Only your CPU sets the limit or you may set a fixed voice limit.

Version 1.5 is available as a VSTi for Windows and will be as an AudioUnit for Mac OS X (Universal Binary). Meanwhile: Mac users may purchase and use version 1.0 and then receive a free update to version 1.5.

Price $139. Optional soundpacks are available for $39 (including all three soundpacks).

Mabuse is a real-time Audiovisual Composition and Performance tool for all electronic music and video makers. Musicians, video artists, performers, VJ's who want to make music, and DJ's who want to make videos in real time. It is a real-time Audiovisual Composition and Performance tool based on Max/MSP/Jitter and extra coding. It is a fully functional AVJ tool - that's AUDIOVISUAL, not just Audio/Visual. You make music and video, all at once on the same machine in real time.

The forthcoming 1.5 version will add in the next 6 months:
• Automatic segmentation of Audio and Video files.
• Dual channel video with keying support.
• freeframe plugin compatibility.
In future releases:
• Ability to record whole Mix on instant record.
• MIDICLOCK external synchronisation
• Recall different movie clips via MIDI.
• Adding floating text to the video.

Mabuse runs on OS X 10.4 on both Intel and PPC, as on Windows XP and Vista. Recommended hardware: Mac Pro, MacBook Pro or MacBook Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz and 2 GB RAM or on PCs: anything faster than a Pentium 4 3GHz with 1GB RAM

Limited time introduction price £65, normal price will be £95.

Native Instruments update Kontakt to 3.01. The new stuff:
- New CPU management according to the instrument type.
- EDIT mode revised
- Distorsion, Saturation and synth filter revised.
- Faster search in the database.
- New patches.
- New manual
- New manual part: "script language".
- A start up guide and localized versions of the manual of Kontakt 3.

Fixed bugs:
- Some cosmetics
- No more freeze with Cubase 4 and Spectrasonics
- Various libraries fixes
- …

Following the release of Sonar 7, Cakewalk has announced the launch of new academic versions of Sonar 7 Producer and Sonar 7 Studio Editions. This latest version is a music and audio production tool for students in both secondary and further/higher education. Included is Sonar Music Projects, a set of materials aimed at secondary school Music classes up to GCSE. The 10 projects introduce some of SONAR's easy-to-use features and help students develop a range of musical and technical skills. Each project contains teacher notes and student project sheets in PDF format, along with Sonar files. A Sonar Skills Guide provides easy reference to the program features used in the projects. The Sonar Music Projects CD-ROM also includes a "starter" set of audio clips to inspire ideas.

Cakewalk's UK distributor, Edirol Europe, has also made Sonar Music Projects available separately on a free CD-Sonar that includes the current trial version of Sonar. This enables teachers to explore some program basics in the context of actual lesson material, before deciding to purchase. To request a CD, contact education[at]edirol.co.uk.

Apple updates today QuickTime to 7.3 and iTunes to 7.5. The last requires the 7.3 version of QuickTime. iTunes 7.5 brings support for iPhone activation anywhere it's available and for a musical game on the iPod nano, classic, and 5G, plus bug fixes and performance enhancements.

We strongly suggest not to update in a pro environment or if you're using Pro Tools or Logic with sound to image jobs on the go. At least until the road is known to be safe, that is.

"About QuickTime 7.3 for Leopard
QuickTime 7.3 addresses critical security issues and delivers:
- Support for iTunes 7.5
- Updated support for creating iPhone-compatible web content
- Updated JavaScript support in the QuickTime Web Plug-in
- Numerous bug fixes

This release is recommended for all QuickTime 7 users."