PC and Music News

Gladiator is here !

Tone2 has just released PC version of its new virtual synthesizer, the very promising Gladiator (Mac version to be available before Christmas, we will announce it asa it's available). Instead of using usual synthesis, Tone2 has created Harmonic Content Morphing (HCM) Synthesis. This new synthesis method is based on a large and expandable repertoire of standard waves like pulse, unique synthetic waveforms as well as resynthesis waves like trumpets, organs, pianos and voice samples. These waves can be modified in real-time, altering its harmonic structure, syncing, waveshaping (see below the incredible variety of synthesis tools, filters, etc.). In total there are more than 30,000 different spectra available for combination and modulation.

Some of the synthesis feat ...

This week, we present a new review in our Articles section : Sony Media Software Acid Pro 6.
It's the awaited return of Sony Media Software's tracker, and as says Roby, the author of the review, and partner of PCMusic : Version 5 has led to deep changes, and Acid Pro 6 seems to follow the same philosophy. With more functions than ever, the most famous tracker makes its comeback.
As it could claim now to be a serious rival of Ableton's Live, Acid Pro 6 should take a place of choice, next to Cubase, Pro Tools and others in numerous home-studios.

The Stereo Pack bundle includes Stereoizer, Stereoplacer and Monofilter, allowing the user to analyse, enhance control and fine tune audio with a high degree of precision.

These plug-in could be used to :

- Re-adjust the stereo image of individual sounds
- Add stereo depth to mono source files
- Wide/narrow existing stereo images
- Improve bass definition
- Re-focus bass frequencies where stereo FX have been used
- Correct problems in sounds sampled from vinyl
- Correct phase issues
- Make frequency splits
- Re-master old recordings
- Prepare for mastering to vinyl
- Tighten smeared stereo imaging
- Handle live recordings and instruments
-etc.

The bundle is compatible MacOSX and PC, and the plugs are available in VST and AU formats. Demo versions are available and the bundle costs $99.

Audeon's software synthesizer UFO is finally available for Mac OS X as a Universal Binary.

UFO is an innovative synthesizer plugin for Windows/OS-X, built upon Audeon's proprietary TransModal Synthesis engine wrapped in a unique and intuitive user interface. Programming a sound consists of placing dots on 2D controllers featuring perceptual attributes such as Periodicity, Brightness, Noisiness, Chaos, etc. Hundreds of simultaneous parameter modulations can be achieved by simply drawing coloured arrows on these 2D controllers.

Audeon offers a temporary discount on all versions of UFO. Until December 31st, orders placed on our online store using the UFO-XMAS coupon code will benefit from a 20% rebate off the regular price.

The editor has added lots of new features and improvements :
- Increased Audio Quality with less CPU usage
- Highly improved envelope code, making envelopes punchier and removing
occasional envelope aliasing noise.
- Arpeggiator and sequencer : keyboard entry mode via menu, allowing to enter notes by playing them.
- Added Ensemble and Compressor effect
- Optimized Amp FX (50% less CPU) and to a less extent other effects
- Increase the resolution of the modulating effects (chorus , flanger etc) ,
- FX commands : allows you to copy , paste , clear , swap , randomize , load &
save fx's
- Chord memory : this has 4 modes, off, learn, play & alt + strum timing.
- Unison 2 / 4 / 6 with detuning.
- Oversampling 16x added
-etc.

And furthermore, there is more than 400 new presets, using all the new features like Chord Memory, Unison and EnsembleFX. So there is now 66 banks and 1700 presets.

FabFilter launches a December holiday sale. There is a 20% discount on all plug-ins: FabFilter Pro-C, Timeless, Twin, Volcano, Simplon and One, and on all plug-in bundles.

This offer is valid until December 31, 2007. To take advantage of this holiday sale, go to the online FabFilter shop.

All FabFilter plug-ins and the various bundles are available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, RTAS and Audio Units plug-in formats.

UltimateSoundBank offers a 66% discount on PlugSoundPro, their workstation combining a massive 8 Gb core library, easy groove manipulation, preset management and universal compatibility.

PlugSoundPro uses the very last version of the UVI Engine : 64 parts, 64 MIDI channels, key-switch, streaming, a synth engine with envelopes, LFO, Filters, quality audio processors. Plus a complete and flexible groove manipulation tool, including automatic synchronisation, MIDI and audio drag & drop.

Retail price : $299
CHRISTMAS PRICE : $99 (You save $200)

Ueberschall completes with Vol. 10 Adlibs the Liquid Player series. The Adlibs volume comes with vocal phrases and gives musicians and producers the possibility to add new color or ideas to tracks and songs.

The library contains over 2400 adlibs and phrases, both verbal and non-verbal, performed by three female and five male singers. No additional effects e.g. compression or any other processors have been used in Ueberschall's Liquid Adlibs to ensure the purest results possible.
The integrated Melodyne technology engine gives freedom to modify, quantize, re-groove, timestretch, pitch or change the formant of every single part of an adlib or phrase for individual expression.
Liquid Adlibs contains many different styles and lyrics (British and American vocalists) to choose from: Pop, Dance, Soul, RnB, Ragga, Rave, Electronica, screams and spoken words.

Ueberschall's Liquid Instruments Vol. 10 Adlibs is available for USD199 (174 €)

Between 15 November and 31 December, enter to win one of three Spider III amps. The lucky grand-prize winner will receive a Spider III 150 2x12 combo, the second-prize winner will receive a Spider III 75 1x12 combo and the third-prize winner will receive a Spider III 30 1x12 combo !

Celemony has released new versions (3.2.2) of Melodyne Studio and Melodyne cre8. All problems related to the use of ReWire and the MelodyneBridge have been solved. Overall performance (176.4 kHz compatibility, ASIO streams of audio interfaces with a large number of inputs and outputs are now listed correctly) and stability of Melodyne are improved.

DDMF has released version 1.0 of its tracking equalizer IIEQPro as a Universal Binary Audio Unit for the Mac OS X platform. It features 10 bands with 12 filter types per band and is fully parametric.

At the same time the Windows version has been updated to 1.3, as the whole thing is now based on JUCE. Specifically the control behaviour has changed a bit; in most hosts it is possible to enter values directly, and you can switch into velocity-sensitive mode for fine tuning. A number of presets have been included and mouse wheel support has been added.

The price is still "whatever-you-feel-appropriate".

Inspiration Sounds has released the Funked Up Guitars Sample Pack. Recorded at 96Khz and 24-Bit resolution using Pro Tools HD and mixed through a Control 24 mixing desk with Focusrite Class A Preamps, it includes 564 guitar loops and riffs played by "internationally renowned Guitarist", Cliff Moore. However, it has been dithered down in Pro Tools HD to 44.1Khz 16-Bit to ensure compatibility with the wide range of keyboards that don't offer 24-Bit file import.

Features :

- 195 MB Sample Pack (Compressed into a .ZIP File)
- Includes Clean and Distorted versions of each loop
- Keys are in C, D, E, F, G, A & B
- Total of 564 Loops, Riffs and Slides
- File names indicate key and tempo
- .WAV Format
- PC/Mac Compatible

The Funked Up Guitars Sample Pack is available now from the Inspiration Sounds website for £19.95 / US $41.24.

Dodo Bird has released a very useful tool called McDodo's Super-Volu. Basically this is a plug-in that removes the change in volume caused by other plug-ins. This helps to determine the impact they have on sound character, isolated from their effect on volume.

McDodo's Super-Volu is available as a VST effect plug-in for Windows and it is free and open source so enjoy !

Universal Audio today announced the web release of v4.9 software for the UAD Family of DSP Card's & Powered Plug-Ins(tm). Version 4.9 includes 14-day fully functional demos of both the new SPL Transient Designer and new Precision Buss Compressor; a classic center-console mix compressor.

Key SPL Transient Designer Features :

- UA modeled, SPL authorized and endorsed AU/VST/RTAS plug-in version of Transient Designer's unique Differential Envelope Technology
- Increase or decrease the transients of percussive sources for greater impact, or a softened response
- Sustain of sources can be transparently shortened or increased for increased musicality
- Reduces or increases room sound or preexisting reverb on virtually any source
- Highly useful as a gate substitute, a transparen ...

First introduced during the 2006 Winter Namm, PSP Xenon is now available.

Xenon is a full band, dual-stage limiter plug-in (AudioUnit, VST and RTAS for MacOSX UB ; VST and RTAS for PC) featuring an integrated Leveller, advanced K-System metering and psycho-acoustically optimized wordlength reduction. PSP Xenon offers 64-bit precision processing throughout its entire signal path, and can operate at sample rates up to 192kHz.
One of the good news is that it is available for PPC G4 and G5 : when introduced last year, it was only planned for Intel Mac.

A 14-day demo is also available (iLok required).

Are you wondering if it's worth updating to Kontakt 3 ? Or are you just curious, or perhaps have you never tried Kontakt before ?
Native Instruments answers by offering a free demo (version 3.0.1) for Mac OS 10.4 or higher (458 MB) and Win XP (407 MB). You can use it as a stand-alone and as a plug-in via Audio Units, VST 2 and RTAS.
You will benefit by complete function range with all presets, the full PDF manual, and play with a demo library instruments from the categories Band, Orchestral, Synth, Urban Beats, Vintage and World. Demo limits are sessions limited to 30 minutes and no Save and no Total Recall.