PC and Music News

Intermorphic releases Noatikl, a generative MIDI music engine. It creates musical information in the form of MIDI notes, and can also generate and send MIDI controller information to control settings of your favourite synths, FX units and samplers.

There are variants available for both Win and Mac OS X, including plug-in versions AU, VSTi, DXi MIDI Effects, MIDI Effects, etc. as well as a stand-alone version.

You can use Noatikl to generate new musical ideas, break composer's block, augment an existing musical work, create ambient tracks, experiment with generative music systems, generatively change synth, FX and sampler settings, etc.

The co-founders of Intermorphic, Pete Cole and Tim Cole, were both co-founders of SSEYO Ltd, the company that developed the famous SSEYO Koan Music Engine (more infos on the SKME here).

Designed for mobile and desktop production, the compact Fast Track Ultra interface utilizes USB 2.0 technology, making suitable for all current PC and Mac computers.

The Fast Track Ultra introduces M-Audio's brand-new MX Core DSP technology. The MX Core mixer employs an array of eight individual DSP cores to deliver near-zero latency, effects (e.g. to apply reverb while tracking vocals) and a matrix for sophisticated channel routing options—accessible via an intuitive control panel that utilizes a separate mixer for each pair of outputs, all without burdening the computer.

The Fast Track Ultra features four preamps with M-Audio Octane technology. Features include +48V phantom power, signal/peak LED indicator lights and a pull-out gain knob that activates a 20dB pad. The first two in ...

Precisionsound announces its winter sales. That means that all its samples and sounds libraries will benefit from a 30% discount.
The winter sales 2007 will be closed 17 January 2008.

PG Music has released Band-in-a-Box 2008 for Windows, along with 10 new RealDrums Sets, 5 Styles Sets and 3 new MultiStyles Sets. Band-in-a-Box 2008 is packed with new features including RealTracks, MultiStyles, enhancements to the popular Audio Chord Wizard, RealDrums style changes, and much more.

To celebrate, PG Music is offering special pricing on Band-in-a-Box upgrades and bundles, plus two new Bonus Paks loaded with Add-ons and software programs - but only for a limited time. Prices start at $129 for new users. You'll receive a free Bonus 12-Pak with any order of Band-in-a-Box 2008 for Windows or add 12 more items by upgrading to the Bonus 24-Pak for only $25. These Bonus Paks are only available during the Holiday Special.

Blue Cat Audio has released an update for four of its audio analysis DirectX and VST plugins : Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst Pro, FreqAnalyst Multi, StereoScope Pro and StereoScope Multi. It includes the ability to give a name to each analysis curve for the 'Multi' series, new zooming capabilities, an improved spectrum analysis for better comparison accuracy, and faster display refresh rates for smoother analysis.

Blue Cat Audio has also announced a special Christmas Offer - a 20% discount on its entire catalog.

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 €)