PC and Music News

ChocolateAudio has announced Imperial Drum BFD2 expansion library for Fxpansion's BFD2.

Features :

- Sampled at 88.2, released at 44.1.
- Edited from scratch for BFD2 release.
- Dry signal path while recording makes for an excellent use of BFD2 mixing and routing features.
- Some drums feature alternate mics (requires updated BFD2).
- 51 DW, Ludwig and Paiste and other brand drums.
- 13 different stick types, 3 beater types for Kicks.
- Mid-sized Room for maximum mixing flexibility.

The Imperial Drums BFD2 expansion will be available on February 2008 with price to be announced. Note that a crossgrade option will be available to current Imperial Drums and Imperial Drums XL users.

KRK systems has announced ERGO, a digital room analysis and correction system. Compatible with all recording and monitoring systems, ERGO (Enhanced Room Geometry Optimization) aims to improve any studio mixing space by correcting for 'real world' acoustic problems.

In developing ERGO, KRK teamed up with the acoustics experts at Lyngdorf Audio and integrated their patented "Room Perfect" 3D room analysis and correction algorithms to provide the best room correction solution available. The technology analyzes and compensates for undesirable room acoustics which can negatively impact audio mixdowns. The unit connects to a computer via Firewire when it is performing its room analysis, but since all correction processing resides in ERGO, no overhead is needed from the computer audio system. This means that ERGO can function in pure analog systems since it can work as a stand-alone room correction/speaker control unit after room analysis is complete.

In addition to room correction, ERGO also acts as a speaker switcher and master volume control and creates a seamless full range monitors-plus-sub system with subwoofer integration. It is also a 4-in, 6-out Firewire audio interface that easily interfaces with PC and Mac hardware and audio software, ERGO provides high-quality audio through its use of 120dB SNR digital-to-analog converters and phase-accurate signal processing. KRK further incorporates Firewire and S/PDIF input for digital connections to DAWs such as Pro Tools and other systems. A high quality analog volume control and headphone output are also provided in the system.

ERGO will be available on April 2008 at a retail price of $799.

Yamaha unveils the Pocketrak 2G, a light and compact pocket recorder featuring 2GB of built-in memory, long battery life, easy USB file transfer, and Steinberg Cubase AI DAW software.

The Pocketrak 2G features 2 tracks of CD quality recording in PCM, MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) formats, a rechargeable AAA nickel-hydrogen battery capable of providing 19 hours of MP3 recording to it's 2GB of internal memory, an on-board speaker and a headphone jack. Included in the box is the Pocketrak 2G, a USB extension cable, stereo earphones, a leather carrying case and stand adapter, as well as Cubase AI, an "Advanced Integration" version of Steinberg's legendary digital audio workstation software specially built to seamlessly integrate with Yamaha hardware.

The Pocketrak 2G will be available in April, 2008 and will retail for $449.

Gibson Guitar and TC Group have announced that they are planning to merge. The announcement was made at the NAMM 2008 show in Anaheim, California by both Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz and CEO of TC Group, Anders Fauerskov.
The announcement marks a preliminary agreement between the two companies.
Under the terms of the new merger, Anders Fauerskov will remain based in Europe, and serve as Chief Operating Officer of the new combined Gibson Guitar Corp. The two companies expect to finalize the deal by the end of February 2008.

This is quite a surprise, and we don't have much information about this merge, but stay tuned, as we'll tell you more about this as soon as we have.

We hope that it'll lead to a real synergy. Some of us are still waiting for news from Opcode or Oberheim...

Tascam has announced the DR-1, a new portable digital recorder that captures hours of music using built-in mics to its 1GB SD card. It includes unusual functions such as overdub capabilities.

Features :

- Portable, Handheld Recording
- Included 1GB SD card media
- Built-in High-quality Stereo Condenser Microphone
- Variable Angle Microphone Mechanism with A/B Configuration
- 48 or 44.1kHz / 24-bit Recording Resolution
- MP3 and WAVE file Recording and Playback
- Switchable Low Cut Filter
- Analog Auto Gain Control
- Analog Limiter
- Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
- USB 2.0 Connection to Computer
- Built-in Tuner and Vocal Cancel Features
- Overdub Feature to record narration, singing or instruments over an existing recording

The DR-1 will be available at a retail price of $299.

SM Pro Audio has exhibited several products at this NAMM show : the new HP6E multi-channel headphone amplifier, the PR8DS remote controllable multi-channel microphone preamplifier and their iNano passive volume control.

The HP6E is a high-quality, powerful, flexible, and reliable six (6) channel headphone amplifier housed in a sturdy 1RU 19" standard rack-mountable metal chassis.

Features :

-10 TRS inputs, 5 stereo channels
- 6 class A headphone amplifiers
- Auto sensing switch mode power supply
- Built in flash memory for last state memory recall
- Mix control for each amplifier output
- Nominal output @ 32Ohm 600mw per channel
- Frequency response @100mw output 20Hz-20kHz +- 0.3 dB
- THD @300mw less then 0.02%


The PR8DS is a professional multi-channel p ...

Sonic Timeworks announces the 4081L Digital Reverberator which is a reverb plug-in describe as "super intuitive".

Features :

- World class reverbs Easy to use, yet extremely powerful
- SMP(symmetric multiprocessor) Optimized Digital Reverberation
- Real-time previews
- Supports VST/Pro Tools Automation
- Silky smooth reverbs
- Equalization controls
- Use it like you would use any hardware unit
- Complete with digital in/out level metering
- 64 bit floating calculations (internal)
- 32 bit in/out (external)
- Supports sample rates over 192kHz

Available at a fee of $149 for PC and Mac users, whether you are using VST, DirectX, or Pro Tools, a demo is available online at the Sonic Timeworks website.

Universal Audio today announced new plug-in partners and forthcoming additions to the UAD DSP Platform for Mac and PC. Valley People, Sound Performance Lab and Empirical Labs (Fatso plug-in mid-late 2008 !) join Roland and Neve as the latest companies to sign licensing deals with UA to develop future plug-ins.

UA also announced improved 2008 world-wide retail pricing on select UAD products. The following UAD bundles now offer even greater per plug-in value:

UAD-1 Ultra PAK (PCI) moves from US$1199 to US$999 street price
UAD-1e Expert PAK (PCIe) moves from US$999 to US$749 street price.

Steinberg has also announced a new lighten version of Cubase 4 called Cubase Essential 4.

Features :

• 64 audio tracks, unlimited MIDI tracks, 44 included VST3 and MIDI plug-ins, 16 VST instrument slots, full latency compensation
• Integrated HALionOne sampling instrument with over 100 playable instruments including waves from the Yamaha Motif synthesizer
• Built-in Amp Simulator for instant guitar recording with 14 amps and 10 speaker simulations with a new, easy-to-use interface
• AudioWarp real-time time stretching and pitch shifting with formant correction for natural-sounding transposition and full tempo matching
• Arranger Track with pattern-based arranging tools stores up to 16 different arrangements for on-the-fly reordering of song sections, expe ...

Steinberg is pleased to announce the release of the Software Development Kit (SDK) for VST3, the latest generation of its VST platform. VST3 offers new capabilities to developers of host applications, audio plug-ins and virtual instruments.

Already implemented in Steinberg's Cubase and Nuendo product ranges, VST3 offers a range of new features and advantages over other standards.

• Enhanced CPU efficiency: unique silence detection feature automatically switches off the plug-in if no audio signal is being received
• Multiple Dynamic I/Os: VST3 plug-ins are fully surround-capable, and can be configured to receive from and output to any I/O configuration, including any surround format
• Dynamic Bus Management: VST3 plug-in output busses can be reassigned at any time, st ...

Pro Tools Music Creation Studio
Digidesign and M-Audio have joined together to create a limited-edition package. The bundle features an Mbox 2 Factory audio/MIDI production system, M-Audio Nova microphone, M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI keyboard controller, M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 monitors, Structure LE advanced sample player plug-in, Velvet vintage electric pianos plug-in, and all required cables.

Pro Tools Personal Studio
For the singer/songwriter or individual musician, Digidesign and M-Audio have also created a special limited-edition studio package that features the ultra-compact Mbox 2 Mini audio system, M-Audio Nova microphone, M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 monitors, Structure LE advanced sample player plug-in, an iLok USB Smart Key, and all required cables.

Digidesign continues to expand and improve its groundbreaking D-Show software with the new D-Show 2.7 software. The latest upgrade provides hardware support for the new VENUE Mix Rack, and several new software enhancements for VENUE users to improve monitor-mixing workflows, provide system lock capabilities, and give engineers better visual insight into their mixes.

The VENUEPack 3.0 comes included with VENUE Mix Rack and FOH Rack (with Impact, Reverb One, ReVibe, Smack!, BF-3A, le Bundle Pultec, Slightly Rude Compressor, Bundle Classic Compressors, Bundle MoogerFooger, Focusrite d2 and d3, and bundle TrooTrace Audio Analysis).
The updated VENUEPack Pro 3.0 includes the bundle JOEMEEK, Fairchild 660 and 670, bundle Voce, Eleven and Line 6 Echo Farm. VENUEPack Pro 3.0 comes included with FOH Rack (in addition to VENUEPack 3.0), and with any D-Show Mix Engine card purchase.

KORE Player is a free software instrument designed for use with KORE SoundPacks. Built on the same principles as KORE 2, KORE Player includes six Native Instruments sound engines under the hood and provides ready-to-play sounds that can be browsed and tweaked via the ultra-intuitive KORE Player interface. Adding new sounds is as easy as purchasing and downloading affordable KORE SoundPacks.

KORE Player will be released in March as a free download.

The MPD32 is the new Akai Pro pad controller, using USB connection (Mac or Windows). The MPD32 features the MPC Note Repeat with swing and gate time parameters. It can also work as a master clock for MIDI sequencers, includes transport functions and is fully programmable. It includes sixteen velocity and pressure-sensitive MPC pads, eight assignable faders, eight assignable switches and eight assignable infinite knobs. Three selectable control banks extend the number of available faders, buttons and knobs to 24 each (72 total controllers). Four pad banks allow for 64 total pads.

The MPD32 is coming Q2 - 2008 with an MSRP of $499.

M-Audio unveils Studiophile BX5a and BX8a Deluxe monitors, offering new waveguides and enhanced driver integration for extended low frequency response and refined sound. The BX8a utilizes 8" Kevlar low-frequency driver and 1-¼ " natural silk high-frequency driver, the BX5a 5" Kevlar low-frequency driver plus 1" waveguide-loaded high-frequency driver.
BX5a frequency response is ranged from 56Hz to 22kHz, BX8a from 40 Hz to 22 kHz. Custom-tuned crossovers distribute 130 watts (BX8a) and 70 watts (BX5a) of bi-amplified power.

MSRP is $399.95 per pair (BX5a) and $599.95 per pair (BX8a).

Digidesign has released Hybrid 1.5, which offers even more features and filters. Hybrid 1.5 features a new vintage sound filter for classic analog sounds, five new filter saturation modes, 336 all-new patches, and 256 revised factory patches. If you own a previous version of Hybrid, Digidesign is offering a free upgrade to version 1.5 from January 22 through March 22, 2008, after which it will be available for purchase from the DigiStore.

Strike Content Expansion
This new content for Strike offers 100 completely new drum and beat styles from all musical genres, plus two completely new electronic drum kits. Digidesign is offering Strike Content Expansion to all Strike owners as a free download through March 22, 2008 only, after which it will be available for purchase from the DigiStore.

The Naked Eye Roswellite features the same True Dual Voicing design and carefully crafted tone of the Naked Eye Classic, plus it adds the
power of the Crowley and Tripp nanocomposite ribbon material - Roswellite - that was first introduced in the el Diablo Mercenary Edition.

Adding Roswellite to the Naked Eye expands its capability into kick drums, snare, bass, and the rigors of live touring and sound reinforcement. There is no other 'foil' ribbon microphone at any price that can match its tone, sound pressure level handling and toughness.

Naked Eye Roswellite comes with a lifetime warranty, beautiful wood storage box, and low-diffraction rotary Monocle Mount. The Naked Roswellite is now shipping and is priced at $1,295.

Crowley and Tripp ribbon microphones are made in USA by hand.

Sonalksis unveils a new bundle called Sonalksis Mastering Suite which includes MultiLimit, a multiband mastering limiter ; Maxlimit, a maximizing mastering limiter ; StereoTools, a stereo imaging processor ; and Ultimate-D, the "Ultimate" dithering.

The release is scheduled for early Q2 2008 for native versions (Mac OS X / WIN, VST / AU / RTAS). TDM versions are planned for release during 2008, further announcements regarding this will follow later in the year.

Of course, it's NAMM time.
But, between two announcements, maybe could you take some time to have a look at our review of Reason 4.
Just click on the link below.

E-MU Systems has announced its new Tracker Pre USB 2.0 Audio Interface/Mobile Preamp.

Features :

-24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters (A/D and D/A: 112dB measured SNR performance)
- Preamplified analog signals are available before the A/D converters, allowing the Tracker Pre to be used as a standalone high-quality stereo microphone preamp (using optional power supply)
- Hardware zero-latency direct monitoring (mono or stereo) with continuously variable level control
- Plug-and-play operation with hands-on control of all major functions
- Independent ground lift switches for optimal audio fidelity/flexibility
- USB bus powered (can also be powered using optional 5V power supply)
- Cross-platform support (Mac OS X and Windows XP32/XP64/Vista32/Vista64) and compatibility with mos ...