After the announcement of DP6, MOTU unveils Electric Keys, a cross-platform virtual instrument that delivers "authentic sounds" of 50 classic, vintage electric keyboard instruments from the last 40 years.
With a massive 40GB sound library Electric Keys includes over 20,000 meticulously crafted 24-bit 96 kHz multi-samples of legendary electric pianos, electric organs, clavinets, Wurlitzers, tape samplers, string machines, keyboard basses and other rare and exotic electric keyboard instruments. Samples are streamed from disk, so even large presets load quickly and conserve computer memory. Sounds are organized in 12 banks, each with its own authentic look ("skin"), allowing users to install on their hard drive only the banks they wish to use. Electric Keys presets can be loaded into MachFive 2 for advanced sound design and layering.
The Electric Keys window offers a few simple controls, including volume, pan, tone and tremolo settings, along with two preset slots, which allow users to layer two sounds using the convenient multi-column preset browser. All parameters can be automated via convenient "MIDI learn". Users can click the FX button to open the FX-Rack, which is a separate window with eight effects that can be applied individually or in combination as a multi-effect to any preset. Effects include amp simulation, filter, chorus, flanger, phaser, UVinyl (to add "wear and tear"), delay and reverb. Users can load and save "combis" consisting of a snapshot of the entire plug-in, including effects.
Electric Keys supports all major plug-in formats on Mac OS X and Windows (XP and Vista), including VST, DXi, MAS, Audio Units and RTAS. It also runs as a stand-alone application. Electric Keys will ship in February, 2008 for a list price of $295.
VirSyn has released version 1.1 of VTAPE which includes a new Tape Flanger plugin simulating the playback of two tape machines running at slightly different speed.
* Mac/Digital Performer: Settings lost on render to file.
* Latency compensation now working.
* "Kill" Parameter now automatable.
* Sync button state was not saved.
* Save button - Enter key no longer required.
* AudioUnit: GUI problem with more than 16 instances.
* RTAS: Automation with SATURATOR working now.
Nomad Factory and NUSofting are proud to announce their collaboration in creating "top-of-the-line" virtual instruments. The first announced of this collaboration is the Analog Strings Station, an advanced emulation of vintage electronic keyboards known as "String Ensemble Synthesizers " or "String Machines".
Differently to other string machine emulations available as virtual instruments, the Analog Strings Station (ASS) doesn't use samples recorded from the original hardware keyboards, NUSofting developed a native emulation of the "octave divider" circuitry that is the essential technology of the vintage polyphonic synthesizers. The ASS digital "octave divider" can reproduce the same "phase synced" sound of the original Solina, Crumar Performer and similar vintage keyboards.
Priced at $189, Analog Strings Station is "coming soon" for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU and RTAS formats.
Abbey Road Plug-ins has just released the TG12413 Limiter for Mac OS X and Windows VST and AU hosts.
The TG12413 plug-in is an emulation of the compressor / limiter from the legendary EMI TG12345 mixing console, which was used on many classic recordings such as The Beatles' Abbey Road and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. The TG12345 consoles were never sold commercially and were only available to EMI studios.
The plug-in functions as a 2:1 compressor or as a limiter with up to 20dB of gain reduction. It accurately reproduces the behaviour of the original and features an authentic, TG-style graphical interface. In addition, it can be used in multi-channel configurations, supporting up to 7.1 surround operation.
Two plug-in modules are included, providing variations on the TG so ...
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%
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.
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