News from the web

OPINION: This week Microsoft made big waves unveiling its latest smartphone, the Surface Duo 2, and updated Surface Pro 8 and Surface Go 3 tablets. But in the sea of announcements there was one key device missing: the Surface Book 4. Prior to the event there was a sea of “leaks” suggesting the firm planned to release a new Book. ...

TV antennas aren’t just for cord-cutters looking to cut back on the cost of TV entertainment. A good TV antenna will bring in anywhere from 20 to more than 100 channels, depending on where you live. The stations are free, don’t require a broadband connection (with the exception of some ATSC 3. ...

Stop right there! Did you see this deal? A decked-out Lenovo Legion 5i gaming laptop for only $1,200 at B&H! That’s a whopping $400 discount on this power-packed beast of a machine. This Lenovo Legion 5i is loaded with a top-end Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and a jaw-dropping 32GB of DDR5 RAM. ...

For the most part, we’re fans of Roku’s friendly, intuitive remotes, and particularly the ones that have voice capabilities. But there’s a sticking point—four of them, actually—when it comes to the Roku remote: the quartet of buttons at the bottom stamped with the logos of popular streaming services. ...

A decade after the Portege laptop exited the consumer market, it’s back — and with a user-replaceable battery, too. On Friday, Dynabook — which, as Sharp, took over Toshiba’s PC business in 2018 and then renamed itself — announced the Portege Z40L-N, a $1,699 laptop based upon the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor. ...

Despite Nvidia’s dominance of the consumer graphics card market, AMD’s 7000 series is pretty great… unless you want ray tracing. The advanced lighting techniques are where Nvidia’s cards truly shine, and AMD just can’t keep up — even at (sort of) better prices. But what about the new RX 9070 and 9070 XT cards? Adam and Will investigate in the latest PCWorld YouTube video. ...

Spring and summer are right around the corner, which means it’s time to get out of your seasonal depression funk. Go outside, soak in the sun, and have fun with a Bluetooth speaker at your side! JBL’s Flip 6 portable speaker is up to the task — and it just so happens to be on sale for $99.95 on Amazon, a 23% discount off its MSRP. ...

If you’re still rocking a 1080p desktop monitor, I think it’s time to upgrade. At 27 inches, a 1440p display gives you almost twice the screen real estate in terms of pixels while still being comfy enough for day-to-day use. Today, you can get Acer’s take with upgraded IPS panel for just $109.99 at Best Buy. That’s a smooth $90 off. ...

You already know you should keep your computer, tablet, and phone updated to keep them secure (or at least I hope you know that by now, otherwise I’m not doing my job). But a recent malware attack shows why it’s also important to keep all the other devices on your Wi-Fi network updated as well. ...

If you haven’t been paying attention to the news, heads up—prices for tech gear are shooting up. Tariffs are now in effect for goods imported from China, and they’ve doubled since their original announcement. The US government is now imposing an additional 20 percent tax, instead of 10 percent. ...

If you’re thinking of getting an SSD and you plan on taking it out and about with you everywhere, across all sorts of terrain in all sorts of conditions, then you need something that’s ruggedized — like the Samsung T7 Shield that’s on sale at Amazon. Right now, you can grab the 1TB version for $100 (was $170, now 41% off) or the 2TB version for $150 (was $285, now 47% off). ...

UVI has updated Mosaiq to v1.5, now featuring an all-new Keyboard Mode. The update is available now as a free update with a special offer for new users. Fun, and instantly rewarding, Mosaiq lets users play a massive library of sound sources across 8 deeply customizable key tracks, tweak with 5 interactive effects, a powerful MIDI sequencing engine, and a modular effects engine, and explore ...

Fanan team has released Truculentus, a comprehensive multiband multi-distortion VST effect for Windows designed for detailed audio processing. At its core, the plugin features a 10-band frequency filtering system that divides your incoming audio signal into separate frequency bands, each capable of hosting a different distortion type. ...

Arturia has released V-Collection 11, a significant update to their flagship software instrument suite. V-Collection 11 introduces new instruments: the Jup-8000 V, a recreation of the Roland JP-8000; Pure LoFi, a hybrid sampler/synth focused on vintage sounds; Synthx V, based on the Elka Synthex; and MiniBrute V, a software version of Arturia's own MiniBrute hardware synth. ...

Excite Audio has released Bloom Vocal Choir, a new instrument, saying: Excite Audio returns with Bloom Vocal Choir - a deeply expressive vocal instrument that brings the emotion and power of choral music into the hands of producers and composers. Stack harmonies using the intuitive sequencer all in key and in tempo with your projects. ...

DamyFx has announced that Mr Jose, the AmpSim VST3 Plugin for Windows is now free. Mr Jose is an amp simulator inspired by the sound 1987 Marshall Plexy head with the modification made by electronics engineer Amp Guru Jose Arredondo modified guitar amps in the 80s for Eddie Van Halen, Slash, James Hetfield Steve Vai and many others... Read More

FeelYourSound has released version 2.1.0 of its MIDI generator plug-in HouseEngine (VST + AU). HouseEngine is a specialized songwriting tool. It turns any chord progression into expressive piano rhythms, deep basslines, and catchy melodies. If you don't have your own chord progression yet, HouseEngine can generate one for you. ...

Bitwig has released Bitwig Connect 4/12. It's more than an audio interface. It's a class-compliant, 4?in/12?out CV and MIDI-enabled audio interface with monitor- and DAW-control functionalities and a unique Bitwig Mode. As a bridge between software and external gear, Bitwig Connect is the perfect device to mark our debut into hardware. ...

BlepFX has announced the release of filtrr, a nonlinear audio-rate modulatable 4-pole ladder filter. filtrr is not just a filter, filtrr is a nonlinear ladder filter that is capable of producing a large variety of sounds. It can be modulated at audio rate, either with internal modulators or by using an external CV signal. It's capable of self-oscillation. ...

Toontrack has released updates for EZdrummer and Superior Drummer. Changes in Superior Drummer 3.4.0 General: Minimum OS requirements have been raised to macOS 10.13 and Windows 10. EZdrummer 3 user presets will now show up in the preset menu. Plug-in parameters are now named like the macros that they control. ...

Sample Logic has announced the launch of GrainScaper, a granular synthesis audio processor. GrainScaper allows users to import audio from virtual instruments, analog inputs, or audio files and transforms them using granular synthesis. ...

09/30/16 - Download and convert videos between various formats.

iPhone, iPad / Tools / Audio Editing: Hokusai is a multitrack audio editor for iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Record or import a track, and make it sound the way you want it to: not just trimming the ends, but full cut, copy, paste and delete, and a suite of filters and special effects available....

iPhone, iPad / Tools / Audio Editing: Hokusai is a multitrack audio editor for iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Record or import a track, and make it sound the way you want it to: not just trimming the ends, but full cut, copy, paste and delete, and a suite of filters and special effects available....

iPhone, iPad / Education / Training: An app for choral singers who don't read music well. Snap a photo or import JPG, PNG or PDF. Touch notes in the image to hear the pitch. Not for instrumental parts - see details below. Whether you sing in a choir, or a barbershop quartet, or other vocal group,...

iPhone, iPad / Education / Training: All aspiring music students understand the importance of Sargam practice. Practicing Sargams each day does wonders to your “Sureelapan� as well as confidence. Practicing every day under watchful eyes of your Guru is the ideal way. But that is difficult...

iPhone, iPad / Instruments / Sound Effects: Get the simplest soundboard creation app: Load sounds, samples or songs through your iTunes library Create and edit soundboards quickly and easily Up to 8 sounds per soundboard Make the most of your screen thanks to the adaptive layout Play multiple...

iPhone, iPad / Education / Games, Ear Trainig: Introducing Notes - Sight Reading Trainer, the ultimate iOS app for mastering sight reading in music! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced musician, Notes is your is your tool to become the musician you were meant to be. When you are ready to...

iPhone, iPad / Education / Games, Ear Trainig: StaffWars is a game designed to help beginning and intermediate musicians learn, practice and woodshed the note names on the grand staff, treble, alto and bass clefs. THE APP for anyone who wants to master these clefs.

iPhone, iPad / Tools / Analysis: SPL Graph is an audio Sound Pressure Level (SPL) environmental noise analyzer, real-time frequency analyzer, chart recorder and data logger. It includes: Plot sound level over time Record audio while plot is running, playback to identify sounds that may have...

iPhone, iPad / Education / Sheet Music & Tablatures: PLAY FREE MUSIC SCORES Whatever instrument you play, whether it's a piano, trumpet, guitar, or harmonica, or kalimba, you will always find notes of excellent quality. • Browse the most extensive sheet music collection from MuseScore....

iPhone, iPad / Tools / Tuners: Plays tuning notes for Viola (C G D A)