Όλα τα τελευταία νέα για τη Μουσική Τεχνολογία και την Ακουστική, κατευθείαν από τις επίσημες ιστοσελίδες των εταιρειών, συγκεντρωμένα σε ένα blog!

John Lennon Signature Guitar Amps

Fargen Amplification announces a line of John Lennon guitar amps and effect pedals


Fargen Amplification has announced the first ever line of John Lennon guitar amplifiers and effect pedals. They say that the line pays tribute to one of the greatest artists of our time, and combines John Lennon's signature tone with his world-renowned artwork – providing a unique experience for musicians and fans alike.

Ben Fargen told us, "I am proud, excited, and truly humbled ... to have the honor to build this line. John Lennon is an iconic artist, poet, musician and composer ... and I am thrilled to bring the vintage John Lennon vibe to his fans, and to musicians across all genres that have been influenced and moved by his genius."

Here's the full details in the company's own words...

The limited edition Artist series is available immediately. Built with custom white components throughout, the Artist series features a special acoustically transparent and UV-protected grill cloth that serves as the canvas for John Lennon's beautiful artwork. A selection of Lennon's designs are now available in limited numbered editions, priced at $4,999 MSRP.

The next release will be the Imagine series amplifier. Also built with custom white components, it is finished in beautiful gloss white lacquer, with elements of John Lennon's artwork shining through. The Imagine series will be available soon, also in a limited edition.

Both amps include proprietary components and a unique design that dampens cabinet vibration. They utilize Fargen's "Decade Switch", allowing the player to instantly switch between distinctive John Lennon tones across the 50's, 60's and 70's.

Fargen will release additional designs in its John Lennon Artist series, as well as a production series amplifier based on the circuit, and two guitar effect pedals.

Fargen has licensed the rights to produce this line, from Bag One Enterprises and Live Nation Merchandise, and is distributing this on its website, and through it's network of authorized dealers including music instrument stores and art galleries. Details are available on the website and dealer inquiries are welcome.

About Fargen Amplification/Sonic Edge

Ben Fargen founded Fargen Amplification in 1998 as a boutique amp manufacturer, and introduced the Sonic Edge brand in 2010. Ben has developed a reputation as one of the top engineers and visionaries in the amplifier space and has shipped custom-built and production model amplifiers to discerning players across the globe. He provides world tour and studio amp support to many of the world's most celebrated guitarists including Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.

Pricing and Availability:
See main text

More information:
The John Lennon Signature Series

Get Funky With The Dirty Robot

DigiTech's new Synth Pedal for the iStomp offers Sub-Harmonic And Filter Synthesis


DigiTech has announced the introduction of its Dirty Robot e-pedal for its iStomp programmable pedal. The Dirty Robot transforms the sound of a guitar with sub-harmonic and filter synthesis, providing low-end sub-octave and synth-like filter sweeps.

Scott Klimt, marketing manager for DigiTech, told Amped, "The Dirty Robot gives guitarists the ability to modify their sound with a wide range of filter synthesis effects that go far beyond the capability of a standard 'auto wah'-type envelope filter. It also enables the player to mix the effected signal with the dry signal to get sounds that range from subtle to outrageously funky."

The DigiTech Dirty Robot's Mix, Filter, Envelope and Trigger controls offer enable total control of the pedal's guitar synth capabilities. The Mix knob blends dry signal with the synth effect. Filter controls the amount of waveform synthesis that is added to the sub-octave signal. The Envelope knob selects the type of filter sweep with both Rise and Fall options and variable time ranges, to create long filter sweeps, classic auto wah sounds, "reverse wah" and more. Trigger controls the envelope sweep sensitivity, for touch-sensitive control of how the effect triggers – the harder the player picks, the more the filter kicks in.

The DigiTech iStomp is a new concept in guitar stompboxes that allows musicians to turn the iStomp into any pedal in the Stomp Shop online pedal store. Offering almost limitless sonic possibilities, the iStomp connects to an Apple iOS device where musicians can use the Stomp Shop app to load it with the e-pedal of their choice. The Stomp Shop is a free app and comes with ten of the most popular requested pedals. It gives access to more than 40 additional pedals that musicians can browse, try out and purchase, with more pedals added every month.

Pricing and Availability:
The DigiTech Dirty Robot e-pedal will be available in December 2012 at an introductory price of $0.99. This introductory price will run for four week. After the introductory period the price will change to $9.99.
The DigiTech iStomp is currently available at $229.95 suggested retail.

More information:
Digitech

Fuel For Creativity

TC Electronic announces free package of cutting-edge experimental guitar Toneprints


Here's TC Electronic's full press release:

Experimentation is the beginning of creation - and as a guitarist, the fun is often in experimenting. Turning all of your pedals on at once, hooking them up in the 'wrong' order, or multiple distortions on at once and doing things differently just to see what'll happen: you know you wanna do all of this right now and jam an A-powerchord full volume!

At TC we thoroughly encourage creativity and through years of audio experience have proven the validity of what we do, we try to make our products as open ended as possible - that's why so many guitarists love tweaking our stuff and getting unexpected results that fuel creativity.

We've gathered the most experimental sounds from some of the world's cutting edge guitarists into a free package of Toneprints for you to download and then take to a new level. These are some of the most creative sounds available, aimed at sparking your creativity, ideas and music.

Creativity is Contagious
Music is an ongoing experiment, and the way you want things to sound is an individual expression of who you are. This is the same with famous musicians and rockstars – which was a big reason for us doing TonePrints. TonePrints are best described as custom built, signature effects. We've asked the best players of all genres and styles to give us their spin on our world renowned TC Electronic effects.
For our experimental package, we focused on Omar Rodríguez-López (The Mars Volta), Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens Of The Stone Age), Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Knox Chandler (a.o. Depeche Mode), Bumblefoot (Guns'n'Roses, Grand Baton (a.o. Richard Bona) and Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie).

These guitarists are all famous for their creativity and daring tones. After giving them access to an immensely deep editor they were able to craft their signature version of a TC TonePrint pedal (Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Vibrato or Flange) which they are using live and in the studio. The most left-field creative and experimental guitarists known to music supplied their tones to this package and you can download them into your pedal via USB or our totally free TonePrint App for iOS and do your worst ... or best.

Brand spankin' new TC TonePrints!
Since we value tone experimentation so much, we're including four exclusive, ultra cool experimental TC TonePrints! Spatial Indulgence, a modulated Reverb TonePrint using the Cathedral setting in combination with the TriChorus. It is designed for longer Reverbs, but works great with shorter times too. Stratosfear, a heavy modulated Reverb Toneprint using the Club setting in combination with the Advanced Flanger. Rampage, an interesting TonePrint that uses the Vibrato Latch type and RingMod, which combines very short delay times with extreme amounts of feedback to create a pseudo ring modulator effect. Use the delay time knob to fine tune the effect and the feedback control to control the intensity of the effect.

And, to add awesome to awesome, you can also win a Flashback X4 if you join our FaceBook page during this campaign! Click the button below or use the free TonePrint app for iOS and Android. With this package, we're challenging your creativity ... will you answer the call?

Pricing and Availability:
Free

More information:
www.tcelectronic.com/fuel-for-creativity/

A Complete History Of Epiphone Guitars

Backbeat Books publishes The Epiphone Guitar Book by Walter Carter


The epic story of Epiphone, one of the world's oldest and most famous guitar companies, spans three centuries, from its Old World roots in the 19th century to the golden age of American guitar makers in the 20th century and onward into the global market of the new millennium.

Former staff historian Walter Carter recounts the story in The Epiphone Guitar Book, mirroring the story of American business, from an individual luthier to a family business and on to corporate ownership. This is also the story of American popular music, powered by Epiphone guitars, from the big-bodied Emperor that drove the swing bands of the 1930s to the electric hollow-bodies of the 1960s used by the Beatles, to the custom solid-body models preferred by such modern rockers as Noel Gallagher (Oasis) and Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance).

Along the way, Carter considers the effect of new ownership by Gibson, starting in the late 1950s, and the way that Epiphone survived moves to offshore production to take on the strong individual identity it enjoys today. Beautifully illustrated with photographs of all the important Epiphone instruments and the extraordinary musicians who played them, and featuring a collector's section that provides specifications for every Epiphone guitar made from the 1920s to the present, The Epiphone Guitar Book is the fascinating story of how a name in the world of the guitar became iconic.

About the author
Walter Carter, the former historian for Gibson Guitar Corporation, is the author of 11 books on vintage guitars and guitar companies. As a songwriter, he co-wrote the 1988 country hit "Life as We Knew It" with Kathy Mattea. He also worked as a reporter for The Tennessean. His histories of guitar companies include The Martin Book and The Gibson Electric Guitar Book (both published by Backbeat Books) as well as Gibson Guitars: 100 Years of an American Icon, Epiphone: The Complete History, and The Story of the Ovation Guitar. He lives in Nashville.

Pricing and Availability:
$24.99

More information:
www.backbeatbooks.com

Hendrix Tone On Your Phone

IK Multimedia's AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix is available for iOS


IK Multimedia, in collaboration with Authentic Hendrix, LLC, has announced the release of AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix for iPhone/iPod touch, and AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix for iPad, described as the first multiFX modelling apps to offer genuine Jimi Hendrix tone for guitarists. Here's IK's full description...

The AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ mobile Apps offer models of Hendrix's actual amps, cabinets and effects, so that anyone can reproduce his tone or tweak it and make it their own. The presets are arranged in discography format, making it easy to dial up the right gear and settings to replicate the guitar sound from virtually any song in his catalogue. Use IK's iRig or iRig STOMP interfaces to get the best spot-on emulations of the Hendrix gear.

The Apps provide two historically accurate amp models: JH Gold (based on Marshall® JTM 45™), "the" amp that Hendrix used almost exclusively from 1968 on, and JH Dual (based on a Fender™ Dual Showman), each with a matching cabinet.

Five effects are included: Uni-V (based on Univox™ Uni-Vibe), Octa-V (based on the Roger Mayer™ Octavia), Fuzz Age (based on the Arbiter® Fuzz Face®), Noise Filter (from AmpliTube), and Wah 46 (based on the Vox™ V846 wah, and free after registration).

In the powerful Song Player window, users can directly purchase Hendrix songs such as "Hey Joe," "Fire," "Red House" and many others to play along with. The Song player can also load songs from the user library, or via Wi-Fi and File Sharing; and it provides a Speed Trainer and a vocal-eliminator.

The Apps are equipped with a single-track recorder that can be expanded to 4 or 8 track self-contained studios with mixers and master effects, for the iPhone and iPad Apps respectively.

Pricing and Availability:
AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ for iPhone/iPod touch or iPad are available on the App StoreSM for $14.99 / €13.99. Owners of AmpliTube can obtain the Hendrix models through In-App Purchase after updating to the latest version.

More information:
www.ikmultimedia.com/hendrix

Limited Availabilty Eastwood Guitars

Airline MAP in black and gold and some rare lefties


Last year Eastwood did a special order of the Airline MAP Black LTD Gold model. Only 8 guitars were made and they sold out in 3 days. Since then the company says that everyone has been asking for more, so they have made some. Production is complete and they will begin shipping on Jan 21, 2013. They are taking pre-orders now,at $879 + free North American shipping.

Apparently, all the planets have aligned for the LEFT-HAND crowd this month, as a strange fluke in production has created some extremely rare limited left-hand models. Most of these have never been made before and will not be made again.

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
www.myrareguitars.com/back-in-black-airline-map-of-gold

Warm Up Your Mix With Radiator

Soundtoys introduces a new plug-in based on the Altec 1567A tube mixer


Soundtoys tell us that Radiator brings instant heat to your mix with a smoky, vintage tube sound. It's based on the old-school classic Altec 1567A tube mixer and EQ as heard on Motown hits to today's hottest indie tracks. It also includes the newly updated Little Radiator 1566A tube pre plug-in, too. Here's the details in Soundtoys' own words...

Introducing Radiator, a dual drive tube input channel and EQ, based on the classic Altec 1567A tube mixer from the 1960s.

The original Altec 1567A hardware was a rack-mounted five-input tube mixer with removable transformers, a simple two-knob EQ, an unmistakable green faceplate, and a whopping 97 dB of gain. The sound, by today's standards, is colored and gritty, with a heaping helping of good old fashion hardware noise. In its day, it was used on many early Motown hits, and found its way into the PA racks of countless churches and school auditoriums across the USA.

Radiator brings the classic Altec tube sound to desktop recording rigs, capturing the distinctive warmth and punch of the original hardware. Featuring the modeled bass and treble tone controls from the original unit, a mix control for easy parallel processing, and the saturation and harmonic effects of the original hardware's input and output amplifiers. All of these different circuit elements interact, allowing a wide range of tones to be created with just a few simple knobs. Plus we let you decide if the original noise is on or off.

Over the past few years the Altec mixers have been picked up by recording studios as an inexpensive way to bring analog color and character to computer based digital recording. With producers like Matt Wallace of early Maroon 5 fame utilizing the 1567A on their early hits, and now bands like the Black Keys (who had a custom console made from Altec 1567A's) the demand, and price, for these funky little color boxes have soared.

Computer recordists everywhere can now get the Altec tube sound - on every input channel, without the hassles of interfacing to esoteric analog gear, and at a much lower cost. Radiator also includes Little Radiator, a simpler single-stage tube pre-amp model based on the Altec 1566A hardware, the little brother of the Altec 1567A.

Pricing and Availability:
Buy now for $129. Or upgrade from the original Little Radiator for a limited time for only $49 (regular $89). Offer ends January 3rd 2013.

More information:
www.soundtoys.com

Analog Four Sound Packs

Elektron offers five free sound packs to all Analog Four owners


As a Yuletide gift for all Analog Four owners Elektron has compiled five Sound Packs. They tell us that each Sound Pack contains 24 meticulously crafted sounds and all of them are of course 100% royalty free. The Sound Packs are:

  • Bass vol. 1
  • Leads vol. 1
  • Drums vol. 1
  • Atmospheres vol.1
  • FX vol. 1

All of them are available for download on the Analog Four Downloads page of the Elektron website.

Pricing and Availability:
Free download.

More information:
Elektron

Animoog Updated

Version 2 of Moog's iPad synth gets a 4-track recorder and more


Moog Music has announced the release of Animoog V2 for Apple's iPad. This major update to the TEC-Award Nominated iOS synthesizer is a free update for existing Animoog users and includes many user requested features and product enhancements, such as: accelerometer integration which gives Animoog owners the ability to tilt their iPad in any direction as an interactive 3D modulation source; note hold and scale lock, and tools for advanced users like, Load/Save MIDI CC maps, Audiocopy/Audiopaste integration and support for the new Audiobus platform. 

Also, as a holiday gift, Animoog V2 features a powerful 4 Track Recorder, which gives Animoog users the ability to record audio from within Animoog or import audio tracks directly from their iTunes library. Users can then split, loop, copy, paste, and share individual clips, or mix down entire songs and upload them directly to SoundCloud, all from within the Animoog's universe.

This 4 Track Recorder will be free to existing users until Dec. 31, 2012 at which time it will revert to it's regular price of $4.99 in the Animoog Store.

Pricing and Availability:
Between Dec 20th and Dec 31st Animoog for iPad will be available at the promotional price of $14.99 (reg. price $29.99), Animoog for iPhone will be available at the promotional price of $4.99 (reg. price $9.99), and Moog's first iOS app, Filtatron will be available at the promotional price of $4.99 (reg. price $7.99).

More information:
Moog

MiniBrute-Based Kontakt Synth

Precious Sound releases PreBrute sample-based synth


Precious Sound tells us that PreBrute is the latest sound set for their "4Scoop" engine for Kontakt 5, and the worlds first sample based Kontakt synth based on the Arturia MiniBrute. Here's all the details in their own words

Our "4Scoop" engine consists of 4 oscillators.
Each Oscillator has a possible 80 waveforms to choose from(20 waveforms 4 flavours)each with independent modulation and filtering options, these four oscillators are then summed in the global section to 2 master filters and various send/insert FX.
We do not sample "Synth Pre-sets" we do not want to be limited to modulated waveforms/filter sweeps etc.
The goal of our engine is to capture the character of hardware oscillators and modulate them within our interface to create a sound of your own.
We also had hardware in mind while developing the engine and at every stage of the engine when a effect/filter is off it is bypassed from the signal chain completely leaving you with a clean tone that can then be fed to any hardware filter of your liking.
you can then save all your settings as pre-sets and can recall them anytime you like.
This can be done all from our interface no need to have multiple instrument files and have to deal with opening and closing each Kontakt instance.

Pricing and Availability:
PreBrute is available at a special 25% off festive discount until 07/01/13
£30.00 (Inc. VAT) $37.49 Festive discount
£39.99 (Inc. VAT) $49.99 Full Price
Owners of any "4Scoop" based product are entitled to a additional 10% discount part of a newly-established Loyalty Scheme.

More information:
www.PreciousSound.com

Mixvibes Releases CrossDJ For iPhone

DJ anywhere


Building on 10 years of expertise in the DJ software industry, MixVibes has released a stand-alone DJ app for iPhone. Easy to use for music lovers yet powerful for experienced DJs, this app allows you to achieve the same level of performance as with real decks.The Paris-based company has a successful experience in developing pro DJ software. Its flagship product, CrossDJ, is already available on PC, Mac and iPad and its today available for iPhone.

Mixvibes tells us that, in order to stand out from the crowd of DJ apps, CrossDJ for iPhone focuses on industry standard DJ setups. CEO Eric Guez told Sonic State, "CrossDJ is the easiest way to start Djing. When you step up to iPad app or regular decks, you'll already be familiar with standard layout." Here's more details in Mixvibes' own words...

With its scratching, loops, effects and hot cues, CrossDJ is the first app for iPhone that provides professional features in an intuitive design. Its layout was optimized for the Apple device: smart tabs, large controls and Cue/Play/Sync buttons. Based on the same engine as previous CrossDJ versions, CrossDJ for iPhone provides the most reliable synchronization engine and BPM analysis on the market. It guarantees DJs to be always on the beat. Plus, you can visually preview your mix using parallel waveforms and sync meter.

On top of that, Cross DJ for iPhone provides direct access to iPhone's iTunes library and playlists. And best of all, it's free! Playtime is unlimited, and no ads will interfere with the experience. For $2,99 / 2,69€ / 1,99 £, users can upgrade to a premium version with additional effects and the split output function.


Pricing and Availability:
Download the app for free on the app store

More information:
www.mixvibes.com

Relaxed Grooves Sample Collection

Ueberschall announces the availability of Chillout Zone


Ueberschall tells us that Chillout Zone combines atmospheric dense instruments with laid-back beats, deep basses, elements of Easy Listening and Jazz as well as cool Dub-FX into relaxed grooves. Here's a description of it in their own words...

This new Ueberschall-library continues the series of successful chillout-titles such as Chillout Breeze, Chillers Joint, Comfort Zone, Easy Listening and Lounge-O-Rama. Chillout Zone offers relaxed tracks that can perfectly be combined with other chillout-libraries.

Chillout Zone consists of ten pre-produced construction kits with a total of 609 loops. Each kit offers a complete mix of the particular groove for demonstrative purposes. In addition, we provide mixes of the complete backings and the drumsets which are particularly useful for song-sketches, digital DJ-sets and productions under time pressure.

It goes without saying that each construction kit also contains loops of all single instruments and drums. These loops have been recorded and prepared using professional equipment and offer total freedom while arranging and mixing. The options are widespread, ranging from adding single loops to an existing track up to the construction of complete new tracks using one or several construction kits.Among the separate drums are kicks, snares, hi-hats, claps, cymbals and percussions. Instruments used for the backings are synthetic and electronic basses, organic electronic pianos, warm synth-pads, funky guitar licks and atmospheric sound FX.

Each construction kit contains two to six subfolders with different variations of a groove. This makes the creation of a conclusive track with intro, verse and breaks easy and effortless.

Chillout Zone is targeted towards music production of Chillout, Lounge and Easy Listening. However, the library is also well-suited to create soundtracks for games, television programs, movies and for event-location-sounds.

Elastik-Feature
Ueberschall's Elastik player allows combining all loops of Chillout Zone with other Elastik libraries with ease. Tempo and pitch can be perfectly adapted using the included high quality time-stretch- und pitch-change algorithms provided by zplane. Use the browser to search for specific beats, basslines, synth-loops, guitar-riffs and other elements across all installed libraries. In addition, all loops are sorted by category, base pitch and original tempo. This makes transposing and tempo adaption of instrumental phrases and drum loops between construction kits a no-brainer.
The loops and sounds of the library can effectively be edited and manipulated by a multimode filter and functions such as formant, resample, and reverse, including modulation by an internal step sequencer.

Credits
Responsible for Chillout Zone are Marc Steinmeier and Ron Paul. Both have already worked for companies such as Universal Music, EMI Electrola and Sony/BMG. They have also worked and remixed for well-known artists such as LL Cool J, Alicia Keys, George Clinton and Eminem. Many productions thank their final polishing in composition and sound design to them.

  • 1.5GB, 10 construction kits, 609 loops
  • Genres: Chillout, Lounge, Abstract Hip Hop
  • Elastik soundbank for Mac/PC/AU/VST/RTAS/standalone
  • Elastik player included - no sampler required

Pricing and Availability:
49 Euro

More information:
www.ueberschall.com/goto/523/Chillout_Zone

ReFill Bundle Gets Bigger

Nucleus SoundLab updates Christmas ReFill Bundle with Vast


Another Reason ReFill has been added to Nucleus SoundLab's Christmas 2012 ReFill Bundle. Tom Pritchard Sound Design Vast ($70 value) is now available for all purchasers who pay $49.99 or more.

The Christmas 2012 ReFill Bundle now encompasses 10 ReFills with a regular price of over $360 - at a Pay-What-You-Want price. The sale ends December 28th, 2012.

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
http://refillbundle.com

14 New Plug-Ins

Plug & Mix launches Version 3.0 with new plug-ins and AAX support


Plug & Mix has announced the launch of its version 3.0 of their V.I.P. series plug-ins that adds full 64-bit support for Mac OS 10,8 (Mountain Lion) and Windows 8, as well as compatibility with Avid's AAX format for Mac and PC.

Version 3.0 also includes the 14 most requested plug-ins by users to complement the 26 existing plug-ins of the previous V.I.P. Bundle.

The upgrade to V3.0 is free of charge for all owners.

The new plug-ins are :

  • Octaplexer – Octaver Divider Plug-in
  • Psycho Ring – An unique Ring Modulator
  • Stereolizer – Stereo width enlargement
  • Ob La Wah – The Virtual WAH-WAH Pedal
  • Electro Q Tone – Extreme EQ when needed
  • Talking Tone – Talk box and Vocoder
  • Deluxe Tilt – Tonic Tilting
  • Ambiosoniq – Improve your Stereo Image
  • Maxbass – Bass enhancement plug-in
  • Screamer – Hardcore Screaming Distortion
  • Liquid Air Q – EQ with presence
  • Vinylizer – Get that Vinyl Sound
  • Granulizer – Granular Processing Plug-in
  • Ls Rotator – Need a great Leslie?

A spokesperson told Sonic State, "Plug And Mix have been working very closely with their carefully selected developers to create new plug-ins that their customers had requested. Sound quality was the first priority while always keeping in mind the ongoing goal of making the plug-ins as easy to use and efficient as the existing toolset included in the previous V.I.P. Bundle. Now there are a total of 40 creative audio tools that let professionals and audio enthusiasts take immediate control of their mixes and get superb results without searching through a multitude of parameters."

About Plug & Mix

Plug & Mix (formerly DC Plug-ins) is a company owned by DontCrack.com which has been supporting and distributing the finest audio plug-in manufacturers since 2006. P&M is a collaborative concept where they partnered with major plug-in manufacturers to fill a gap in the audio plug-in market.

Pricing and Availability:
The upgrade to V3.0 is free of charge for all owners.
Until January 31, P&M products will be sold at the promoted price of $39 (MSRP $59) for the individual plug-ins and $299 (MSRP $499) for the full V.I.P. Bundle.

More information:
www.plugandmix.com

Korg Updates Entire Line Of iOS Apps

Audiobus and other new enhancements offered


Korg has announced updates to all Korg iPad music apps that include Audiobus support, iCloud data backup, virtual MIDI (for most apps), Retina support and more. These updates are also available as a free download for existing users.

A broad range of features is now included across all apps:

  • Background audio support
  • iCloud data backup
  • Audiobus compatibility (enables audio to run between two iOS apps)

In addition, some individual app enhancements have also been made available:

iPolysix:
MIDI CC control
Improved Polyshare feature that enables sharing songs online
Virtual MIDI for MIDI communication between iOS music creation apps

iKaossilator:
iPhone 5 screen compatibility

iElectribe:
Beat Flutter- randomly generates rhythm patterns for live performance
Retina support
Virtual MIDI for MIDI communication between iOS music creation apps

iMS-20:
Retina support
Virtual MIDI for MIDI communication between iOS music creation apps

In addition, all Korg apps continue to be priced at 50% off through December 31, 2012, as part of the celebration for the recent iPolySix launch:

Sale Pricing:
KORG iMS-20 for iPad: US $14.99
iKaossilator for iPhone/iPad: US $9.99
iElectribe for iPad: US $9.99
iElectribe Gorillaz Edition for iPad: US $9.99
iPolysix: US $14.99

More information:
Korg

Best Service 2for1 Holiday Promotion

Buy one virtual instrument, get a second free


For a limited time, purchasers of a Best Service Instrument will receive a second instrument for free.
Compared to the purchased instrument, the second instrument must be of lesser or equal value.
There is no difference between products sold through the retail channel or at Best Service.

Participating products:

  • Accordions
  • Black Box 8 CD-Set
  • Blue Box 16 CD-Set
  • Chris Hein Bass
  • Chris Hein Guitars
  • Chris Hein Horns Compact
  • Chris Hein Horns Pro Complete
  • Cinematique Instruments
  • Cinematique Instruments 2
  • Complete Classical Collection 2nd Edition - Peter Siedlaczek
  • Convolution Space
  • Desert Winds
  • Drums Overkill
  • Epic World
  • Era Medieval Legends
  • Ethno World 5 Professional & Voices
  • Evolution Series World Percussion
  • Evolution Series World Percussion Compact
  • Forest Kingdom
  • Galaxy II Pianos
  • Galaxy Vintage D
  • Galaxy X
  • Gu Zheng
  • Halls of Fame Complete - Origami Edition
  • Klanghaus
  • K-Size Engine Edition
  • Nitron
  • Orchestral Bundle - Peter Siedlaczek
  • Peking Opera Percussion
  • poetic acoustic guitars
  • String Essentials 2nd Edition - Peter Siedlaczek
  • StudioBox Mark II
  • SYNTH-WERK
  • TITAN - 200 Synthesizers in One
  • Voices & Choirs
  • Xsample Chamber Ensemble

Pricing and Availability:
Promotion ends January 13 2013

More information:
www.bestservice.de/special.asp/en

Stylophone S2 Demo Video Posted

Not terribly enlightening


Everyone is getting excited about the new Stylophone S2 from Dubreq - the original British manufacturers of the Stylophone. With the S2, they've added some proper synthesis features and CV input control

News of the S2, with its synthesis capabilities has been racing cross the interwebs, we're dying to hear what it can do. Unfortunately, this video isn't about to make things all that much clearer.

Hopefully, there will be more to come as the holidays progress, and we'll certainly be doing our best to get hold of one either prior to NAMM or at the show itself.

For more information on the new Dubreq Stylophone S2, stay tuned...

Features:

  • All analogue signal path
  • Classic British 12dB/octave state-variable filter
  • Dual all-transistor voltage controlled oscillators.
  • Sub-oscillators for incredibly fat-bass
  • Aux. input (to use the filter and envelope generator as effects)
  • Eight waveform LFO (low frequency oscillator) with 14 octave range
  • 4x AA cell operation or external DC (mains adapter not included)
  • Main output: 1/4" jack-socket
  • Use internal speaker or headphone amplifier (3.5mm headphone jack)
  • CVI (Control Voltage Input) and Trigger via 3.5mm jack sockets
  • Unique illuminated speaker detail spins to show LFO speed

More Information
Stylpohone2.com

Lemur On iOS Updated

Liine announces new features including In-App Editor and new Skins


Liine tells us that multi-touch controller Lemur's templates are now editable directly from your iPad. They've also added new skins and announced a free LiveControl 2 downloadin early 2013. Here's the details in Liine's own words...

In-App Editor

Lemur has evolved. Now you can design your templates on the fly without a computer in sight. The In-App Editor (only available for iPad) makes multitouch control truly improvisatory by letting you shape your controller the same way you shape sounds. Virtually every function of the desktop editor application is now available through an intuitive system of iOS menus and widgets. Best of all – it's easier to use than ever.

So what does editing templates directly In-App mean?

For novice users, this means a much smaller learning curve and an immediate initial experience. Any basic configuration, such as a typical bank of faders, can now be created with a few familiar taps and gestures. And any factory template can be adjusted quickly to suit your particular needs.

For advanced users, the In-App Editor provides the possibility to quickly edit templates without breaking the musical flow. Whether you're playing with live musicians or engineering a track in the studio, designing and using the Lemur controller becomes improvisatory. Need to add an extra fader for the reverb effect? Two seconds and you've got it.

Skins

Lemur now features three new skins in addition to the classic look. Choose the look that fits your style and get inspired.

Coming early 2013 – LiveControl 2

Experience the ultimate Ableton Live controller, designed in partnership with master designer ST8. Improvise a riff on the Play page, then switch to the Sequencer page to edit the pattern. Choose a key and scale to guide your melodies and use Quick Chord to instantly create harmonies. Use the Modulate page to flawlessly map any parameter from any plugin to the MultiBall object and take advantage of Physics, LFOs and gesture recording. The Launch page gives you everything you would expect from a clip launcher, and more. We even integrated snapshots and morphing. LiveControl 2 will be a free download available in early 2013.

Pricing and Availability:
Update available now on iTunes

More information:
lemur

Free Sleighbells Samples

A free gift with any item bought in Soundiron's Xmas Sale


Soundiron has announced their Christmas Sale and sleighbells giveaway. Here's what they told us...

"It's time for the last sale of the year and we've got some huge deals on Requiem Light and a bunch of our other all-time favorites. From now until the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve (12/31/12), you can save hundreds on a wide selection of great Kontakt libraries and grab an exclusive bonus library while you're at it!

We're giving away a cool new holiday Sleighbells Micropak with the purchase of any item in our store during this sale! It covers 4 different sleigh-bell sizes (tiny to huge), captured right up close in wide stereo, with 8x round-robin and multiple dynamic layers. It's all conveniently programmed into a modular GUI, with full shaping, arpeggiation, EQ and convolution FX/room simulations controls. This library requires the full version of Kontakt 4 or later, but we've included unlocked samples to use in any wav compatible software you like. It features 290 samples and 260MB of fresh content! Just order anything in our store between now and December 31st and we'll send you the free download!"

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
Soundiron

Automatic Guitar Power Chords For Kontakt

Pettinhouse releases Powerchords


Pettinhouse describes Powerchords as a new Guitar Power Chords sample library for Kontakt 3, 4, 5 and future versions - A revolutionary guitar library for creating and play automatic Power Chords without any chord recognitions.

A spokesperson had this to say, "You are free to play what you want. One note, two, random notes, doesn't matter what you press on your keyboard. it strums all the notes. Use the LIVE KNOBS to simulate in real time the PALM MUTE, PICK INTENSITY, DURATION OF THE NOTES, and more. It has pre made patterns for Rock, Blues, Metal, Pop which you can edit or create them from scratch. It has a built-in Amp simulator with Wah, Distortion, EQ, Reverb, Delay and Phaser. You can also play it DRY with your favorite amp simulator."

  • OS: Mac OSX, Windows XP
  • Sample Formats: NI Kontakt 3, 4, and 5

Pricing and Availability:
Powerchords is available now for download for $69 and it is included in DirectGuitar 3.0
Powerchords could be also included in one of the XMAS 2012 bundle SALES. $69 instead of $129 on all Pettinhouse products

More information:
www.pettinhouse.com

Equinox Sounds Releases Funky String MIDI Arrangements

Construction kits for seven different string arrangements


Equinox Sounds has released Funky String MIDI Arrangements, which they describe as a downloadable collection that features seven different string arrangements MIDI Construction Kits for creating the melodic foundations for a variety of modern music styles such as Funky, Disco, Jazz, Soul, RnB and Lounge by producer and keyboard player Dave Bradshaw.

A spokesperson had this to say, "Each Kit comes labelled with the original tempo when recorded. As these phrases are supplied in MIDI format, they will provide you with as much flexibility as possible. You can edit and transpose them, assign any sound you want and get your own and original melodic lines. The editing possibilities are endless as you can play the performances at any tempo or pitch without artefacts. You can use these MIDI files as a jumping-off point to start your own track or base your production entirely around them as they are 100% royalty-free!"

Pricing and Availability:
'Funky String MIDI Arrangements' is currently available for $19.95 as a download.

More information:
www.equinoxsounds.com

Scratch Loops And More

Producer Loops releases Supalife Glitch & Breaks sample pack


Producer Loops tells us that Supalife Glitch & Breaks is the new sample pack from producer Eddy Beneteau of Supalife Records. They say that it includes some of the most insane turntable wizardry around plus everything from vocal fragments to synth leads and white noise, all scratched beyond recognition into new rhythmic phrases.

A spokesperson told Sonic State, "These scratch loops alone would be enough to create a worthy sample pack, but 'Supalife Glitch & Breaks' also includes a selection of infectious beats, bass lines, melodies and chord progressions, as heard in the MP3 demo. And because every loop has been formatted as REX you can play them like instruments and easily re-arrange the scratch loops into new patterns using any compatible software such as Stylus RMX or Dr OctoRex in Reason 6.5."

About The Producer:

Eddy Beneteau from Supalife Records is well-known in the sampling industry for his incredible sound design skills and he's arguably made some of the best DnB, Breakbeat and Dubstep loops ever made. All of the files, mixes and Demos in 'Supalife Glitch & Breaks' were engineered, mixed and mastered by Eddy Beneteau, ensuring perfect quality and that inimitable sound you've come to love.

Product Specifications:

  • 5 Construction Kits
  • ACIDized WAV Files
  • Apple Loops/AIFF Files
  • REX2 Loops
  • MIDI Included
  • Reason ReFill
  • Loops sync to BPM
  • 44.1 kHz/24-Bit
  • PC/Mac Compatible
  • Royalty-Free (No Exceptions)

Pricing and Availability:
Supalife Glitch & Breaks is available for instant download for £22.46 / 27,57 EUR / $30.48 USD.

More information:
www.producerloops.com

Pulteq-Style EQ With Digital Recall And Automation

TransAudio Group introduces the Bettermaker EQ 232P


TransAudio Group is shipping the Bettermaker EQ 232P, a flexible two-channel analog equalizer that updates a classic design and adds the digital accuracy, repeatability and consistency of a plug-in. Every parameter setting of the EQ 232P, which is a Pultec-style stereo/dual mono analog equalizer featuring five filters on each channel, may be saved in up to 399 presets in the unit's internal memory, and may additionally be fully automated, and all settings saved with the DAW project, using the supplied software plug-in. Here's the full details in TransAudio Group's own words...

Both channels of the EQ 232P include a 12 dB/octave high-pass filter covering the range 18 Hz – 200 Hz. There are two active parametric filters on each channel: EQ1 extends from 45 Hz to 1 kHz and EQ2 from 650 Hz to 15 kHz. The PEQ section, an homage to the classic 1950s Pultec analog equalizer design, features high- and low-frequency shelving passive filters, each with separate boost and attenuation controls, just like the original. The HF section also includes a fully variable bandwidth control, also similarly to the Pultec.

All of the digital rotary encoders controlling the filter parameters are velocity sensitive, enabling coarse changes when spun quickly and very precise fine increments or decrements when turned slowly. The HPF, two filters and PEQ section may be individually hardware bypassed.

By applying digital control to analog hardware, the EQ 232P's hybrid design allows inclusion of a unique feature that is simply impossible on a fully analog unit: an A/B switch. This enables the user to instantly compare two different EQ settings, similarly to the operation of a DAW plug-in.

A Preset section saves and recalls the entire state of the unit (except for the EQ section engage and A/B comparison switches) into 399 memory positions. Position 400 serves as an undo function. Seven factory presets created by Marek Walaszek, mixing/mastering engineer and Bettermaker CEO and product designer, are included.

The Bettermaker EQ 232P may be connected to a DAW via USB and controlled using the supplied software plug-in, which supports AU, VST and RTAS, and 32- and 64-bit architecture. The unit appears as a MIDI device and may alternatively be operated using Sysex commands. The currently selected preset automatically saves with the DAW project. All setting changes are bi-directional between the plug-in, which does not pass audio, and the hardware, which must be connected via the computer interface or sound card.

The unit's analog and digital circuits are totally isolated from each other. Digital signals are transmitted through optical connectors to avoid any interference with the sensitive analog circuits. The analog and digital paths additionally utilize separate, shielded power supplies.

The Bettermaker EQ232P is equipped with two sets of identical outputs, providing additional flexibility. For example, the unit could be wired to provide parallel processing or to provide a secondary feed to a recording device, or inserted before the 2-bus to provide simultaneous finalized and non peak-limited versions. (Note: the outputs are not transformer isolated.)

The Bettermaker EQ 232P Remote version features a blank front panel with external computer control exclusively via the GUI.

Pricing and Availability:
MAP for the Bettermaker EQ 232P is $4,950.
MAP for the Bettermaker EQ 232P Remote is $4,250.

More information:
www.transaudiogroup.com

An Early Christmas Present For VoiceLive Users

TC-Helicon gives away 500 new vocal presets


TC-Helicon is offering users of its flagship units VoiceLive 2, VoiceLive Rack and VoiceLive Touch an early Christmas present: 500 new vocal presets for free download and use.

A spokesperson told Sonic State, "Following the release of last month's mega-pack of artist presets for the popular new unit VoiceLive Play, the chance has come for the rest of the TC-Helicon's VoiceLive series users to feel the love. From today singers using either the VoiceLive 2, VoiceLive Rack or VoiceLive Touch to control and shape their vocal performances will be able to download 500 new vocal presets, based on popular songs and artists from the last five decades. So whether it's Gangnam Style or Whiter Shade of Pale that floats your boat, it's there."

Pricing and Availability:
Free. Users need simply to connect their TC-Helicon units to a computer via the supplied USB cable and use the free VoiceSupport app (available from TC-Helicon's website) to drag and drop presets to the units.

More information:
www.tc-helicon.com/500-presets

Diginoiz Releases BigRoom Midi Riffs

MIDI files for house production


Diginoiz has released BigRoom Midi Riffs. A spokesperson told us,

"Inspired the best club producers on the planet! Made specially for you to create your own sound and push your creativity to the max! In MainRoom, Progressive, House genre! This time we give you a dangerous weapon that brings full control over the production of your music. Making music has never been so easy! All of this thanks to the newest product of Diginoiz, containing over 90 great, hit-oriented midi files ready to be imported into your software to show the world who is the MVP of music production. It's only your creativity and BigRoom Midi Riffs - time to go to work!"

Available Formats

'BigRoom Midi Riffs' contains 94 Midi files and 11 bonus Wave files, ready to use in your favorite sampler or sequencer, both hardware and software, including: Logic, GarageBand, Soundtrack, Digital Performer, Sony Acid, Ableton Live, Adobe Audition, Cakewalk Sonar, Pro Tools, Stylus Rmx, Emagic EXS24 and many more.

Download Details

Every purchase you make contains 1 ZIP file (24 MB).

Midi 
  • 94 files

Wav
  • 11 bonus loops (24-bit)

Pricing and Availability:
€22.00 EUR

More information:
www.diginoiz.com/?q=club-loops-line/bigroom-midi-riffs

Free Synth For Mac And Windows

u-he refurbish Podolski, originally released as magware in 2005


u-he tells us that Podolski is a simple, CPU-efficient virtual analogue synthesizer. Basically a cut down version of FilterscapeVA with just one oscillator, one filter, one envelope and two LFOs, it also features a Zebra-style arpeggiator/sequencer plus chorus and delay effects.

Podolski's specialities are the Click parameter (emphasizes the filter attack) and its ability to seamlessly morph between three waveforms (WaveWarp).

Version 1.0 was released as a free gift for visitors to the u-he booth during Musikmesse 2005. Right after Musikmesse it went on the cover mount CD of the German KEYBOARDS magazine (later Sound & Recording). Podolski was u-he's first 'magware' offering, and was distributed with every issue until about 2009.

Podolski has been refurbished with some new presets by Howard Scarr, has undergone a GUI makeover (two new skins) and supports a wider range of plug-in formats. A new English language manual is also included.

Pricing and Availability:
Free download

More information:
www.u-he.com/cms/podolski

Transistor Revolution Released

Wave Alchemy's recreation of the TR-808 and TR-909 is available now


We brought you news of this a couple of weeks ago and now Wave Alchemy have been in touch to tell us that Transistor Revolution, an accurate re-creation of the iconic TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines forKontakt 5 Player, is now available. Here's what a Wave Alchemy spokesperson had to say...

"Using a custom GUI, 22,000 samples and Kontakt 5's advanced sampling engine with over 100,000 lines of unique script, Transistor Revolution faithfully captures the tone, immediacy and groove of the classic TR-808 and TR-909 transistor rhythm machines. Why 22,000 samples you might ask? To give an example of the detail involved in the sampling of each instrument, the Revolution-909 Bass Drum alone uses 9318 unique sounds to faithfully recreate the 909 Bass Drum sound. Each of the 4 knobs on the Revolution 909 Bass Drum control panel scans smoothly through each and every sample in real-time."

Pricing and Availability:
£59.95

Mastering/Mixing Plug-In Bundle

DMAX audio puts four separate VST plug-ins together for Windows and Mac


DMAX audio has released its new mastering/mixing plug-in bundle. It consists of four separate plug-ins.

  • DEQ – mastering-quality liner phase equalizer.
  • DLIM – "classical" loudness maximizer.
  • DMAX – first peak limiter in the world that does not use superfast gain reduction, therefore it yields clearer sound that that of typical loudness maximizers.
  • DSE – stereo enhancer which is based on S-channel equalization and ULF adding.

All the plug-ins are in PC/MAC VST formats and DMAX says that they were developed using alternative approaches/algorithms and that the bundle has its own very distinctive sound.

Pricing and Availability:
DEQ Type A: $89.95
DLIM: $99.95
DMAX: $99.95
DSE: $49.95

Quantity discounts are available if you buy two or more plug-ins:

  • 5% if you buy 2 plug-ins
  • 10% if you buy 3 plug-ins
  • 15% if you buy 4 plug-ins

More information:
www.dmaxaudio.com

Paul Van Dyk Interviewed

MPVHub Audio Magazine #4 focuses on DJing


macProVideo.com tells us that issue #4 of MPVHub Audio Magazine is now available. If you've already subscribed to the print edition, it should be winging its way to you as you read this. Or... you can pop into your local newsstand or B&N (in North America) and pick up a copy.

A spokesperson told Sonic State, "Issue 4 is packed with over 30 pages of software tutorials, 20 pages of gear reviews, and 6 DJ & Producer interviews - a veritable feast for all digital musicians! In this issue we focus in on the world of DJs, DJing gear and techniques. Paul van Dyk talks in depth about his approach to collaboration, composition, and his unique live performance set up. Olav Basoski, Jody Wisternoff, Benno de Goeij and Hiroshi Watanabe share their DJing & production tips & tricks, and Halo 4 soundtrack composer & Massive Attack producer, Neil Davidge, reveals how to score big with video games."

Pricing and Availability:
Print: $19.50 per year (free postage & packing)
Digital: $10 per year / $3.99 per issue on Apple Newsstand

More information:
MPV

Vocal and Beat Loops

Diginoiz releases Radio Vocal Kits 1


Diginoiz has released Radio Vocal Kits 1. A spokesperson told Sonic State, "This is the first part of our special series, containing smash hit, catchy vocals, with beats in one construction kit product. You will find here 4 Modern Pop / Club instrumentals with vocal hooks and a lot of vocalizations on them (3 with hooks and vocalization and 1 with hook, verse and vocalizations). All of them are ready to be used to make Your fresh and best sounding radio ready tracks. You will find here over 1,2 GB of multiformat material, 64 music loops and 146 Vocal loops and one shots."

AVAILABLE FORMATS

'Radio Vocal Kits 1' contains 4 construction kits, 64 beat loops and 146 Vocal loops and one shots, 1,62 Gb, multi-format material (24-bit WAV, 24-bit AIFF, and 16-bit WAV) ready to use in your favorite sampler or sequencer, both hardware and software, including: Logic, GarageBand, Soundtrack, Digital Performer, Sony Acid, Ableton Live, Adobe Audition, Cakewalk Sonar, Pro Tools, Emagic EXS24 and many more.

DOWNLOAD DETAILS

Every purchase you make is contains 1-3 Zip files (depending on formats included in particular product), you can download all formats or just one or two of them.

Wav

  • 64 instrument loops (24-bit WAW)
  • 146 vocal loops and one shots (24-bit WAW)
  • 421 MB total size 
  • 64 instrument loops (16-bit WAW duplicate)
  • 146 vocal loops and one shots (16-bit WAW duplicate)
  • 273 Mb total size

AIFF / Apple Loop

  • 64 instrument loops (24-bit AIFF)
  • 146 vocal loops and one shots
  • 422 MB total size

Pricing and Availability:
€22.00 EUR

More information:
Radio Vocal Kits 1

How To Mix Sound In Church

Hal Leonard publishes The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook 2nd Edition


Hal Leonard tells us that this second edition of The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook is written to specifically address the concerns and needs of the sound person who serves ministries and churches.

A spokesperson told us, "The modern church uses many of the same presentation tools that have become common in television, movies, and concerts, placing a unique set of technical expectations on its eager, willing, and primarily volunteer force. This updated handbook blends the relational and technical aspects of church sound in a straightforward and easy-to-understand manner, providing a leg-up to volunteer and staff church sound operators. The Ultimate Church Sound Operator's Handbook will help church sound operators gain the knowledge they need to faithfully serve their church membership, leaders, and musicians."

About the author
Bill Gibson has spent the last thirty-plus years writing, performing,recording, producing, and teaching music. He has written more than thirty books and produced several videos covering important audio concepts. His style is acclaimed for straightforward and understandable explanations of audio concepts and applications. Gibson, an instructor at the Art Institute of Seattle, is also known for his work helping Quincy Jones author the book Q on Producing. He has developed curriculum and currently teaches online sound courses for Berklee College of Music in Boston. The courses have been very helpful to an amazingly diverse international student body. Gibson serves as a trustee for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and also on the National Advisory Board for the Recording Academy's Producers and Engineers Wing. He lives in Seattle,Washington.

Pricing and Availability:
$39.99

More information:
www.halleonardbooks.com

Allen & Heath Launches iLive OneMix

New iPad app gives musicians wireless control of their personal monitor mix


Allen & Heath has launched iLive OneMix, the latest addition to a family of control options for the iLivedigital mixing system. OneMix is an iPad app that gives musicians wireless control of their personal monitor mix. Derived from the iLive MixPad app, OneMix locks control to a single Aux mix, providing instant access to a customised easy-to-use monitor mix environment.

Multiple iPads can be set up by an Admin user to give numerous musicians personalised monitor control without affecting each other or the FoH main mix. A musician's own aux monitor mix is assigned and locked into the 'My Mix' layer, and a selection of input splits dedicated to the individual musician can be added. Similarly, all other instrument send levels can be assigned to any of the three extra layers, allowing unique personal monitoring configuration. The range of accessible settings is defined by custom permissions for each layer.

When reverted to User mode, the musician is presented with simple-to-use access and control of their aux master level and processing, instrument send levels and processing, if enabled. Depending on the application and the performer's technical knowledge, the layout and level of access can be kept minimal or extended to a more complex musician's monitor mix involving a high channel count across multiple layers. Notably, the mix can be tweaked and listened to by both the user on stage and the sound engineer at the desk, enabling easy interaction between the two. Up to 16 iPads running OneMix can be connected to an iLive system.

Design specification manager, Carey Davies, told Sonic State, "OneMix answers demand for a customisable personal monitoring solution with the capability to distil the most complex mix environment into very simple local control for musicians and performers giving them as much or as little access to their mix as they need or can manage, and without risk to FOH and other mixes. Working alongside MixPad and our Editor software, OneMix takes the iLive concept of distributing control to where it is needed a step further."

Pricing and Availability:
£5.49

More information:
www.allen-heath.com

Native Instruments Holiday Giveaway

Two special gifts as a thank you to all registered users


Native Instruments today launched their annual holiday giveaway with two special gifts as a thank you to all registered users. Until December 31, both gifts are available for download from the Native Instruments website. For producers, DRIVER is a filter distortion effect designed for subtle to drastic sound manipulation, while five new Remix Sets for TRAKTOR's Remix Decks will be released as a free bundle for Native Instruments' DJ community. Here's what they have to say about each...

DRIVER is a creative filter distortion effect for adding dynamic motion and texture to source material, designed by the creator of MASSIVE. The filter section delivers a wide range of effects, from extremely smooth to completely saturated. DRIVER offers low pass and notch filters, plus a distortion unit and versatile modulation sources. The diversity and quality of the resulting sound are consistently inspiring, and let producers segue smoothly from a warm, high-quality filter effect to all-out sonic mayhem. An envelope follower and audio modulation allow users to animate or transform the original signal, taking the sound beyond what the filter and distortion sections do alone. DRIVER can also be triggered via sidechain for dynamic effects that move with the music and integrates seamlessly with MASCHINE.

The five TRAKTOR Remix Sets in Native Instruments' holiday giveaway provide users with diverse sounds ready for immediate use in TRAKTOR's Remix Decks. TRAKTOR Remix Sets are premium-grade loop and one-shot sample packs, providing DJs with new expressive possibilities for their sets, allowing live remixing and creative track manipulation. TRANSISTOR PUNCH and DROP SQUAD are sets of new samples based on sounds from successful MASCHINE Expansions. DEEP GROOVE provides users with a set of sounds specifically created for deep house and techno styles, while ETHNIC PERCUSSION provides loops and one shots featuring rhythms from Indian and Latin music traditions. HOLLYWOOD CRUNCH is an exclusive Remix Set created by producer Comfort Fit, featuring hand-selected sounds from his personal collection. All five TRAKTOR Remix Sets are available together as a free download.

Pricing and Availability:
These special offers are available until December 31 from the Native Instruments website.

More information:
www.native-instruments.com/holidays2012

Create Unnaturally Wide Mixes

Musicrow's SuperPan for Reaktor uses psychoacoustics for panning effects


Musicrow has updated Golden Ensembles for Reaktor to v3.09. The update includes a new Reaktor ensemble: SuperPan.

They tell us that SuperPan is a special panning effect that enables users to place sounds out of the speakers. Based on sophisticated psychoacoustic methods, SuperPan can be used for the creation of unnaturally wide mixes, for special 'pop out' effects, and for adding unusual motion effects within regular and distorted spaces. Many surprising pre-made 'spacey' presets are included.

Main Features:

  • Pan out of the speakers
  • Create super wide stereo mixes
  • Extreme 3D effects
  • Add unusual motion
  • Modulators: Two Sequencers and an LFO
  • Many surprising 'spacey' presets

Pricing and Availability:
SuperPan is available as part of Golden Ensembles 3 that now contains 45 ensembles, synthesizers and effects for NI Reaktor 5. The update is available for free for Golden Ensembles 3 users.
Musicrow also offers Golden Ensembles 3 for a special Xmas price of 99EURO (Instead of 169Euro) until 31 Dec, 2012.

More information:
www.mcrow.net/superpan.htm 
Golden Ensembles

Cubasis App Now Available For iPad

Steinberg's digital audio workstation is streamlined for the iPad


Steinberg has announced the release of their latest iOS app, Cubasis, a multitouch sequencer streamlined for the iPad that offers discerning musicians a reliable, portable music production solution in the proven Steinberg quality.

Carlos Mendoza Rohde, product marketing manager at Steinberg, told Sonic State, "Cubasis for the iPad is what many of our customers have been waiting for, and all Cubase users will instantly feel at home with it. And with unlimited audio and MIDI tracks, export to Cubase and lots of loops, sounds and effects, Cubasis is sure to meet the expectations put upon a sophisticated music production and recording software."

Supporting iPad's multitouch gestures, Cubasis opens to the familiar arrangement window with its track list and inspector known from Steinberg's professional Cubase music production system. Cubasis offers export to Dropbox, AudioCopy and SoundCloud plus project compatibility to its desktop equivalent, Cubase, for Windows and OS X operating systems.

Cubasis features unlimited audio and MIDI tracks. Recorded tracks can be mixed with the integrated mixer, processed with more than ten audio effects the likes of compressor, equalizer and delay, and edited within the easy-to-use Sample Editor.

Steinberg tells u sthat the included 70+ instrument sounds are based on HALion Sonic workstation, ensuring proven quality complemented by over 300 MIDI and audio loops. These can be triggered using the virtual keyboard and drum pads or by hooking up to Core MIDI compliant external keyboard. The Key Editor allows users to add and change MIDI notes efficiently.

Cubasis is compatible with iPad 2 (48 voices), iPad 3 (64 voices), iPad 4 (64 voices) and iPad mini (48 voices) running iOS 6. Cubase versions compatible with Cubasis are Cubase 7, Cubase 6.5, Cubase Artist 7, Cubase Artist 6.5, Cubase Elements 6, Cubase LE 6 and Cubase AI 6. Installing the Cubase project import extension is a requirement.

Features at a glance

  • Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks (depending on the device used)
  • Over 70 virtual instrument sounds based on HALion Sonic
  • Mixer with over 10 effect processors (insert and send effects)
  • Over 300 MIDI and audio loops
  • Virtual keyboard and virtual drum pads
  • Sample Editor and Key Editor
  • Export to Cubase, Dropbox, SoundCloud, AudioCopy and email
  • Core Audio and Core MIDI compatible hardware supported
  • Sequence other Core MIDI apps (MIDI recording only) and run Cubasis simultaneously via background audio
  • Import audio from your iTunes music library or using iTunes file sharing, use AudioPaste or set up a Wi-Fi server in Cubasis 
  • Audio mixdown and MIDI export

Pricing and Availability:
Cubasis is available as download through the App Store. The price is 44.99 euros including German VAT.

More information:
Steinberg

Pay-What-You-Want Christmas ReFill Bundle

Nucleus SoundLab and TPSD launch a seasonal promotion


In the spirit of indie game and music bundles, Nucleus SoundLab and Tom Pritchard Sound Design has launched the Christmas 2012 ReFill Bundle. The bundle allows you to choose your price for a package of 9 Reason ReFills by these two proven ReFill developers. Here's what they have to say...

"For a minimum of $9.99 you can get some musical inspiration courtesy some of the best Reason ReFills out there: Synthesis Collection, Pantheon III, Celluloid Beats and Ambient Drums.

Pay $49.99 and you get three more amazing ReFills as well: GuitarScapes, Synthetic Kits and Filter Research 2. All told, the combined regular price of both ReFill tiers is almost $300! Top Contributors will also receive further prizes.

The Christmas 2012 ReFill Bundle is the perfect bit of holiday cheer for any discerning Reason musician or producer. But it won't last forever - the sale ends December 28th, 2012. Happy Holidays from everyone at Nucleus SoundLab and Tom Pritchard Sound Design!"

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
nucleus-soundlab/christmas2012

Free Samples Made With Roger Linn Drum Machines

Boxed Ear announces the free Tempest vs MPC60 sample pack


Boxed Ear has announced the release of Tempest vs MPC60, which they tell us is a free sample pack made with two of Roger Linn's most coveted drum machines, the Dave Smith Instruments Tempest and the Akai MPC60.

Two classic drum machines, both designed by "the father of the drum machine" Roger Linn. The MPC60 is a sampler first released in 1988 and is considered one of the major contributors to the development of hip hop music. The Tempest is a modern analogue/digital hybrid drum machine released in 2011.

A Boxed Ear spokesperson told Sonic State, "We thought it would be fun to bring them both together by synthesizing pure analog drum sounds on the Tempest and sampling them into the MPC60 for that tasty 12bit digital crunch."

Pricing and Availability:
Tempest vs MPC60 is free and is available now from the Boxed Ear website.

More information:
www.boxedear.com

Wave Alchemy Winter Sale

Up to 50% off selected titles


UK sample developers Wave Alchemy have just launched a winter sale with up to 50% off selected titles. The sale runs from 14th December 2012 through to 15th January 2013 offering discounts across Wave Alchemy's entire back catalogue of sample libraries.

Wave Alchemy told Sonic State, "We would just like to say a huge thank you to all of our customers and those who have supported us by purchasing our products throughout the year. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"

Bargains include 50% off the SFX Collection 02 and 25% off the Loop Tools & Grooves collection.

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
www.wavealchemy.co.uk

Presets For PPG Wavegenerator

Sunsine Audio releases Generation


Sunsine Audio's new pack for PPG Wavegenerator features 32 presets including 5 basses, 7 leads, 5 keys, 2 arps, 9 pads, and more. In addition 20 unique wavetables have been included, and exchanging these between presets allows a large degree of tonal variation very easily. Each preset has parameters mapped to both the horizontal and vertical keyboard control for expressive performance opportunities.

Format:

  • 32 Presets in 1 .bin file
  • 20 WaveTables in .wts files
  • Full horizontal and vertical key modulation support.
  • Easy Installation Instructions

Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 5.1 or later and PPG Wavegenerator.

Pricing and Availability:
$1.49

More information:
ww.sunsineaudio.com

GC Pro Updates Website

Redesign makes the site a more effective tool for customers


Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users, has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website. Here's the details in their own words...

For several years, gcpro.com has been a key hub of GC Pro information, and the new site features regularly updated content and access to the most knowledgeable sales staff in the industry. The launch of the updated site coincides with new dedicated GC Pro YouTube and Facebook pages.

Many key features of the new site will be familiar to regular visitors – installation profiles, press releases, news articles, educational partners, Affiliate Program members, Audio Solutions back issues, access to GC Pro Account Managers and much more. This is the content that site visitors have come to rely on at gcpro.com, and it continues to be a powerful set of resources in facilitating an informed customer base with a close relationship to the GC Pro family. The new site improves upon those elements with new features that make the site an even more keenly effective tool for customers.

First, the new site is more fully integrated with GuitarCenter.com, allowing GC Pro to offer online "GC Pro Shopping." Key products in the realms of high-end recording and lighting – GC Pro's bread and butter – will be vetted and endorsed by GC Pro's force of Senior Account Managers and linked directly from the online shop at GuitarCenter.com. GC's online store offers a truly expansive inventory, but the GC Pro Shopping feature allows users to narrow the search to only the most appropriate products for professional use.

The new site also adds a "Find the Expert" section. Depending on where site visitors are located across the U.S., this feature will display the six geographically closest Account Managers from GC Pro's 43 locations. Users can then click on individual microsites for each Account Manager – with access to specialties, backgrounds, interests and expertise – and strike up an email conversation with the correct person right away. The "Find the Expert" feature can also be sorted by product category, whether it be recording or lighting, or even keyboards, software, microphones, live sound and more.

GC Pro Vice President Rick Plushner stated, "Installation profiles, products and personnel – it is all perfectly integrated at the new gcpro.com. The time was right to give the site a boost, so that the level of comprehensive, expert service that our physical locations and Account Managers are known for throughout the industry could make the move to the digital domain. This is all in the name of finding ways to better serve our customers. We are excited for these latest developments as we continue to proudly do what we do."

Derek Snyder, GC Pro Business Development, Western Region, noted, "I am super-excited about our continued forward momentum. Our integration with Guitar Center's main site, along with our new Facebook page and YouTube Channel, gives our customers more visibility into exciting new technology and equally important, a better customer experience by offering the quality and breadth of product they expect from GC Pro locations at the click of a button!"

Michael Guilfoil, GC Pro Manager, Administrator & Installations, noted, "GC Pro can now offer a personalized shopping experience online. Log onto GCPro.com, find your nearest expert, and order all your high end gear without leaving your living room. The site not only offers the latest deals on products, but also provides exclusive installation profiles and updates from industry professionals."

"I'm excited about recent updates to the GC Pro website, as our customers have access to more high quality content," added Dan Scalpone, GC Pro Regional Manager, Southern U.S. "We posted the online versions of Audio Solutions magazine, which has dozens of insightful interviews with industry professionals. We also added The Top Shelf Video program, a one-of-a-kind web-based TV program launched this past fall. The video series features real-world trials of the latest gear and interviews with the folks who actually build the products we sell."

More information:
www.gcpro.com

Binary Music Sale

50% off all Kontakt, Ableton Live and EXS24 instruments


Binary Music has announced 50% off all products, from now until 01 January 2013. Kontakt instruments from £6.00 and all Ableton Live and EXS24 instruments are at £5.00.

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
www.binarymusic.co.uk

The Propellerhead Holiday Countdown

Savings, Tutorials, Giveaways...


On Monday December 17, everybody who follows Propellerhead's Countdown to the Holidays will be a winner. For 24 hours only Propellerhead, Cakewalk and iZotope are offering a 25% discount on some of the most popular Rack Extensions from the previous week:

  • iZotope Ozone Maximizer
  • Propellerhead Radical Keys
  • Propellerhead Radical Piano
  • Cakewalk Re-2a Compressor

About Holiday Countdown
In December this year Propellerhead is staging the Holiday Countdown. Every day until the 24th Propellerhead will present a new theme, and give users a chance to win software, Balance audio interfaces, Rack Extensions and ReFills. Propellerhead also provides a collection of tutorials, videos, and articles for learning more about the topic of the day -- ranging from song writing and mixing, to drum programming and FM synthesis.

All users need to do is keep an eye out on Propellerhead's Twitter and Facebook channels for opportunities to win great prizes and learn more about music making in the process. Happy Holidays!

More information:
The Propellerhead Holiday Countdown

Chord-Based Audio Loop App

SessionBand lets anyone make music on the iPhone, iPad and iPod


SessionBand is a new music app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch that ts creators say lets anyone create professional-quality music in minutes. They tell us that, with over 70 musical styles and a simple, intuitive user interface, it has been designed to capture the broadest audience possible - from pro musicians to those who can't play a note! Here's their press release

Created by UK Music Apps Ltd, SessionBand is a game changer. It's the world's only chord-based audio loop app, which means for the first time, users can create pro-quality music from almost every chord and in almost every main style. And they can do it in minutes...wherever they are, by simply selecting chords and watching them convert instantly into great sounding audio loops.

SessionBand is powered by over 80,000 precision-cut audio loops (all of which are chord-based) created by some of the UK's best session musicians and producers, who have previously recorded with Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Sugababes and Cheryl Cole.

SessionBand's chord-based format has far-reaching benefits. It means that you can instantly 'flip' the track you have just created between all 71 musical styles, hearing your R&B track as Reggae or your Deep House tracks as Dubstep. Speed tracks up, slow them down, mix and arrange and share your music on the go. And because loops reside within the app itself, SessionBand is perfect for the user on the move - no internet required!

SessionBand has been priced to represent great value. Introductory price is £1.99 (iPhone) and £4.99 (iPad) and comes with 16 of the 71 styles pre-loaded on the iPhone version and 20 on the iPad. Launched on the 10th December, SessionBand has already made an impression, with the iPad version hovering in and around the Top 10 in the UK App Store music chart for two days - having reached the number 1 spot in Singapore - and it is currently among the most downloaded, newly-released paid music apps in UK, USA, Canada, Japan and Germany (iPad version).

SessionBand offers loop sets for every taste with a diverse range of genres from Acoustic, Blues and Dance, through to Country, Hip Hop/Rap, Rock and Urban/R&B. Add-on 'Style Packs' offer additional multiple loop sets, which can be purchased from within the app itself, enabling access to an even broader range of styles.

SessionBand was the brainchild of UK entrepreneur Paul Sissons, former CEO of private equity-owned GTI Media. UK Music Apps Ltd has a suite of additional apps scheduled for release in the New Year which will receive full global marketing support.

Pricing and Availability:
iPhone: $0.99
iPad: $2.99

More information:
www.sessionbandapp.com

Technical GRAMMY Award For MIDI Creators

Dave Smith and Ikutaro Kakehashi are honoured


Dave at the first public demonstration of MIDI at the NAMM show in January 1983

Dave Smith and Ikutaro Kakehashi are to get a Technical GRAMMY award. Here's the press statement that The Recording Academy has released:

In 1983, Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of Roland Corporation, and Dave Smith, president of Sequential Circuits, unveiled MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of MIDI, a standard that motivated the cooperation of an entire industry and helped move music technology into a new era. In a nearly unprecedented collaboration between competing manufacturers, what would soon prove an inescapable new technology was born when two competing manufacturers' electronic keyboards were connected, enabling them to "talk" to one another using a new communication standard. The announcement ultimately revolutionized the music world. Today, MIDI is ubiquitous in the musical equipment industry, and is the de facto standard feature on virtually every electronic music product made by every manufacturer.

More information:
www.grammy.org

Turn Your iPad Into An MPC

Akai teams up with Retronyms to introduce the iMPC


Akai has introduced the iMPC app. They say that, with more than 1,200 samples, 50 editable programs, 80 editable sequences, and iconic MPC workflow, iMPC is the first app to bring all the functionality of a classic Akai Pro MPC to your iPad.

Developed in partnership with Retronyms, iMPC includes everything you need to create a beat quickly and easily, including built-in effects, plus the ability to create new sequences and record and overdub beats. Time correction from 1/8 note to 1/32T with variable swing, and Note Repeat from 1/8 note to 1/32T with latch control are also built in. The app's built-in sampler can record samples three different ways: using the mic on the iPad, using the line input on the iPad, or using the multi-touch turntable interface in iMPC to record samples directly from iTunes or other music libraries.

Pricing and Availability:
$6.99

More information:
www.akaiprompc.com/impc
App Store