Feedback Loop Sounds For Kontakt

10 Soundware releases Mixer Feedback model B K

Mixer Feedback model B K from 10 Soundware is a sound set for Native Instruments Kontakt 5. Designed by Taichi Furudate, these patches are based on audio captured from a no-input mixer, an instrument contrived by connecting the output of an audio mixer with its input to incite feedback. The second in a series of four titles, each centered on a different mixer, this release features a contemporary, mass market model by a German manufacturer.

The timbres generated by the mixer used in Mixer Feedback model B K can be described as "like a cheap digital synthesizer", according to Taichi Furudate. Due to its inexpensiveness and replaceability, this model is the most violently handled mixer in his collection (it has been thrown during performances), and has damage to its electronics, resulting in a highly "customized" device. Driven by his preference for physical interaction and "rough and chaotic" behaviors of no-input mixers, this model is often configured with a piezoelectric microphone and a small speaker to form the feedback loop. In this configuration, the angle, position, and pressure of the two components serve as parameters in which to acoustically shape the feedback signal, by introducing precariousness and imperfection.

The 53.7 MB download includes 50 .nki files and 100 WAV files (24-bit/44.1 kHz).

Pricing and Availability:
Mixer Feedback model B K is available now for $29.99

More information:
www.10soundware.com

Sylenth House Phrases And Progressions

Producer Loops releases Sounds+MIDI: House for Sylenth

Sounds+MIDI: House for Sylenth is the first in a brand new series from Producer Loops designed for users of the Sylenth VSTi. They tell us that, packed full of phrases and progressions, it takes a new approach to the traditional MIDI pack concept by including a patch library designed to integrate seamlessly with the MIDI loops. Here's the details in their own words:

Inside you'll find 128 patches for Sylenth 2.21 or higher, including 45 powerful bass sounds, 45 soaring leads, 16 pluck instruments and 10 rich chord & pad sounds. In addition to this, 48 MIDI loops are included. Each file is labelled to match the correct patch within the patch bank. You can also try them out with any of the 128 patches included to achieve your own sound.

About "Sounds+MIDI":

MIDI is a powerful and versatile format, overcoming many of the limitations of audio in relation to pitch shifting and time stretching. However, MIDI contains only note data and so it has been impossible for the user to recreate the exact sounds found in the original phrase. Until now.

Introducing the new Sounds+MIDI range from Producer Loops. Each product in this range will include not only a selection of 100% original and royalty-free MIDI loops, but also the patches used to create them. This includes LFO and modulation routing, as well as pitch bend range; traditionally MIDI defaults to 2 semitones up or down. This range will be expanded upon with future releases, so start your collection today with 'Sounds+MIDI: House for Sylenth'.

Pricing and Availability:
Sounds+MIDI: House for Sylenth is available for instant download for £22.95 / 26,44 EUR / $29.12 USD.

More information:
www.producerloops.com

Free DJing Software Updated

CrossDJ Free v2.3 is now available

MixVibes tells us that a major update (Version 2.3) of the free DJing software CrossDJ Free is now available for download.

A spokesperson told us, "We truly believe that CrossDJ Free is the most sophisticated free DJ software on the market, therefore the best way to start really DJing. It has a fully featured professional DJ standards set up (waveforms, Cue/Play/Sync buttons, mixer, hot cues, scratching, loops, effects ...) and, at the same time, a very intuitive and simple interface."

CrossDJ Free, built on MixVibes'10+ years of expertise in DJ tools, has:

• better graphics, better layout design, better ergonomy.
• better library management : direct access to iTunes tracks (and not thru multiple folders !) and intelligent playlists.
• autoplay mode : just load your tracks - set up the fade time and a fully synced mix will autoplay.
• full free version, unlimited play time, no commercials.
• works with all our remotes (iPhone, iPad).

Pricing and Availability:
Free

More information:
Apple iTunes download
PC download

Rotor For Reason

Propellerhead adds a classic Leslie rotary speaker emulation to the Reason rack

Propellerhead has announced the immediate availability of Rotor, a rotary speaker Rack Extension forReason. They say that, meticulously modeled on the Leslie 122 speaker, Rotor brings its trademark vintage soul to the Reason rack, making authentic organ sounds and old-school guitar tones instantly accessible to Reason users.

A spokesperson told us, "Rotor carefully emulates all aspects of a rotary speaker, down to the independent rotation and acceleration of the horn and drum, and has settings for mic distance and rotation speed. Yet Rotor also takes the classic rotary speaker design into the future, with two flavors of built-in preamp distortion, control over the rotation doppler effect, the horn's length and acceleration speed as well as CV output of the rotation, for syncing other Reason devices to Rotor's speed and acceleration. Rotor comes complete with an included organ instrument for Reason's Combinator, as well as a set of expertly crafted Rotor patches designed for guitar, drums, vocals and keys."

About Rack Extensions
Rack Extensions is a new technology that opens up the Reason rack, enabling third party developers to create instruments and effects for the award-winning music making software Reason. Rack Extensions is supported in Reason 6.5 and Reason Essentials 1.5, available as free upgrades for owners of Reason 6 or Reason Essentials.

Pricing and Availability:
Rotor is available for immediate purchase in the Propellerhead Shop, at a price of USD $49/EUR €39. Reason and Reason Essentials users can download a free, fully functional trial version for 30 days to try Rotor in their music.

More information:
www.propellerheads.se

Salad Bar Version 8 Released

Soundcells updates their long-running ReFill

Soundcells tells us that Version 8 of their evergrowing ReFill project, Salad Bar, is stuffed with 30 new combinator patches coming from the Soundcells ReFills "PolysixRE" and "Antidote Signature", plus 15 new Salad Bar exclusives. They say that Salad Bar´s patches will cover all kinds of music styles showing you the very best Soundcells has to offer.

A spokesperson told us, "With its almost 380 combinators in total, this ReFill simply is a "must-have" for every producer´s collection."

Salad Bar v8 Contents:

• 252 combinator patches coming from all Soundcells ReFills.
• 125 Salad Bar exclusive combinator patches.
• 359 well balanced patches for Thor, Malstroem, Subtractor, NNXT, Antidote, Polysix and ReDrum.
• 60 rex loops.
• The modules folder contains the basic synth and NNXT patches which were used for the combinator sounds.
• 8 tracks in RNS format - inspiring with highl 'tutorialesque' value.

Pricing and Availability:
14,90 EUR

More information:
Soundcells

Hartley Peavey Honoured on Mississippi Blues Trail

An interview with the man himself

Mr Hartley Peavey, founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics for over 40 years, has been honoured by a marker on the historic Mississippi Blues Trail - this is for his contribution to Mississippi blues heritage and is the only one given to a musical instrument manufacturer.

The trail is created by the Mississippi Blues Commission, is a project to place interpretive markers at the most notable historical sites related to the growth of the blues throughout the state of Mississippi. The trail extends from the border of Louisiana in southern Mississippi and winds its way to Memphis, Tennessee.

Peavey started back in 1965 - when Hartley, the son of a music store owner, decided to build stuff after an unsuccessful attempt at making it as a guitar player. He realized his skills were with making things with his hands rather than music - after taking courses in electronics and metal work, and wining counltess science fairs, he turned his hand to filling the void for "affordable, quality, musical equipment".

He's an interesting chap and now his company has a wide range of products, from guitars, to amplification to sound reinforcement, with over 1800 patents, distributed in 170 countries.

Take a moment to watch this interview with the man himself - it's an interesting piece.

More Information
http://www.msbluestrail.org

8 Plug-Ins And 3 Sound Libraries For $15

Prodyon announces a clearance Sale

Prodyon Plug-ins have decided to call it a day. In a sad email from the CEO citing health and financial reasons for his decision, they are offering all of their range of plug-ins at a one-off price of $15.

To quote the website:

You get 8 Windows VST Plugins + 3 Sample Libraries

We will still answer support emails, questions and the like but there won´t be updates to our products anymore.

To all PFL Customers: You can still download and access your PFL area within this year. In early 2014 it will be closed.

The $15 Package Includes

Agonyx VST (100 Presets)
Enchoir VST
Polypitch VST
Pneumo4 VST
Shortnoise VST
Shortnoise Kontakt Library (135 Instruments)
Votox Cinematic Kontakt Library (300 Instruments)
Phenome VST + Factory Library + Factory Expansion
Livemachine VST + Livemachine LE VST+ Soundpoo

Prodyon shuts down business on the 1st of march, 2013.

More Information
http://www.prodyon-virtual-gear.com/

More Presets for iOS Synth

Sunsine Audio releases Casino 2 with 64 presets for Cassini

Sunsine Audio tells us that Casino 2 contains 64 new presets for Cassini. It features Basses, Leads, Pads, Arpeggiations, Chiptune, Formant and FM patches, and more.

The company says that every preset has the modulation wheel routed as well as all 4 performance modulation knobs assigned to interesting and important aspects of the sound, giving you a high degree of real time control and command over your sound.

Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later.

Features:

• 100% Original and Royalty Free
• 64 cassini_timbre files
• 256 Controller knob settings
• 64 Mod Wheel settings
• Includes easy installation instructions

Pricing and Availability:
$2.49

More information:
www.sunsineaudio.com

Camel Audio Alchemy Player Updated

v1.55 offers many new enhancements

Camel Audio has announced Alchemy Player v1.55, a major update to their free Alchemy Sound Library and SFZ player synthesizer. They say that Alchemy Player v1.5 is designed to keep inspiration flowing with a fully-featured preset browser, 200 presets, faster preset loading times, improved remote control from the Alchemy iOS app, and many more enhancements.

Here's the details in Camel Audio's own words...

The new browser is probably the most fully-featured sound browser available anywhere, allowing users to find all their slow attack strings, glitchy dubstep basses, tempo-synched warm pads, or whatever they need in a matter of seconds. All previously-released Camel Audio presets have been carefully tagged by category,subcategory, genre, sound library, sound designer, articulation, and timbre. Finding favourites is a breeze -- simply rate presets with a single click and then sort by rating. Users can add tags to make it easy to call up presets associated with a particular project or live set, and can also add comments to presets with playing tips or other notes. Track down the perfect sound in a host of different ways with this powerful browser.

DEDICATED iOS REMOTE

Alchemy Player v1.55 with the latest update to Alchemy on iOS offers even smoother and more expressive remote control. Change preset, move the remix pad, and access performance controls -- all without leaving the comfort of your controller keyboard. Previously the domain of multi-thousand dollar devices, polyphonic pitch bend is new to this update, and offers an amazingly expressive way of playing instruments -- especially when combined with polyphonic aftertouch.

Pricing and Availability:
Alchemy Player is available now for free

More information:
Alchemy Player

Six Steinberg Controllers In One Bundle

Steinberg releases CMC Six-Pack

Steinberg has released the CMC Six-Pack, a new bundle deal comprising the CMC line-up of USB controllers.

Stefan Schreiber, product marketing manager at Steinberg, told us, "The CMC Six-Pack is the most flexible controller setup ever made for Cubase: it's a touch-based mixer; it's a handy pad controller; it's a transport control you won't want to miss after the first try.We're offering Cubase users the opportunity to get their hands on some really great controllers at a price that's unbeatable: over 50% less than if bought separately!"

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

The CMC Six-Pack is made up of all six controllers designed to offer users a modular controller experience. Arranging the units in a way that best suits the personal needs when using Cubase makes the CMC series a very customizable hardware control system. Each of the six slim-sized USB controllers provides tactile control over Cubase features.

The CMC-CH channel controller houses 16 illuminated buttons, one rotary encoder and a touch fader, offering immediate access to channel-relevant functions in Cubase.

The CMC-FD fader controller features four high-precision touch faders with LED-based metering and solo/mute function to provide efficient mixer control.

The CMC-QC quick controller boasts 13 illuminated buttons and eight rotary encoders for flexible assignment to Cubase controls, such as mapping to parameters of effects and EQ.

The CMC-PD pad controller features 16 highly responsive backlit pads and one rotary encoder, ideal for sample-based music performances.

The CMC-TP transport controller houses 17 buttons and a touch slider, tailored to the transport controls in Cubase.

The CMC-AI controller comes with Steinberg's AI Knob and ten function buttons for convenient volume level control, jog control, browsing and adjusting many plug-in and Cubase parameters.

Features at a glance

• Six unique micro controllers designed to take control of dedicated Cubase areas -- faster and more convenient than with any other solution 
• Modular system: combine multiple units to form an eminently powerful Cubase control station that exactly fits your needs; joint plate included for quick and easy connection 
• Fully mirrored Cubase functionality: intuitive operation due to the adoption of the Cubase color scheme and icons 
• Perfect ergonomics guarantee a unique level of handling quality -- created to make your recording and live performance workflow more musical than ever 
• Brings innovative technologies to your fingertips: illuminated, high-resolution touch controls and rotary encoders for detailed visual feedback 
• Portable and compact: small enough to fit in your pocket, on a master keyboard or wherever desired 
• User-assignable functions for even more flexibility and tweaking options 
• USB-powered: no additional power supply required 
• Cross-platform compatible: OS X and Windows support 
• Cubase AI download version included to start recording your music straight away 

Pricing and Availability:
The CMC Six-Pack is available from selected resellers and through the Steinberg Online Shop as long as stocks last. The suggested retail price is 299 euros including German VAT.

More information:
Steinberg

Presonus Live Webinar This Week

Watch Briana Tyson record a few tracks live

Presonus will be hosting Briana Tyson and her band for their latest live webinar on Thursday 21st February.

More information:
Presonus Live

Record A Country Song To Win Prizes

Sonoma Wire Works announces RiffRumble 21 contest

Sonoma Wire Works has announced the RiffRumble 21 Country Song Contest which will run from March 1-14. The company had this to say...

Saddle up! Record your best original country song using RiffWorks (Mac/Win) or FourTrack (iPhone) by your lonesome, or wrangle up to 4 friends into a RiffLink online collab. Over $4000 in prizes! Somebody's getting a Taylor SolidBody Double Cutaway guitar, GuitarJack, DrumCore and more. Enter March 1-14. Public votes March 1-28. No entry fee and RiffWorks T4 may be used, so there is no purchase necessary.

Pricing and Availability:
Free entry

More information:
RiffRumble 21

Ease Your Transition To Presonus Studio One

Hal Leonard publishes Studio One for Engineers and Producers

Hal Leonard Books have been in touch to tell us that they are now shipping Studio One for Engineers and Producers.

They say that this Quick Pro Guide is specifically designed to help engineers and producers who are already comfortable using another DAW software platform make the transition to Studio One. The author and audio engineer Bill Edstrom says: "I've done projects in just about every DAW on the market. To use most of these systems you need to be in a very technical frame of mind. I was looking for something simpler - something to get creative songwriting ideas out. That's when I discovered Studio One."

Studio One for Engineers and Producers starts by relating Studio One's layout and functionality to other common DAWs, to identify the most important similarities and differences. It then follows the creative process through the normal progression of a modern recording/production. Hal Leonard says that this new cross-platform (Mac/PC) DAW is built from the ground up for speed, efficiency, and power and that Studio One for Engineers and Producers is the perfect tool to shorten the pathway from installation to inspiration.

The book is accompanied with 12 new video tutorials covering the key concepts. Studio One for Engineers and Producers demonstrates the creative, practical, and technical benefits provided by PreSonus in this application. Hal Leonard says that all instruction is presented in straightforward and simple language that gets right to the point, taking into consideration the need for amateurs, home studio owners, and commercial professionals to get up to speed very quickly. They believe that readers will enjoy the numerous tips and real world examples. Edstrom adds: "I was recording with Studio One as a canvas for creativity. But I realized that I could produce music end to end without really needing to use other tools. In short, Studio One is fun to use!"

About the author
William Edstrom, Jr. (Milwaukee, WI), an author, audio engineer, and business owner, is best known for his video tutorials on DAW technology, mixing, mastering, and plug-ins for Groove 3. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering, plays guitar and bass, and has decades of experience in all aspects of recording and sound reinforcement. A lifelong student, business owner, instructor, and the creator of Lilacwriter.com - an online co-writing tool for songwriters - Bill is an alumni of the Milwaukee School of Engineering and Harvard Business School. He publishes video tutorials for Studio One in his YouTube channel Lilacwriter

Pricing and Availability:
$16.99

More information:
Hal Leonard

Nomad Factory MAGMA Updated

New modulation matrix brings synth-style design to multi-effects

Nomad Factory tells us that they have been hard at work innovating new ways to work with virtual effects. They say that MAGMA 1.5 is the culmination of their unique design approach that combines the power of advanced synthesizer-style control routings with a large array of integrated virtual effects plug-ins. They believe that the result is a multi-effects plug-in suite that transcends the realm of recording and mixing tools, becoming a creative suite for DJs, sound designers, and musicians, as well as engineers and producers.

Bernie Torelli, founder and chief developer for Nomad Factory, told us, "The new MAGMA is a dream for DJs, producers, and musicians, because there has never been an effects plug-in that speaks their language before now. By adding the Modulation Matrix, automation controls, and 3rd party VST support, we've made an extremely flexible and deep effects plug-in, yet one that is familiar to sound designers. For example, no one would have thought of adding an LFO to a graphic EQ, or an envelope to a compression ratio until now. With the latest version of MAGMA, you can do just about anything you can imagine."

Here's the full details in Nomad Factory's own words:

MAGMA version 1.5 adds two significant new modules. The first is a Modulation Matrix with up to 32 source/destination routings, 8 programmable LFOs, and a programmable 16-step Envelope Generator that allows users to create up to 8 unique envelopes for modulation sources. All sources, including MIDI messages, can control any parameter of any MAGMA effect loaded in the virtual rack. The second new module is called the VST Chainer, which allows users to load and access all other Nomad Factory plug-ins or any 3rd party VST plug-in for use in the MAGMA routing and processing environment.

Both of these modules are offered as a no-cost upgrade from version 1 of MAGMA that already features new types of audio processing, routing, and flexibility in a simple, intuitive package.

MAGMA 1.5 comes with 65 All New Effects. Featuring 1-rack-unit interfaces that can be loaded and rearranged using up to four racks, MAGMA also comes with a flexible routing matrix enabling serial, parallel or combined routings.

Effects categories include Dynamics, Equalizers, Pre-Amps, Distortions, Reverbs, Delays, Modulation, Sequencers, Filters, Special FX, and Guitar FX.

Modulation Matrix:
The Modulation Matrix takes MAGMA to the next level of creativity and control by giving users 8 LFO's and 8 envelopes that can be freely assigned to any plug-in parameter within the rack. LFOs and envelopes can move knobs automatically for you without using automation, which will make your MAGMA FX racks spring to life!

Features:

• 8 Freely Assignable LFOs
• 8 Freely Assignable Envelopes
• Move any knob in any rack automatically without automation
• Control Assign allows for quick One-Click LFO/Envelope assignment
• Right-click any parameter within a rack for a quick assignment
• Create complex FX machines that were previously unimaginable

VST Chainer:
The VST Chainer opens up MAGMA to the vast universe of 3rd party VST audio plug-ins. Each VST Chainer allows up to 8 VST audio plug-ins to be loaded simultaneously per rack. With 16 different rack spaces, Magma can host up to 16 VST Chainers, which results in a whopping 128 simultaneous 3rd party effects. Mix and match internal Magma FX racks with 3rd party FX and save your favorite combinations for later use.

Features:

• Load your favorite 3rd party VST Plug-ins into Magma
• Pop-up editor to access the original plug-in's GUI
• Chain up to 8 effects together per rack, multiplied by 16 total racks = up to 128 simultaneous effects
• Mix and match internal Magma FX with 3rd party VSTs
• Save and Recall your favorite VST Chainer combinations

MAGMA's Virtual Studio Rack (VSR) technology enables users to stack dozens of interchangeable effects in a seemingly infinite number of combinations, all in one easy-to-use plug-in. MAGMA makes it easy to mix and match effects, create and recall unique chains, and process audio in unique ways. Using MAGMA is like having a Virtual Studio Rack with a large number of effects at your disposal.

Features Overview:

• Includes 65 high-quality, custom, unique effects racks
• New Modulation Matrix with 32 source/destination routings
• Modulation Matrix includes 8 LFOs, 8 programmable 16-stage envelopes, all tempo-synced
• VST Chainer that allows loading 3rd Party plug-ins
• Drag & Drop effects to any rack position
• Four Easy-to-use Virtual Racks
• Flexible Routing Matrix
• Presets Browser Window
• 600+ Factory Presets Included
• Serial Number Authorization (Up to Five Computers, no Challenge/Response, no dongle)

Pricing and Availability:
Both boxed and download versions of MAGMA are available now at ILIO.com and from dealers everywhere. The current release version is 1.5.1. MAGMA is available at a street price of $179 (MSRP $199).

More information:
Nomad Factory

Waves 50% Off February Sweetheart Deals

Selected plug-ins get slashed

Waves are running a deal on plugins for February - with some over 50% off.

The offer February Sweetheart Deals - buy plugins for the one you love?

Plug-ins include:

Silver, Gold, Vocal and Signature Series Bundles, Renaissance Vos, Wave Tune LT, Waves Tune, Vocal Rider, Element and IR-Live.

More Information
Waves.com

Deadmau5 Buys A Classic Fairlight CMI

Retro-tastic lux sampler

Snagged the holy grail of all samplers today! Fairlight CMI! Time to bring back the 80s ;)

If you've been envious of the Deadmau5 setup - his lovely wall of Eurorack modulars and other tasty synths has already featured in his highly viewed "i normally do this on sundays" (approx 1.3 mill views). A great synth spotters training ground - I lost count...

Of course, with his ongoing massive success, the setup has been poshed up a bit, with some cool furniture, cases and the like. There's also been some acquisition going on. The most recent addition being a Fairlight CMI 30A - the sound of Trevor Horn, Peter Gabriel, defining sounds of a generation that was originally yours for the price of a three bedroom house in 1980.

Even after all this time and the fact that technology has moved on so much that your iPhone now has more power than a Fairlight, there's something about the sound and the actual physical presence of the object that makes it say "I'm serious about sound" and of course it looks like it should belong in a laboratory - who could resist?

I must confess, for me though that's where the allure ends, though for some reason the light pen and the laborious step time sequencer of the legendary Page R still get some folks misty eyed. And lets not forget the large, slow loading, hard to source floppies, all this stuff we've left behind in the last century and while I'm a big fan of the physical interface, some things are better consigned to the past for good.

You can if you desire, as Deadmau5 did at NAMM this year, skip all the hassle of buying an antique and get a 21st Century model in the form of the CMI 30A from Peter Vogel Instruments - the original inventor of the Fairlight - a snip at around $20,000 - still way less than the original went for. Or you can get a an iOS App for around $50

I'll be listening out for some Shakuhachi samples on Deadmau5 releases from now on - I wonder if he could slip one in without anyone noticing....

Thanks to Failed Muso for the update - that Deadmau5 bought the CMI 30A.

More Information
Deadmau5.com
petervogelinstruments.com.au
Fairlight App

New Synth For Android

Heat has full VST integration

Heat is a Synthesizer App for Android, available in the Google Play Store.

Maker, Nils Schneider, had this to say, "Heat is avirtual analogue subtractive synthesizer with online Preset Browser, everyone can share sounds directly from within the app. The synthesizer has full VST integration, use the Heat Android App as a controller for your VST plugin, design patches while on the way and use them later in a VST sequencer of your choice. This gives you some unique benefits..."

• Design sounds while on the way, store sounds on your local Android Device or use the Collaborative Preset Manager to store your sounds online, making them available to everyone.
• Control the VST plugin from your Android device in realtime
• See parameter automations from your sequencer in realtime on your Android device
• Use the Collaborative Preset Manager on your Android Device to select from a big variety of sounds, made from other users all over the world. Select sounds on your Android Device, while connected, they are immediately loaded by your VST plugin.
• Use the integrated keyboard of your Android Device to send midi events to your sequencer

Heat Synthesizer is available on Google Play in Pro and free Demo versions. The VST plugins are available in the website's Download section.

Pricing and Availability:
£2.53 (Pro version for Android)

More information:
http://heatvst.com

Free 808 Sounds

dboxSamples releases a drum hit collection featuring various Roland drum machines

dboxSamples tells us that Aid01 MC-808 is a fundamental classic drum hit collection loaded with 1300+ Kicks, Snares, Hats, Claps, Toms, Hits & EFX from Roland's most desired percussive sounds.

A spokesperson told us, "dboxSamples drop a new concept from extensive sampling of hardware machines, turning ROM sounds into pristine 24bits wav samples ready to use in your productions. We capture the best of the MC-808 Groovebox factory drumkits featuring samples from rhythm machines such as the TR-909, TR-808, TR-707 and TR-606. Boost your drum rig up with the aid01 MC-808 selection of internal sounds and midi patterns. There's easy access to all the samples from this collection on most used software samplers such as Kontakt 4, Exs24, NN-XT, Battery or Halion."

Features

• 59 Factory Drum Kits - 16 Sounds per kit - 3 Kicks / 3 Snares / 3 Hats / 3 Toms / 2 Cym / 1 Clap / 1 Rim.
• Single Elements - 78 Snares / 57 Kicks / 69 Perc / 36 Toms / 33 Hits / 32 Fx's / 32 Chh / 27 Ohh / 14 Zaps / 12 Crashes / 11 Noises / 9 Rides / 9 Vox / 8 Rim.
• 50 Xtra Factory Midi patterns.
• 1397 x 24bits wav files.
• Kontakt, Battery, EXS24, Ableton, Halion, NN-XT & Soundfont.

Pricing and Availability:
Free download

More information:
Aid01 MC-808

Free Flanger

WOK releases FLAN-W VST plug-in for Windows

WOK has released the FLAN-W VST plug-in for Windows. It Features wide-ranging adjustments for speed, depth and feedback.

Pricing and Availability:
Free download

More information:
FLAN-W

Acoustic Guitar Synth

Paul Vo, inventor of The Moog Guitar shows off his new Vo-96 on video

The Vo-96 Acoustic Synth is the newest innovation from Paul Vo, the inventor of The Moog Guitar. It opens a new method of musical expression called Acoustic Synthesis. Will Rayan and Vincent Crow of The Electric Jazz Project try it out for the first time.

Pricing and Availability:
TBC

More information:
www.voinventions.com

More Serato Control From Numark

Serato DJ is now compatible with NS6

Adding to a string of other announcements, including the NAMM debut of NS7 II and the groundbreaking Orbit wireless DJ controller, Numark has announced that Serato DJ is now compatible with NS6.

Chris Roman, Numark Product Manager, told us, "NS6 has the advantage of being developed in partnership with Serato and being designed for their software when it was originally conceived, so the integration with Serato DJ is top-notch"

Numark tells us that Serato DJ includes a wide range of all-new features and capabilities, including stunning new effects powered by iZotope, ultra-flexible and intuitive MIDI mapping, the ability to set and trigger up to eight cue points, a totally refreshed user interface, four-deck mixing, and more. They say that the live-performance-centric design of NS6 combined with the advanced
feature set in Serato DJ software will give DJs a powerful and seamless experience with their music and their audience.

Sam Gribben, CEO of Serato, had this to say, "Numark's approach to DJ hardware perfectly complements Serato's approach to DJ software. Both companies take DJs seriously and are committed to giving them premium products--that's why NS6 and NS7 have been such fantastic products."

The partnership between Numark and Serato extends back some six years and has resulted in an entire range of professional controllers that Numark believes has eliminated the line between hardware and software--NS6 and NS7 II being the most recent to ascend to the top and offer groundbreaking performance capability along with bulletproof build quality.

Serato DJ compatibility with other Numark controllers will be rolled out gradually this spring and will include N4, Mixdeck, Mixdeck Express, and Mixdeck Quad.

Pricing and Availability:
NS6 owners can upgrade to Serato DJ for $129 at serato.com/dj/buy. An upgrade to both
Serato DJ and the powerful Serato Video plugin (normally $149 by itself) is also available for
$199.

More information:
Numark

Join Launchpads Together As One Massive Step Sequencer

Stepsequencer V3.0 released

Even though the Novation Launchpad was designed to control a specific DAW - Ableton Live -, it can be configured to work as a generic MIDI controller. With Lauflicht Stepsequencer from Cie, you can use it as a plugin for Renoise - a multi platform DAW for Mac, Windows and Linux.

With version 3.0 you can link multiple Launchpads together to create a monster GUI.

The full version is $29

Features in V3.0

• multiple Launchpads support: cascading your Launchpads will extend the steps of the step sequencer! E.g. 
• two Launchpads connected by the plugin will result into a 16 step hardware step sequencer.
• pattern load mode: load one of up to sixteen stored patterns in real time into the step sequencer. You could even mix the tracks of two different patterns. The pattern load mode enhances the variety of sequencing in live situations.
• easier installation - automatic detection of the Launchpad(s), no Midi settings in Renoise needed
• settings of the control matrix can be stored and loaded on the fly
• new free demo version with Launchpad support

Download Renoise - trial version available

More Information
Stepsequencer.net

Power Tools for Studio One - New Book and DVD

Learn how to complete a project in one DAW

Now at V2.5, Presonus Studio One DAW has fast become a mature music creation and recording platform. You can measure this by the fact that it also now has a book written about it.

Power Tools for Studio One 2: Master PreSonus' Complete Creation and Production Software, Volume 1 (Book & DVD Rom) by Larry the O

larry the O has worked in projects using all the major DAWs and felt compelled to write this one after using Studio One for a short period.

The new book:

reveals all of the new features and hidden power of version 2.

You can buy it here:
Amazon (UK)
Amazon (us)

Acoustic Synthesis - DSP Controlled Harmonics

From Paul Vo - maker of the Moog Guitar

Paul Vo is the guy behind the technology of the Moog Guitar (minus the Moog bits).

He has been developing a method of acoustic synthesis, attempting to control sound in the physical domain using electronics and DSP. The Vo-96 can be fitted to an acoustic guitar at the f-hole.

As we understand it, the synthesis functions work by electromagnetically influencing the strings of the guitar controlled by "intense DSP activity". It controls 96 harmonic channels - hence the name.

It certainly has familliar sounds to the Moog Guitar - which Paul Vo worked extensively on and was a bold move by Moog when it was released, adding Moog filter circuitry and CV control to the concept electronics developed by Vo.

Paul states:
This is serious and fun stimulation for your brain and heart, it's causing musicians to play more and making people smile. I am hooked on it for sure.

More Information
voinventions.com

One-Stop Shop For Plug-Ins

Pluginboutique.com opens for business

The team behind the Loopmasters sample distribution portal has launched Pluginboutique.com, which they say provides a similarly safe and convenient one-stop shopping, service, and support portal for purchasing plug-ins from many leading music software developers internationally under one virtual roof...

Pluginboutique.com aims to offer a helping hand when it comes to choosing and buying plug-ins. Pluginboutique.com Director Matt Pelling, told us, "Through our success running the Loopmasters sample distribution portal we felt there was a big opportunity to create a virtual marketplace for plug-ins and music software, where music producers from around the world could come and compare products from some of the top music software companies in one place, and store all their logins for future updates!"

A PR person for the company added, "Sounds sensible, right? Too right! But beyond those wise words Pluginboutique.com is here, right now, doing just that -- and a lot more besides, benefitting anyone wishing to conveniently check out or choose to purchase plug-ins from 36 leading software companies (currently). User-friendly features include: browsing Bestsellers and Top Rated products directly from the homepage; downloading free plug-ins, demos, and trial versions to try before buying; searching by format, price, category, and customer ratings to quickly compare products; Virtual Cash scheme offering a 5% discount against any future plug-in purchases following each and every Pluginboutique.com purchase; plus e-mail alerts for any updates to purchased plug-ins in a single user profile area -- no need to remember logins to multiple websites! Quite simply, Pluginboutique.com is the place where the best music software companies come to sell their plug-ins, instruments, and studio tools to producers, and DJs worldwide. So what are you waiting for? Ladies and gentlemen, choose your plug-in..."

Plug-ins from Antares (USA), Applied Acoustics Systems (Canada), Audiffex (Czech Republic), AudioRealism (Sweden), AudioSpillage (Germany), Blue Cat Audio (France), Channel Robot (Australia), D16 Group (Poland), eaReckon (France), Flux (France), FXpansion (UK), G-Sonique (Slovakia), Image Line (Belgium), iZotope (USA), kiloHearts (Sweden), Loopmasters (UK), MeldaProduction (Czech Republic), Minimal System Instruments (UK), MoDSP (Denmark), n-Track (Italy), NUSofting (Italy), Ohm Force (France), Pace Inc (USA), PSP Audioware (Poland), Resonance Sound (Germany), Rob Papen (Holland), Sinevibes (Poland), SKYLIFE (Germany), Sonic Charge (Sweden), Sugar Bytes (Germany), TAL (Czech Republic), Tone Projects (Denmark), TubeOhm (Germany), Wave Alchemy (UK), Waves (Israel/USA), and XILS-lab (France) can conveniently be purchased and downloaded in all available formats (VST - PC, AU, RTAS - PC, VST - Mac, RTAS - Mac, Win Standalone, Mac Standalone, TDM, Native OS X, Native PC, Native OS X 64-bit, and Native PC 32-bit).

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
Pluginboutique.com

Jeremy Ellis - Meet Push - Now Play

I tell you what, this guy must be a mean pianist

Take one soon to be released, hot ticket tech item - Ableton Push - the new pad/controller instrument for use with Live, add a large quantity of talent in the form of Jeremy Ellis - known for his amazing finger drumming, sample pad playing and being part of the supergroup I AM ROBOT. Now switch it on and have Push expertDennis DeSantis explain how it works to Mr Ellis and film it.

EnjoyMore Information
Dennis deSantis Youtube
Jeremy Ellis

Pop Guitar Samples

Prime Loops releases Acoustic Pop Guitars sample pack

Acoustic Pop Guitars is a new guitar sample pack from Prime Loops and features contemporary pop guitar samples with a crisp acoustic tone. Prime Loops tells us that it offers a selection of delicately strummed chord progressions, rigid staccato strumming patterns and finger picked arpeggios, all available in both Dry (unmodulated) and Clean (modulated) sample form. There's one whole folder dedicated to dual guitar samples, comprising of both rhythm and lead guitar in one loop. These samples are available as separate loops too.

A spokesperson told us, "Acoustic Pop Guitars comes to you 100% royalty free with the key of each sample displayed clearly in the file name. Drag any of these samples from their original folder and they'll drop right in to your favourite software! If you need to alter the tempo, simply stretch the sample to slow things or down or squeeze it to speed things up and it'll automatically adjust without any changes to the sound clarity. This is the perfect pack for any DJ, musician or producer who wants contemporary pop sounds with that classic acoustic vibe!"

Pricing and Availability:
£19.95

More information:
Prime Loops

VoiceLive Touch 2 Now Available

TC Helicon Vocal Designer and Looper hits the stores

TC-Helicon has been in touch to tell us that the successor to the original VoiceLive Touch vocal processor,VoiceLive Touch 2 - Vocal Designer & Looper, is now available in stores across Europe. Here's their press release with all the details:

Since its release in 2010 the original VoiceLive Touch has taken singers by storm, setting the bar for live vocal performance tech. Now, the next generation of Touch - VoiceLive Touch 2 - with its completely reworked user interface, unique real-time control and new effects makes its way to the European vocalists.

In A Nutshell
VoiceLive Touch 2 provides a complete suite of production-quality vocal effects, including Harmony. Its revolutionary new Touch Matrix interface with Slider FX™ allows precise real-time control and modulation, and the VLOOP™ Performance Looper adds exciting loop-specific effects to the mix.

The Effects
VoiceLive Touch 2 automatically takes care of vocal tone with adaptive EQ, compression, de-essing and gating. This frees the singer up to focus on the performance with hyperactive slaps and echoes, aggressive distortion and Hardtune in addition to sweetening effects like deep reverb, doubling and those uncanny TC-Helicon vocal harmonies.

• Adaptive Tone – compression, EQ shaping and de-essing
• Rhythmic effect creates Stutter and Chopper effects
• From natural Pitch Correction to the infamous HardTune effect
• Perfect Harmonies, reverbs, delays, doubling and more, much more

The User Interface
The new and large 2.5" LCD display helps build an easy-to-grasp visual image of the effects layout - and makes editing a cinch.

The Touch Matrix buttons allows one to explore adding and removing effects and tonal colors seamlessly while singing. Use the slider bar to rock, flutter and transform the sonic landscape. Each preset also has the Hit button ready to launch multiple effects with a single touch.

• Create dramatic new sweep effects, browse presets and adjust levels with the slider
• Jump between 36 performance functions fast in the Touch Matrix
• Easy icon-based editing with deep editing available when needed

Looping
VoiceLive Touch 2's six-track looper offers lots of loop time and LoopAssist™ for better loops and effects like a resonant filter, stutter effect, and reverse to make one-person creations easy, unique and incredible.

• Stereo looping of all inputs plus effects on up to 6 tracks
• LoopAssist offers metronome and quantize for perfect loops every time
• Loop effects include Reverse, Filter, Slow Speed, Squeeze and Squeeze Auto

In short, VoiceLive Touch 2 gives singers unprecedented creative control of their live sound with state-of-the-art vocal effects and performance looping in an intuitive touch layout. A major update of the original, VoiceLive Touch 2 gives singers even more opportunities to hone their instrument, create new sounds, and move the masses.

Feature List

• 9 button Touch Matrix speeds editing and control
• Ultra-responsive Slider FX for hands-on experimentation
• Hit button switches multiple effects from basic to shake it!
• Advanced six-track vocal looper with midi sync and realtime loop-specific FX
• Dedicated tap tempo button matches Delay and Rhythmic effects timing to live beats
• Tone feature includes Adaptive EQ, Compression, Gating and De-essing
• Perfect harmonies and pitch correction via Auto Key Detection
• Simple effects customizing with styles and icons
• Huge, free library of song and artist presets
• Optional 3-button footswitch allows hands-free control
• Reverb, modulation effects and tuner for guitar input
• Innovative mic stand-to-desktop non-skid chassis
• High quality mic pre-amp
• USB for audio recording and playback, preset backup and more
• Mic Control™ compatible

Effects List

• µMod – creates flanger, detune, chorus and pitch dive effects
• Delay – tempo-based or timed echoes, slap, and extensive filter styles selection
• Reverb – super clean reverbs, from bright rooms to ornate halls and giant arenas
• Harmony – up to 4 backup singers arranged by your guitar, keyboard or bed track
• Choir – recreates the buzz of a large singing group, superb when combined with Harmony
• Double – a solo or group of unison singers to fatten and widen your melodies
• Transducer – simulates radios, megaphones and distortion effects
• Rhythm – another tempo effect that creates chopper, panning and modern stutter effects
• HardTune – Auto tuning, pitch and gender

Pricing and Availability:
€599 / £459

More information:
VoiceLive Touch 2

Elektron Analog Four OS Update

More functions, bug fixes etc

Elektron are continuing to work on updates for the Analog Four - with the new release of 1.04 you now get mute button functions on the Grid keys for swifter muting in performance mode. Additionally, theres a track mix page added for balancing the four analog voices and effects, using the encoders.

If you want to find out more about the Elektron Analog Four - check out the awesome, in-depth presentation we shot at the start of the year.

More Information
Elektron Downloads
Sonicstate Analog Four Product Presentation
BTW, if you are in the UK near one of these places on these dates, the Analog Four is on the road doing in-store appearances
20th Feb Production Room - Leeds
21st Feb Gear4Music - York
23rd Feb Rubadub - Glasgow

Jools Holland Supports National Learn To Play Day

UK's second National Learn to Play day to be held on Saturday 16th March

The Music for All charity has announced that Jools Holland is to become a Patron with immediate effect.

The naming of Jools Holland as a Patron coincides with the promotional campaign to highlight the UK's second National Learn to Play day to be held on Saturday 16th March. It's expected that over one hundred locations, including schools, music stores and arts organisations will participate by offering free music lessons throughout the day.

The UK's inaugural National Learn to Play Day in 2012 provided over 10,000 music lessons on guitar, piano, drums and a range of orchestral instruments. It was hailed as a huge success by the music industry, music educators and parents alike.

Music for All is the charity of the UK musical instrument industry and was conceived with one aim in mind: 'Making More Musicians". Since its foundation in 2006 the charity has pioneered initiatives to promote 'Learn to Play' experiences to people of all ages and backgrounds, and to highlight the wide-ranging benefits of music making.

Jools Holland commented, "I am delighted to help Music for All in their quest to inspire more people to participate in music making, either for the first time or to return to playing after having lapsed. I hope that my involvement will help the charity reach more people and get more people "having a go".

Paul McManus, Chief Executive of Music For All commented "We are absolutely thrilled to have such a musical icon supporting our charity. Everyone know Jools and his passion for all the musical genres, we could not have a more suitable Patron!"

National Learn To Play Day is organised by the charity Music For All in partnership with the Musicians Union, Arts Council England's Take it away scheme, Music Teachers.co.uk and Musicradar.com.

More information:
www.learntoplayday.com

Free Panning Effect For Mac and Windows

Cableguys release PanCake 2

Cableguys have released PanCake 2 which they describe as an innovative plugin that allows you to create flexible pan modulations.

Key Features

• Creative Modulation Tool: Create complex pan modulations with ease.
• Unique Waveform Drawing Capabilities: Construct your own modulation curves in a very intuitive manner. Waveforms can be easily drawn using soft or hard control points, thus producing gentle transitions or sharp bends in the waveform.
• Customized Waveforms: Up to 10 customized waveforms can be stored.
• LFO Speed: LFO speed can be set free-running from 0.02 Hz to 5.24 kHz. It can also be set in rhythmic units synced to the host sequencer, from a fast 1/128 note modulation up to 32 bars.
• Always in Sync: The LFO will always stay in sync, even when you make tempo changes in your host software, or jump ahead to different parts of your track.
• Complete Parameter Control via Automation: Absolutely everything in PanCake can be automated. Even the shape of the modulating waveform can be automated. And if you want to use more than four modulation curves in a song, you can automate the plugin to switch between them.
• New in version 2: A precise display of channel left/right volume for helpful visual control, an option to trigger the LFO via MIDI notes, a dry/wet control, plus a redesigned interface.

Pricing and Availability:
Free Download

More information:
PanCake 2

Vintage Machine Drums

Prime Loops releases a new one-shots sample collection

Prime Loops has released a new sample collection, Vintage machine Drums.

A spokesperson told us, "Bouncing off the walls trying to find a fresh new drum sound? The search is over - Vintage machine Drums brings you one-shots from some of the sickest machines in history, as well as claps, taps and traps from today's hottest digital machines! Packing a mammoth, 3,700+ drum hits, lovingly sampled from such coveted machines as the Airbase, Microkorg, Nord Modular, Polyvox, EMX, Wavestation and many, many more. It comes to you with dedicated folders of both analog drums and digital drum samples delivered in future-proof 24-bit. This collection offers an entire ocean of high-quality drum sounds to choose from, including all the clap samples, kick one-shots, snare samples, rim shots, open and closed hi-hat sounds, crash samples, ride sounds, tom one-shots, FX samples and percussion sounds."

Pricing and Availability:
£39.95

More information:
Prime Loops

Dark DnB Sample Pack

Producer Loops releases Supalife Drum & Bass: Dark Edition

Producer Loops tells us that Supalife Drum & Bass: Dark Edition features five Construction Kits packed full of aggressive Reese basslines, relentless drums, intricate synths and mind expanding FX. They say that, at over 1.5GB per format, this is simply a must-have collection for Drum & Bass producers.

A spokesperson told us, "Producer Eddy Beneteau steps up the game once again with five astoundingly well-crafted Construction Kits covering all the essentials of dark Drum & Bass. But this isn't just standard, conventional DnB. You'll find fresh new sounds, cranked up to all new levels of insanity and complexity. Synthetic voices spit glitched, stuttered vowels. Deep distorted basslines seem to rip apart the very air molecules before them. And frantic drums drive each mix forward relentlessly. This pack never lets up or drops a beat - all you need to worry about is whether or not the crowd can keep up with you. With professional features such as dry and wet samples, effect tails, MIDI loops and one-shots for creating your own drum beats, Supalife Drum & Bass: Dark Edition is a truly comprehensive product that will suit even the most demanding producer right down to the ground."

Product Specifications:

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

Pricing and Availability:
Supalife Drum & Bass: Dark Edition is available for instant download for £29.95 / 34,60 EUR / $38.87 USD.

More information:
www.producerloops.com

BOSS Loop Station World Championship 3 Results

Spain's Grison Beatbox wins

Loop artists from 12 different countries gathered at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney during the 2013 NAMM show to compete in the international finals for the BOSS Loop Station World Championship 3.

BOSS tells us that Grison Beatbox of Spain claimed the looping title with a mesmerizing beatboxing performance that featured impressive technical skill with his RC-300 Loop Station and VE-20 Vocal Performer effects. For his efforts, he earned $3,000 in BOSS gear. Second Place and $2,000 in BOSS gear went to Super Tall Paul Newman from the United States. Thiago Ramalho from Brazil received Third Place recognition and $1,000 in BOSS gear. The finals event was an exciting conclusion to the BOSS global competition that began in the summer of 2012. Over 500 looping fans were in attendance, with another 8,000-plus viewing live on the web as the event was streamed online.

BOSS selected a talented roster of celebrity judges and BOSS endorsers to crown the world's best looper, including Steve Stevens, guitarist for Billy Idol; Billy Duffy, guitarist for The Cult; John 5, guitarist for Rob Zombie; Herman Li, guitarist for DragonForce; Darryl Jones, bassist for The Rolling Stones; and Gary Lenaire, Group Strategy Manager for BOSS. Judges provided live feedback after each performance, and all artists received high marks for their creativity and command of the looping technology. Music journalist and Jefferson Starship Guitarist Jude Gold also performed while the judges tabulated their votes to select the winner.

The finalists performed four-minute original compositions using the BOSS Loop Station of their choice, and each created their own ensemble of sounds in diverse ways. A wide range of BOSS effects--including the built-in effects in the RC-300 and RC-30 Loop Stations--were used to create distinctive sounds for loops. Electric and acoustic guitar, bass, piano, organ, synth, V-Drums, cello, ukulele, sax, flute, nose whistle, an electric drill, and even a pig squeeze toy were all used at various times to create sounds that were incorporated into loops. Most contestants also employed vocals, both with traditional singing and beatboxing techniques.

Separate from the in-house judging, online viewers had the opportunity to vote for their favorite performer of the evening, with the top vote-getter receiving a special Social Loop Award. Koukun from Japan got the most votes, impressing the web audience with a powerful beatboxing and singing performance that included a very unique stage presentation using light sabers. As part of the award, he received a BOSS GT-10B Bass Effects Processor.

More information:
www.boss.info/bossloop

Dirty And Distorted

Ueberschall releases Grunge Sound Library 15/02/13

Ueberschall has released the newest part of the Elastik Inspire series: Grunge. They say that it's the perfect library to use dirty and distorted sounds real fast. Here's the details in Ueberschall's own words...

This soundbank gives you access to various authentic grunge tracks. Using the unique Inspire concept, Grunge becomes the ultimate toolkit for fast rock productions and inspiring songs for every project, be it music, web-design, scoring or any other multimedia project. This library can be used for multiple applications and ideally fits into existing projects.

To create the real sound of Grunge, all instruments have been performed live and authentically edited. The soundbank contains 522 drum-, bass- and guitar-loops, which are further divided into 'crunch' and 'distorted' sections. The Elastik Inspire format allows free instrument combinations leading to infinite possible results. In addition, the content has been prepared in a way that it can ideally be combined with other 'Elastik Inspire' products such as 'Rock'.

How does the Elastik Inspire series work?
The Elastik Inspire Series pushes all previous boundaries found in sample libraries. All loops and pitched phrases will immediately match perfectly, even across multiple genres. Each sample is automatically detected and being stretched to the current song tempo.

Ueberschall's Elastik 2 player and its elaborated tagging system allow spontaneous track creations - fast, simple and clear.
And by using the intelligent random-replacement-function, any instrument can randomly be replaced by samples of the same instrument group with faultless results - because all samples being part of the Elastik Inspire Series are perfectly adjusted to each other. The resulting options are countless and a source for millions of new inspiring tracks.

Elastik-Features
Ueberschall's Elastik player is the perfect tool, where fast and efficient work is needed - be it for work under time pressure or simply to avoid interruptions of the creative workflow. By using its high quality and fast zplane algorithms, the loops of Grunge can be adapted in tempo and pitch to every track. In addition, all loops of all installed Elastik libraries can be easily searched for, using a shared attribute-based browser. This allows easy combining of any loop with the loops being offered by Grunge. Moreover, the loops can efficiently be modified using functions such as Resample, Formant, Reverse or a multi mode filter - from discreet or heavily alienated.

Credits
Guitars: Kai Reuter, Uwe Kinast, Bass: Christian Flohr, Kai Reuter, Drums: Phillipe Candas, RNA editing & rearrangement: Julian Liedtke, Production: Uwe Kinast

• 500 MB, 522 loops
• Genres: Grunge, Rock
• Elastik soundbank for Mac/PC/AU/VST/RTAS/standalone
• Elastik player included - no sampler required

Pricing and Availability:
39.00 €

More information:
Grunge

Interactive Headphones

Beyerdynamic CUSTOM ONE PRO offers 4 unique mix profiles

Beyerdynamic tells us that the new CUSTOM ONE PRO, a professional quality headphone concept for studio or home, allows the user to experience a completely interactive listening session.

Dave Hetrick, National Sales Manager for Beyerdynamic's US distributor American Music & Sound, told us,"Beyerdynamic invented the dynamic headphone 88 years ago, and now they have created the world's most versatile headphone. The CUSTOM One Pro is custom in every way...you can adjust the acoustic mix to your taste, change the look and color to match your style, change the cable for your preferred application...whatever you want. It's a truly unique product."

Here's the details in Beyerdynamic's own words...

An all-in-one solution for any desired acoustic scenario, the versatile new headphones feature Beyerdynamic's specially designed CUSTOM Sound Slider, which allows the user to switch the audio mix of their music between 4 completely unique mix profiles. The mix profiles range from a more analytical sound to the contemporary "heavy bass" sound, and can be quickly adjusted according to the listener's taste or to the music style. The headphone is expertly engineered with a closed, variable noise reduction design that creates isolated sound and cuts out ambient noise without the need for batteries.

The German- handcrafted CUSTOM ONE PRO headphone also sports a number of high-end style features such as fully customizable, changeable style plates that lock into the outer part of the ear cups. Users can go online at beyerdynamic.com to choose from hundreds of style plate designs and find the perfect combination to suit their personal style. Additionally, the headband and ear cup pads are available for purchase in different colors according to taste and preference. Moveable yokes and a sturdy spring-steel adjustable headband allow for a snug fit, and high quality, durable pads create longwearing comfort without fatigue. The headphone comes with a single-sided cable featuring a gold-plated mini stereo jack plug (3.5mm) and a 1/4" (6.35mm) adaptor, and can be customized to different desired lengths and applications ranging from studio use to gaming (available for separate purchase).

FEATURES

• CUSTOM Sound Slider- a variable bass reflex system featuring 4 distinct audio mixes
• Closed headphone with variable noise reduction
• Versatile design with replaceable and customizable ear plate accessories
• High efficiency due to 16-Ohm drivers
• Rugged headband made of spring steel
• Single-sided, plug-in type connecting cable
• Soft, replaceable and customizable ear and headband pads
• Gold-plated mini stereo jack plug (3.5 mm) & 1/4" adapter (6.35 mm)
• Compatible with smart phones and most tablet devices

Pricing and Availability:
The CUSTOM One Pro is priced at $199 and is available now at authorized Beyerdynamic retailers worldwide.

More information:
Beyerdynamic

Expand Your Kurzweil PC3 and PC3K's Sonic Potential

KORE64 ROM Expansion Sound Card is now available

Kurzweil tells us that the KORE 64 ROM option represents a complete expansion and reimagining of the PC3and PC3K's sonic potential. They say that, pushing the limits of V.A.S.T. synthesis for both realistic and experimental electronic sounds, KORE 64™ adds over 300 new programs, including stunning new Synths, Electric Guitars, Horns, Drums and Percussion. With KORE 64™ installed, the PC3/K built-in program library now totals over 1400 presets KORE 64™ ROM is user installable. Here's the details directly from Kurzweil:

New Setups:

• 50 new setups featuring the KORE 64™ sounds.
• Over 200 new drum grooves in multiple styles.
• New Dance and Hip Hop setups for triggering and controlling beats in real time.

New Synths:

• New samples modeled after the Oberheim SEM, ARP Chroma, TX802, CZ1, and dozens of legacy waveforms from the K series.
• Over 100 new synth programs.
• Sounds for popular electronic music styles like House, Trance, Dubstep, Drum&Bass, Glitch, Electro Hip Hop, and more.
• More real time controls, beat-synced modulations and envelope control transform sounds without hitting the edit button.
• Atmospheric and cycling pads voiced for performing, producing, and scoring.

New Guitars:

• New samples modeled after the Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster.
• Palm muted and sustained articulations playable in a picked or legato style.
• Instant-shredder arpeggiator patterns, whammy bar effects, and realistic feedback emulations.
• Preset sounds from Rock, Country, Rock-a-Billy, Metal, Funk, and more.

New Brass/Woodwinds:

• New alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, trumpet, and trombone samples.
• New programs include solo instruments and custom sections with many combinations of the different instruments.
• Articulate with pressure on several new programs.
• Sections cover styles from Big Band, Soul, Funk, Latin, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock and more.

New Drums

• Drums from Yamaha, Ludwig, Pearl, DW, Rogers, and Gretsch recorded as full kits.
• Full cymbal arrays recorded with Zildjian, Paiste, and Sabian cymbals.
• 72 new Drum Kits and 62 percussion instruments and templates.
• 10 times the samples and 30 times the data of the existing PC3/PC3K Drums.
• All drum kits have mixer functioning on the sliders to change the level the kick, snare, toms, hats, and percussion independently.
• Unsurpassed realism and playability for sampled drums.
• Full complement of Electronic and Processed Drum samples.
• Scratches, hits and Industrial Sounds.
• Wide variety of traditional and processed Percussion sounds.

Pricing and Availability:
$299.00

More information:
Kurzweil

Figure Adds Track Sharing Through SoundCloud

Propellerhead's music making app gets more social

Propellerhead tells us that Figure, their best selling music making app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, has integrated SoundCloud, enabling quick sharing of tracks with friends or the world. In addition using Audiobus, Figure users can now bus their audio to other effects and recording apps in real-time.

Directly in Figure, users can easily share their tracks privately with their friends or publicly to blogs, sites and social networks using SoundCloud soundcloud.com, the world's leading social sound platform. It takes just a click to share sounds to Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and Foursquare. In addition Propellerhead has created amobile listening gallery, where users can listen to any publicly available Figure SoundCloud uploads, to discover new great music -- or get inspiration for their own creations:

To celebrate the new release, Propellerhead and SoundCloud are holding a prize draw for everyone who uploads a sound through Figure. Two lucky winners will receive Beats by Dre headphones as well as a Propellerhead software suite and one year SoundCloud Pro account. The more a song is played, the greater the chance that it wins. Details of the prize draw can be found here.

Using the Audiobus app with Figure, users can interconnect Figure with other Audiobus capable apps in real-time. Audiobus works like virtual audio cables, enabling Figure audio to be "plugged" into other effects and recording apps running simultaneously. A user can now alter and record an entire Figure performance of any length using additional effects and features from apps outside of Figure itself.

Full list of improvements in Figure 1.4

• SoundCloud integration - share your Figure tracks with access to Facebook, Twitter and more
• Audiobus™ support
• Background audio (in device Settings)
• Sort song list by Name/Date

More About Figure...
Fast, streamlined and fun, Figure enables even an inexperienced musician to make amazing sounding original music in seconds. Figure is designed from the ground up for mobile environments where users want to make some music fast. Even non-musicians will quickly be playing their own beats and songs with drums, bass and lead parts. With an incredibly easy-to-use touch interface, Figure offers a huge amount of control with simple gestures. Figure is deceptively deep, facilitating many ways to tweak sounds and parameters--making it entertaining and inspiring to use for a minute or for hours. With major synth power under its hood, powered by Propellerhead's Reason, Figure sounds phenomenal too.

Pricing and Availability:
Figure pricing remains at EUR €0.79 / USD $0.99 and is available as a universal iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad App on the Apple iTunes AppStore.

More information:
Figure

How To Edit Timing With Melodyne

Not just for pitch correction

Here's a tasty little nugget of information about how to use Celemony's Melodyne software - you know the pitch editing software that changed everything.

If you can get past the insurance ad style voiceover, then you'll get to see through how to use the Melodyne editor to tweak the timing of events, not just for pitch alteration.

Listen carefully and you'll hear that this kind of thing is not uncommon.

How to make effective use of the timing tools, and -- with Melodyne editor -- even modify the timing within individual notes, are the subject of this video tutorial.

More Information
Celemony.de

Expert Sleepers ES-6 Does Very Cool CV Things

Get your computer to join the modular gang

Expert Sleepers ES-6 demo

Another great demo from Oz from Expert Sleepers - the guy behind the hardware and the software (A Slient Way). We reviewed the ES-3 ADAT/CV Eurorack module while back. Since then there's been a new version of A Silent Way - the software part of the CV control system that totally integrates your DAW with your Eurorack.

In this demo Oz records some CV into Live, and also runs some real-time CV manipulation too. Mind-blowing.

Expert Sleepers ES-6 is available now at £132 (inc VAT) and allows you to take 6 channels of CV into ADAT so you can record or manipulate the signals via software.

More Information
Expert Sleepers ES-6
ES-3 Review

GC Pro Offers Neve Genesys Console With New EQ Option

Special pricing on a fixed configuration of the console for a limited time

Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users, along with AMS Neve, has announced a new EQ option, 88R-style four-band EQ, for theNeve Genesys, a custom-crafted, expandable digitally controlled analog recording console that incorporates digital workstation control. This new EQ option is an alternative to the classic 1084 EQ option currently available. Exclusively distributed in the U.S. by GC Pro, the Genesys was designed to address the new realities of the modern professional audio industry for music and postproduction, while building on Neve's 50 years of accumulated technical heritage.

A spokesperson had this to say, "Highly valued by recording professionals, Genesys consoles are the only console available boasting genuine 1073 mic pre transformers. While often imitated, there's only one true Neve console. To celebrate the console's popularity and the new EQ option, GC Pro is offering a very special price on a fixed configuration of Genesys console: $75,000 for a limited time, until the end of March 2013, that's over a 25% discount."

Specially-priced Genesys configuration:

• 24-fader/48 input console (in a sub-fitted 32-fader frame)
• 24 channels fitted with 1073 mic preamps
• 24 channels fitted with the new EQ option
• 8 channels of Dynamics
• Motorized faders, with Encore automation software.
• Total Recall software

Additionally, during this promotion, GC Pro will be offering console trade-ins towards the purchase of any Neve Genesys.

About the Neve Genesys
With its unmistakable Neve qualities of exquisite design, peerless craftsmanship and legendary Neve sound, the Genesys is a comprehensive, cost-effective solution to the challenges of audio in the digital age. The base configuration offers 16 channels of mic/line preamps, 16-channel DAW monitoring, 32-channel analog summing at mixdown, Total Reset, DAW control for Pro Tools, Logic, Nuendo and more, 8 auxiliary buses, 8 group buses, 2 main outputs, 4 effects returns, comprehensive metering, 5.1 mixing on each channel strip, 5.1 monitoring, 2 cue mixes, talkback services and an internal power supply. What sets the Genesys apart is its remarkable combination of features and affordability -- an affordable Neve analog console with Neve's legendary sound and digital control at a cost of less than $50,000 enables the widest possible range of professionals to make a genuine Neve console the heart of their studios. Furthermore, the Genesys has the ability to upgrade as studio owners' requirements change -- it can be expanded to over 60 channels in a straight or articulated frame, with options including motorized fader automation, recall, mastering-grade A/D and D/A converters, digitally controlled EQ and dynamics, remote mic amp control and much more.

Pricing and Availability:
See website.

More information:
www.gcpro.com

Mangling Delay Plug-In Updated

XILS-lab Le Masque is now in version 1.5

XILS-lab has announced availability of Le Masque: Delay 1.5, a major update to its 'ultimate mangling' timeline-driven delay effects plug-in. Here's their press release with all the details:

Besides being on the receiving end of a graceful graphical makeover that is intuitive as it is easy on the eye, Le Masque: Delay 1.5 obviously offers several new innovative features that further increase its functionality and musicality, benefitting both existing and new users alike:

FREEZE/DUB
The all-new FREEZE/DUB button repeatedly reads the delay 'loop' until disengaged -- perfect for creating dub-type delays, as well as generating all kinds of interesting loops and textures, while users can continue performing or improvising over the loop itself.

WET/DRY LOCK
The lockable WET/DRY button enables preset browsing while preserving whatever wet/dry ratio has been set -- handy for experimenting with the varied 120-plus presets now readily available in the latest Le Masque: Delay 1.5 factory library.

16 MASKS
Le Masque: Delay 1.5 increases the number of masks (or grid zones that are processed by the delay) from the original plug-in release's eight to 16 -- meaning more possibilities for flexible delay creation, especially when combined with the new MultiSelect and MultiEdit features of the masks themselves.

MULTI-MASKS
Several masks can now be simultaneously selected to move their locations or change their locators with a single mouse drag using a combination of different techniques -- namely, dedicated ALL MASKS, ODD MASKS, and EVEN MASKS buttons, or a CTRL + CLICK keyboard combination to select continuous or discontinuous masks, with background colour and shape changes reflecting the (selected, unselected) status of each mask.

INCOMING AUDIO SIGNAL DISPLAY
The incoming audio signal is now displayed within the grid area of Le Masque: Delay 1.5, drastically improving workflow and both speed and ease of use since its instant visual feedback greatly helps positioning masks while playing a musical part. And it looks great, too!

IMPROVED MASK LOCATOR MANAGEMENT
When approaching the right locator of a mask it now gradually turns red so it can be safely moved without changing its length (as could occasionally prove problematic in the original version of Le Masque: Delay); to further avoid any confusion, the right locator is now colour coded green.

MASK LEVEL TOGGLE
Engaging the new level toggle switch for the mask's LEVEL parameter acts as a threshold level, resulting in the delay signal only being audible if the incoming signal level is above the mask level -- helpful for finding the best mask configurations while moving them on the grid.

ZOOM FUNCTION
The 4x zoom function makes accurate editing of mask positioning and length easier than ever -- time to throw away those 'rose-tinted glasses'!

Pricing and Availability:
Le Masque: Delay 1.5 is available to purchase from the dedicated XILS-lab online Store for the time limited, 25% discounted introductory price of €44.00 EURO/$58.00 USD until February 20 (rising to €59.00 EURO/$77.00 USD thereafter).

More information:
www.xils-lab.com

Tutorial Book For The Akai MPC

MPC-Samples.com releases The JJOSXL Chopping Bible

MPC-Samples.com has announced the release of the JJOSXL: Chopping Bible by MPC-Tutor, the first and only dedicated tutorial book for JJOSXL, the advanced third party operating system for the MPC1000/2500.

They tell us that, with 125 pages of step-by-step tutorials and practical projects for you to recreate in your MPC, this book comprehensively teaches you everything about the art of chopping in JJOSXL:

• Fully understand the destructive and non-destructive chopping processes
• Develop optimal workflows & techniques for chopping drum breaks and entire songs
• Learn accurate & fast chopping methods along with advanced pad previewing options
• Build velocity sensitive finger drumming kits from chopped breaks
• Master the more advanced uses of the patched phrase feature
• Use sustain looping on instrument chops to create multisampled notes and programs
• Utilise filters, tuning, effects, ADSR and other program parameters to customize your chopped programs
• Discover the different methods for implementing polyphonic and monophonic programs
• Loop individual drum chops for unique percussive effects
• Create your own songs and beats using nothing but non-destructive chops

MPC-Samples.com says that each chapter is broken down into a number of beat making projects written in a no-nonsense, step-by-step style, with clear MPC screen shots and all the files you need to recreate each project in your MPC - giving you a fun, hands-on learning experience to quickly master the complexities of JJOSXL.

Author Andy Avgousti, told Sonic State, "JJOSXL completely transforms the MPC1000 and MPC2500 into an incredibly powerful sample chopping powerhouse, but getting to grips with this additional complexity involves a very steep learning curve. When writing the book I wanted to ensure that I not only clearly explained the 'technical' aspects of all the advanced chopping features, I also wanted to show people how to easily apply this newfound knowledge to their day-to-day beat making workflow. It's all about taking full advantage of JJOSXL to get even more creative with your MPC."

MPC-Samples.com believes that, from learning the basics of chopping, to developing workflows that suit your own unique style, right through to building your own songs and beats using chops of vintage blues recordings and even entire classical music pieces, JJOSXL: The Chopping Bible is the easiest way to quickly become a JJOSXL chopping master!

Technical Specifications

• Contents: 125 page PDF ebook, plus over 200 example tutorial files
• Format: PDF, JJOSXL project files & WAV files
• Compatibility: MPC1000 running JJOS2XL 3.2x, or MPC2500 running JJOS-XL 3.2x
• Author: Andy Avgousti (MPC-Tutor)
• Publisher: MPC-Samples.com
• Download Size: 69MB
• Delivery: Download instantly after purchase.

Pricing and Availability:
$19.99 / £11.99
For a limited time, every purchase of the JJOSXL Chopping Bible will include an exclusive JJOSXL discount code, entitling you to a full copy of the JJOSXL operating system for only $110 (a saving of $13), or alternatively an upgrade from JJOS1 to JJOSXL for only $67 (a saving of $7). Terms and conditions apply.

More information:
MPC-Samples.com