The new TASCAM US-122L and US-144, the follow-ups to the popular US-122, deliver audiophile-quality Audio/MIDI Interfaces in a portable, affordable package. USB 2.0 technology allows up to 96kHz/24-bit recording with zero latency hardware monitoring. They retain the rugged metal enclosure, pro XLR mic inputs and MIDI I/O of the US-122, and 48-track Cubase LE recording software makes them ready to rock right out of the box.

“Musicians have been traveling with their TASCAM PortaStudios for years, and these interfaces bring the PortaStudio philosophy into the laptop age,” says Johnny DeLeon, Computer Products Channel Manager for TASCAM. “Our interfaces are designed by musicians for musicians, which means they’re easy to use and sound great. We’ve even designed low-profile knobs for the top - so they’re easy to slip into a backpack - and built them out of sturdy die-cast metal so they’re built to last.”

Priced at only $199 and $269, the US-122L & US-144 are within reach of anyone ready to start recording to a computer.

Features:

• 2 XLR mic inputs with phantom power
• S/PDIF Digital Input & Output (US-144 only)
• 2 analog line inputs (1 switchable to high impedance for use with guitars, basses, etc.)
• 1 MIDI input, 1 MIDI output
• USB 2.0 equipped (also supports USB 1.1)
• Up to 96kHz/24-bit for high quality recordings
• Zero-latency hardware monitoring
• Combined Headphone/output level control (US122L)
• Separate headphone output & level controls (US-144)
• Bus powered for use with PC or Mac, including laptops
• Includes Cubase LE 48-track professional recording software
• Includes GigaStudio 3 LE 64-voice software sampler

For more information, visit their web site at www.tascam.com.

Posted in Audio, Computer, Hardware, MIDI, Recording, Technology

Groove Monkee has released a new library for Toontrack’s EZDrummer. Producer Pack 5, Rock and Jazz, contains over 2100 royalty free intros, beats and fills. The grooves are mapped for General MIDI, EZDrummer, BFD and Cakewalk Session Drummer. Free upgrades for the following formats are also available: DFHS, DFH C&V, DFH 1, DFH 2 and Groove Agent.

Groove Monkee has also released the following libraries in EZDrummer format:

• Groove Monkee Jazz
• Groove Monkee Funk, Hip Hop and R&B

Producer Pack #5: Rock and Jazz contents include:

• Over 2100 MIDI Beats
• 300 alternative meter beats
• 250 additional one and two-bar fills
• 125 intros
• Mappings: GM, EZDrummer, BFD and Session Drummer
• Rock styles: Alternative, Ballad, Classic, Contemporary, Blues Rock, Funk Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Pop, Punk
• Jazz styles: Bop, Swing, Latin, Linear, Funky, Fusion, Smooth, Bluesy, Alternative Time (3/4, 5/4, 6/8, 7/4, 9/8 and 12/8)

Free Upgrades: Customers who have already purchased Groove Monkee Rock, Jazz or Funk, Hip Hop and R&B are eligible for free upgrades to the EZDrummer version of their libraries.

Rock and Jazz is on sale now for $59.95 and is available via instant download or on CD. Groove Monkee offers free MIDI samples and a 30-day money back guarantee.

For more information, visit their web site at www.groovemonkee.com.

Posted in Audio, Computer, Drums & Percussion, Recording, Software, Technology

GMS Drum Co. has introduced a new series of drums featuring the unique sound of North American hard white ash. GMS worked closely with American drum shell manufacturer Keller to develop these 8-ply 100% ash shells. Enhanced with Keller’s proprietary VSS™ technology, they are available exclusively on GMS Grand Master Series and Special Edition (SE) Series drums.

North American hard white ash is distinguished from maple, birch, oak, and mahogany by its exceptional punch and focus. Keller’s VSS technology extends this wood’s low-frequency sustain to produce richness and balance that’s unequalled even by other ash-shell drums.

“We experimented with different types of ash, including swamp ash [Southern soft ash],” commented GMS’s Rob Mazzella. “In depth, articulation, and sustain, nothing touched Keller’s VSS-enhanced North American hard white ash shells.”

Added Joe Montineri, Keller Music Division director of product development, “This exclusive GMS shell is crisp, punchy, and fat, with amazing amplitude, duration, and timbre focus.”

For more information, visit their web site at www.gmsdrums.com.

Posted in Drums & Percussion

Recording School Online has just released IceVerb, a multi-effect VST plugin. IceVerb is not simply just another digital reverb, this special audio effect has been designed with music mixing in mind.

The result is a very interesting audio plugin that enhances depth and dimension within the stereo field of the mix. IceVerb can add more perceived space to both mono and stereo tracks helping to create a fuller and wider depth of field.

Check out a video demo of IceVerb and other VST audio plugins at the RSO website.

For more information, visit their web site at www.recordingschoolonline.com.

Posted in Audio, Computer, Effects, Recording, Software, Technology

macProVideo.com announces the release of Ableton Live 101: Mastering Live. This program is designed and shot by UK technical author and Ableton educator Martin Delaney (author of Laptop Music and Ableton Live 5 Tips & Tricks, by PC Publishing). In over 6 hours, and 159 separate tutorial videos, these real-time screen-captures let you see and hear how songs are constructed using Live.

This program covers Live 5, but new purchases are eligible for a free upgrade to Ableton Live 101:Mastering Live 6, currently in production. Ableton Live 101: Mastering Live is available for direct download ($35.55 USD) or on DVD ($39.50 USD).

Additionally, macProVideo.com has released 55 minutes of free Logic Pro tutorials and 45 minutes of free Final Cut tutorials. These free tutorials are available exclusively to macProVideo.com members, and new free tutorials will be added on a regular basis. To start an account and begin downloading free tutorials, register here.

For more information, visit their web site at www.macprovideo.com.

Posted in Apple Mac, Audio, Computer, Education, Recording, Software, Technology

Music-Hardware (MH) is a modular and fully customizable web portal completely dedicated to audio and musicians. On the default homepage, everyone can share photos of home studios, YouTube videos, listen to creative commons license albums, compare gear prices, read digg music articles, read news around the web, and much more to come.

The page can be customized any way you like.. Add or remove modules, edit the parameters of each module, move these modules on the page, etc.

All the parameters of this page are stored in a cookie on your computer, and you will then find your MH page just as you left it at the time of your last visit.

Music-Hardware will be soon available in more languages, with the bests music websites resources of each country.

For more information, visit their web site at www.music-hardware.com.

Posted in Computer, Industry, Web Sites

Native Instruments just released Akoustik Piano 1.1 R2, a free update for its piano software instrument. The new version offers significant improvements and additional features in almost every area, further extending its recognized strengths in sonic realism, playability, functionality and ease of use.

In Akoustik Piano 1.1, a new Overtone technology delivers strikingly realistic string resonance for all three grand pianos and the upright piano. To provide even smoother sonic characteristics across the full key range, the sample sets of all four included pianos have been meticulously retuned and re-adjusted in the new version. The update also adds Stretched Tuning, the preferred tuning mode for classical solo piano performances, and adds highly realistic “Repedalling” behaviour to its implementation of the sustain pedal.

Furthermore, Akoustik Piano 1.1 offers an enhanced user interface, an improved Recorder section with MIDI song import, MIDI automation for a wide range of sound parameters including volume and pan, an adjustable “bass boost” function, and an easy-to-use output limiter. The update also increases the number of maximum voices to 150, providing sufficient polyphony headroom for even the most demanding piano arrangements.

With the new version, all four pianos can now be fully used in both KONTAKT 2.1 and KORE. The 1.1 update even includes specific KONTAKT 2 patches for each instrument, containing individual matching Performance Views for use in Native Instruments’ award-winning flagship sampler. The Performance View gives users full control of the Akoustik Piano sound parameters directly within the KONTAKT 2 rack.

The 1.1 update for Windows and Mac is now available as a free download for all registered users of Akoustik Piano on the NI website.

Mac Intel compatibility for Akoustik Piano will be introduced with a separate update, which will be released within the third quarter of 2006.

For more information, visit their web site at www.native-instruments.com/afharmony01.info.

Posted in Audio, Computer, Keyboard, Piano, Recording, Software, Technology

Ritter has been making massive inroads into the hardshell case market with the introduction of 60 different models in 7 separate ranges. Two of these are the RP1000 Series and RP2000 Series. Both are polystyrene foam core cases, while the former has a nylon exterior and the latter a polyester exterior.

Other common features of these lightweight cases that offer shock absorption are an internal neck rest with built-in accessory compartment, a padded, contoured, plush black interior; along with A4 music and accessory pouches. In addition, RP1000 Series models have a 420D nylon water repellent cover, backpack system and fashionable silver finish.

Meanwhile, the RP2000 Series benefits from a 600D polyester cover, a padded, adjustable backpack system; backpack pouch for hiding the strap when not in use, integrated mobile phone pouch and reflective safety strip. Colour coordinated with the RitterClassic Bag Series, the RP2000 Series comes in two colour options: night black exterior with black interior, or chocolate exterior with tangerine interior.

Both series are designed to fit dreadnought, classic, electric and electric bass guitars.

For more information, visit their web site at www.ritter-bags.com.

Posted in Accessories, Bass, Guitar

Carvin proudly introduces the new BR15 Bass Combo. Featuring advanced equalization, a 15-inch low frequency driver, a Titanium high frequency driver, an XLR direct output, and numerous additional features integrated into a Duratuff™-covered enclosure with retractable handles, the BR15 Bass Combo is the perfect solution for gigging or studio bassists.

For bassists who are constantly on the move, the new BR15 Bass Combo is hard to beat. The BR15 is the smallest and lightest combination bass amplifier offered by Carvin, yet its sound is big and remarkably robust—thanks to the 15-inch low frequency driver and Titanium high frequency driver combination. With a rugged Duratuff-covered enclosure that hides the wear and tear of the road, this terrific amplifier even features a tilt-back design that puts the bass right where it’s wanted. When the gig is over, the retractable handles make moving this powerhouse amp a breeze. To protect the transducers, a 16-guage, perforated steel grill is supplied.

The new BR15 Bass Combo’s BX120 head features the same discrete Class A circuitry, contour control, single knob compressor, and front-mounted XLR direct output found in Carvin’s BX600 bass head. With 120 watts output power at 8 ohms, this terrific amplifier has plenty of muscle for a wide variety of musical applications.

For shaping the sound precisely as it’s wanted, the BR15 Bass Combo features parametric EQ with mid sweep and a 5-band graphic equalizer coupled with a Graphic EQ In/Out switch. This versatile amplifier also provides Active/Passive switching, and the switches feature active electronics for clean, precise control and greater reliability. To warm the sound up, the front panel Drive control can push the Class A preamps to a warm growl—providing the ultimate in tonal diversity. There is also a Master control for the preamp.

The new Carvin BR15 Bass Combo is sold factory direct at $369.99. The BR15 is available now.

For more information, visit their web site at www.carvin.com.

Posted in Amplification, Bass

Carvin proudly introduces the V3212 Guitar Combo. Building on the success of Carvin’s V3 Guitar Head, the new V3212 comprises the same electronics, including the 100% tube signal path featuring Groove Tubes™, and incorporates dual 12-inch Celestion loudspeakers to form a guitar combo system with the power and sound quality to address a wide range of musical applications.

The new V3212 offers a 3-channel, all tube configuration with three drive modes per channel, with Channels 1 and 2 providing Center, Thick, and Intense modes, and Channel 3 providing Center, Bright, and Soak modes. No matter what sound the guitarist is looking for—from a classic, rich overdrive delivering lots of headroom to the most gain and sustain—it will be found with this amplifier. Combined with Carvin’s innovative EQX that enables one to toggle between standard and expanded EQ to open a wider frequency range for the treble and bass, the V3212 delivers the sound today’s guitarist demands. And with a rear panel switch that enables one to toggle between the amplifier’s two power settings of 100 watts or 50 watts, the V3212 makes it easy to overdrive the amp for still greater creative expression.

Featuring a dedicated Master Control section for volume, boost, bright, mid cut, deep, and Smart Loops™, the V3212 makes it easy to control the amplifier’s sound. The three channels each have dedicated control settings and the momentary channel select switch facilitates easy changes from one sound setting to another. Combined with Carvin’s Smart Loops, which remembers the effects loop settings for each channel, the V3212 provides unprecedented control.

The V3212’s rear panel is equally comprehensive, offering Line Out, Line Out Level, Cabinet Voicing (for simulating speaker cabinet response), Loop 1, Loop 2, plus MIDI In and Thru for easy control of all channels, volume boost, and Smart Loops. Additionally, the V3212 has provisions for footswitches (models FS22 / FS44), Output 1 and 2 (parallel outs for connecting two speaker cabinets), a Bias switch, plus the 100/50 watt power select switch.

Recognizing that guitarists have very strong opinions about the speakers they play through, the new V3212 is available in two configurations. The V3212 incorporates twin Celestion G12T-75 loudspeakers, while the V3212-30 uses twin Celestion Vintage 30 loudspeakers.

The new Carvin V3212 Guitar Combo is sold factory direct at $1,249.99 (V3212) and $1,269.99 (V3212-30). Both models are available now.

For more information, visit their web site at www.carvin.com.

Posted in Amplification, Guitar