Monthly Archives: August 2006

Audio Ease Releases Intel-Mac Compatible Versions Of Nautilus And Rocket Science Plug-In Bundles

Posted on August 28, 2006 by Planet-Musician

Audio Ease releases Mac Intel compatible version of Nautilus Bundle and Rocket Science Bundle (Mac OS X plug-ins).

The Rocket Science Bundle (flight path simulator, talk box and autowah) and the multiple award winning Nautilus Bundle (Phase correct scope-EQ, granular soundscape synthesizer and end-all Phaser) have today been released as Mac Intel compatible Universal Binaries.

The new versions are free upgrades for Rocket Science version 3 and Nautilus version 2 users, and can be picked up from www.audioease.com/support.

The Nautilus Bundle (for Mac OS X: MAS VST RTAS HTDM AU Audio Suite) consists of the following three plug-ins:

RiverRun
River Run is a Granular Soundscape Synthesizer capable of oozing immense sonic oceans of tiny particals taken from your original audio. It can build rhythmic textures, wide harmonic soundscapes, and it can zoom in on your fragment by stretching it by a factor of up to 200.

PeriScope
Look at the audio spectrum via the real-time animating spectroscope, or graphic analyzer, and grab faders where you see the audio happening. Phase Correct EQ, with surgical precision, and unprecedented low frequency resolution. Edit modes range from fluent to massively steep.

Deep Phase Nine
Deep Phase Nine is a true phaser that offers unparalleled control and visual feedback. Up to 24 notches per channel, beat locked sample and hold, one-shots, a true phaser (not a flanger!) done the Audio Ease way.

The Rocket Science (for Mac OS X: MAS VST RTAS HTDM AU Audio Suite) consists of the following three plug-ins:

Roger – You can apply human vowel filters to your audio with Roger. Use the vowel bar at the bottom to click through the vowels and click the portrait to select one of the Roger family members. Features include portamento, automation, Midi-controll and rythmic talk-nonsense mode.

Follo – Dynamically adjusts the peak of a resonating bandpass filter according to the level of the incoming audio. Applications of Follo include an autowah on a guitar, and a thumping resonating bass generator.

Orbit – Orbit lets you control the virtual position of your sound source. It accurately calculates the sound source’s reflections of the walls of a virtual ‘outer room’, using the exact amount of delay and attenuation for the direct sound and all reflections alike. Useit a s a physicallly correct panner, select from preset source trajectories, or create them yourself via live MIDI controller or parameter automation.

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

Nautilus And Rocket Science Plug-In Bundles

Nautilus And Rocket Science Plug-In Bundles

Posted in Apple Mac, Plug-Ins, Technology, VST

Sheets of Sound Introduces Sheets of Sound For Guitar II

Posted on August 28, 2006 by Planet-Musician

Sheets of Sound introduces Sheets of Sound for Guitar II. Sheets of Sound for Guitar II revolutionizes guitar technique while focusing on a radical new way to approach the instrument.

Sheets of Sound for Guitar Vol II is a natural evolution of Sheets of Sound Vol I. It continues along much of the same harmonic and rhythmic path while putting more emphasis on real world examples and delving into asymetrical, odd-meter groupings and artist studies. The artist studies are inspired by Pat Metheny, George Benson, Frank Gambale, Rusty Cooley, Pat Martino and John Coltrane and are very exciting to learn and perform.

Traditional guitar methods focus on playing the instrument horizontally across the fingerboard. By contrast, Sheets of Sound for Guitar focuses on playing the instrument in a more natural vertical orientation. In doing so, a more straightforward and horn-like voice is attained.

The book is a compendium of melodic and harmonic devices featuring the following:

  • Tab and standard notation
  • Amazing Chops (works for Fusion, Metal, Jazz, etc)
  • Arpeggio Scales
  • Waterfalls
  • Sweep Picking to die for
  • Studies inspired by George Benson, John Coltrane, Frank Gambale, Pat Martino, Shawn Lane, Mike Brecker, Rusty Cooley, McCoy Tyner, Rudolphe Kreutzer
  • Forward Motion Pentatonics
  • Long form swept Pentatonics
  • 4ths patterns
  • Odd Meter meters/rhythms

For more information, visit their web site at www.sheetsofsound.net.

Posted in Education, Guitar, Sheet Music

NevaFong Introduces The Envelight Sound Library For Cakewalk Z3ta+

Posted on August 28, 2006 by Planet-Musician

NevaFong have announced the release of “Envelight Set” for Cakewalk Z3ta+, a new loadable wavetable set with 57 new waveforms and a sound set of 128 top-notch sounds.

Long-standing work experience with various synthesizers made it possible to create sounds which will be interesting both to beginning users and experienced musicians wishing to add new elements in their compositions.

The wavetable set includes 57 new waveforms. Unique waveforms are created on the basis of FM, additive, and subtractive synthesis and experimental modulations.

The soundset also includes 128 high-quality presets sorted by categories: Bass, Fat, FX, FX tone, Keyboard, Lead, Pad, Various.

Background and solo sounds are powerful and soft, with exotic and classical flavors to suit any genre.

Envelight Set costs $45. Demo mp3s are available for download on the Neva Fong website.

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

Posted in Computer, Recording, Samples, Software, Synth, Technology

Rayzoon Releases Jamstix 1.7

Posted on August 28, 2006 by Planet-Musician

Rayzoon proudly announces the release of Jamstix 1.7, another massive update for their ground-breaking virtual drummer.

The focus of this update is an improved audio engine that reduces CPU usage and the addition of the brand-new ‘Keyboard Jam’ mode. Aside from this, there are dozens of additions and enhancements, new rhythms, new automation parameters as well as several bug fixes.

All Jamstix owners can download the update free of charge here.

Update Details:

  • Lowered CPU usage through optimized audio processing and improved voice reduction
  • Implemented new jam mode “Keyboard Jam”
  • Added 20 new rhythms as follows:
    • 7 world rhythms, including cha cha, calypso, merengue and soca
    • 6 rock rhythms
    • 4 R&B rhythms
    • 2 jazz rhythms
    • 1 reggae rhythm
  • Automatic fills are now also available in ‘Manual Jam’
  • PDF manual is now fully searchable
  • Console gain meters are now stereo instead of mono sum
  • Added ‘Time Sig Changes’ option to OUTPUT tab. Host synch-up is accelerated if unchecked, fixing possible loop alignment issues
  • Improved ‘Shaping’ function in various ways, including suppression of clicking at high levels
  • Added ‘Dampening’ slider to the ‘Ambience’ control panel to simulate smaller rooms
  • Added options ‘Create 2-Bar Pattern’ and ‘Create 4-Bar Pattern’ to arranger rhythm name right-click menu, which allow the quick creation of multi-bar patterns
  • Bars that have snare or tom accents are now shown with a black center line in the arranger
  • Added ’2x 16th’ as an option for the hihat quarter column
  • When editing hihat quarter and eighths columns, the velocity is now only reset to default if it is currently zero
  • Improved fill start time suppression options
  • Added option ‘Simplify by suppressing 16th notes’ to the fill options
  • Improved reggae rhythms and added ‘shuffle’ keyword to them
  • Improved hihat choking sound when choked by low velocity closed hat event
  • Added ‘Drive/Laid-Back Timing’ automation parameter which allows setting a constant earliness (drive) or lateness (laid-back) of the drums
  • BFD mappings now have anti-machine gun mode enabled
  • Increased limb transition time for snare ghost notes to account for stick drag time
  • Improved hihat import logic for 8ths and added missing logic for 16ths
  • Mapping tab output lock state is now recalled via ini profile
  • Selecting ‘Normal’ character no longer switches off shuffling
  • Clicking ‘Free Jam’ no longer clears the current arrangement
  • When using fill filter start time limits with fills that issue rhythm silencing before the start time limit, the rhythm is no longer silenced until the fill is allowed to start
  • Added new automation parameters to dynamically control fill options during a performance
    • Fill – Start Limiter
    • Fill – Rhythm Silencer
    • Fill – Toms On Snare
    • Fill – No 16ths
  • Added warning message if sounds are missing
  • Output grouping now also applies to percussion sounds
  • Added voice limiter to restrict maximum voice load to around 60 (90 on min reduction level)
  • Improved + column hihat velocity logic and fixed suppressed semi hats in that column under certain cirucmstances
  • Added ini option ‘SpeedFilterBPM’ to set a BPM above which certain 16th notes and all 32nd notes in fills and accents will be suppressed to avoid unnaturally fast performances
  • The velocity threshold for switching from snare head to sidestick can now be adjusted in the general ini settings (Velocity_Autoside, 0..1). Default is 0.5 (used to be 0.7 so adjust if you need the old style)
  • The velocity thresholds for the reduction logic can now be adjusted in the general ini settings:
    • Velocity_Reduction1 0..1 Default=0.4
    • Velocity_Reduction2 0..1 Default=0.3
    • Velocity_Reduction3 0..1 Default=0.2
    • Velocity_Reduction4 0..1 Default=0.1
  • Added notice above arranger in free and keyword jam indicating that Jamstix is controlling the arrangement in those modes
  • Fixed increasing CPU usage over time in Podium and forte
  • Fixed problem with Jamstix ‘freezing’ after loading first internal sample in some hosts under certain circumstances
  • Fixed a problem that could lead to an infinite loop when using empty default mappings or missing stock sounds under certain circumstances
  • Fixed delayed playing of accents suppressed by a silent rhythm or post-fill pause
  • Fixed GUI freeze in n-Track when closing several listboxes without selection
  • Fixed MIDI export tempo offset by 1BPM when the host sends tempo information in .9999 format

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

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

Nucleus SoundLab Introduces The Musical Genome Project Sample Series For Wusikstation, Reason 3, And SF2/SFZ

Posted on August 28, 2006 by Planet-Musician

The Musical Genome Project is a new sampleset series by Nucleus SoundLab for Wusikstation, Reason 3 and SF2/SFZ. MGP concentrates on inexpensive, sub-$30 libraries focused around specific musical themes. The goal of MGP is high-quality sounds everyone can afford.

ChordWaves I is the first sampleset in the Musical Genome Project series. ChordWaves I contains a variety of synth chords programmed on modular synthesizers – which are ideal as song-starters for all forms of electronica. They also make excellent atmospheric textures when run through appropriate effects.

The Wusikstation version contains:

  • Over 450mb (32-bit) of raw samples
  • 16 multisamples comprised of nearly 150 waveforms
  • 100+ Wusikstation v3 presets by a variety of professional sound designers

The Reason 3 Refill contains:

  • The same samples as above, compressed into a 150mb Refill
  • 24 Custom Combinator Patches
  • 16 NN-XT Patches

ChordWaves I is now available for the low price of $14.95 (single-format), $19.95 (all formats – Wusik/SF2/SFZ/Reason) or shipped on DVD for $24.95.

For more information, visit their web site at www.nucleus-soundlab.com.

Posted in Audio, Computer, Loops, Music, Recording, Samples

Beatsbymail.com Releases Soul Bassis And Get Da Synth Sample Collections

Posted on August 27, 2006 by Planet-Musician

Beatsbymail.com has just released their Soul Bassis Vol.1-5 Collections and Get Da Synth sample collections.

First up is the Soul Bassis collection. These bass guitar loops and riffs will put you in the move to groove. Each volume contains some of the funkiest soul riffs and loops with varying tempos. You’ll get everything from funk wah basses to those smooth ghetto neo soul sounds.

Also on deck are the Get Da Synth Collections. The packs are filled with everything from the east to west and north to south styles. The tempos range from 70 to over 100 for a wide variety. There are even long synth one-shots so you can create your own melodies.

Each loop and riff pack cost $17.97 with special package deals.

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

Posted in Loops, Samples, Synth

Ritter Introduces RW5000-6 And RW7000-6 Series Hardshell Cases

Posted on August 27, 2006 by Planet-Musician

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 RW5000-6 Series and RW7000-6 Series guitar cases.

Both feature multi-ply wood shell construction, black vinyl exterior with white thread trim, metal Ritter logo, chrome hardware and black moulded handle. While the RW5000-6 Series has a black, contoured, padded, plush interior, the RW7000-6 Series has a similar interior in scarlet.

Both are designed to fit dreadnought, classic, electric and electric bass guitars, A and F style mandolins, 4/5 string banjos, acoustic bass, ukulele, bouzouki, Flying V, 335, round back and slim line guitars, while the RW7000-6 Series will also accommodate archtop guitars.

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

Ritter RW5000-6 And RW7000-6 Series Hardshell Cases

Ritter RW5000-6 And RW7000-6 Series Hardshell Cases

Posted in Accessories, Guitar

Alfred Releases Album-Matching TAB Folio For Hoobastank’s Every Man For Himself

Posted on August 27, 2006 by Planet-Musician

Alfred is pleased to release the authentic guitar TAB version of the album-matching folio for Hoobastank’s hit record, Every Man for Himself.

The latest release from pop-rock giants Hoobastank, Every Man for Himself has already reached the No. 12 spot on Billboard’s Top 200 chart (Billboard.com, 2006). This book provides authentic guitar TAB for all the songs on the record.

Titles are: The Rules * Born to Lead * Moving Forward * Inside of You * The First of Me * Good Enough * If I Were You * Without a Fight * Don’t Tell Me * Look Where We Are * Say the Same * If Only * More Than a Memory.

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

Alfred Hoobastank’s Every Man For Himself TAB

Posted in Education, Guitar, Tab

Music Rising Announces Aid To 2,000 Musicians And Launches Music Rising Epiphone Guitar

Posted on August 26, 2006 by Planet-Musician

Music Rising, a campaign launched to replace musical instruments lost or destroyed in the Gulf Region hurricanes, announced today that it has provided instruments and/or gear to over 2,000 professional musicians to date. Launched in November 2005 the campaign has provided aid to Gulf Coast musicians not only in the region but also in over 34 States from California to New York. To mark the one year anniversary of the Katrina disasters, Music Rising has announced that it will launch the sale of the Music Rising Epiphone guitar with all proceeds going to the charity.

Music Rising was formed in late 2005 by U2′s The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin, Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and facilitated by MusiCares. Since its inception Music Rising has been recognized throughout the world through media coverage and has received accolades from various other organizations. Former President Bill Clinton has even participated in press coverage for the campaign. It also became the recipient of the 2006 Gold Halo Award for Cause Marketing on June 13, 2006 and in November, 2006 the campaign will be the recipient of the prestigious Billboard Humanitarian Award at a special event held in New York. Many people from the ravaged region are still living in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers or are without a permanent residence. Those musicians who have depended on the local music industry for their livelihood, have been supported by Music Rising through the replacement of lost instruments and equipment. The Gibson Foundation will continue to manage all phases of Music Rising.

The limited edition Music Rising Epiphone guitar will be sold exclusively through Musician’s Friend with all proceeds going directly to the Music Rising campaign. The Music Rising Epiphone Les Paul guitar features exclusive artwork and the campaign’s slogan “Rebuilding the Gulf Region Note By Note.” The artwork which was emblazoned on The Edge’s t-shirt at the 2006 Grammy Awards broadcast has become a symbol of the campaign and is also available on limited edition t-shirts sold exclusively through U2.com.

The Limited Edition Epiphone guitar specs include all the features that have made the legendary Les Paul guitar synonymous with great rock tone including a solid mahogany body with carved top, glued-in mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, Alnico Classic Humbucking pickups and stopbar/tunomatic bridge and tailpiece combination. Backed by a Limited lifetime warranty, the Music Rising Epiphone guitar will sell for $599 USD and be produced in limited quantity. It will also include a custom “Music Rising” gig bag as well as a signed certificate of authenticity.

“Even though it has been a year since the hurricanes struck the Gulf Region we still see so much need and we want to continue to help. The limited edition Epiphone Music Rising guitar will put money straight into the fund so we can continue to assist the region,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. For more information or to make a donation to Music Rising go to www.musicrising.org or www.gibson.com. Questions or inquiries can be emailed to info@musicrising.org. Checks may also be sent to the Gibson Foundation/Music Rising, 309 Plus Park Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee 37217.

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

Music Rising Epiphone Guitar

Music Rising Epiphone Guitar

Music Rising Epiphone Guitar

Music Rising Epiphone Guitar

Posted in Events, Guitar, Industry

Alfred Presents Matching TAB Folio For The Dixie Chicks’ Taking The Long Way

Posted on August 26, 2006 by Planet-Musician

Alfred is pleased to release the authentic guitar TAB version of the album-matching folio for the Dixie Chicks’ Taking The Long Way.

Produced by Rick Rubin, Taking The Long Way has already reached the No. 1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and Hot Country Albums charts (2006), and produced the hit singles “Not Ready To Make Nice,” “Lullaby” and “Everybody Knows.” This book provides authentic guitar TAB for all the songs on the record.

Titles are: The Long Way Around * Easy Silence * Not Ready to Make Nice * Everybody Knows * Bitter End * Lullaby * Lubbock or Leave It * Silent House * Favorite Year * Voice Inside My Head * I Like It * Baby Hold On * So Hard * I Hope.

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

Alfred The Dixie Chicks’ Taking The Long Way TAB

Posted in Education, Guitar, Tab