Ueberschall is now shipping The Voice Vol. 2. Liquid Instrument for Mac and PC worldwide.

The Voice Vol. 2 consists of vocal phrases of a choir with independently editable voices in a plug-In for VST, Audio Units and RTAS.

For the first time ever it is possible to change a single voice within a choir - independently from the other lines - and to adjust it to the individual producer’s needs. You can create basically every vocal harmony and every chord progression possible. Only Liquid Instrument “The Voice” offers total control over each single voice and melody within a choir. It is possible to take a chord, change a line and create a new feeling in an instant. The unique Liquid Engine helps to create everything from simple adlibs to complex harmonic structures.

Every vocal phrase is dubbed eight times by two (male and female) singers. That makes a total of eight different tracks per vocal phrase for absolutely realistic sounding choirs.

The Voice vol.2 (non-verbal) contains melodic vocal lines from simple to sophisticated not just the usual “Ah”, “Oh” and “Uh”. Beautifully sung lines with appealing melody and rhythm offer a great range of different tunes for that extra spice in songs.

Ueberschall “The Voice” Vol. 2 was recorded in 24 bit, acoustically dry without additional effects and filters. Each Volume contains 300 vocal phrases = 2400 vocal loops, requires 3GB of hard disc space and retails for US $199.

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

Posted in Effects, Plug-Ins, VST

Blue Cat Audio has released new versions of its freeware Flanger and Stereo Flanger directX and VST plug-ins.

New in 2.0:

• Brand new skinnable graphic user interface using Blue Cat’s skinning language v1.2.2
• Advanced MIDI control with customizable parameters curve response and MIDI learn
• All parameters can now be fine tuned thanks to a text-edit popup window that appears when double clicking on user interface widgets
• Feedback and feed forward parameters can now be negative for phase inversion
• Precision of the gain control enhanced
• User manual accessible from the plug-in UI
• DX version: the factory presets are now available from the host standard presets view (for hosts that support static presets)

A step by step tutorial is available to learn how to use the new advanced MIDI control features.

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

Posted in Effects

SmolskiTech has introduced the True Bypass Loop pedal.

The SmolskiTech True Bypass Loop is constructed with careful, experienced workmanship and top quality components. Each True Bypass Loop is carefully hand wired, point to point. Main components are assembled with lock washers. A bright blue LED lets the guitarist know the switching status. The SmolskiTech is for use anywhere to eliminate loading down of signal.

The True Bypass Loop is virtually unbreakable and completely passive. If a battery dies, the pedal still works (no LED).

$59 shipped within US.

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

Posted in Effects, Guitar

Nextcat, Inc. announces the launch of Nextcat.com, the world’s first entertainment industry-focused social networking web site. The site is freely accessible to the public in beta release.

The Nextcat.com website caters to working entertainment professionals as an extension of the way their industry already functions—making it a natural application for a social networking site. Jeff Pucci, co-founder and CEO of Nextcat, Inc., said, “Connecting talent with services when bolstered by peer-approved referrals makes all the difference.”

To date, the alternatives for entertainment professionals to network with colleagues or to seek and offer work has consisted primarily of using the telephone or posting on (classified ad mega-site) Craigslist. While acknowledging that MySpace has become a useful tool for one-way promotion and broadcasting information to a large fan base, Nextcat observed that entertainment professionals do not typically utilize MySpace for networking with industry colleagues or to find work.

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

Posted in Education, Industry, News

NuGen Audio has announced the release of Visualizer 1.0 beta 3, introducing more functionality and several fixes for the audio analysis tool.

Available as a free download to anyone wishing to try. Users posting comments/suggestions to NuGen Audio will be entered into a prize draw to win the full release version.

Changes since 1.0 beta2:

• Snapshot views added
• Dynamic snapshot memory added

Level meter:

• dB scale zoom and scroll implemented
• 1dB, 0.5dB and 01.dB segments added at
• appropriate zoom level
• peak hold control enhanced

Spectrum Analysers:

• peak envelope colour selection now possible
• peak hold control enhanced
• Octave and 1/12 octave (chromatic) banding

Spectrograms:

• Octave, 1/3 octave and 1/12 octave (chromatic)

Vectorscope:

• Joined line option added to Lissajous view
• Polar view implemented
• Peak hold envelope control
• Envelope and Grid colour selection
• Freeze option
• Stereometer added

Correlation meter controls implemented:

• History
• Freeze
• Response time
• Colour spectrum picker

Stats and Setup tab added:

• FFT window selection
• Weighting curves and slopes made available
• Right click tone option added
• FFT window size parameter
• RMS window size parameter
• Pink noise generator (reduced file size in beta)
• Clip counters and setup

Fixes: Level meter

• margin fixed to follow primary meter
• RMS meter adjusted to give true reading

Visualizer 1.0b3 is available now from NuGen Audio.

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

Posted in Audio, Software, Technology

Defective Records Software proudly introduces the Universal Binary version of VSTi Host, version 3.13x. VSTi Host version 1.0 was the first Mac-based standalone VST and VSTi host (originally released in early 2000), and is now positioned to offer lightweight VST plugin support on Intel Mac architectures as well as PowerPC.

VSTi Host allows VST instrument and effect plugins to be used outside of larger host applications (like Logic, GarageBand, Cubase, etc.). It’s perfect if you have an extra Mac that you’d like to put to use as a virtual synth and/or effects unit, or if your sequencer of choice doesn’t support the VST plugins you’d like to use.

VSTi Host is available for $35 USD. For registered users, this update is FREE.

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

Posted in Software, VST

ASK Video Interactive Media adds to their growing library of titles with a new DVD Tutorial for Celemony’s Melodyne pitch shifting and time-stretching software.

ASK’s resident software genius, Morgan Pottruff (aka Morg) is back to host this informative DVD on one of the most unique and acclaimed music software applications on the market.

Based on Melodyne 3, the intuitive interface and menus guide users through the 34 ultra-high-quality videos, packed with real-time screen animations, audio examples, and techniques that can be immediately applied in real-life situations. Users of Melodyne studio, cre8, uno, and essential will also benefit from the hours of instruction.

The Melodyne DVD Tutorial begins with a basic introduction to the program with chapters on Installation and First Run, Audio and MIDI Setup, and a Guided Tour. Next come chapters on navigating the program; The Transport, The Mixer, The Menus, Quick Run Through and so on. From there, Morg takes users through Editing, Tuning, Pitch and Time Correction, and Recording. The final chapters are devoted to advanced concepts such as Detecting Audio, ReWire, MIDI and Synchronization.

System Requirements:
This product includes QuickTime 7.x Mac/PC which is required for video playback. DVD-Rom drive required. Minimum screen resolution 1024 x 768. PC: Windows XP Home or Professional, Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon 800 MHz or faster, 256 MB RAM. Windows MME or DirectSound Sound Card. MAC: Requires Mac OS X v10.2 or higher, Power Mac G4 867 MHz, 256 MB RAM, Sound Card.

Pricing and Availability:
The Melodyne DVD Tutorial is available in September, 2006 for $55 USD.

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

Posted in Education, Software

In the same tradition as their popular workhorse volumes 1, 2, 4 & 5, Drums On Demand® is pleased to introduce “More 4/4.” This tasty collection of 30 straight-time Song Sets™ is sure to inspire the hit songwriter in you.

More 4/4 features a variety of crossover kits, styles and tempos suitable for rock, pop and country songs. Simply find the Master Loop™ that fits your project and use the other loops and segments in the Song Set™ to quickly build a drum track that feels and sounds like a live drummer playing a real song—with a veteran engineer at the console.

Volume 8 Highlights:

• Suitable for contemporary rock, pop and country
• All straight-time — no odd time
• Variety of crossover kits, styles and sounds
• Mostly stick on snare, but some sidestick on rim included
• More than 1000 loops, segments and hits in 30 Song Sets
• Tempos ranging from 64-165 BPM
• Nearly 1 gig on 2 CDs (24-bit version)
• Royalty-free
• Patent-Pending organization system

Available in both stereo (24-bit Acidized WAV, 16-bit Acidized WAV, Apple Loops, and REX2) and multitrack formats.

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

Posted in Loops, Synth

Audeon updates UFO software synthesizer to v1.02. UFO is a software synthesizer built upon Audeon’s proprietary TransModal Synthesis technology. Its oscillator model is controlled by perceptual attributes such as Periodicity, Brightness, Noisiness or Chaos, etc, lying on 2D controllers.

Programming a sound simply consists of balancing these attributes by placing dots on the controllers, and modulating them graphically by drawing arrows. The hundreds of simultaneous possible modulations offer unparalleled expressivity, while the very intuitive user interface makes sound programming particularly easy. It is available as a VST plugin for PC & Mac.

What’s new in v1.02:

• 50% more factory presets
• Improved graphics for better parameter readability
• Bug fix that could potentially have crashed the plugin
• “MIDI forget” feature now working
• Asks if you want to save the current preset only when it was actually modified

UFO Light is updated to V1.02 as well.

UFO Mac public beta also undergoes an update to 0.91 with enhanced graphics and presets.

For more information, visit their web site at www.audeon.fr.

Posted in Audio, Synth, Technology

Building on the strengths of the Mbox® 2, Digidesign is pleased to announce the Mbox® 2 Pro—a new portable, high-definition audio/MIDI production system that provides high-speed FireWire-powered connectivity, up to 24-bit/96 kHz* audio resolution, and a wide range of analog and digital I/O. It also offers several professional features, including MIDI Time Stamping support, Word Clock I/O, and dedicated studio monitor outputs. With Mbox 2 Pro, novices and professionals alike now have a portable, studio-grade Pro Tools® solution available—one that they could take directly from home to a pro studio and then back again.

“Mbox 2 Pro is a versatile and portable Pro Tools interface,” declares Digidesign Product Manager Matt May. “It’ll accept just about any type of audio gear you throw at it—a couple of microphones, keyboards or other line-level devices, S/PDIF digital source, turntable, MIDI, even Word Clock—and let you capture all of it into a high-quality Pro Tools LE session that’s compatible with professional Pro Tools|HD systems. And with its ultra portability, Mbox 2 Pro is the perfect solution to capture high-resolution audio anywhere—from a large commercial studio to a tiny home studio, or from a field recording to a live recording.”

Designed by the same engineering team responsible for Digidesign’s professional Pro Tools|HD® systems, which are used in top studios around the world, Mbox 2 Pro features plenty of analog and digital I/O options packed neatly into its sleekly compact frame, and supports up to six simultaneous inputs and eight outputs. It also includes award-winning, industry-standard Pro Tools LE™ software and over 50 effects and instrument plug-ins, including DigiRack™ plug-ins, Bomb Factory® plug-ins, the Xpand!™ sample-playback/synthesis workstation, and the Pro Tools Ignition Pack™ to get users started on their masterpiece right away at home, in the studio, and everywhere in between.

For a mere $100 more, customers can purchase Mbox 2 Pro Factory, which includes an additional five high-quality Digidesign and Bomb Factory plug-ins (worth over $1,000), the Mbox 2 Pro system, and an iLok USB Smart Key.

Mbox 2 Pro and Mbox 2 Factory will be available September 15th, 2006 via authorized Digidesign dealers for $799 and $899, respectively, US MSRP.

* Mbox 2 Pro does not support external sync at 88.2 and 96 kHz sample rates.

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

Posted in Audio, MIDI, Production, Technology