AraldFX and Dash Signature has released the Mac version (AU, VST and AU Universal Binary) of Grand Electrix Virtual Piano, an emulation of the famous CP70 electroacoustic piano.

To celebrate the Mac release the price is reduced to only 50 USD for two weeks, until 10th of September 2006 (then it will get back to full price $79 US). The license at $50 US includes both Mac OS X and PC Windows versions.

“Grand Electrix” is a sample based virtual instrument featuring a new stream from disk custom technology (”direct from disk”), for very low memory and CPU usage. Samples are streamed in real time from the computer disk, so there is no need for large amounts of RAM.

Features:

• 180 MB multisample full decay, no loops, crossfading layers
• Stream from disk custom technology for very low memory and CPU usage
• Complete control on Velocity response, curve, min max, sensivity
• 3 Band EQ
• Tremolo
• Chorus
• Temperament Menu (microtuning)
• Stretch tuning adjustable

Samples are derived from the acclaimed Hollow Sun library “Definitive CP 70″. A demo of Grand Electrix Virtual Piano is available here.

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

Posted in Apple Mac, Computer, Piano, Recording, Software, Technology

GVOX has announced the lastest update to MasterTracks Pro.

MasterTracks Pro for Windows has been fixed. The easiest to use MIDI sequencer on the market is once again in full working order.

GVOX knows that many have shared in the frustrations of some of the bugs that were in MTPro 6.8.3. The software primarily worked, after you may have contacted technical support or visited our knowledgebase. The bugs in the code frustrated our developers too. However, our new, crackerjack developers went right to work on MasterTracks Pro after completing the rebuilding of Encore and Musictime Deluxe for Mac OSX.

The following bugs were fixed:

• Edit sysex, program crash
• Slide data didn’t work right
• Single clicks in the track editor didn’t open windows
• Shift/click to the record controller info didn’t work
• Request to make “Choose Instrument” dialog bigger so no need for scroll bar didn’t work
• Menu inactivated at song end, including Save Preferences
• Click any .mts file to open - error message “: only allowed with drive letter” would show
• Thru on a B-port channel, it plays through the correct channel, but on the A-port
• Songs couldn’t be reordered like on Mac
• Stuck Sound when hit stop in middle of sustained note
• Empty field boxes in the Track Editor Program Name column were filled with a whole bunch of grayed-out characters
• In Windows 2000 and XP taskmanager ran at 99%
• Now tempo offset affects current time
• Current time” changes according to time base setting
• Mousing deactivated main menu
• External sync was non functional
• Timing/tempo issue in playback/record caused a gradual “lag”

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

Posted in Computer, MIDI, Microsoft PC, Recording, Software, Technology

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 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

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

Synthogy is pleased to announce the release of their first Universal Binary version of Ivory for Audio Units. While the update is essential for all Intel-based Macs, it is also highly recommended for all users with Mac PowerPC processors running OS 10.4 or higher. Included in this download and installation is also the first release of the Ivory stand-alone version for Mac.

The update is free for all registered Ivory users and requires a previous installation of Ivory 1.5. Both the Ivory stand-alone version and the Ivory UB AU update plug-in are installed in the same package that is available for download at Synthogy’s website.

Ivory retails for $349 and is available for AU, VST (Mac/PC) and RTAS (Mac/PC). The Italian Grand Expansion Pack for Ivory is expected for a release within the next few weeks.

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

Posted in Computer, Piano, Plug-Ins, Synth

Livelab.dk has released version 1.44 of LiveSlice.

New features/changes:

• GUI optimized - more than twice as fast - especially when using large arrangements
• 72 arrangements - 3 banks of 24
• playback position is only reset the first time the play button is pressed
• track clear changed (mouse buttons reversed): LMB does a complete clear, RMB leaves empty events
• improved event display when moving events

Bugfixes:

• single slice trigger timing bug fixed
• gui play button bug fixed (is now updated correctly)
• settings page display bug fixed
• changing number of visible tracks now refreshes properly
• parameter value set and display bugs fixed
• Audiomulch crash when closing file dialogs fixed

For more information, visit their web site at www.livelab.dk.

Posted in Computer, Recording, Software, Technology

Sonomic, home to the largest online library of samples, sound effects, and royalty-free music, and Zero-G, one of the world’s largest and longest established developers of Sample CDs and soundware, are proud to announce that over 120 Zero-G titles are now available as Downloadable CDs from Sonomic.

Downloadable CDs offer all of the sounds from a physical CD title as a single compressed file that can be downloaded with one click. Zero-G Downloadable CDs include numerous Keyboard KeyBuy, Future Music Platinum, and Sound On Sound Five Star award-winning titles, such as Chemical Beats, Jungle Warfare, Planet of the Breaks, Total House, Deepest India, Funk Guitar, Phantom Horns, NY Cutz, Nu House, and many more.

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

Posted in Computer, Loops, Recording, Samples

Magix announced today a new version of its award-winning music creation software, MAGIX Music Studio 11 deluxe, featuring powerful new compositional aids, including “JamSession Mode,” “Mastering Suite,” and “Sample Player,” which makes creating music a snap. MAGIX Music Studio 11 deluxe is available immediately in stores and online at www.magix.com for $79.99.

MAGIX Music Studio 11 deluxe, the best-selling music creation software for the PC worldwide1, has surpassed its already extensive feature list with exciting new features:

• JamSession Mode: with advances in recording automation, people recording at home can now simply start jamming and rely on the software to choose the instruments and effects. In addition, for the first time, the famous sample player, “Sample Tank MX” from the renowned software house IK Multimedia, is included.
• Mastering Suite: delivers music studio sound at the touch of a button. Give your recordings a professional, impressive sound at home. The software incorporates experience and feedback provided by international music studio professionals, who have used the product throughout the last 10 years. It also offers powerful studio sound with four mastering effects.
• New effects: include the parametric 4-band equalizer for perfect tuning and VariVerb for excellent stereo reverb, which provide a well-tempered sound. The BitMachine, free when registering your product, lets you mix in old-style lo-fi sounds from the early days of music into your songs.

Task Assistant Makes Music Studio 11 deluxe Easy to Use

Even with all the advanced features, MAGIX Music Studio 11 deluxe is still extremely easy to use. The Task Assistant quickly walks you through the basics of the program, explaining the most important functions through short videos.

Although easy enough for home users and amateur musicians, Music Studio 11 deLuxe is advanced enough for semi-professional and professional movie and video producers, who take advantage of the power of the software to create perfect soundtracks employing MAGIX’s new advanced features, such as professional sound overdubbing.

Available immediately, Magix Music Studio 11 deluxe is priced at $79.99 available through the retail channel and online at www.magix.com.

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

Posted in Computer, Recording, Software, Technology

Demonstrating its commitment to customers worldwide, Roland is proud to announce extensive editor and driver updates for the new SH-201 Synthesizer.

Roland Product Manager Vince LaDuca relates, “We’re now offering our SH-201 users support for the Apple® Audio Units plug-in format. This new feature allows the SH-201 editor to be accessed from within Logic, Digital Performer, Live, Garage Band, and other Audio Units-compatible DAWs.”

The Audio Units, or AU plug-in can be downloaded from www.rolandus.com.

Additionally, the SH-201 driver has also be updated to support the new Intel-based Macintosh computers. This adds the SH-201 to the ever-growing list of over 50 Roland products that have Universal Binary support.

In addition to these extensive updates, Roland is also offering a collection of patches for the SH-201 from a global roster of artists.

Available now at www.rolandus.com:

• SH-201 Editor Version 1.10 Macintosh OS X
Roland’s latest version of the SH-201 Editor / Librarian is now available.This install contains the stand-alone, the VSTi, and the AU versions of the Editor.

• SH-201 Macintosh OS X USB Driver Version 1.10
Used to connect the SH-201 to a Macintosh computer running OS X, this version of the driver adds support for Intel-based Macintosh computers.

Both Windows XP/2000 and Macintosh OS X installs contain custom patches from Jean Michel Jarre, Jordan Rudess, Richard Barbieri, and Hisashi Saito.

Also Available:

• SH-201 Windows USB Driver Version 1.01 for connecting the SH-201 to PCs running Windows XP or 2000.

•SH-201 Editor Version 1.10 Windows XP/2000

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

Posted in Computer, Recording, Software, Synth, Technology