Cycling ‘74, a San Francisco-based music software company, today released Max/MSP v. 4.6 and Jitter v. 1.6 which add Universal Binary support for Intel-based Macs.

Max, a graphical programming environment for music and media applications, allows its users to schedule events with millisecond accuracy, create complex mappings for incoming data, and run a large number of operations in parallel. In essence, it is a graphic tool to create programs by wiring together objects. MSP extends Max’s capabilities by incorporating audio objects that are connected to create audio patches where signals flow from one object to the next-not unlike the fundamental concept of the modular synthesizer.

Jitter is a collection of video, matrix, and 3D graphics objects for Max.

Max/MSP v. 4.6 and Jitter v. 1.6 are free updates available for download at www.cycling74.com/downloads.

For more information, visit their web site at www.cycling74.com.

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

Music Unfolding has released SubRingFM, the 5th of the Twister Series, a new line of Audio Unit effects from Music Unfolding.

SubRingFM is a ring modulator. It also has two filters for shaping the sound. It also has a sub-octave generator. And the oscillator can be manipulated using FM.

The effect runs through a pre-filter to the ring modulator to a post-filter and then into a sub-octave generator. You can use the pre-filter to reduce the number of harmonics in the input signal and use the post-filter to shape the resulting tone. The ring modulator oscillator in SubRingFM is an FM oscillator. So, the resulting output can be made to contain a very complex set of frequencies. This can then be shaped using the post-filter to get a really wide range of sounds. Then the sub-octave generator is applied. The result is pretty amazing.

Please note that the interface has been changed from previous Twister Audio Units to give users more control over the interface. The parameter display and label colors can now be set by the user. We have also added new options for setting the parameter values. Users can still set the parameters with the big knob, but they may also set the parameters by clicking and dragging over the parameter readout or hovering and using their mouse scroll wheels. Vertical scrolling or dragging moves the parameter values faster in bigger increments and horizontal dragging or scrolling moves the parameter values slower in finer increments. All of the other Audio Units previously released in the Twister Series have been updated with these changes.

SubRingFM is $19.99 and is available for OS X as a Universal Binary. A demo is available here.

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

Posted in Audio, Computer, Effects, Plug-Ins, Recording, Software, Technology

Editors Keys.com has released a new keyboard set for Apple’s Logic Pro and Express software.

The Editors Keys Logic Keyboard Key Set is an essential tool for any MAC user running Logic. The Keyboard set is compatible with all versions of Logic, Logic Pro and Logic Express. (please note this audio keyboard set is only compatible with white Mac keyboards)

The Logic Set is the first set of Editors Keys to be semi transparent, which means users who have their own shortcut set-up, can simply apply the shortcuts to those settings.

For beginners, or users who want to use a default setting all they have to do is apply the set to the default keys above each sticker and double click our shortcut defaults to be up and running.

The keyboard set transforms your standard keyboard into a fully functional Logic audio editing keyboard, for a fraction of the price of other audio editing keyboard solutions. Costing Just £8.99 currently with 20% off.

Each Key is easily applied to your standard keyboard using our handy applicator, and contains the program shortcut icon and handy text reference telling you exactly what each tool is. In total there are 89 keys.

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

Posted in Accessories, Computer, Keyboard, Recording, Software, Technology

CEntrance today released their “Ideal Driver” for FireWire™ audio interfaces. The Windows™ audio software features one-third of the latency and higher stability than the typical drivers that are shipped with FireWire audio interfaces.

The CEntrance Ideal Driver’s unique technology bypasses the Windows audio engine to bring the recording latency down to previously unattainable levels. Musicians who routinely perform live or overdub with a DAW will appreciate the immediacy of response afforded by the new Ideal Driver. The CEntrance Ideal Driver (ID) is compatible with ASIO2, GSIF2, and MIDI applications and supports sample rates of 44.1 through 192kHz at 16 or 24-bit resolution. The product is offered for sale directly to consumers from the CEntrance website at $39.95 US.

“We’ve noticed that some FireWire audio products could perform significantly better if only they had better drivers. The Ideal Driver is the answer to those consumers who want to push their gear up a notch,” said Michael Goodman, Managing Director of CEntrance. “Our technology works with all major FireWire chips, so it was possible to create the replacement driver compatible with many FireWire audio products.”

The CEntrance Ideal Driver features easy installation and robust performance while achieving latencies as low as 5.9mS roundtrip, about one-third of many existing audio interfaces. To measure the true roundtrip latency CEntrance offers a free download of the Latency Test Utility, a handy way to compare different drivers and optimize a DAW-based recording setup.

CEntrance developed the software to be compatible with the majority of commercially available audio hardware, including Alesis, Apogee, Behringer, Focusrite, Mackie, M-Audio, Presonus, Tascam, and most ASIO and GSIF software applications. Support for other audio interfaces is constantly added. Please check the company’s website for an up-to-date list of hardware and software compatibility.

Earlier this year, CEntrance released the “Universal Driver” (UD), which combines interfaces from several vendors into a single recording setup. The Ideal Driver is based on the same technology, but differs from the UD in that it works with a single audio interface.

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

Posted in Audio, Computer, Plug-Ins, Recording, Software, Technology

Sample Logic has released a new sound library, Ambience, Impacts, and Rhythms. A.I.R. is focused on blending three essential building blocks for the composer into one library: Ambience, Impacts, and Rhythms.

Powered by Native Instruments’ Kontakt 2 player, Ambience, Impacts, and Rhythms is available for AU, DXI, RTAS, VST and standalone configurations. The two DVD set contains over 6GB of instruments categorized by genre, timbre and the mood they evoke. The system is designed to help you with organization and finding the sound you are looking for without having to funnel through thousands of presets to find the sound you want.

Features:

• Over 300 Ambient Instruments
• 100 Impact Instruments & Kits
• Tons of Killer Combination Platters that Combine Several Ambiences with Impacts and Rhythms
• 300 Tempo Adjustable Rhythms

A.I.R. covers all the bases, from sci-fi, piercing, distorted tensions, and chilling action sounds to light, sacred, and spiritual atmospheres.

MSRP: $299.00

Sample Logic was founded by Joseph Trupiano and Keith Robinson in 2005 to introduce a fresh approach to sampling and virtual instruments.

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

Posted in Audio, Computer, Plug-Ins, Recording, Software, Technology

A free demo download of analog tape emulator Extreme Punch is now available.

Extreme Punch not only emulates the sound of analog tape but more importantly it reproduces the dynamics.

Back in the days of analog recording there was one very outstanding recording tool. It was analog tape. Analog tape had one great advantage, it was warm and fat. Part of the esthetics of analog tape is the result of tape saturation. When the magnetic partials on analog tape become saturated, they created the best compression that ever existed. The result was a fat and dense signal which was both warm and punchy.

RSO created a plugin to do just that with Extreme Punch, and made it easy to use and fool proof.

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

Posted in Computer, Education, Effects, Plug-Ins, Recording, Software, Technology

Gigfiles.com has announced The Minimoog Voyager bass library.

This library has been recorded from a Minimoog Voyager v3.01 all options and offers the best sound of Minimoog basses from the original soundbank.

Features:

• Each sound is recorded for six seconds or more
• 4 levels of velocity for exactly the same as heard from the original
• Mixed with a true analog Mackie LM-3204 mixer and an EMU card in 44.1Khz, 16 bits

Each patch is 30MB large so it leaves plenty of space in your computer memory.

3.8 GB of data, PC/MAC compatible.

List of the presets:
2 Poles Bass
Anne Boleyn Bass
Basso Fabulo
Birdy Bass
Bomb-Basstick
Boogie Bass
Citadel Bass
Dr Who Bass
Get the Funk
Good Old Faithful
Grits and Eggs Bass
Just the Sub
Katy Moog Bass
Moogpeow C
Nige Classic Bass
Owwww Bass
Pedal Power
Thumping e-Bass
Velocity Growl
Walk Away
Yowsa Bass

This DVDROM contains AKAI (.akp), PULSAR (.p), HALION, KONTAKT, Reaktor (map), GIGASTUDIO 2 (.gig), EXS24.

Everything is compressed on a single DVDROM, PC/MAC compatible.

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

Posted in Computer, Plug-Ins, Software, Synth

Music Unfolding announces the release of xEQ, which is offered for free as part of the Twister Series, a new line of Audio Unit effects.

xEQ is a parametric EQ/Tone Control. It consists of Low and High shelf filters and three Peak/Cut filters. It is very useful for placing around distortion effects. Place one xEQ before your distortion effect to act as a preamp’s tone control. Place another xEQ after your distortion effect to simulate a speaker cabinet’s frequency response curve.

Music Unfolding provides some example presets that are useful starting points for tailoring your tone. Presets that begin with “TC” are tone control curves and those that begin with “SC” are for speaker cabinet response curves.

xEQ is free and is available for OS X as a Universal Binary. A demo version is available here.

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

Posted in Audio, Events, Plug-Ins, Recording, Software, Technology

Music Unfolding announces the release of hD, the third of the Twister Series, a new line of Audio Unit effects.

hD is a distortion effect with harmonic generators. It can generate two pitch-shifted copies of up to two octaves above the input signal. The volume level of the two voices can be set independently. hD also has a sub-octave generator. hD’s design uses its harmonic generators to enhance the distortion. The two harmonic voices are mixed into the signal before the distortion stage. Music Unfolding developed the sub-octave generator algorithm specifically for hD. It is latency-free. Placed after the distortion stage, hD delivers a good rumble without sounding like you’ve run a bass through a fuzz box.

hD can also be used to generate 12-string guitar effects and as a note doubler. Music Unfolding recommends also downloading and using their free parametric EQ, xEQ, when demo’ing hD. xEQ is available on the Music Unfolding website.

hD is $19.99 and is available for OS X as a Universal Binary. A demo is available here.

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

Posted in Audio, Computer, Plug-Ins, Recording, Software, Technology

Gigfiles.com has announced the JD-800 Best Pads library for GigaStudio, Halion, Kontakt, Exs, and Soundfont samplers.

This library features more than 1800 samples, multi-sampled and looped in 18 compatible patches with all samplers (see the list below). The JD-800 is used by some of the best-known artists in the world, including William Ørbit, Emerson Lake & Palmer, 808 State, Depeche Mode, and many more.

Sampled presets in the JD-800 sound library:

Aqueous Strings
Atlantis
Blow choir
Choir&Synth
Horizon
Hybrid Strings
Invocation Strings
JMJ Choirs
Little big V
Midnight Pad
MrBird Song
Mystique
Prologue
Returning 0
Score I
Space Voices
Tempest
Underwater Piano
Xoted Strings

Sampled every 3 notes with 4 levels of velocity to reproduce the exact sound and expressivity from the original with no compromises on quality. More than 4 GB of sounds on one DVD-ROM.

Converted to AKAI (.akp), PULSAR (.p), HALION, KONTAKT, GIGASTUDIO 2 (.gig), EXS24. Universal WAV files can be used with any MPC, MC-909, including Reason or Acid softwares.

Everything is compressed on a single DVD-ROM, PC/MAC compatible.

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

Posted in Audio, Computer, Recording, Software, Technology