March, 2006 archive

Apple today announced a software update for the iPod nano and fifth generation iPod, that lets customers set their ownpersonal maximum volume limit. The software update also gives parents the ability to set a maximum volume limit on their child’s iPod and lock it with a combination code.
iPods have come under fire in the last [...]

Moog has introduced the Little Phatty Analog Synthesizer-Tribute Edition.
According to Mike Adams, the President of Moog Music, “We wanted to offer musicians a true analog synth with a simple, clean front panel, in a visually stunning package, at a reasonable price point. I feel we accomplished all four objectives.”
Moog has designed the Little Phatty to [...]

Future Retro has released the “extremely limited” Signature Edition of the Revolution synthesizer.
Two versions are available: 9 UV orange units. which are available exclusively in the UK through Analogue Addiction, and 10 silver metalic units which are available exclusively in the USA through Nova Musik.
The Revolution is a concept synthesizer that provides an intuitive interface [...]

Vintage electric guitars, amps, movie projectors, and photographic enlargers are just some of the goods to be exempted from a Japanese ban on the sale of electrical equipment without the PSE mark, according to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry.
The PSE law, called Tenka no akuho da! (the worst law ever) by some, promised to [...]

Applied Acoustics Systems has announced that version 1.0.1 of String Studio is now available.
This maintenance update improves plug-in stability in Pro Tools,
Logic, and Digital Performer; corrects abnormal behavior of the
Termination model; and adds a flexible 15 days grace period to the
authorization system.
All String Studio users can download the update for free and find more details [...]

Frontier Design Group has announced updates to it support for the TranzPort wireless DAW controller, including MacTel support:
We have been busy adding to TranzPort?€™s broad support making it
the most efficient tool for all of today?€™s DAW environments. A new
Macintosh Universal Binary driver update is now available. This update
allows users to fully integrate TranzPort with new [...]

Mactel Update: BIAS has announced Universal versions of its Peak Pro, Peak Pro XT, Peak LE, Master Perfection Suite, SoundSoap and SoundSoap Pro applications for both Power PC and Intel-based Macs.
“Audio professionals depend on BIAS products every single day so we’ve been hard at work developing Universal versions of our products,” said Christine Berkley, vice [...]

Ugo has released version 2.0 of Rez, a free PC VST virtual analog monosynth, with a highly resonant low pass filter, that is capable of a wide range of sounds, from funky squishes, beastly basses and screaming leads, to tight arpeggiations, atmospheres, bells, and interesting effects.

New features:

* New GUI
* Bigger and brighter sound, including a [...]

Audio-Technica has completely reengineered its UniPoint Series, designing the series
“to set new standards for sonic quality, durability, clarity, reliability and ease of installation.”
New features for the A-T UniPoint Series include UniGuard RFI-shielding innovations for unsurpassed immunity from radio frequency interference, new interchangeable condenser elements (cardioid, hypercardioid, omnidirectional and UniLine line cardioid), superior off-axis rejection for [...]

Music Sage is a new topic-based search engine that focuses on music.
Here’s the description from the site:
Music Sage provides useful and meaningful results, which are relevant to the topic of music in general or specific genres and artists. This advanced search technology categorizes pages from the World Wide Web and saves them to our ever-growing [...]

Artificial Bliss records has released the Framework EP by Irlos as a free download of MP3 files.
The first EP from Irlos is described as “a journey of subtle and experimental textures, combined with complex beats and atmospheric touches. A great collection of tracks to simply sit back and relax to. Deeply creative, thoughtfully produced and [...]

Now you can learn your future from Vangelis.
No, not Vangelis, the Oscar award-winning synthesist and composer of the score for Chariots of Fire, Blade Runner and dozens of albums.
Vangelis, the specialist in superstitions, the meaning of flowers and names, dreams and remote viewing. Visitors to his site can get a dream analyzed for $15, or [...]

The ReMOTE SL keyboard has been updated to become what Novation is calling “the ultimate hardware controller for Live 5.”
Compatibility with Live 5 is just one of the features within the latest software update for the ReMOTE SL. Now, with an SL keyboard
connected, you can have total, hands-on control over a session in Live 5. [...]

Following the success of his latest album, The Greatest Songs Of The Fifties, Barry Manilow is already working on his next release, and he’s listening to a lot of electronica.
Manilow is “loving the work of artists like Underworld and Basement Jaxx right now, and would even love for an electronic artist to take one of [...]

By day, Mason Bates is an award-winning classical composer. By night, he turns into Masonic, an electronica artist and DJ.
Classical composers have been drawing on popular dance forms since
the time of Bach and even earlier. Nevertheless, according to the SFGate, “Oakland composer Mason Bates can still catch a listener off guard. It’s surprising to hear [...]