July, 2006 archive

Yamaha Corporation of America, the US distribution partner for CME, is now shipping the highly anticipated VX Series Keyboard Controllers. These powerful and flexible controllers are the first of their kind to include DAW integration features like motorized 60mm faders and a modular expansion bay.

The VX series Keyboard Controllers are designed to provide the ultimate [...]

CME, based in China and distributed in the US by Yamaha Corporation of America, announces a new controller keyboard designed to fill the gap for those needing a MIDI controller for their software and a built-in tone generator.

“Like all CME products, the U-key has very unique features,” stated Athan Billias, Director of Marketing for Technology [...]

Steinberg has announced Cubase SE1 VAP (Value Added Package), a special $149 entry level bundle for computer recording.
A complete cross-platform music production studio in a box, this new bundle includes Cubase SE for recording, processing and mixing your music and the Steinberg Virtual Instruments Collection based on Steinberg’s popular professional VST instrument line. Included are [...]

Ableton has announced Live 6. Live 6 has opened itself to new creative communities—offering Quicktime video support, a professional multisample library, and customizable racks of instruments and effects. Live 6 also satisfies frequent user requests by delivering multicore support, enhanced project management tools, and improved MIDI control.
“Live 6 upholds Ableton’s tradition of responding to and [...]

Steinberg has announced WaveLab Studio 6, a new streamlined version of its industry standard WaveLab 6 audio editing and mastering application.

Tailored for project studios and professional musicians, WaveLab Studio 6 offers comprehensive stereo and multi-track editing and CD burning features for only $399.
“WaveLab Studio 6 combines state-of-the-art audio technology from our award-winning WaveLab 6 product [...]

Steinberg announced a new version of its Groove Agent virtual drummer plug-in at Summer NAMM 2006. Groove Agent 3 combines an expanded drum library with new virtual drumming technologies to offer a complete virtual drumming solution in one virtual instrument.
“This new version of Groove Agent is the state-of-the-art in virtual drummer software,” says Helge Vogt, [...]

Yamaha is now shipping their new portable GO46 Mobile 24/192 FireWire Audio/MIDI Interface - a complete recording solution for today’s active musicians.
“The FireWire audio I/O devices market is rapidly expanding,” states Athan Billias, Director of Marketing for Technology Products at Yamaha. “With the GO46, Yamaha partners with Steinberg to include the strongest software bundle in [...]

DUY has released a new mastering tool: DUY Magic Spectrum.
Available for TDM, RTAS, Audio Units, VST and MAS/MOTU for Mac, DUY Magic Spectrum is a high-quality mastering tool that allows you to modify frequency contents in a flexible and precise manner. Any frequency content of any kind of audio material can be edited.

DUY Magic Spectrum’s [...]

Formula Sound has announced the extension of a winning formula by introducing its new 4-channel FF-4000 DJ mixer. The mixer takes all the best features of the company’s existing 6-channel FF-6000 mixer and repackages them into a more compact and lower-priced unit. Designed in response to customer feedback and intended for use in smaller applications, [...]

The Patch King has updated their downloadable AIFF and WAV file database with 100 new files including: Producers - Drum & Bass, Digital and Analog Pads, Funk and Electric Guitars, Vintage Synths, Effectron - Sound Effects and more. Included are new sounds from The Patch King’s recently released Hip Hop/R&B Mix for the Yamaha Motif [...]

Sonic Reality, the creators of Sonic Refills for Reason and virtual instrument plug-ins such as Sonik Synth and Miroslav Philharmonik, have released a new product line called “Sonic Reality Rex Paks”.
Each Rex Pak title is based on a different style of music and features hundreds of high quality 24-bit loops expertly sliced in Rex2 format [...]

Mackie announced today that its new Onyx 4-Bus Series Live Sound mixers are now available in the U.S. through authorized Mackie dealers. At the same time, Mackie announced that dealer shipments of the new Satellite FireWire Recording System have begun and the company anticipates retail availability in early August 2006.
About the Onyx 4-Bus Series Mixers:
Shown [...]

Experimental musician and artists Matt Durant has posted some interesting videos featuring his circuit-bent instruments.
Here’s one that shows the weirdness that can come out of an children’s ABC toy. Durant added pitch control, an audio out jack, and a theremin-like pitch control via light sensor and LED..

Grandious, over-the-top, out-of-date, overblown and synfully fun, Wobbler’s Hinterland is a massive slice of prog-rock that will come as a godsend to fans of 70’s bands like Yes, ELP and Gentle Giant.
Wobbler is a Norwegian group that plays prog music in the traditional style, with no real attempt to update it for the new millenium. [...]

MOTM recently announced that they were quitting the modular synth kit business, which Blacet Research notes leaves Blacet as virtually the only high quality kit supplier.
“We are still very committed to providing module kits and will do so as long as through hole components are available,” notes John Blacet. “I have fond memories of building [...]