September, 2006 archive

Ableton has released Live 6, 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 respecting our vocal user base while maintaining our [...]

Ableton has released Sampler, an advanced sound-design and sound-sculpting instrument available as an upgrade within Ableton Live 6. In addition to providing perfect host integration, Sampler offers fresh sound-design possibilities through its unique processing and modulation options. When combined within Ableton’s Instrument and Effect Racks in Live 6, multiple Samplers provide unprecedented depth of control, [...]

Music Unfolding has introduced, OttoVibe, an auto/touch effect with MIDI control. OttoVibe works much like an envelope-controlled filter, except that instead of a filter, it has a modulation section. The envelope controls the rate and depth of the modulation effect.

OttoVibe has a variety of effects including tremolo, vibrato, panning, and chorus. Altogether, OttoVibe has eight [...]

No Island Media has released three 30-minute interviews with legendary synth engineer Dave Smith via Google Video.
“In the course of reviewing the preliminary interview tapes for our upcoming Dave Smith documentary, we found the depth and breadth of the interview to be of significant worth to music and synth enthusiasts and musicians,” says Lars Sunderflyrr, [...]

LennarDigital has introduced Sylenth1, a new polyphonic virtual analog synthesizer. Sylenth1 was built—from a producer’s point of view—to create superior quality sound and music. A lot of research has been invested in order to achieve superb warmth and clarity. The graphical interface ensures the highest level of usability so you can fully unleash your creativity.
The [...]

Syntheway has updated the Magnus Choir VSTi to version 1.5.
Improvements:

Updated built-in sound bank to 32 patches (16 new predefined sounds of Choirs, Vocal Textures and Pads)
Added State Variable Filter, that includes Low Pass, High Pass, Band Pass, and Band Reject Filters with adjustable Cutoff Frequency and Resonance
Added MIDI Automation: MIDI Continuous Controllers (MIDI CC) messages [...]

MOTU is now shipping Universal Binary (Intel Mac) drivers for its high-speed PCIe (PCI Express) audio interface products, including 2408mk3, HD192 and 24io core systems. This driver update allows users to install their PCIe-424 core system in Apple’s new Intel-Xeon Quad Core Mac Pro Tower for unprecedented PCI audio performance.
Users who own a legacy MOTU [...]

Michael Kingston Productions has introduced a new type of distortion plug-in. RetroBand models several aspects of the interaction between gain stages and transformers of analogue gear, referred to as intra-modulation (IM), i.e. Class A/B gain stage switching distortion. It also features several forms of transient shaping in-between the stages.

As opposed to sterile but perfect digital [...]

Soundcraft has launched the compact MPM Series of multipurpose mixers.
Designed for live sound, recording, houses of worship, multi-speaker installations and other applications, the MPM is available in two standard frame sizes offering either 12 (MPM12/2) or 20 (MPM20/2) mono inputs, with each model featuring two additional stereo input strips.
The MPM’s highly transparent GB30 mic preamp, [...]

Cycling ‘74 has published a tutorial on using ReWire to move MIDI and audio data between programs on a computer. It’s by Darwin Grosse, one of their development gurus and the publisher of the Creative Synth site.
It written from the Max/MSP perspective and demonstrates how you can create patches controlled by the host app.