Steinberg has introduced the CI2 Advanced Integration USB Studio, which combines an audio interface and control surface with Cubase AI 5 for a complete production solution.

CI2 costs €229.00/£191.00 and will ship to Steinberg resellers worldwide from the end of September 2009.

Description:

CI2 features many workflow features designed to make the entire hardware and software system very easy to use. The AI Knob controller becomes a sound browser with a single push, and is integrated into browser windows in Cubase to find the right instrument sound or loop more quickly by scrolling through and (de)selecting entries in the sound browser windows. Interactive Recording mode uses the optionally available footswitch for hands-free recording, ideal for guitarists and vocalists recording their own performances. The Project Assistant is a new Cubase AI 5 feature that offers a large range of templates for many production tasks and genres, allowing for setup of new projects in seconds. Highlighting ease-of-use and intuitiveness as one of the major design goals for CI2, Schreiber comments: “These features have one purpose: to simplify recording and production, reflecting the uncompromising focus on supporting newcomers to digital music production.”

The included Cubase AI 5 is a streamlined version of Steinberg’s highly successful Cubase 5, with audio technology found in countless professional production environments worldwide. Cubase AI 5 offers up to 48 audio tracks, 64 MIDI tracks, a range of audio and MIDI plug-ins including a new version of the AmpSimulator plug-in for guitarists, virtual instruments, editing features, comprehensive automation and much more. As with all Cubase and Steinberg hardware products, CI2 supports both Windows and Mac OS X.

Digital Music Doctor has published an updated version of their Music Software Internet Popularity chart.

The chart ranks the top 10 music programs, using search engine requests as a gauge of interest.

The Top 10 Music Applications
Q2, 2009, based on search requests

1. Pro Tools
2. Cubase
3. FL Studio
4. Cakewalk Sonar
5. Apple Logic
6. Adobe Audition
7. Ableton Live
8. Apple Garageband
9. Sound Forge
10. Sony Acid

Obviously, there are a lot of other ways you could rank music applications – by sales dollar, by sales units or by registered users, for example. Garageband would probably top the list by those measures.

Leave a comment with your thoughts on this ranking!

Digital Music Doctor has updated its chart of the top digital music apps, based on recent Internet search activity on Google, Yahoo, AOL & MSN.

Here’s how they rank:

The Top 10 Music Applications

1. DigiDesign Pro Tools (11.4)
2. FL Studio (10.1)
3. Steinberg Cubase (7.3)
4. Cakewalk Sonar (6.0)
5. Apple Logic (3.5)
6. Adobe Audition (3.5)
7. Apple GarageBand (3.1)
8. Sony Sound Forge (2.3)
9. Ableton Live (2.0)
10. MOTU Digital Performer (1.9)

Do you think this is an accurate reflection of the most popular music applications in the world – or do you think it’s just a sign that you’re going to be seeing a lot more posts about Pro Tools at Synthtopia?

Leave a comment with your thoughts!

via hypebot

This is a demo of the Trance Hands-up Electro Sample Pack.

It’s a free download. But remember what Paul van Dyk said.

Details below.

via LorDBassePL:

THE = Trance Hands-up Electro Samplepack

This samplepack contains:

- 20 Drum Construction Kits (Trance, Hands-Up, Electro…) = 115 files
- 15 Basses Root Key C (Trance, Hands-up, Electro…) = 15 files
- 30 Synths Root Key C (Leads bells pianos…)
- 1148 MIDI Trance Melodies (Various Artist: Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk…) Alphabetical Sorted.

DOWNLOAD LINK:

http://hotfile.com/dl/1291240/9a0186c..

Available exclusively as a download product in Steinberg’s Online Store from Q2 2009, the new Chillout, Reggae and Orchestra Content Sets add hundreds of new first-class loops, and take the total number of Sequel Content Sets to ten.

These new content sets extend even further the range of additional content available for Sequel 2,” said Nadine Roos, Steinberg’s Product Marketing Manager for Sequel. “The Sequel Content Sets are an ideal way for both Sequel and Cubase customers to explore new genres and spark new musical ideas.”

Steinberg offers the following Sequel Content Sets: Rock, Electro, Hip Hop and Hip Hop 2, 80s Pop, Industrial, Funk, Chillout, Reggae and Orchestra. Each Sequel Content Set features between 200 and 350 loops by leading content producers.

Pricing and Availability:

Available from from Q2 2009

The Dragon Midi Controller features a touch screen panel and real hardware encoders on a LCD screen.

It’s a very interesting combination of software and tactile controls.

Let me know what you think of this! Is this the future of computer music?

via PauloEgidioSilva

In this official Alesis video, product specialist Heath Tougas offers an in-depth tour of the Alesis MasterControl.

Steinberg introduced a Cubase remote controller application for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch products at 2009 Winter NAMM Show.

The Cubase RC application runs on both handheld devices to provide control for Steinberg’s Cubase 5 Advanced Music Production System. Cubase RC will be available free of charge exclusively through the Apple iTunes Store from Q2 2009.

Using the iPhone and iPod Touch onboard WiFi capability to directly control Cubase 5, Cubase RC supports a large range of functions, including comprehensive transport control, Marker location, toggling of essential functions such as Metronome, Cycle Mode and many more. Cubase RC also controls the unique Cubase Arranger functionality, allowing iPhone and iPod Touch owners to play segments of a production live, display the song position and chain status and use the Jump control to skip to a predefined song section.

Cubase RC is based on the Steinberg Kernel interface (SKI) technology for seamless integration into the Cubase software core. Cubase RC controls Cubase 5 running on both Mac OS X and Windows platforms.

We would like to inform you about an adjustment in the pricing structure for Cubase 4 and WaveLab 6. We have decided to lower the prices of both products* as of July 1st, 2008 to €599.00**. The pricing for several upgrades to Cubase 4 has also been reduced, so that the upgrade path from Cubase Studio 4 and Cubase SL versions to Cubase 4 is now only €199.00**. Upgrades to WaveLab 6 from WaveLab Studio 6 have also been lowered in price. Please visit the Steinberg Online-Shop for more information. We know that this comes unexpectedly for customers who have recently purchased Cubase 4 at the old recommended retail price. This is why we will be offering these customers a special rebate on a future purchase.

Is this the Logic Pro effect?

Details on the new pricing are available at the Steinberg site.

Steinberg and Yamaha have introduced a new MIDI controller for Cubase, the CC121 Advanced Integration Controller.

Features :

• Advanced Integration controller knob with ‘point and control’ support: controls any visual Cubase 4 parameter, internal FX setting or VSTi parameter using mouse pointer selection
• Instant plug and play with ‘Cubase Ready’ LED – no additional setup or parameter assigning required
• One motorized 100mm touch-sensitive fader
• Dedicated control of Cubase channel settings including solo/mute, record arm, ‘e’ settings button, automation read/write, pan and VSTi editor
• Full Cubase EQ section in hardware with 12 dedicated rotary encoders, with mode selection and bypass switches
• User-assignable section with Cubase-integrated presets for Control Room studio sends and monitoring setup.

CC121 will support Windows XP Windows Vista and Mac OS X, and will be available in Q3 2008 with price TBA.

Cubase Essential 4 is a streamlined version of Steinberg’s award-winning Cubase 4. Including a powerful yet compact set of audio recording and mixing tools, comprehensive MIDI features and a full set of next-generation VST3 plug-ins including a fantastic-sounding guitar amp plug-in, Cubase Essential 4 is shipping now to resellers worldwide. Compatible with both the latest Mac and Windows operating systems, Cubase Essential 4 costs €149.00* and replaces Cubase SE3 as Steinberg’s entry-level version of Cubase.

Here are the details…

Cubase Essential 4 features:

• Comprehensive composing, recording and mixing tools including 64 audio tracks, unlimited MIDI tracks, 44 included VST3 and MIDI plug-ins, 16 VST instrument slots, full latency compensation and more
• Integrated HALionOne sampling instrument with over 100 playable instruments including waves from the Yamaha Motif synthesizer
• Built-in Amp Simulator for instant guitar recording with 14 amps and 10 speaker simulations with a new, easy-to-use interface
• AudioWarp real-time time stretching and pitch shifting with formant correction for natural-sounding transposition and full tempo matching
• Arranger Track with pattern-based arranging tools stores up to 16 different arrangements for on-the-fly reordering of song sections, experimenting with arrangements or live performances
• MediaBay sound management technology for intuitive management of all audio, MIDI and video files, track and instrument presets with in-context auditioning
• Instrument Tracks offer fast and efficient handling of VST instruments and add VST instruments to a project in a one-step operation
• Track Presets are best combined with the MediaBay for instant saving and recall of audio, MIDI and instrument track parameters, including drag and drop into the project or onto an existing track
• Drag & Drop for Insert FX for fast swapping of inserts and copying/moving plug-ins between tracks in the Cubase Essential 4 mixer
• Cross-platform: Windows XP and Vista, Mac OS 10.4 and 10.5, Universal Binary
• Track Freeze, VST Plug-in Bridge, a redesigned Sample Editor, Advanced QuickTime 7 Support and much more.

Musikmesse: JazzMutant has introduced the first multitouch sensor control surface, dedicated to DAW control designed for Cubase, Sonar, Logic Pro, Nuendo, and Pyramix.

JazzMutant has partnered with leading software companies, such as Steinberg, Cakewalk and Apple, to redefine the interaction between Digital Audio Workstations and the user. This laptop-sized control surface has been designed with only one purpose in mind: making user experience more pleasant, playful and efficient. At the foundation of this design lies JazzMutant’s patented Multitouch display technology.

Here’s the info from JazzMutant’s description:

One glimpse suffices to get acquainted with Dexter’s workspace. Its design is crystal clear and immediately understandable. Dexter is fully self-documented: all functions are available through explicit icons. The main interface on Dexter accurately mimics the mixer of your DAW.

For greater visual comfort, each individual track is drawn with a specific color that represents its current state: shades of blue differentiate active tracks from muted ones, while red or yellow backgrounds make record enqbled or soloed tracks stand out from the rest. For smarter navigation a unique set of buttons allow you to rearrange Dexter’s mixer on the fly. These allow instant sorting of your channels based on your needs. For example, press the button to display only the soloed tracks on the screen. With Dexter, channels you don’t need never get in your way.

INSTANT NAVIGATION

Dexter has been designed to offer the most immediate access to any features of your Digital Audio Workstation. The era of dreadful navigation buttons to configure tracks and devices is foregone. Dexter introduces a novel way of browsing through your project. The Track Edit mode offers a clear overview on all the parameters of an individual channel, including graphical EQ display, effects editing, bus sends, and surround panning.

Dexter includes an arsenal of fancy widgets meant to make operation even more efficient and pleasant. The smart Overview widget displays a miniaturized picture of the whole mixer. Dragging a finger across it discloses the content and state of each bank of tracks.

SUPERB PLUGIN INTERFACE

The way common control surfaces has dealt so far with plugins is just dreadful. Dexter is the first controller ever to address this frustrating limitation. For that purpose, Dexter supplies just the right tools to master all your EQs, dynamics and effects. Dexter’s beautiful EQ controller will amaze you straight away. Exactly mirroring the filter curve of your sequencer’s EQ, this appealing interface particularly benefits from Multitouch technology in order to bring spontaneity and precision to the uppermost level. Forget about those unnatural key sequences to access a particular parameter of an insert on a track. Dexter lets you jump from the touch of a finger to a unified interface that shows every effect and parameter in a clear way.

For the first time, DAW controlling actually looks and feels natural.

UNIQUE SURROUND CONTROL

With its unique palette of tools dedicated to sound spatialization, Dexter is a dream come true for multichannel work. Its breakthrough surround panner provides live monitoring of up to eight channel positions in the surround space at one time. Sound sources can naturally be moved around using the tips of your fingers in the most intuitive manner. Dexter also introduces novel ways of reshaping the whole surround soundscape through simple finger gestures. Rotation of all your sources can be achieved by manipulating the panner just like a spinning vinyl! Drag two fingers apart to spray all sources away from the center.

UNPRECEDENTED PRECISION

JazzMutant introduces a whole new concept with Dexter : that of . You can now tweak in real time the resolution you want to acheive from one controller. on your faders when you need that extra bit of precision in a mix. when you’re looking for the widest range achievable. Dexter brings matchless precision to your mix that top-of-the-range physical faders just can’t compete with.

The FaderPort is a single fader controller that can write single and group channel volume, pan and mute automation. The FaderPort is loaded with a high quality Alps fader (found in professional control surfaces including DigiDesign’s D-Command). The fader in the FaderPort utilizes a dual-servo motorized drive belt system for fast-acting, accurate, and smooth operation. The FaderPort’s 100mm long throw fader delivers 1024-step resolution for writing accurate fades and adjustments.

The FaderPort ($229 MSRP) has been shipping since November this year and is currently compatible with Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Logic Pro,Sonar and now Digital Performer.

Installation file for Digital Performer support for the FaderPort is available as a download.

FaderPort Features:

• High-quality Alps fader
• Touch sensitive, 100mm long throw motorized fader
• Dual-servo drive belt motor design for fast and smooth operation
• Write single or group channel volume automation
• Write pan and mute automation
• 1024 steps of resolution
• Complete recording transport control
• Pan control, mute, solo, record enable
• Quick window selection (edit, mix, transport)
• Rugged metal top plate
• Rugged military-grade push buttons
• Footswitch jack for hands free punch in/out
• Compatible with all major recording software including Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Logic, Sonar and Digital Performer
• Mac and Windows compatible

2007 Winter NAMM Show: Steinberg and Yamaha announced a new version of Cubase that will included in Yamaha’s digital music production hardware. Cubase AI4 is based on the latest generation of Cubase and provides extraordinarily close integration between Yamaha hardware and Steinberg software.

Cubase AI4 is a music production workstation that offers audio recording and editing, MIDI sequencing, an entire suite of VST effects plug-ins and a HALion One sample player featuring selected waves from the famed Yamaha Motif. Users of Cubase AI4 can also dramatically enhance the music production capabilities available with upgrades to the full Cubase 4 and Cubase Studio 4 versions.

“This is a further step on the way to our long-term goal of ever-closer integration between the previously separate worlds of hardware and software,” states Shinichi Takenaga, Yamaha’s Department Manager of Music Production Business Unit. “We’re very pleased to offer Yamaha customers a latest-generation music production application with their digital audio hardware that combines the technologies of Yamaha and Steinberg in a new, groundbreaking way,” he continues.
Advanced integration functions bond the Yamaha hardware and Steinberg software together to form one, integrated system, including Studio Connections technology which recalls settings for Yamaha digital audio hardware with a single mouse click. Integration with the new Motif XS is even more advanced, with automatic VST audio and MIDI connection setup providing a true Plug and Play experience. The full versions of Cubase 4 and Cubase Studio 4 offer these advanced integration features with Yamaha hardware out of the box.

Cubase AI4 Feature Overview

• Cubase 4 audio engine
• 48 audio tracks and up to 64 MIDI tracks
• HALion One software sample player with selected Motif waves
• Plug and Play VST/MIDI setup with new Yamaha products
• Studio Connections Integration and product-specific advanced integration features
• 25 VST effect plug-ins, including 15 new VST3 plug-in effects
• File Interchange between Steinberg software and Yamaha hardware
• 20 MIDI music styles and 480 audio drum loops included

The FaderPort is a desktop USB DAW controller for writing single-channel and group-channel fader automation along with complete transport control.

The FaderPort features a high-quality motorized long throw fader to give the user the feel needed for recording fades and writing automation. A foot switch jack is also included on the FaderPort for hands free punch-in/out during recording. The FaderPort works with any Mac or Windows based recording software including Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Logic and more.

Features:

• complete recording transport control
• smooth, long throw touch sensitive motorized fader
• write single channel or group channel automation
• pan control, mute, solo, record enable
• quick window selection (edit, mix, transport)
• footswitch jack for hands free punch in/out
• compatible with all major recording software including Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Sonar, Logic and more
• Mac and Windows compatible

Steinberg

“We’re very excited about this terrific achievement in music production technology,” says Andreas Stelling, Steinberg’s General Manager. “It’s without doubt the best Cubase ever, and the result of Steinberg’s excellent capability in innovation and strong orientation around the needs of musicians and producers,” he adds.

Arnd Kaiser, Steinberg’s Senior Product Manager for Music Technology, comments: “Cubase 4 has been designed to deliver tools for professionals in a way that opens up new avenues of creativity. Features like SoundFrame™, for example, turn previously mundane tasks like browsing for files into a creative part of the composition and production process in a way previously unavailable in music production software.”

New features in Cubase 4 include:

• SoundFrame™ universal sound manager helps users organize, preview and retrieve audio, video and project files, patches for software and hardware synths, Track and Instrument Presets and much more, including the powerful MediaBay browser and media file management system
• Control Room seamlessly integrates Cubase 4 within analogue monitoring environments with up to four separate monitor mixes, external audio input integration, speaker selection, talk back and more
• Brand new VST3 plug-in set with over 30 new plug-ins including StudioEQ, Cloner, ModMachine, AmpSimulator and guitar tuner, new Multiband Compressor and many more
• New VST instruments: 3 outstanding new synthesizers: Prologue, Spector and Mystic as well as HALion One sample player with hundreds of new instruments based on Yamaha Motif waveforms
• New redesigned user interface with enhanced navigability, configurable channel strip and track inspector as well as a range of new mixer functions
• Enhanced Score and Notation features further extend Cubase extensive functionality by adding new settings dialogue, symbol inspector and two new score fonts
• New Instrument Track class accelerates handling of VST Instruments and combines MIDI and plug-in automation within the same track
• Cross platform support for Windows® and Mac OSX Universal Binary

Cubase 4 or Cubase Studio 4?

Cubase Studio 4 is a streamlined version with many of the same technologies that make version 4 the best Cubase ever. Tailored for composers, musicians and project studios as well as students and educators, Cubase Studio 4 offers professional music production technology streamlined to offer a high-quality set of essential tools and features at a lower price point than Cubase 4. Customers updating from Cubase SL3 will find new features such as full score editing and printing, the enhanced AudioWarp functions as well as Studio Connections Recall support. Customers who purchase Cubase 4 will find additional advanced features required for the final production phases including surround support, full Control Room functionality and specialized plug-ins and tools for creating a final mixdown.

Price and Availability

Cubase 4 will ship in October, 2006 for $999 US MSRP. Cubase Studio 4 will retail for $499 US MSRP.

Steinberg

“This update equips Cubase System|4 with the latest Steinberg music- making tools,” comments Arnd Kaiser, Steinberg’s Senior Product Manager for Music Technology. “Cubase SL 3 further adds to the already impressive lead that Cubase System|4 has over many of its competitors as far as software/hardware integration is concerned,” he continued.

Engineered and built in Germany, the new MI4 USB audio/MIDI hardware offers: 4 inputs and outputs, Hi-Z instrument input, quality microphone preamps with selectable 48v phantom power, 16-channel MIDI interface, S/PDIF digital I/O, effects inserts and much more.

About Cubase System|4

Cubase System|4 is Steinberg’s integrated music production system, featuring MI4, a powerful and versatile 4 I/O USB Audio and 16-channel MIDI interface, and Steinberg’s world-class Cubase SL sequencer. For more information, please see www.steinberg.net.

Price and availability

Cubase System|4 is available worldwide for Euro 479.00 (SRP includes 16% VAT, prices subject to regional variations).

More information is available at the Steinberg site.

Steinberg

“This is another milestone in entry-level music production and sequencing software,” comments Arnd Kaiser, Steinberg’s Senior Product Manager for Music Technology. “Cubase SE3 provides an easy-to-use, budget-priced start into Steinberg’s professional Cubase product family,” Kaiser continues. “We’ve designed the software to offer world-standard technologies in an accessible, easily learnable way for those who’ve never used a computer to make music before.”

For beginners and newcomers to computer-based music production as well as students and educators, Cubase SE3 offers powerful yet easy-to-use features designed to support those taking their first steps in recording, editing and mixing music on a PC or Mac. The clear, intuitive user interface supports easy orientation while the VST Connections window allows simple, quick connection to music hardware such as mixers, audio interfaces and monitors.

Cubase SE3 provides ample creative space for professional musicians and producers looking to expand their music-making environment. With its 48 audio and unlimited MIDI tracks and the included range of VST instruments, virtual effects and MIDI effects, Cubase SE3 offers a huge palette of creative potential. A professional-standard 32-bit audio engine offers pristine 24-bit/96kHz recording and playback, including full delay compensation.

Existing Cubase SE owners will find a range of new features and capabilities. These include a new user interface and audio engine, drag and drop for MIDI files, superior Hitpoint detection, a redesigned Track Inspector and much more. Cubase SE3 also introduces new capabilities that support an even faster, more efficient workflow, including new key commands and editing functions.

Not only is Cubase SE3 fully upgradeable to Steinberg’s Cubase SX3 and Cubase SL3 applications, but all projects created in Cubase SE3 can be easily opened in either of those two professional music applications, regardless of computer platform. Cubase SE3 also hosts VST instruments and effects, allowing Cubase SE3 owners to add to the virtual recording studio through the addition of professional virtual instruments and effects, including Steinberg’s successful VSTi range.

Price and Availability

Cubase SE3 will be available for $159.99 from October 2005.

“Providing over 50 new features in a free update reflects the importance we at Steinberg attach to customer care and product support,” says Steinberg’s Senior Product Manager for Music Technology Arnd Kaiser. “And alongside the many other enhancements, support for the new Studio Connections Audio and the extended multiprocessing capabilities establish this update as a further milestone on the development of Cubase,” Kaiser continues.

For existing Cubase SX3 customers, the update to 3.1 brings major new developments in the area of hardware integration. The advanced Studio Connections functionality, which links Cubase SX to MIDI hardware supporting this standard, has been further upgraded to include full audio integration. External instruments and effects supported by Studio Connections Recall and Audio now behave like virtual instruments and effect plug-ins, offering not only mixing directly within Cubase SX, but also one-step audio mixdown and “freezing” of the connected audio hardware. Any hardware, which does not support Studio Connections, can now also be integrated directly into the VST mixer in Cubase SX 3.1 as External Instruments or External FX including full MIDI control and latency compensation.

The 3.1 versions of Cubase SL and Cubase SX also offer a range of other new features. These include the new “Equal-Power” panner which maintains equal power across the entire panning range, while the new Mixer key commands offer full control of the entire VST mixer using customized key commands. Users of Cubase SX/SL 3.1 can also render playback parameters into MIDI data, “freezing” MIDI track play parameters quickly and permanently for project transfer to another application. Cubase SX/SL 3.1 include advanced multiprocessor support, including the latest dual-core processors from AMD and Intel, giving professional users full access to the latest high-end workstation computers with dramatic performance gain. Cubase SX3.1 now supports Steinberg’s DTS and Dolby Digital Encoder plug-ins, allowing Cubase SX users to encode to these popular industry-standard surround formats..

“This product sets standards for functionality available to entry-level customers in this price segment,” says Arnd Kaiser, Steinberg’s Senior Product Manager for Music technology. “Cubase SE3 is definitely the best budget sequencer Stenberg has ever produced, and the included VSTi’s provide enormous creative potential,” Kaiser continues.

Cubase SE3 is the latest version of Steinberg’s legendary music production software. Using technologies from Steinberg’s award-winning Cubase SX3, Cubase SE3 offers the same 32-bit floating point audio engine, automatic latency compensation and advanced user interface as its larger siblings. A full range of audio and MIDI effects is also included, further adding to the creative potential of Cubase SE3.

Studio Case II also offers entry-level versions of some of Steinberg’s most successful VST instruments. Almost all conceivable aspects of modern music production are covered by the special SE versions of Groove Agent, HALion, The Grand, Virtual Guitarist and D’cota. A brand new Virtual Bassist SE version of Steinberg’s new bass player VSTi provides dynamic, lively bass grooves for a huge range of musical styles.

Price and Availability

Studio Case II will be available for $299 in September 2005