PC and Music News

Livid Instruments introduced today Cell, a real-time video software designed for instant playback and performance. Cell provides users an intuitive, touch-screen friendly interface with stunning effects and control, making video performance incredibly simple. Features include, real-time effects, live video input, large clip libraries, and playback manipulation such as; scrubbing, speed, loop, and reverse play. MIDI integration allows it to be controlled with almost any MIDI device on the market.

Available for both Mac OSX and Windows XP, Cell can be purchased now directly from Livid Instruments for $99. Note that a demo version is also available.

Universal Audio and AMS-Neve in partnership announce the release of UAD Nevana X2 , a double DSP system with 2 PCis cards (one for each DSP) which includes UA's Neve emulations (1073/1073SE EQ, 1081/1081SE EQ, 33609/33609SE Bus Compressor and 88RS Channel Strip) and 14 plugins from UA Mix Essentials (with VST, Audio Unit and RTAS support).

With an additional and special promotion (200 $ value to get more plugins), UAD Nevana X2 should be available at the end of august : Price : 1 499 $

Crysonic today announced the release of Spectraphy LE, a highly optimized look-ahead brickwall limiter and loudness maximizer based on it's bigger brother SpectraPhy. SpectraPhy LE has been designed to be used for tracking, mixing, Mastering and Live use or when ever a large quantity of limiters are required per project. Just as in the original SpectraPhy the proprietary Crysonic physics based approach is employed at the core DSP level, ensuring a very transparent sound with maximum loudness and no digital-overs.

Main features :

- Proprietary Physics based Peak Limiting and Loudness Maximizing
- Look-ahead Brickwall limiting with no overshoots, less then 0.2 ms Delay
- Individual Left / Right Channel Limiting with Linking ability
- Graphical Spectrum and Attack / Release Display
...

Zero-G has announced Carnival Drums, over 2,000 samples and 1.4GB of the exciting sounds of the Brazilian carnival. This library features the main drums of the Brazilian Samba Baterias (samba percussion ensembles), which perform every summer at the Rio Carnival. For this project, 10 professional Brazilian percussionists, who perform annually at the carnival, were recorded at a state-of-the-art studio with close-mics, stereo overheads and distant stereo room mics to capture the true essence of these exhilarating performances. The 10 drummers were recorded playing every rhythm in unison, creating the power and force of a large carnival band when multiple loops are combined. Carnival Drums provides users with the versatility of over 1,400 drum loops in four mic positions. In addition, the col ...

KEL Audio has announced the HM-2d, an affordable large diaphragm condenser mic voiced "in the tradition of a high quality dynamic mic". Recommended for rock and roots vocals, guitar amps, piano, outside kick drums, harmonica, horns and more the HM-2d features a specially tuned capsule and circuit to produce a frequency response that varies only about 2 dB over most of its range, producing a tight, full, sonic profile free of the peaks and thin sound associated with many budget condenser mics and popular dynamic sound reinforcement mics.

The HM-2d will ship early September and will be available direct from KEL Audio website for $149 USD including shipping. A pre-order price of $129 will be offered until September 30th.

Roland has released its new flagship SP-555 Sampling Workstation for its popular SP Sampler lineup. The SP-555 comes complete with 16 velocity sensitive pads, 37 Fantom-quality effects, a new Loop Capture function, beefed up internal sample memory, and total computer integration with USB MIDI/AUDIO connectivity.

Features overview :

- Ultra-easy sampling with innovative Loop Capture feature
- Versatile sampling through Line input, phantom-powered Mic input,USB audio streaming, and WAV/AIFF import
- Dozens of killer performance effects, including Super Filter and DJFX Looper
- Audio interface capability with any DAW or DJ audio application (Cakewalk SONAR LE included)
- Large Sample Memory via CompactFlash (up to 2GB)
- Bundled Wave Converter software (Mac and PC) for importing and exporting WAV/AIFF files
- Infrared D BEAM controller and V-LINK compatibility for high-impact performance

For more information, please visit their web site.