PC and Music News

Focusrite has announced that version 2.0 software for the multi-channel DSP-based EQ and Compression tool, Liquid Mix, is now available as a free download from its website. First of all, this version includes an EQ side-chain on the compressor, providing an additional one-band EQ to be fed into the side-chain of any classic compressor emulation, this side-chain band can be monitored separately. The software also provides some extremely useful improvements and several solutions to popular requests from Liquid Mix users, including enhanced interaction between software and hardware, as well as expanded latency options.

For more information, please visit their web site.

Switchcraft is proud to introduce the latest additions to the StudioPatch Series family... five Audio Pass-Through Panels designed to meet all of your input/output needs. Everything from the anodized extruded aluminum panels, to the hard-wired 110 Ohm AES/EBU digital audio cable, to their world-class XLR connectors and TRS Jacks have been precision engineered for long-lasting quality, durability, and dependability. All versions terminate to two DB25 connectors wired to the TASCAM DTRS standard pinout. They are perfect for anyone requiring easy access to their I/O's in any permanent or mobile studio/broadcast environment.

Available now in five configurations :

- PT16FX2DB25 (16 Female XLR's)
- PT16MX2DB25 (16 Male XLR's)
- PT8FX8MX2DB25 (8 Female and 8 Male XLR's)
- PTAESEBU2DB25 (8 Female and 8 Male XLR's in groups of four)
- PT16TRS2DB25 (16 Quarter-Inch TRS Jacks)

For more information, please visit their website.

DSK Music has released DSK Strings v1.0, a free sample-based VST instrument plug-in for Windows. This classic string VSTi includes instruments such as cello, contraBass, viola, violin, etc...

Features :

- ROM-sampler (2 layers).
- 22 waveform for each layer.
- Octave selector.
- Micro-detuners.
- Effects (Delay, flanger & Reverb).
- MIDI implementation.

For more information, please visit the link below :

De la Mancha has released black box slight disorder, a free VST effect plug-in for Windows that does... well it's a little bit hard to explain... it takes an audio input and spit out a modified signal, the rhythmic, choppy, buffered and tempo sync output is especially pleasing on drums, but works for most instruments and vocals too. It has no controls, only a red LED display that runs from 000 to 099, each number would appear to change the algorithmic undertones that affect the things and stuff inside differently.

In a word, just try it ;-)

Best Service has announced the imminent release of Galaxy II - Grand Piano Collection, the successor to Galaxy Steinway 5.1, extended with the Vienna Grand Imperial and the 1929 German Baby Grand. Powered by the Native Instruments Kontakt 2 engine with a specially designed user interface, Galaxy II was recorded at Galaxy Studios and Hansahaus Studios using high end and vintage microphones by Brauner, Neumann and Bruel&Kjaer and state-of-the-art equipment by Neve, SSL, Focusrite and Digidesign.

Features :

- Galaxy Steinway 5.1 (Steinway D in Real Surround and Stereo).
- Vienna Grand Imperial (96 key Boesendorfer with incredible low end).
- 1929 German Baby Grand (vintage Bluethner with a beautiful, singing tone).
- More than 6000 samples in 24 Bit.
- Up to 13 velocity zones for a ...

AraldFX has announced the public pre-release of their gating effect Stormgate3. The public evaluation version of StormGate3 RC2 is available for download, free to try without any limitation until September 2007 for Windows and Mac OS X (UB) in VST and AU formats.