PC and Music News

Schaack Audio Technologies has just released Transient Shaper v1.0 which is a dynamics plug-in that allows "shaping" of the Attack and Release phases of the sound with 2 knobs only. The effect ranges from gate-like to compressor-like. Transient Shaper is aimed to be used with percussion, but can also be used to process individual channels or loops.

Features :

- Makes your sound louder, gives it more expressiveness and more punch.
- Ideal for individual or summed drums/percussions shaping.
- Unique two-knob manipulation characteristics, not obtainable with any other type of gear.
- Gate replacement (sounds smoother than a gate).
- Processed sound ranges from gate-like to compression-like.
- Resizable GUI (minimized by clicking in top left corner).
- Low CPU Usage (typically less than 1% on half-decent systems).

Transient Shaper is available now as a VST plug-in for Windows and costs €49 (+VAT). Apple OS X AudioUnit version will be available before the end of February. Note that audio samples and a demo version are available at :

Ueberschall has just released Minimal Techno, its new Elastik Player-based sample loop library that accentuates the resourceful minimalist approach to synthetic club productions.

This 1.6 GB library is comprised of compacted/subtracted club grooves which capture the latest spectrum of sound frameworks used in the scene. Other highlights are devious sound anomalies and robust soundscapes. Minimal Techno offers the user 75 construction kits, 250 instrument loops, 75 drum kits and 234 knock-out one-shots.

Minimal Techno is available for Mac OS X and Windows in VST, AU and RTAS formats at a price of $119 / €99.

AZ Audio has announced the release of AZBrowser, a free VST plug-in which provides a .wav file browser directly in your favorite sequencer.

Features :

- Start on a user defined folder (popup menu to define).
- Unlimited favorite folders (popup menu to define).
- Preview while pressing left mouse button.
- Drop file support to sequencer, explorer, VSTi, etc.
- Config stored manually in an inifile.

AZBrowser is available now for Windows as a VST plug-in and it's free so enjoy !

BTE Audio has extended its line of Equalization Algorithms with the BEQ2, a high performance digital equalization algorithm that simulates the sound and feel of the world-renowned British Mixing Consoles of the 1970s. With its proprietary topology, the BEQ2 algorithm simultaneously achieves both absolute sonic accuracy and extremely high processing efficiency. Targeted at desktop and embedded professional audio applications, the BEQ2 algorithm will enable quality-conscious third-parties to incorporate the highly revered British EQ sound into their products.

Grooveboxmusic.com is pleased to announce the immediate availability of "FL Studio Tips and Tricks", a collection of video tutorials presented by FL Studio mastermind Andrew Rusnak.

With over 5 hours of content, topics include tips and tricks for using the FPC, Wave Traveller, Love Filter, Skinning, Routing, Step Sequencer, Vocoder and Custom FX. Andrew even shows you how to create and mix a song from scratch and so much more.

FL Studio Tips and Tricks collection is available now for $49.99 (download version) or $54.99 (boxed disc version).

Togu Audio Line has just announced the release of TAL-BassLine v1.0, a free virtual analog bass synthesizer especially made for bass, acid sounds and effects.

Features :

- Band-limited oscillators (saw, pulse).
- Sub-oscillator: square -1 oct., square -2 oct., pulse -1 oct, pulse -2 oct.
- -18 dB/octave low-pass filter (resonant/self-oscillating).
- LFO (frequency: 0,1 .. 30 Hz, waveforms: sin, tri, saw, rec, noise).
- Very fast nonlinear envelope (A: 1.5ms..4s, D: 2ms..10s, S: 0..100%, R: 2ms..10s).
- Simple Arpeggiator (up, down, one octave mode).
- 2x Unisono Mode.
- Panic button.
- MIDI automation for all sliders and pots.
- Precise fader control while holding down the "Shift" button.
- Supports all sample-rates.
- 2x oversampling.
- 23 presets.
- Tutorial PDF.
- ~2.5% CPU (Intel Core 2 CPU 6700, 44.1KHz, 24Bit, buffer-size 1024 Samples).

TAL-BassLine is available as a VST instrument plug-in for Windows and Mac OS X Universal Binary and it is free.