PC and Music News

Brauner has announced the Phanthera V microphone which looks like the Phanthera microphone released in the past year but with more features.

As common for all Brauner microphones, all components are of highest available quality and all microphones are entirely manufactured in Germany. The Phanthera V not only provides cardioid directivity but it also is capable of recording in omni or bidirectional mode with a simple switch and thus adapting it to different recording situations. An additional switchable attenuator reduces the output level of the microphone by 10 dB, providing further valuable dynamic range where necessary.

For more information, please visit their web site.

Waves announce the GTR Solo, the latest addition to their GTR Series of guitar and bass processing solutions. Featuring a number of "realistically modeled" amps, cabinets and stomp boxes, GTR Solo offers the GTR family's studio-quality sounds in an intuitive, highly affordable software package.

GTR Solo includes 10 amp models from Fender®, Marshall®, Vox® and more. It also features 10 cabinet models and 13 stomp boxes (OverDrive, Distortion, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Delay, Wah Wah, Spring, Pitcher, Vibrolo, GateComp, EQ and Volume).

GTR Solo is available now for Mac OS X and Windows XP / Vista in VST, AU, RTAS and standalone versions at a price of $140.

Rayzoon is proud to announce that 'BonzoPak', a sound/style expansion Pak for Jamstix 2, is now available. This is a meticulously recorded Ludwig Maple kit with head selection and tuning based on the habits of John Bonham.

Features :

- 990MB of Ludwig Maple drums and Paiste 2002 cymbals
- up to seven velocity layers with three alternate hits per layer
- five degrees of hihat openness
- recorded in a 17' high room for massive (but always adjustable) ambience
- includes stick-played kit as well as a mallet-played kits
- single output and multi-output kits with ready-to-go Jamstix EQ and compression settings
- can be used with any other Jamstix 2 style, e-drumkits or traditionally via MIDI by the host
- includes 10 new Jamstix styles modeled after famous rhythms of the 70s

BonzoPak is available now at an introductary price of $39 instead of $49.

112dB has announced that its virtual vintage sampler Morgana has been updated to version 1.2. This version introduces VST and Audio Units versions for Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and 10.5 (Leopard).

The update includes both the retail and demo versions of Morgana and is available immediately. Of course this is a free update for all registered users. Note that an RTAS version for both Windows and Mac OS X is scheduled for Q1 2008 and will be made available free to all registered users.

Image Line announces the release of FL Studio 8, the latest version of its flagship electro DAW. With a pedigree stretching back 10 years to the original FruityLoops, FL Studio 8 supersedes FL Studio 7 with over 100 new developments including an improved interface, sound engine, revised mixer, the addition of pattern clips to the playlist, new multilink MIDI learn system, a suite of new plug-ins and updates to many others.

FL Studio 8 is available in four editions: Express (US $ 49, download only), FruityLoops (US $ 99 download/US $ 139 boxed), Producer (US $ 199 download/US $ 269 boxed) and XXL (US $ 299 download/US $ 399 boxed). For more information, please visit their web site.

HHB is showing their new CDR-882 DualBurn at the 2008 NAB Show.

Key features :

- Genuine dual REC-REC drive configuration supporting seamless extended recording time across 2 or more discs, simultaneous recording of 2 discs, and high speed duplication
- Ground-up design using audiophile circuitry for uncompromised sonic performance
- High-quality IDE CD-R drives deliver low error recording
- Robust, heavy-duty construction ensures reliable CD recording, even in unfavourable environments
- Supports all CD-R media
- Balanced and unbalanced analogue I/O
- AES/EBU and S/PDIF (coax and optical) digital I/O
- Full 24-bit A/D and D/A conversion with noiseshaped dither onto CD
- Stable, quartz crystal-derived internal clock
- Internal SRC accepts digital inputs from 32-96kHz
- External word clock input
- RS232 remote control
- Parallel control interface
- Infra-red remote control
- Gapless track increments
- High-resolution metering
- CD-Text support
- 2U rack mounting chassis

The CDR-882 will be available in April 2008 with an MSRP of $1,149.00.