PC and Music News

Roland has announced the GW-8 which is the next generation of Roland's GW-series workstations with intelligent backing-track functionality.

Features :

- Contemporary music workstation with high-quality 128-voice sound engine derived from Roland's renowned sound-module lineup
- Wide variety of contemporary sounds and intelligent backing styles, plus additional banks of ethnic sounds and styles from around the world
- USB Memory Player feature allows direct playback of MP3, WAV, AIFF, and SMF files from USB key; Centre Cancel feature for audio files enables karaoke-style sing-along
- Newly designed graphical display, plus Style Select button, Analogue Modify knob, and D-BEAM
- Style Converter and Playlist Editor software included
- Onboard 16-track sequencer for saving your interactive performances

Native Instruments has just released Deep Transformations and FM8 Transient Attacks, two new Kore Soundpacks for Kore 2 and the free Kore Player. FM8 Transient Attacks delivers 200 newly created FM8 sounds with a raw, edgy style while Deep Transformations represents the first multi-effect Kore Soundpack.

These release confirm NI determination to firmly establish the Kore Soundpacks line as the most valuable, diverse and inspiring range of sound material for studio and stage.

Deep Transformations and FM8 Transient Attacks are available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for a suggested retail price of $79 / €69 and $59 / €49 respectively.

Rode unveils the NTG-3, the latest result of years of development by RØDE engineers.

Features :

- Designed to withstand adverse environmental conditions
- 50% less self-noise than the majority of shotgun microphones
- True condenser (externally RF biased)
- Extremely low handling noise
- High level of immunity to radio frequency broadcast
- Superior broadcast sound quality
- Weather resistant aluminium storage cylinder included

Roland has announced the Juno in a stage version at the London International Music Show.

Designed from the ground up for live performers, Juno Stage is a 128 voice expandable synthesizer which features an extra-large display, USB backing-track functionality, a Click output for drummers, dedicated performance knobs, hands-free patch select, instant master MIDI control functionality, and much more.

For more details, please visit :

Sonoris Audio Engineering has announced the release of its Sonoris Equalizer and Sonoris Linear Phase Equalizer VST effect plug-ins.

Sonoris Equalizer features :

- 7 filter bands.
- Lowpass and highpass filters up to 48 dB/octave.
- Peaking and shelving filters.
- Stereo, L, R or MS processing and monitoring.
- No pre-warping effects, that is, correct response up to Nyquist.
- HQ mode with upsampling for an even more accurate response.
- Soft Engage technology on all filters to prevent pops and crackles.
- Mousewheel support.
...

Korg unveils the brand new nanoSeries devices which are designed to meet the needs of artists who like to make music on the go but don't want to make any sacrifices in the control department. The range features three compact products: nanoKEY, nanoPAD and nanoKONTROL.

nanoKEY : 25 velocity-sensitive keys, transmitting either as MIDI notes or (via a separate mode) Control Change (CC) messages. Octave shift (natch). Pitch, modulation.

nanoPAD : 12 trigger pads and an X/Y touch pad with roll and flam mode.

nanoKONTROL : 9 faders, 9 knobs, 18 switches, transport controls, MIDI notes, 168 CC messages. There are even attack and decay times for the switches, allowing them to work as faders, filter controls, effects settings, etc...

No more info for now... except for Japanese :