PC and Music News

Solid State Logic has announced Duende Mini, a 'one third rack width', all metal construction, desktop box that hooks up to your computer via Firewire. Mini makes a stack of DSP processing power available to drive up to 16 channels of plug-in processing (at sample rates up to 96kHz) within your host application. Duende Mini is upgradeable to 32 channels of processing power and you can run two Duende units on a single computer system for up to 64 channels of processing.

Key features :

- Classic SSL console channel strip features and sound.
- 4-band EQ, two shelving sections and two parametric.
- Variable low-pass and high-pass filter.
- Switchable EQ characteristics between E Series and G Series EQ.
- "Over-Easy" soft ratio compression characteristic for smooth transitions.
- Variable process order routing.
- Dynamics side-chain processing with independent side chains for compressor and expander/gate.

Mini also ships with fully functional trial versions of the growing portfolio of plug-ins available for the Duende platform.

Pricing & Availability

Duende Mini will be available from February 2008 via SSL Resellers.

* Duende Mini $799 (+Tax)
* Duende Mini 16 to 32 channel upgrade $399 (+Tax)

Solid State Logic has also announced the release of Pro-Convert, the Digital Audio Project Translator application for moving sessions from one DAW environment to another.

Key Features :

- Streamlines project transfer between Digital Audio Workstations.
- Compatible with over 40 different applications.
- Converts to and from Pro Tools 7.x.
- Simple step by step operation.
- 'Audio Tool' audio file format batch converter.
- Frame accurate offset feature.
- 'Housekeeping' features for cleaning up projects.
- Fade curve translation control.
- Pan and Volume automation curve conversion.
- Includes Track Markers and PQ Data.
- Search & Replace missing audio file functions.
- Rapid offline conversion process.

Pro-Convert is available through SSL Resellers priced $699 + Tax. Pro-Convert will also be available to order online via the SSL web shop in February. For more information including format compatibility, FAQ's and User Guides, please visit the link below :

Yamaha unveils the KX Series, including the KX25 (keys), the KX49, KX61and KX8 (piano style) USB Keyboard Studios.

The KX Series keyboards come with Cubase AI4 and the set up for seamless Steinberg integration. Open windows, add instrument tracks, switch control templates for different tone modules, quantize and delete functions are also preset to assignable keys to reduce setup time and procedures.
They also feature a range of drum, guitar, bass, keyboard and other musical phrases built in, minimizing the need for complex manual MIDI data programming.
Also built in are thirty different software tone model templates, and the most commonly used parameters are automatically assigned to the KX keyboards four real time control encoders.

Solid State Logic has released X-Comp, a new plug-in for Duende, their DSP platform. X-Comp follows the recent release of X-EQ and further extends the range of plug-ins.

X-Comp is a versatile stereo compressor. It delivers mastering grade audio fidelity with a distinctly analogue feel and can be used for everything from 'invisible' subtle dynamic control for mastering, to dramatic 'brick wall' effects that inject raw energy and power that competes with the legendary SSL Listen Mic Compressor. Between these two extremes X-Comp can reproduce the characteristics of a wide range of modern and classic vintage compressors.

The plug-in is available in VST, AU and RTAS* formats making it compatible with virtually all audio software currently available on both PC and Mac. X-Comp is capable of operating at 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96kHz sampling rates.

X-Comp is available only for the Duende platform and is sold exclusively through the Solid State Logic web site priced £249 + tax.

If you want to see the first pictures of the NAMM show, click on the link below !

Roland announces Fantom-G, its latest workstation, with an advanced sound engine, ARX SuperNATURAL expansion bay, extra-large 8.5" wide TFT color LCD, new audio/MIDI recorder, 88-note Ivory Feel weighted keys (Fantom-G8), 76-note keys (Fantom-G7), and 61-note keys (Fantom-G6).

The Fantom-G's sound engine is driven by a new audio processor, with 16-part multi-timbre mode, up to 22 effect routings and that handles twice the wave-ROM capacity of its predecessor, made of Roland's world-famous SRX sounds. The Fantom-G serie has a new ARX expansion slot, that allows additional SuperNATURAL sound-sets and fully dedicated synth and effects engines to be added. Roland has introduced the first two, ARX-1 (Drums) and ARX-2 (Electric Piano).

The Fantom-G is the first Roland instrument to feature Roland's newly designed power sequencer, which provides 128 tracks (including 24 audio tracks) in a fully integrated audio/MIDI graphical environment.