PC and Music News

Audio-Technica introduces two new product bundles, the AT4040SP and AT4041SP Studio Microphone Packs. Both bundles feature two mics from the Audio-Technica 40 Series of condenser microphones, along with mounting hardware and protective wooden cases, in cost-effective packages.

The AT4040SP Studio Pack offers one AT4040 large-diaphragm side-address cardioid condenser and one AT4041 cardioid condenser. The AT4041SP Studio Pack offers two AT4041 cardioid condensers.

The AT4040SP and AT4041SP Studio Microphone Packs are available now for respectively $895 and $795. For more information, please visit their web site.

Waves has just released a new bundle : the Studio Classics Collection. It includes the SSL 4000 Collection, the V-Series and the API Collection.

The Studio Classics Collection is available now as TDM and Native for respectively $4760 and $2380. Note that upgrades from SSL 4000 Collection, V-Series, the API Collection, and Mercury are also available.

Livid Instruments is proud to announce Ohm, their latest hardware instrument. Ohm is a real-time MIDI control surface designed to give digital audio and video performers an innovative interface for performance and presentation.

Features :

- 36 buttons centrally located
- a DJ style cross fader
- 8 faders with button triggers
- 10 rotary knobs
- 12 function buttons
- BPM tap button
- all of the controls are fully LED backlight for performance
- USB and MIDI connectivity

Ohm includes a free, fully functional copy of the all-new Livid Union 2.5 VJ software, completely integrated to match the controls of the instrument. Ohm also comes with demo versions of audio software titles Ableton Live, and FLStudio.

Available in two models (handcrafted mahogany and rugged rack-mount metal) Ohm can be purchased directly from Livid web site for an introductory price of $790.

Every Flux plug-in now features an Automation button managing the A/B Morphing slider.

When engaged, only the Morphing slider is used to control the host automation in read and write modes. No other plug-in parameter is managed by the host automation. It also allows to map the Morphing slider on a control surface. This feature allows to dramatically simplify the host automation timeline.

When Automation is disabled all the plug-in parameters are managed by the host automation for both write and read modes. The Morphing slider can still control all the plug-in parameters, but its position is ignored by the host automation for both read and write modes.

The Automation feature permits to simplify the host Timeline when automating Flux plug-ins. It also permits to control the Morphing slider from a control surface.

On top of that Flux:: sound and picture development adopts the iLok USB security dongle. All Flux products can be purchased online by iLok dongle owners. Note that the original Flux dongle is still supported.

Ok the Winter NAMM edition is over, not so many great news but one great suprise at Euphonix and the highly expected Omnisphere from Spectrasonics.

Maybe the MusikMesse will bring out more striking news..Hope and pray :o)

After the announcement of DP6, MOTU unveils Electric Keys, a cross-platform virtual instrument that delivers "authentic sounds" of 50 classic, vintage electric keyboard instruments from the last 40 years.

With a massive 40GB sound library Electric Keys includes over 20,000 meticulously crafted 24-bit 96 kHz multi-samples of legendary electric pianos, electric organs, clavinets, Wurlitzers, tape samplers, string machines, keyboard basses and other rare and exotic electric keyboard instruments. Samples are streamed from disk, so even large presets load quickly and conserve computer memory. Sounds are organized in 12 banks, each with its own authentic look ("skin"), allowing users to install on their hard drive only the banks they wish to use. Electric Keys presets can be loaded into MachFive 2 for advanced sound design and layering.

The Electric Keys window offers a few simple controls, including volume, pan, tone and tremolo settings, along with two preset slots, which allow users to layer two sounds using the convenient multi-column preset browser. All parameters can be automated via convenient "MIDI learn". Users can click the FX button to open the FX-Rack, which is a separate window with eight effects that can be applied individually or in combination as a multi-effect to any preset. Effects include amp simulation, filter, chorus, flanger, phaser, UVinyl (to add "wear and tear"), delay and reverb. Users can load and save "combis" consisting of a snapshot of the entire plug-in, including effects.

Electric Keys supports all major plug-in formats on Mac OS X and Windows (XP and Vista), including VST, DXi, MAS, Audio Units and RTAS. It also runs as a stand-alone application. Electric Keys will ship in February, 2008 for a list price of $295.