PC and Music News

Watch out this UFO !

ARX unveils the ARX USB-DI VC Digital to Analogue Direct Box.

In response to many requests from users of the original USB DI who have been using it for specific applications, ARX developed the new ARX USB DI-VC which is basically a USB DI with the addition of an output level control. It is still a true Plug and Play digital to analog pro audio interface, removing the need to use any existing sound card outputs, but now the output level can be modified quickly and accurately...

It also still features the USB DI's full transformer balanced output isolation to eliminate earth loops / ground hum and other extraneous interaction noise and distortion.

The addition of the volume control allows the USB DI-VC to be used without a mixer. This is a very useful option when driving active loudspeakers from a laptop - the level control lets you reduce the level instantly to suit the required SPL, which still retaining an excellent signal-to-noise ratio.

Universal Audio is preparing a new evolution to its famous UAD DSP Card...

Rumour says that the long awaited UAD-2 series product shall include two main product lines with prices ranging from $500 to $1500 but nothing is confirmed by now. The only thing we have is a dedicated web page with just a photo and this sentence " UAD-2 info coming soon... Please check back often".

Sennheiser is introducing the evolution e 965 microphone at the 125th AES Convention in San Francisco. The e 965 is a hand-held vocal microphone with true condenser capsule in large-diaphragm technology.

Features :

- Switchable pick-up pattern (cardioid/super-cardioid)
- Low cut switch
- Switchable preattenuation (-10 dB)
- Highly effective, integral acoustic pop and windshield
- Effective protection against moisture
- Shock-mounted capsule for suppression of handling noise

The evolution e 965 will be available in stores in September 2008 with an MSRP of $878.

Vintage spirit comes alive in this great interview with Pink Floyd taken from an Abbey Road Studio session in 1972.

Check it out !

Rob Papen has just released RG - The Rhythm Guitar Synthesizer.

RG is an innovative software instrument that allows the user to create not just classic rhythm guitar grooves, but also exciting new grooves and sounds which a real guitar could never produce.

RG uses a keyboard layout of "major-" and "minor" chords to play the grooves, each with two sequence pattern (A or B) options. Just hit a single note in the major or minor keyboard range and the groove plays. The sound sets are clean sampled guitars, which gives you great freedom and flexibility when using the synthesizer features and effects of RG.

Guitar types included are the classic Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, the 8th note groove type Steel String acoustic guitar and the 16th note groove type Steel String acoustic guitar.

The synthesizer parts of RG include a classic analog modelled synthesizer filter, LFO, envelopes and modulation section. The effect section can be built up by using up to 3 effects at a time. MIDI time-based delays, chorus and speaker simulators, phaser, flanger and many more are all featured plus over 500 presets including 300 "RG" grooves and 200 "basic" grooves.

RG is available now for Mac OS X and Windows in VST, AU, RTAS formats with an MSRP of £99 / €149 / $179.