PC and Music News

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.

TC Electronic announces Desktop Konnekt 6, an easy-to-use desktop FireWire audio interface with dedicated monitor control features including a tracking reverb, an ergonomic volume knob and a 3-mode high resolution meter for intuitive and instant control while recording.
The IMPACT mic preamp and the true Hi-Z inputs should ensure top-notch sound quality recordings of vocals and guitar.
Desktop Konnekt 6 will ship in March 2008 at a suggested retail price of EUR 249.

TC Electronic also announce that the Studio Konnekt 48 is now officially worldwide available.

After many years of development, Spectrasonics today previewed their brand new flagship virtual instrument Omnisphere®.
The revolutionary 'Power Synth' breaks completely new sonic ground by combining a wide variety of hybrid realtime synthesis techniques, an epic library of remarkable 'Psychoacoustic' sounds, and many innovative features that have never been seen before in any hardware or software synthesizer.
The new instrument is the first to be based on Spectrasonics' STEAM Engine, the company's newly developed core technology.
Omnisphere is set to be released September 15, 2008, the MSRP is $499 US.

Omnisphere will offer a host of hybrid synthesis and new control capabilities including Variable Waveshaping DSP synthesis, Granular synthesis, Timbre Shifting, FM synthesis, polyp ...