PC and Music News

FXpansion has just announced the release of the 8 Bit Kit Expansion Pack for BFD2.

Factory in Los Angeles by Husky Hoskuld ( Tom Waits, Fantômas, Solomon Burke, Joe Henry, Sheryl Crow, The Wallflowers and many more), 8 Bit Kit is a collection of whacked-out percussion, trash drums and gritty, live, vintage drum machine samples. This Expansion Pack is particularly suitable for anyone who wants lo-fi, downtempo, grimy elements in their drum parts - think Tom Waits, Portishead, Tricky, Peeping Tom, Bjork etc. - and being a BFD pack, all that lovely grime has been captured in a way that's actually playable and dynamic (a whole bunch of mic channels, and a whole lot of velocities... you know the deal by now?), not just a bunch of boring static loops.

8 Bit Kit is available now for download and is priced at $75. Note that audio examples are available at :

Sugar Bytes announces Consequence - The Chord Synquencer, a new plug-in described as a "chord groovebox".

Consequence is a composition tool which can create chord-lines or whole songs on the fly, but also chords which are played via MIDI can be super-sized using the innovative sound and sequencing engine.

Features :

- 3 sample-based oscillators with independent envelopes and gate selection for overlaying chords with arpeggios.
- 32-step sequencers for chord selection, gate, performance (arp, tie, multi-trigger, octave, glide) and modulation.
- New sound design features like polyphonic frequency-dependent sample rate reduction and oscillator aging.
- Included kick 4/4 kick drum for easy groove orientation.
- Multi-effect with 5 effects (reverse, chorus, phaser, delay, reverb).
- Master compressor (can be driven by 4/4 kick via sidechain).
- Monophonic and polyphonic 5-mode filter (lp, bp, hp, br, comp) with independent gate selection.
- Pattern change via MIDI note.
- MIDI input for sequencing chords in realtime.
- Easy chord creation via chordmaker, chord-recording and manual chord drawing.
- Audio recorder for session recording or for creating loops.
- 100 first class sounds available.
- Split preset system can combine sound-, sequence- and chord-presets.

Consequence will be released in November 2008. It will be available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST and AU plug-in formats with a price of €149 / $199.

Following the success of the Pocketrak 2G Pocket Recorder, Yamaha Corporation of America is now shipping their new Pocketrak CX. While the Pocketrak 2G fills the niche an ultra-slim recorder with an omni-directional mic for recording lectures, meetings and rehearsals, the Pocketrak CX adds an upgraded stereo microphone system and expandability, perfect for recording live music.

Features :

- Memory micro SD-Card / micro SDHC-Card
- Recording format 16 Bit, 44,1/48 kHz, Linear PCM / MP3 Stereo 32 kbps, 64 kbps, 128 kbps, 192 kbps, 320 kbps
- Playback MP3, WMA, WAV, PDDRM-WMA
- Built in 90°X-Y stereo microphone
- Battery 1x AA Alkali battery or 1x AA "eneloop" battery
- Battery life ("eneloop") MP3: 40 hours, PCM: 22 hours
- "eneloop" recharge: 220 minutes
- Inputs Mic / Line (stereo mini φ3.5mm)
- Outputs Earphone / Line (stereo mini φ3.5mm)
- Computer connector USB 2.0
- Monitoring integrated loudspeaker or enclosed earphone
- Dimensions / Weight (Width x Height x Depth) 4,65 x 12,95 × 1,75 cm / 92 gram
- Accessories Stereo earphone, USB cable, AA "eneloop" rechargeable battery, Wind screen, 2GB micro SD card, CUBASE AI4 DVD, Carring case, owners manual, Microphone stand adaptor

The Pocketrak CX is now available for $499 / €399.

LaChapell Audio announces the Model 583e which is a vacuum tube preamplifier with EQ in the API 500 series format.

Basically, the Model 583E features the same amplifier stage found on the 583s, including the Jensen JT-115k input transformer, coupled with an ultra-clean transformer-less three-band EQ section with fully sweeping frequency controls and cut/boost settings of +/- 8dB. The EQ can run as an integrated EQ serving the preamplifier or separate as its own autonomous module where both units run independently.

Pricing and availability TBA.

WaveMachine Labs has reduced the price of Drumagog Basic to $99 through the end of the year. Previously $199, this downloadable version of Drumagog can only be purchased through their online store and is not available in retail outlets.

Drumagog Basic is an entry-level version of Drumagog, a drum replacement software. Drumagog Basic now includes Auto Align and Advanced Triggering Mode, both features that were previously only included with more expensive versions of Drumagog. Auto Align is a phase alignment tool, and Advanced Triggering Mode provides the best triggering performance Drumagog has to offer. It features a smart algorithm which minimizes false triggering and maximizes sensitivity, making it particularly useful on difficult tracks.

Drumagog Basic is available in VST, AU and RTAS formats for Mac and Pc. Note that a 14-day demo version is also available.

Native Instruments has launched a special Kontakt 3 crossgrade offer for owners of GigaStudio.

From now until December 31st 2008, owners of any version of Tascam GigaStudio can get the Kontakt 3 software sampler for a reduced price of $279 / €249, a saving of nearly 40% off the regular price.