PC and Music News

Danfield Audio unveils a new monitor controller and its remote called monitor2 and monitor2 remote respectively.

monitor2 features :

- 7 balanced inputs and outputs, with adjustable gain trim and status indication.
- 2 independent cue buses with TB level control and cue - dim level adjustment.
- Isolate button allows cue bus to be floated from the monitor buses so independent monitoring set-ups can be created for the control room and ––studio-areas.
- Adjustable second reference monitor level and studio master dim levels.
- Meter follow monitor allows external meter to follow EXT inputs or monitor outputs.
- AutoCue system allows dynamic control of the studio talkback when recording. Cuts when tracking and in play – TBk switches on when recorder has stopped.
- Balanced Ins and ...

Univers Sons/Ultimate Sound Bank announces Electric Toy Museum library. This is certainly the most insane sound library in the market: 97 vintage musical toys were carefully sampled in the very best conditions, 24 bits/96khz quality, most of them recorded with the best microphones and preamps.

With more than 1000 presets and 14 000 samples, it's like having all these toys right under your fingertips. Every aspect of each machine has been captured : multi-sampled instruments with release samples for every note, rhythms converted into sliced loops, GM drumkits created, FX and speech voices carefully organized in 10 categories: Children, Developed, Drums & FX, Mini Sampler, Musical Toys, Organ Basic, Silly, Small, Speech & Style-o-phone.

Electric Toy Museum is now available for $249, and includes the full version of UVI Workstation.

Goldbaby has released SP1200 Vol 1 for Guru and Sample Pack (Battery 3 and ReFill versions coming soon). Here is the description found on their website :

"What do12 bit drum samples sound like when put through an analogue filter. If you have a SP-1200 or SP-12 then you already know the answer. Some would say dirty and warm, some also say it sounds like old vinyl...

The SP-1200 is a legendary drum sampler. Used by many artist from Roni Size to Daft Punk. Hip Hop legends Pete rock and J Dilla were also notible users.

Not everyone can get there hands on one of these machines. So I thought I better help out. I got the SP-1200 and the SP-12 and started sampling. I sampled an 808, 909, 606 and LM1... also some real drums... plus some vinyl hits... and just for good measure I have included the SP-12 presets and some groove templates..."

Also released is a FREE samples pack : The SP1200 vs MBase1 sample pack and SP1200 groove templates.

For more information, please visit the link below :

D&M Professional, manufacturer of the Marantz® Professional PMD series of professional recording products, introduces its newest field recorder, the PMD661 Compact Digital Recorder.

The launch of the PMD661 is a direct result of feedback from users in the field, working in an array of recording environments in various vertical markets such as broadcast, government, faith and education. Marantz Professional has developed the PMD661 to provide advanced functionality and convenience, further emphasizing its ongoing commitment to supplying customers with market driven product solutions.

Features :

- MP3/WAV (BWF) recording, with files saved directly to SD/SDHC memory cards
- 44.1/48/96kHz sample rate selections, in 16 or 24-bit quantization
- Switchable balanced XLR Mic/Line inputs with +48V phantom power
- S/PDIF Digital Input
- Built-in stereo condenser microphones
- Large, easy-view OLED (Organic LED) display
- Large, easy-to-use multi-function interface with improved navigation
- Angled LED and on-screen record level meters for easy visibility
- 1/4" headphone jack with independent level control
- Built-in stereo speakers
- Solid, field-worthy handheld design
- Battery-powered operation via 4 AA Alkaline, providing over 5 hours of typical operation (unit also accepts off-the-shelf rechargeable NiMH batteries. Batteries not included)
- USB 2.0 data port for fast transfer of files to PC/Mac
- Transcription playback functions, including pitch control and user-definable skip back
- Advanced editing features, including Timer Record/Playback, Copy segment, & File divide

The PMD661 is expected to be available January 2009 with an estimated street price of $599.

Studio Devil unveils Virtual Bass Amp, the newest addition to their line of vacuum tube modeling amplifier plug-ins.

Features :

- Classic 12AX7A vacuum tube bass preamplifier emulation with GAIN control.
- BOOST switch that "hot rods" the bass amp for natural overdrive and distortion.
- BASS, MIDS, and TREBLE tone controls based on classic bass amp designs.
- Parametric MIDS control with FREQ knob for customized amplifier tone.
- Push-pull tube power amplifier model with DRIVE control.
- Continuously variable SOFT / HARD clipping limiter control.
- DEEP and BRIGHT switches to boost the ultra low end and brighten presence.
- Built-in "4x10" and "1x15" Cabinet Simulation FIR Filters.
- "Direct Box" (D.I.) Mode for compatibility with your favorite cabinet impulse modeling plug-ins.
- 7-Band GRAPHIC EQ tuned specifically for bass guitar with LEVEL and ENABLE controls.
- 4X Up-Sampling Engine with 64-bit Internal Floating-Point Precision.
- 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, and 192kHz sampling rate support.
- Compatible with VST, Audio Units, and RTAS audio hosts for Windows and Mac OS X.

Studio Devil Virtual Bass Amp is priced at $69 and will be available soon.

Puremagnetik has released BIG08 — over 3 Gigabytes of Micropaks from Puremagnetik's 2008 catalog. From electric pianos to drum machines and vintage synthesizers, BIG08 includes a collection of sampled instruments and effects specifically programmed to utilize Ableton Live 7's unique features. BIG08 saves customers 30% when compared to purchasing each Micropak individually.

Here are the included packs :

- Digital Beatboxes
- Blip
- Big Bertha
- Guitar Rack Vol. 2
- Metalsphere
- Vector
- AmpPak
- Model-C
- Analog Bass Vol. 2
- TeeBee
- PM Mark One
- Technosphere

BIG08 is priced at $98 and is available now.