PC and Music News

Gauge Microphones, a company created by the mult-platinum recording engineers Chandler Bridges and Rob Chiarelli, has announced the release of their first product : the ECM 87.

The ECM 87 is a large diaphragm, cardioid condenser microphone. With fully-gradient, transformerless design, ultra-low self noise and high sound pressure rating, this microphone seems to be a great choice for recording vocals, drums and stringed instruments, such as the acoustic guitar.

Made in China and tested in California, each ECM 87 is hand selected and ear tested by both Bridges & Chiarelli.

The ECM 87 is available now at a retail price of $149.

Toontrack Music has just announced that Drumtracker will be available through their distributors and retailers at the end of December.

Features :

• Host independent, Stand Alone software for converting drum audio to drum MIDI. Import Audio tracks, export MIDI mapped to your favourite drum sampler.
• Each trigging point graphically represented. Delete, add, move or change the velocity to your individual needs.
• Manual control over tracking and exporting, select which part or parts of a drum track that you want to export, down to each single hit.
• Set max/min velocity and threshold values for each instrument and articulation.
• Audition before and after filters.
• Save your own presets.
• Mac and PC

Drumtracker will be priced at $149 / €99.

Antelope Audio has announced a special Christmas deal : throughout the month of December, the OCX master clock will be available for €995 (incl. VAT), with free shipping in UK and Europe. By jumping on this offer you'll be saving more than 30% on the normal retail price.

Trinity Audio Group expands its line of mobile audio computers by announcing the Indamixx Laptop, an affordable Linux audio Netbook with pre-installed audio and mobility software.

Features :

- 1.6Ghz Intel Atom CPU
- Fast Intel Atom based Netbook (1.6Ghz)
- Transmission 2.1 OS
- ArdourXchange Preloaded
- Over 2900 drum sounds
- More than 350 classic sample and scratches
- Over 260 Plugins and effects
- Carrying case (bonus)
- 1GB SD card (bonus)
- Free Software Support (first 30 days)
- Free T-shirt
- Free Fedex Shipping (USA only)

The Indamixx Laptop is available for pre-order now for $499.

FMR Audio, "Home of the Really Nice Compressor", unveils a new unit : the PBC-6A.

The PCB-6A is a mono compressor which is described as being pretty agressive. Note that besides the classic Attack, Release and Output knobs, it features an adjustable Knee and a Drive circuit.

Features :

- Balanced I/O
- Side-chain Port
- Detector Hi-Pass Filter
- Feedback Drive
- Variable Knee

The PCB-6A will be available on mid-december with an MSRP of $499. You can pre-order at Mercenary Audio by following this link :

To celebrate Christmas, Ableton has announced a 25% discount for anyone purchasing Live 7, Live 7 LE or Suite before the 31st December 2008.

The 25% off deal also applies to users who wish to upgrade to the full version from Lite or LE versions of the software.