PC and Music News

Artificial Audio unveils Obelisk, a new spectral multi-effect that combines a Spectral Delay, a Spectral Filter and a Spectral Gate together with a Spectrum Analyzer and 2-Dimensional LFOs to modulate the effect settings.

Obelisk separates the incoming audio signal into frequency bands. Each frequency band has its own Delay with Feedback, its own Filter and its own Gate. By simply drawing "effect lines" into the Analyzer Point View, hundreds of parameters can be controlled very easily and intuitively. Obelisk has three 2-Dimensional LFOs to modulate the effect parameters in ever changing and totally new ways.

Obelisk will be available as a VST plug-in for Windows XP and Windows Vista by the end of December. Priced at €99, Obelisk is currently available for Mac OS X in AU and VST plug-in formats. The Windows version will be free for all registered owners of Obelisk for Mac.

Puremagnetik has released Toybox, a collection of sounds captured from toys, gadgets and music education devices, all expertly programmed for Live, Kontakt and Logic. From squeaky plastic instruments to mini synthesizers and toy pianos, Toybox explodes with a variety of colorful sounds.

Toybox includes the following instruments :

- Lapharp - An organic 12 string plucked instrument.
- Synthjam - 6 instruments and an efx menu from toy synthesizers.
- Stylophone - Includes the "classic" Stylophone® sound as well as 2 new models.
- Junior Piano - A quirky toy piano with multi-velocity sensitivity and mechanical nuances.
- Toy Accordion - A small plastic accordion with a fun squeaky sound.
- Jamboree - Toy vibraphone with both "finger" and "plastic" variations.
- Melodica & Recorder - Legendary educational wind instruments.
- Astroblaster - A menu of laser gun sound effects.
- Drumrock - A lo-fi kit sourced from a toy drum synthesizer.

The Ableton Live version of Toybox comes with 14 multisampled instruments including 2 effect menus and a drum kit rack. Each sound has been carefully tailored with extensive Macro controls for easy editing and tweaking. Toybox for Kontakt comes complete with a customized KSP driven GUI for instant editing and effects processing. The Logic version includes 18 unique channel strip configurations for quick loading sonic exploration.

Pricing : Basic Monthly Subscription: $5.75/Month Basic Yearly Subscription: $60/Year All Access Pass - $198/Year.

Christmas is in the air so LinPlug has 3 special offers for you :

- Buy Albino 3 and get BLUE for free, in collaboration with Rob Papen LinPlug can offer you a free BLUE with every purchase of the Rob Papen Albino 3 from their website.

- Buy 2 different instruments other than Albino 3 and get one additional instrument license for free (valid for all instruments except Albino 3).

- Buy 3 different instruments other than Albino 3 and get 2 additional instrument licenses for free (valid for all instruments except Albino 3).

All seasons offers are time limited until 31st December 2008. Offers can be combined. For more information; please visit their website.

ESI unveils the UGM96, a new portable audio interface. The UGM96 offers an ultra mobile guitar and microphone to USB interface that allows you to connect two guitars (via the Hi-Z instrument inputs) or one guitar and one microphone simultaneously to your PC or Mac.

Features :

- 2 x analog input and 2 analog output channels
- 2 independent mono Hi-Z inputs
- one Hi-Z input switchable to microphone input with preamp
- 2 headphone output
- one headphone output can work as line output
- fully USB bus powered
- drivers for Windows Vista/XP with ASIO support with low latency
- Core Audio support under Mac OS X 10.4 and higher
- dimensions: around 7 cm x 6 cm

The UGM96 is available now at an estimated price of $75/€59 (excl. VAT).

As McDSP's 10 Year Anniversary and the year of 2008 come to an end, McDSP offers a one-time only special on the HD and Native Emerald Pack Bundles, including upgrades. Emerald Pack HD will be offered for $2495 and the Native bundle will be offered for $1345.

Emerald Pack bundle includes Analog Channel, Channel G, Chrome Tone, CompressorBank, DE555, FilterBank, FutzBox, NF575, MC2000, ML4000, Revolver and Synthesizer One.

The McDSP HD line supports TDM, RTAS and AudioSuite formats and the Native line supports RTAS and Audiosuite formats. The HD and Native bundle operate on Pro Tools HD, LE and M-Powered. Special available only via electronic delivery.

This offer ends December 31, 2008.

Note that McDSP's Winter Special Bundle offer is still available until the end of the month.

To celebrate the birth of their own inhouse TDM-team, Brainworx is releasing a free control listening tool bx_solo. The new 1.0.2 installer includes TDM - RTAS - VST - & AU and is available for MAC and PC.

Note that Brainworx has also announced that all bx-tools will soon be available in TDM format (bx_control TDM is scheduled for Dec 8). Fair upgrades from Native to TDM will be available for all customers and all plugins.