PC and Music News

Sony Creative Software has announced that ACID Pro 7 will be available in early November.

New ACID Pro 7 features include :

- Audio and MIDI mixing console with additional routing options
- MIDI Track Freeze
- Real-time rendering
- Input busses which provide greater control over routing input signals
- Enhanced timestretch and pitch shifting with Zplane élastique Pro
- Enhanced Beatmapping for tracks with multiple tempos
- Tempo curves
- FLAC, AAC, AC-3 Studio, and MPEG-2 format support
- etc...

ACID Pro 7 software comes with a software bundle valued at $500, which includes the Garritan Aria for ACID Pro player and custom sample library developed in conjunction with Plogue Art et Technologie Inc., the Effects Rack powered by iZotope, Submersible Music KitCore and Native Instruments Guitar Combos. It also includes over 3,000 music loops and 1,000 MIDI files. Additionally, ACID Pro 7 enables users to upload songs to the ACIDplanet.com online music community directly from the interface.

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for ACID Pro 7 software is U.S. $399.95.

Ueberschall has just released Minimal Electro Vibes, a new Elastik Player-based loop module developed for Ueberschall's total fidelity Nouvelle Series.

Minimal Electro Vibes covers progressive electro techniques used by "top trend innovators from the dance floor". This set includes 20 Construction Kits (1.5 GB of new material) which have been embedded into the included Elastik Player for instant access. Each kit includes all solo parts and drum shots used in the mix for extended individualization.

Features :

- 1.5 GB / 20 Construction Kits / 750 Loops and Samples.
- Elastik Soundbank for Mac / Windows in VST, AU and RTAS formats (Elastik Player included).
- The DVD also includes an Ableton Live set.

Minimal Electro Vibes is available now and has an MSRP of $119 / €99.

Expert Sleepers has released a public beta of Augustus Loop v2.0 which is a major update to the tape echo/looping plug-in.

Features :

- Augustus Loop's GUI is now fully skinnable and scriptable.
- MIDI behaviour is now scriptable.
- VST version now receives MIDI.
- Added Record Offset feature.
- Added waveform display.
- The 'Max Delay Time' parameter now has a smaller minimum value (1.0 seconds) and is not rounded to the nearest 10 seconds.
- Added Tape Read Mode parameter.
- The Freeze Loop function is much improved.
- A small crossfade is now applied when activating Clear Loop, and when Clear Loop ends.
- The Input Level parameter is now protected against sudden changes, which previously could result in audio artefacts. In particular this makes the Punch In/Out f ...

Solid State Logic has just updated the Duende software. Duende 2.5.9 is the first release to include the optional plug-in Vocalstrip. This release covers the full Duende product line; Duende Classic, Duende Mini and Duende PCIe.

For more information, please visit their website.

Korg has expanded its MR Series of digital recorders with the MR-2000S 1-Bit Studio Recorder.

Sleek and flexible, the MR-2000S is a single rack height digital stereo 1-bit recorder, offering 5.6 MHz or 2.8 MHz 1-bit recording, or up to 24-bit 192 kHz PCM recording and playback. 1-bit file formats DSDIFF (used in SACD production), WSD and DSF are all supported, as well as PCM support for standard WAV, BWF (Broadcast WAV) and even MP3 playback. Sampling frequencies for PCM formats range from 44.1 kHz through 192 kHz. AudioGate version 1.5 audio file converter software is included, supporting reading/playback of MR project files and for converting to various file formats

Analog connectors include XLR balanced input/output jacks, and RCA unbalanced input/output jacks. The reference level of the XLR jacks can be switched in a range of -12/-14/-16/-18/-20 dB, allowing the MR-2000S to be used in any recording environment from a music-related studio to a broadcast facility. Digital connectors include S/PDIF coaxial jacks for PCM sources, as well as word clock jacks for synchronization with other devices or a second MR-2000S unit. The MR-2000S also features a multi-step LED level meter with excellent response speed and high visibility.

The unit's built-in 80 GB hard disk allows up to approximately 120 hours of recording (44.1 kHz 16-bit two track), or approximately 14.5 hours at the highest quality (1-bit 5.6448 MHz two track). Up to 400 projects can be created for each of up to 400 recording date folders (160,000 possible projects total). USB 2.0 "high speed" mode is supported for rapid file transfer to and from users' computers.

The Korg MR-2000S 1-Bit Studio Recorder will be available in December with a target U.S. MSRP of $1,999.

AKG Acoustics recently announced the acquisition of the worldwide distribution rights for the Crown family of microphones. The integration of Crown microphones into AKG Acoustics' product portfolio adds to AKG's global position as one of the world's leading sources of high-quality microphones. As a result of the partnership, AKG distributors now handle the worldwide distribution for two of the industry's leading microphone brands.