PC and Music News

Akai unveils the MPK 25, the latest addition to its MPK series of keyboard controllers with MPC pads. Its smaller, more portable size makes the MPK25 the perfect travel companion.

Features :

- 25-key, semi-weighted keyboard with aftertouch
- 12 MPC pads
- Q-Link controls
- MPC technology
- arpeggiator with six different modes
- USB class compliant which means it does not require custom drivers to work with Mac or PC computers and will work with all MIDI recording
- comes with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition software

The MPK25 offers extensive assignable controls through its Q-Link section. The MPK25 gives players 32 parameters of hands-on control through 12 virtual knobs and four virtual buttons, each of which can access two different banks of assignment via a bank-change control.

The MPK25 will be available in Q2 at an MSRP of $399.99 and an estimated street price of $299.99.

Sanford Sound Design has announced the release of Super Chorus.

Super Chorus is a four-voice chorus capable of creating thick and rich sounds. Each of its four voices represents a completely independent chorus effect. It's like getting four choruses in one.

In addition, the Sanford Super Chorus provides four LFOs that act as modulation sources for the voices. Like the voices, each LFO is completely independent, and each has advanced and easy to use synchronization functions.

Key features :

- Four independent chorus voices.
- Four independent LFOs.
- Versatile synchronization functions.
- MIDI Learn.
- User interface designed by Rick Christy.

Super Chorus is available now as a VST effect for Windows and is priced at $15. Note that a demo version and audio examples are also available.

Insert Piz has released Mr. Alias 2, its new free virtual synth which is now open source and cross-platform.

Mr. Alias 2 uses non-bandlimited oscillators which can be transposed near to and beyond the Nyquist frequency, causing most of their spectra to be aliased back into audible non-harmonic frequencies. The sound can then be further processed by a number of crude "effects."

Though it is based on the same concept as the original, Mr. Alias 2 is completely rewritten for cross-platform compatibility, and has a number of significant improvements.

Some highlights :

- 2 oscillators.
- 18 waveforms.
- Full stereo processing.
- 6 filter types including a formant filter.
- Filter envelope.
- External audio processing.
- Patch randomizer button.
- Highly configurable MIDI control with MIDI learn.
- MIDI-controllable patch morphing.
- Drag & drop preset and MIDI map loading.
- Resizable GUI.

Mr. Alias 2 is available now for free as a VSTi for both Windows and Mac OS X, an AU version is also available for Mac users.

Waves has just announced that its GTR Solo software is now available for free for one full year.

GTR Solo features :

- 10 Amp Models (Fender, Marshall, Vox, etc...)
- 13 Stomp FX (distortion, wahwah, flanger, etc...)
- 10 Cabs

GTR Solo is available for Mac OS X and Windows in VST, AU and RTAS plug-in formats.

For a limited time only, Abbey Road Plug-ins is offering the chance to own all three of their plug-ins in one low-price bundle. Containing the Brilliance Pack, TG Mastering Pack and TG12413 Limiter, the bundle costs $500 (Native) or $750 (TDM) – amounting to respective savings of $419 and $869 off the usual combined price !

This is a unique offer which ends on Monday, January 26th 2009 at 9am GMT and is open to both new and existing customers.

The bundle is available now and only through :

AKG unveils the GB 40 GuitarBug transmitter which seems to be the easiest way to turn a guitar, bass, or portable keyboard into a wireless instrument.

Described as the world's smallest switchable wireless transmitter, it operates with a single AAA battery providing more than 11 hours of operation. The frequency response is optimized for guitar and bass and can be used for keyboards and all instruments with a jack plug. The patented FlexxJack-Plug is an additional feature to allow for extended flexibility by matching all guitar outputs with an included long adapter jack.

The GB 40 GuitarBug will be available as single version and as "guitar-set" version with a stationary receiver SR 40 Flexx. Pricing TBA.