PC and Music News

MakeMusic has unveiled Finale 2008. This upgrade offers a lot of new features :

- Record/import a mono or stereo audio file to enhance playback.
- More than 250 world-class instrument sounds from the makers of the acclaimed Garritan Personal Orchestra are included free. In addition to orchestral instruments are saxophones, trumpet and trombone mutes, jazz bass and drums, guitar, marching percussion, world instruments and more.
- Multiple sound libraries now work together seamlessly. Combine all the included sounds, add Native Instruments-supported libraries (available separately), hear them all in playback and save the results in an audio file.
- Copy music, adjust expressions, transpose, add repeats and much more – all with one tool.
- Intuitive keystrokes can select measures or p ...

Waves announces the release of The API Collection, the latest in its line of modeled plug-ins which deliver the sound of classic consoles and components. Developed in association with API (Automated Processes Incorporated), the API Collection features four processors, painstakingly modeled on the most renowned and popular API modules: the 550A 3-band equalizer, 550B 4-band EQ, the 560 graphic equalizer and the 2500 stereo compressor.

The API Collection is available now and requires iLok authorization. It carries a U.S. MSRP of $2,000 TDM and $1,000 Native. For more information, please visit their web site.

TC Electronic announces the immediate availability of C400XL, a dual gate/compressor. C400XL uses advanced TC Electronic multiband dynamics technology to compress any source - from vocals and percussion to guitars and even keyboards. The unit is adaptable to any source, analog or digital, and a gate, compression or a combination can be easily applied. And finally, the source-based compression, intuitive user interface and mix knob for parallel compression makes for an easy-to-use unit that produces high-resolution results.

Main features :

- Balanced analog XLR
- Balanced digital (AES/EBU)
- Precision gating – ultra fast and click free
- De-essing
- Dual engine compressor or gate
- High resolution input and gain reduction metering
- Threshold LED indication
- True dual mono, stereo or serial operation
- Brickwall limiting for peak stop and hot levels
- Dual band expansion for non-percussive sources

C400XL is available now at a retail price of €320 excl. VAT.

M-Audio is proud to announce shipment of the Pulsar II small-capsule condenser microphone.

Features :
- professional small-capsule condenser microphone
- 3/4"-diameter, 6-micron Mylar evaporated gold diaphragm
- thermal diaphragm treatment yields 2dB SPL boost over original model
- solid brass backplate
- solid brass body
- Class-A FET electronics
- switchable -10dB pad
- switchable 80Hz high-pass filter (12dB/octave)
- wooden storage box houses microphone, windscreen and clip

The Pulsar II is currently shipping and carries an MSRP of $199.95. The boxed matched pairs are currently expected to ship in the third quarter of 2007 at an MSRP of $399.95.

PreSonus is pleased to announce the new HP60 6-channel headphone mixing system is in production and will be shipping this month. Loaded with six independent, loud and clear headphone amplifiers, the HP60 features dual stereo inputs as well as external input, for each channel allowing you to mix between three stereo audio streams (mix A, mix B, and external input). Stereo output is also available on each channel to send line level headphone channel mixes to additional headphone amplifiers or monitor systems. Each channel features headphone level, mix control between A and B inputs, external input volume, mute and mono. The HP60 also features talkback via external XLR microphone input.

Features :

- Six independent ultra low noise, high output headphone amplifiers (150 mW per channel)
...

Universal Audio has announced the web release of v4.7 software for the UAD Family of DSP Cards & Powered Plug-Ins. Version 4.7 includes 14-day fully functional demos of the new Neve 88RS Channel Strip and LA3A Classic Compressor.

Key Neve 88RS features include :

- EQ & Dynamics form Neve's flagship analog console.
- Four-band parametric EQ with High & Low -Shelf Filters.
- Highly flexible Limiter/Compressor, Gate/Expander Dynamics Section.
- Exclusively Neve-licensed, UA modeled, only for UAD DSP family.
- UAi: Proprietary UA Modeling Technology-Most accurate analog emulations.

Key LA-3A features include :

- Definitive solid-state optical compressor.
- Modeled from a "golden" vintage unit in UA's collection.
- Gain and peak reduction controls plus limit/compress switch. ...