PC and Music News

Cakewalk has announced Craig Anderton's Electronic Guitars Expansion Pack for Rapture and Rapture LE. Using Rapture's advanced engine and unique processing options, Craig has turned the sound of the electric guitar inside-out to create "stunning" synthetic sounds that retain the guitar's organic qualities.

As displayed in his 'Minimoog Tribute Expansion Pack,' Craig's programming style combines musicality and innovation and takes full advantage of Rapture's advanced synthesis capabilities. In the new Electronic Guitars Expansion Pack, he leverages LFOs, StepGenerators, FX, and creative use of modulators to do everything from layering to patch morphing to providing alternate bass sounds within the same patch. Craig has even created evocative one-finger chord patches that change from major to minor with mod wheel use.

Craig Anderton's Electronic Guitars uses sounds from PRS, Gibson, Peavey, and Fender guitars, as well as Roland's VG-8 guitar synth, to create unique textures that sound like nothing you've heard before, according to Cakewalk.

Craig Anderton's Electronic Guitars Expansion Pack is available to registered Rapture, Rapture LE, SONAR 7 & 8, and SONAR V-Studio 700 customers for $49 via download. In addition to the programs and waveforms, the package includes 10 free audio loops crafted from these sounds, and a video detailing the story behind the programs.

M-Audio unveils an updated version of its DMP3 preamp. It features a 20Hz to 80kHz frequency response, 67dB of gain plus a redesigned new look.

Features :

- 2-channel preamp with XLR microphone inputs and 1/4"¯ instrument inputs
- balanced outputs on TRS jacks deliver hum-free professional audio
- low harmonic distortion (THD+N: .0005% @ 20Hz-20kHz) for ultra-clean sound
- exceptional dynamic range to capture all the nuances of your music
- 20Hz to 80kHz frequency response (+/- 0.5dB) ideal for high-resolution recording
- high and low gain range controls offer up to 67dB of gain
- phantom power to accommodate all types of microphones

Our dear friend Nolot has taken those pictures at the Winter NAMM 2009 exclusively for you, check it out !

Our Team has made a selection of the most significant videos we've found about this Winter NAMM 2009.

Give it a try at : NAMM 2009 Videos on 440tv !

Keep an eye on it because new videos are coming !

Digidesign is now offering two new Pro Tools LE system bundles: 003 Factory Complete and 003 Rack Factory Complete. Both bundles combine a Digidesign 003 hardware interface with the new Complete Production Toolkit - the powerful new expansion option for Pro Tools LE systems that combines a variety of plug-ins for both music and post production applications. The bundles offer up to nearly $500 in savings from standalone purchases.

The Complete Production Toolkit, made available with the release of Pro Tools 8 last month, dramatically expands the creative and production power of Pro Tools LE 8 by adding full 7.1 surround mixing, and support for up to 128 simultaneous audio tracks to any Pro Tools LE 8 based system. This bundle includes Digidesign virtual instruments and professional plug-ins valued at $2,650 including: Eleven LE classic guitar amp emulator, Structure® LE advanced sample player, Hybrid 1.5 high-definition synthesizer, Smack! LE compressor, DINR LE noise reduction, TL Space Native Edition convolution reverb, X-Form® time compression/expansion and pitch shifter, and Neyrinck SoundCode Stereo surround-to-stereo down mixer.

Additionally, the toolkit unlocks several powerful, professional processing tools in Pro Tools LE, including multi-track Beat Detective rhythm analysis and correction tool, DigiBase Pro file management, DigiTranslator 2.0 for importing/exporting of OMF®, AAF, and MXF files, and much more.

Both bundles are currently on display at the NAMM show in Anaheim, booth 6606, and both will be available for purchase in Q1 2009 from authorized Digidesign dealers for $3,995 and $2,995 respectively.

The Complete Production Toolkit software option for Pro Tools LE systems can also be purchased stand alone for $1,995.

EastWest has announced that it intends to bring the mystique and splendor of sounds from the "Silk Road" to users' workstations with the introduction of Quantum Leap Silk. This Virtual Instrument features a collection of historic and unique string and woodwind instruments from China, Persia and India.

All instruments featured in Silk are multi-sampled with extreme attention to detail, offering the maximum in expression. Quantum Leap Silk contains extensive articulations, interval sampling (where appropriate), round robin (alternate samples) and phrases to give the feeling of smooth effortless performance – like silk. Each musician recorded for Silk is a master of his instrument, providing the best and most accurate sound available. Silk also allows users to adapt the instruments using dozens of useful micro tunings in the key of their choice.

Some of the instruments featured in Silk include :

- CHINA: erhu, zhonghu, gaohu, pipa, guzheng, yangqin, sheng, suona low, suona high, dizi low, dizi hi, xiao and bawu.
- PERSIA: electric cello, kemenche, nay, duduk, tar, qanun and 30 piece string section.
- INDIA: dilruba, sarod, tanpura and bansuri.

Silk is available now for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU, RTAS and stand-alone formats at a fee of $595 / €455.