PC and Music News

KORE Player is a free software instrument designed for use with KORE SoundPacks. Built on the same principles as KORE 2, KORE Player includes six Native Instruments sound engines under the hood and provides ready-to-play sounds that can be browsed and tweaked via the ultra-intuitive KORE Player interface. Adding new sounds is as easy as purchasing and downloading affordable KORE SoundPacks.

KORE Player will be released in March as a free download.

The MPD32 is the new Akai Pro pad controller, using USB connection (Mac or Windows). The MPD32 features the MPC Note Repeat with swing and gate time parameters. It can also work as a master clock for MIDI sequencers, includes transport functions and is fully programmable. It includes sixteen velocity and pressure-sensitive MPC pads, eight assignable faders, eight assignable switches and eight assignable infinite knobs. Three selectable control banks extend the number of available faders, buttons and knobs to 24 each (72 total controllers). Four pad banks allow for 64 total pads.

The MPD32 is coming Q2 - 2008 with an MSRP of $499.

M-Audio unveils Studiophile BX5a and BX8a Deluxe monitors, offering new waveguides and enhanced driver integration for extended low frequency response and refined sound. The BX8a utilizes 8" Kevlar low-frequency driver and 1-¼ " natural silk high-frequency driver, the BX5a 5" Kevlar low-frequency driver plus 1" waveguide-loaded high-frequency driver.
BX5a frequency response is ranged from 56Hz to 22kHz, BX8a from 40 Hz to 22 kHz. Custom-tuned crossovers distribute 130 watts (BX8a) and 70 watts (BX5a) of bi-amplified power.

MSRP is $399.95 per pair (BX5a) and $599.95 per pair (BX8a).

Digidesign has released Hybrid 1.5, which offers even more features and filters. Hybrid 1.5 features a new vintage sound filter for classic analog sounds, five new filter saturation modes, 336 all-new patches, and 256 revised factory patches. If you own a previous version of Hybrid, Digidesign is offering a free upgrade to version 1.5 from January 22 through March 22, 2008, after which it will be available for purchase from the DigiStore.

Strike Content Expansion
This new content for Strike offers 100 completely new drum and beat styles from all musical genres, plus two completely new electronic drum kits. Digidesign is offering Strike Content Expansion to all Strike owners as a free download through March 22, 2008 only, after which it will be available for purchase from the DigiStore.

The Naked Eye Roswellite features the same True Dual Voicing design and carefully crafted tone of the Naked Eye Classic, plus it adds the
power of the Crowley and Tripp nanocomposite ribbon material - Roswellite - that was first introduced in the el Diablo Mercenary Edition.

Adding Roswellite to the Naked Eye expands its capability into kick drums, snare, bass, and the rigors of live touring and sound reinforcement. There is no other 'foil' ribbon microphone at any price that can match its tone, sound pressure level handling and toughness.

Naked Eye Roswellite comes with a lifetime warranty, beautiful wood storage box, and low-diffraction rotary Monocle Mount. The Naked Roswellite is now shipping and is priced at $1,295.

Crowley and Tripp ribbon microphones are made in USA by hand.

Sonalksis unveils a new bundle called Sonalksis Mastering Suite which includes MultiLimit, a multiband mastering limiter ; Maxlimit, a maximizing mastering limiter ; StereoTools, a stereo imaging processor ; and Ultimate-D, the "Ultimate" dithering.

The release is scheduled for early Q2 2008 for native versions (Mac OS X / WIN, VST / AU / RTAS). TDM versions are planned for release during 2008, further announcements regarding this will follow later in the year.