PC and Music News

Audio Engineering Associates (AEA) have announced the RPQ, a new dual-channel mic preamp that's specially designed for use with ribbon microphones.

Each channel has two controls for gain: a notched step knob that sets the gain range, and a trim pot that allows the user to make fine adjustements to the level. There are also low-frequency filter and high-frequency boost controls for shaping the tone, so the user can tame the results of the proximity effect at the low end and regain some brightness at the top end. Both tone controls can be bypassed. The RPQ can also supply 48V for "active" ribbons mics which require a phantom power supply to operate.

The legendary Alan Parsons, renowned for his work with The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Hollies, Al Stewart, Paul McCartney, the Alan Parsons project and so much more, is coming to visit SAE Institute London. Alan will present a masterclass to SAE students and members of the SAE Alumni association on Thursday 6th November at SAE Institute in Kingsland Road. He will talk about his past and current work and techniques, enriched with examples. There will also be the unique opportunity to interact with Alan Parsons in a Q&A session.

Only a limited number of places are available for members of the public for £50.

Virtuasonic has just released Choir Breath, a new sample library consisting exclusively of choral breath samples, produced for composers that already own a choir library and are in search of tools for improving the impact of their MIDI mock-ups with additional details.

Specifications :

- Mixed Choir, Women, Men, Young Choir.
- Close/Far presets.
- Sampling rate: 24-bit / 44.1 KHz.
- Total size: 190 MBytes (over 420 samples).
- Formats: KONTAKT 2 / 3, WAV 24bit.

Pricing : €17.95 (excl. VAT), $24.95

SPL has announced that their first Analogue Code plug-ins are available in VST, Audio Units and RTAS version. TDM versions are soon to follow.

Pricing :

- Transient Designer: €200
- EQ Rangers Vol. 1: €239.50

Note that demo versions are also available (requires iLock).

Native Instruments has released Reaktor Animated Circuits, a new Kore Soundpack that explores the world of complex self-generating soundscapes, textures and rhythms.

Reaktor Animated Circuits is based on 200 KoreSounds that take advantage of the capabilities of the Reaktor engine embedded in Kore 2 and the free Kore Player. The unconventional Reaktor sound generators "Newscool", "Metaphysical Function", "Spacedrone" and "Skrewell" are utilized to produce deep, constantly fluctuating soundscapes that range from dark to meditative and from moody to abstract.

Reaktor Animated Circuits also introduces the new sequencing instrument "Spiral", the latest creation of Reaktor builder Lazyfish, based on an unusual approach to pattern generation. Spiral uses concentric sequencing lanes and advanced algorithms to create continuously shifting, kaleidoscopic melodies, and can be routed into any sound source that accepts MIDI input.

All sounds in Reaktor Animated Circuits offer sound shaping options through eight "morphable" Sound Variations per preset, with crucial sound parameters also conveniently assigned to the unified Kore user interface. Owners of Reaktor 5 get full access to the panels of the individual ensembles for full control of every single sound parameter.

The Spiral ensemble is also available separately as a free download for all owners of Reaktor 5 through the NI Service Center application.

Reaktor Animated Circuits is available now for a suggested retail price of $59 / €49.

GenoQs has released v1.60 of the operating system for their hardware sequencers Octopus and Nemo.

The new OS is a significant leap forward and it includes numerous new features, and workflow improvements. Too many to list here really, but all minutiously captured in the latest release notes document. Their main page links to all that information and more.

Discover what those units are able to do on these videos at 440tv...