PC and Music News

With a sleek new look on the outside, and an arsenal of Kurzweil's latest cutting edge chip technology under its hood, the 61-note PC361 delivers 128 voices of incredible sound quality along with a host of powerful, easy to use features. The PC361 is Kurzweil's ultimate performance controller keyboard, with an enormous collection of stunning sounds combined with comprehensive real-time controller functions.

In addition to our renowned Triple Strike Grand Piano, the PC361 features hundreds of new sounds; basses, drums, guitars, and synths suited for every style and taste, along with a collection of flawless vintage keyboard emulations, KB3 Mode and over 250 orchestral and string section programs.

The PC361's new Dynamic V.A.S.T. architecture is a huge step forward in synthesis, the fr ...

Radial Engineering Ltd. is pleased to announce the new LB series of API compatible Lunchbox modules. We already told you about the Radial JDV-LB Class-A direct box and the Radial PHZ-LB phase adjustment tool last month, so today let's talk about the Radial JDX-LB Head and Cabinet direct box.

The Radial JDX-LB is a combination loudspeaker cabinet emulator and direct box. Following the popular Radial JDX Reactor, the LB version is designed to connect between a guitar amplifier head and speaker cabinet to capture both the sound from the head plus the back-electromagnetic impulse from the loudspeaker via a reactive load. The signal is then processed via a proprietary filter that emulates the sound of a typical 4x12 guitar cabinet. To further enhance functionality in the studio, the JDX-LB features a high gain setting for 300W amplifiers and a low frequency extender for bass. The JDX-LB may also be used as a speaker cabinet emulator by feeding the instrument or a preamp directly into the circuit.

Pricing :

- Radial JDV-LB Class-A direct box : $349
- Radial PHZ-LB phase adjustment tool : $299
- Radial JDX-LB Head and Cabinet direct box : $299

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.