PC and Music News

Puremagnetik has just announced the release of a new Micropak for Ableton Live 7, Kontakt 3 and Logic 8 called Microtron Tape 1.

Microtron Tape 1 contains an expertly recorded Brass, 8 Voice Choir and String Section library. All of the original imperfections, vintage analog quality and performance nuances of the Mellotron M400 have been immaculately captured through a Neumann U47 Microphone and Reeves Custom 50 Amplifier.

The Ableton Live version contains 3 individual multisampled instruments and a full "tape" instrument that has similar sound blending functionality as found on the original M400. Microtron Tape 1 for Live also comes packed with 50 Live Clips complete with Macro and effects integration.

Microtron Tape 1 for Kontakt includes all 3 multisampled instruments complete with effects and a custom KSP user interface. Logic and Kontakt versions both include a collection of 50 Apple Loops in SIAL format.

Pricing : Basic Monthly Subscription: $5.75/Month Basic Yearly Subscription: $60/Year All Access Pass - $198/Year.

Starting today, for the full 28 days of February…and for the last time, Moog Music is offering hefty rebates on its best-selling equipment. Moog's Grammy Sale offers rebates of $100 on any Minimoog Voyager, $75 on any Little Phatty and $30 on any Etherwave theremin or Moogerfooger purchased from authorized Moog dealers during February.

"We've been doing this program for five years and it's proven to have a positive impact on Moog dealer sales ~ every year we see a significant spike in customer product registrations during the month of February. We plan to replace the Grammy Sale with something equally attractive in the future, and we thank our loyal customers for participating in the sale," said Chris Stack, Moog Marketing Manager.

For more information on the Moog Grammy Sale, please visit Moog's website.

Vir2 Instruments announces two new Kontakt Player-based virtual instruments : Blue and World Impact.

Blue : Jazz Drums ($399.95) provides the essential backbone of jazz music production, featuring three of the finest jazz drum kits in the world, over a thousand jazz drum loops, and extensive control over each element, all packaged into one comprehensive Kontakt Player-powered virtual instrument.

Featuring a massive collection of varied percussion samples, World Impact : Global Percussion ($399.95) spans the globe featuring percussion instruments from large to small, west to east, north to south, and traditional to rare. Sampled in meticulous detail and programmed for maximum and instant musical usability, the collection includes hundreds of varied percussion instruments from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and more. A massive multi-gigabyte collection of Japanese Taiko drums recorded from multiple microphone positions forms a central part of the library. Each instrument has been recorded with numerous alternate takes and velocity layers, assuring realistic and dramatically expressive sonic results.

Both products are powered by Native Instruments' Kontakt engine and are therefore compatible with VST, AudioUnit and RTAS plug-in formats allowing them to work seamlessly within any major sequencer, in addition to standalone use.

Release dates have not yet been announced.

In the first quarter of 2009, Wallander Instruments is extending the range of instrument with the release of the Saxophones 1 & 2 instrument collections.

Saxophones 1 includes the standard saxophone quartet, ranging from the soprano to the baritone :

• Soprano Saxophones 1-3
• Alto Saxophones 1-3
• Tenor Saxophones 1-3
• Baritone Saxophones 1-3

Saxophones 2 includes a variety of more exotic saxophones, extending the range to the sopranino and bass, and includes rare gems such as the C Melody :

• Sopranino Saxophones 1-3
• C Soprano Saxophones 1-3
• Mezzo-soprano Saxophones 1-3
• C Melody Saxophones 1-3
• Bass Saxophones 1-3

The Nord Modular G2 OS and the G2 Editor have been updated to version 1.6. This update is also accompanied by a new universal XP- and Vista-compatible USB driver - v2.14. This driver can also be used with the Nord Stage EX, Nord Electro 3, Nord Wave and the Nord C1. The driver is digitally signed which allows users with a Vista 64-bit system to install it.

The 1.6 OS and Editor update brings Windows Vista compatibility to the G2 system. Macintosh users will benefit from a native support for the Intel-based computer models. The update and the driver is available here :

Focusrite has released the Liquid 4PRE's Pro Tools TDM/RTAS control plug-in. The plug-in can operate alongside Liquid 4PRE's standalone control application 'Liquid4Control', and provides integrated remote control via Pro Tools software and hardware, including Icon and Venue systems.

As a Pro Tools TDM/RTAS plug-in, it brings a host of other benefits, including comprehensive automation and session integration. This enables, for example, automated gain control of all four pre-amps and full recall of all pre-amp settings (including emulation choice), as part of the Pro Tools session.

The Liquid 4PRE four-channel microphone pre-amplifier utilizes the Liquid Channel's proven Liquid technology, marrying a hugely flexible analogue front end with cutting-edge dynamic convolution DSP to deliver the sounds of 40 vintage and classic microphone pre-amplifiers across all four channels.

The Liquid 4PRE Pro Tools TDM/RTAS control plug-in is available to download.