PC and Music News

Marantz introduces the PMD580 Solid State Recorder, the newest addition to its family of rackmount digital recorders.

The PMD580 brings many of the same features found in the PMD Series recorders but adds a crucial new dimension: network connectivity. Via its Ethernet port, this unit can be positioned as a network device, allowing users to set menu parameters, schedule recording events, and transfer and archive audio files, all by using a web-based GUI interface from any PC or Mac in the network.

The new unit also adds balanced XLR inputs and outputs, SPDIF as well as AES/EBU digital interfaces and RS232 control. It offers MP3 and WAV Recording formats, and users can select between 16-bit and 24-bit resolution.

Highlights :

- Choice of 24-bit or 16-bit Recording onto Compact Flash (CF) Card
- Ethernet Connectivity and Internal Web Browser
- Automatic Archiving of Recorded Files
- Easy Recording
- MP3 and WAV File Formats
- Menu-selectable Quality Settings
- Balanced XLR Inputs and Outputs
- AES/EBU and S/PDIF Digital Inputs and Outputs
- RS232 Control Port
- No Moving Parts
- FAT32 File Structure
- Contact Closures with Menu-driven Control

Schwa has just released Olga, a virtual analog synthesizer unlike any other, designed from first principles to be distinctive.

Schwa has developed 2 new algorithms called BADASS/GROOVE in order to create this virtual synth in the "vintage-style" spirit.

Bezier Antialiased Dynamic Analog Synthesis System (BADASS): Olga uses a truly new approach to DSP waveform generation to emulate glorious analog imperfection. Olga's free running oscillators are in a constant state of structured variability, a deeply musical instability, free of aliasing artifacts and light on your CPU.

Gaussian Reactive Oscillator Overdrive Virtual Engine (GROOVE): Throughout Olga's signal path, levels can be pushed through saturation and into full overdrive, with a thickness that develops organically, breathing life and character into your music.

Olga is available now as a VSTi for Windows and it costs $80. Audio examples and demo version are available at :

Voxengo releases VariSaturator, an audio effect plug-in designed to apply saturation effects over audio material. It can be used both to boost the loudness of the audio tracks without increasing their peak levels proportionally, and to apply subtle harmonic coloration that makes tracks sound more pronounced and polished.

Features :

- Two-band processing
- Valve and digital saturation
- Multi-channel processing
- Internal channel routing
- Channel grouping
- Mid/side processing
- 64-bit floating point processing
- Preset manager
- Undo/redo history
- A/B comparisons
- Contextual hint messages

VariSaturator is available now for Windows and Mac OS X in VST and AU formats at an introductary price of $55.96 (regular price $69.95).

Finally it is done : Independence Pro is now shipping ! It includes Independence 2, Independence Live and Independence FX.

Independence 2

The "next level of software sampler workstations" including a premium 70GB sound library. The audio engine of Independence 2 was completely redesigned and improved. With the new "multi core support" you can now decide how many cores of your computer you want to reserve for Independence 2.
Another leap forward is the possibilty to load 3rd party VST effects and VST instruments directly in Independence 2, so you have immediate access not only to other sample libraries in Independence 2 but also all your other VST effects and/or instruments.
The completely new "Browser" page lets you search and import audio and MIDI files as easy as possibl ...

Electro Grime is the latest release from Sample Label, Inspiration Sounds. It has been created for producers looking for totally fresh electro synths, basslines, drums and synth fx for dirty electro house and minimal house production.

Created exclusively using analogue synthesizers and drum machines, all loops are at 128BPM. It includes Drum Loops (Tops), Drum Loops (Bottoms), Bass Loops, Synth & FX Loops, Musical Loops but also one-shot hits.

Specifications :

- 570MB Data
- ACIDized Wave Files
- Apple Loops
- REX2 files
- All loops sync to BPM
- PC/Mac Compatible

Electro Grime is available now for instant download at a retail price of £29.95 / €39.95 / $49.95.

Leoné MusicReader has just released... MusicReader, an innovative software that makes reading music easy and convenient. The software offers solutions for all kinds of problems musicians have with (paper) sheet music, both individually and in orchestras and ensembles. This includes easy page turning, a convenient music library and flexible annotation making. It also anticipates on the developments of sheet music offered online. Digital sheet music can easily be converted to MusicReader and paper sheet music can also be digitized by using an easy to use scanning and conversion program.

MusicReader runs on all Windows XP and Vista laptops and desktops, but is especially designed for the use of pen and touch screens, such as on Tablet PCs. The company also offers a variety of hardware options to make the use of the software even more convenient.

There are two versions of MusicReader available, Solo Basic ($59) and Solo Pro ($99). MusicReader Solo Basic version contains the annotations, navigation and music conversion features. In Solo Pro also full screen and two page display, measure detection and tuner/metronome/music player are present. Note that an evaluation version is also available.