PC and Music News

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.

For a limited time only, Abbey Road Plug-ins is offering the chance to own all three of their plug-ins in one low-price bundle. Containing the Brilliance Pack, TG Mastering Pack and TG12413 Limiter, the bundle costs $500 (Native) or $750 (TDM) – amounting to respective savings of $419 and $869 off the usual combined price !

This is a unique offer which ends on Monday, January 26th 2009 at 9am GMT and is open to both new and existing customers.

The bundle is available now and only through :

AKG unveils the GB 40 GuitarBug transmitter which seems to be the easiest way to turn a guitar, bass, or portable keyboard into a wireless instrument.

Described as the world's smallest switchable wireless transmitter, it operates with a single AAA battery providing more than 11 hours of operation. The frequency response is optimized for guitar and bass and can be used for keyboards and all instruments with a jack plug. The patented FlexxJack-Plug is an additional feature to allow for extended flexibility by matching all guitar outputs with an included long adapter jack.

The GB 40 GuitarBug will be available as single version and as "guitar-set" version with a stationary receiver SR 40 Flexx. Pricing TBA.

Chandler Limited enters the 500 race furiously with its new Little Devil Equalizers and Compressors. Using all discrete circuits that combine Chandler's best designs with the hottest designs from the past, transformer balanced everything, and the American hand made quality you expect from Chandler, the Little Devils will take the lunchbox up (or down) to the next level.

Technically and sonically speaking, the Chandler Little Devils are steeped in the sound and function of all Chandler gear - discrete amplifiers, inductors, transformers, and quality American build. You won't find any surface mount or ribbon cables in the Little Devils (used to build cell phones and computers) that are becoming popular money-saving and sound-crippling build techniques used by some other manufacturers.

Pricing :

- List : $1375 for the EQ and $1155 for the Comp
- Estimated street price : $1250 and $1050 respectively

More information available on :

SAE London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Oxford are opening their doors to all this spring – everyone's invited to come and see the facilities that make SAE the "world's number one school for anyone wanting to get ahead in the fields of Audio, Film and Multimedia".

The Open Day takes place on Sunday, January 18th.

The Open Day will run from 10am to 5pm, and all are welcome to attend demonstrations for Audio and Digital Film courses in the studios and classrooms – including London's Music Business course that's geared towards those needing a solid understanding of the business side of the world's most dynamic and exciting industry.

Tours take place between 10am and 5pm, but for those who can't make it on the 18th January all colleges will be running Twilight Tours on Wednesday 21st January between 5pm and 8pm.