PC and Music News

Future Audio Workshop (FAW) introduces Circle, a new semi-modular software synthesizer, designed to be easy to use, allowing you to concentrate fully on sound design and performance.

Features :

- Ease of Use :

o Designed to be easy to use and intuitive through simple work flows.
o Large easy to see knobs and sliders.
o Connect up modulations via color coded circles in a simple and visual fashion. To preview a modulation, simple place a circle under a knob, and hear its effect.
o See all your connections at a glance, without the clutter of virtual cables.

- Interactive Control :

o Visually interactive MIDI learn. Assign your MIDI controllers in a simple, fast and familiar way.
o Attach multiple Circle controls to a single knob. Speed up an LFO, while closing a filt ...

Yamaha introduces the Audiogram Interface Series. Coming as a complete kit, the Audiogram6 and Audiogram3 each bundle together a hardware interface that adds audio inputs and outputs to your computer, software for recording and producing music, and a USB cable for connecting the audio interface.

The Audiogram Series will be available in August, 2008 for $139.99 retail (Audiogram3) and $199.99 retail (Audiogram6).

Mu Technologies is proud to present a double update of Mu Voice at MusikMesse this year. Mu Voice is a real-time low latency vocal harmonizer by Mu Technologies for studio use and live performance.

The update is two-fold :

1. 1.1.2: Sample rate support extended to

44.1 kHz - 48 kHz - 88.2 kHz - 96 kHz - 176.4 kHz - 192 kHz

2. 1.2.0: MIDI-enabled version of Mu Voice. This version gives you full control over Mu Voice from a MIDI keyboard, featuring:

- state-of-the-art chord recognition
- preset selection
- chord scheme navigation
- configurable for any type of keyboard from 24 to 88 keys.

Mu Voice is available for Mac OS X and Windows in VST, RTAS and AU formats at a price of $279 / 239€. Of course update is free of charge for licensed users.

Solid State Logic has also announced the release of MadiXtreme, a new family of multichannel PCIe audio cards for Mac and PC. Featuring "SSL's revolutionary" PCIe-Core Audio Pipeline technology, MadiXtreme is one of the first audio devices to take full advantage of the high speeds and incredible bandwidth offered by the PCIe bus on modern computers. There are two versions available; the single head MadiXtreme 64 and the dual head MadiXtreme 128.

MadiXtreme 64 features one optical MADI connector for 64 simultaneous I/Os while MadiXtreme 128 features two optical MADI Connector for up to 128 simultaneous I/Os. Both of them also features a word clock connector.

Compatible Mac OS X (10.4 or later) and Windows (XP or Vista 32 Bit), MadiXtreme will be available worldwide through selected SSL Resellers from May 2008.

Pricing:
MadiXtreme 64 ; MSRP of £449+ Local Tax.
MadiXtreme 128 ; MSRP of £669+ Local Tax.

M-Audio announces the ProKeys Sono 61 and the ProKeys Sono 88 which are respectively a 61-Key / 88-Key Portable Digital Piano with Audio Interface.

Features :

- 61-key / 88-Key portable digital piano with 2 x 2 USB audio interface
- semi-weighted velocity-sensitive keys
- 5 / 7 built-in sounds > instant access to piano, clav, organ and more
- line and microphone inputs > record vocals and instruments
- includes on-board General MIDI sound set > 128 total sounds plus drum kits and sound effects

Pricing :
ProKeys Sono 61 > $449.95
ProKeys Sono 88 > $549.95

SM Pro Audio demonstrates three new products at the MusikMesse, the V-Box, V-Rack, and V-Pedal which are stand-alone VST plug-in compatible hardware units .

Based around the recently developed 'Powered by VFX' hardware platform, VST and VSTi plug-ins can be loaded directly into the V-Box, V-Pedal, or V-Rack which all offer VST/VSTi plug-in compatibility in stand-alone hardware units without the need for a standard PC/Mac computer.

V-Box
The V-Box is a compact VST/VSTi hardware playback module built for performance keyboard players and DJ's. It allows you to take your plug-ins on the road or into the studio and access them live without a computer. Multiple plug-ins can be pre-loaded into bank/preset memories for immediate access. You can combine VST and VSTi plug-ins into chai ...