PC and Music News

VoxBox by Puremagnetik has been developed as a one-stop solution for instrument building and sound design applications that require vocal timbres. Whether you wish to construct standalone voice programs or to layer vocals into existing sounds, VoxBox provides the raw material for patch thickening and harmonic variant creation.

The included VoxBox menus and looped phrases are equally suited as ready-to-play without further processing. Simply load up one of the tempo synced clips or play the one-shot phrases as you would any other instrument.

Voxengo has updated its mastering limiter plug-in Elephant to version 3.4.

Changes :

• Latency change reporting fixed in AudioUnits.
• Lock-up problem on single-core CPUs fixed.
• Plug-in initial loading time reduced.
• K-metering is now following specification fully.
• Calibration K-metering modes added.

Beginning July 1st 2009 the fully featured vielklang by zplane is now available at a special price of only €199 / $219 (regular price €249 / $299).

vielklang is a plugin instrument for instant audio harmonization, it generates up to four voices from a single-voiced audio input. The progression of each individual voice is controlled by sophisticated harmony progression and voice leading models, resulting in musically meaningful harmonization without any configuration efforts.

With vielklang, you can thus easily generate and prototype natural sounding background vocals and brass sections, modify melodies and single-voice loops in terms of pitch and scale, and experiment with different harmonizations or chords triggered by different MIDI-inputs. It allows you to generate four voices, edit their harmonies and single pitches, and convert the audio to MIDI.

vielklang is available for both Mac OS X and Windows in VST, AU and RTAS formats.

URS unveils the URS N4 series EQ, a new plug-in that digitally recreates the sound of a vintage British Six Band Equalizer (4 bands plus HP/LP Filters). It is very broad-banded and musical.

Features :

• Number of bands: Six.
• Low and High bands are selectable peak or shelving.
• Mid are peaking type.
• Low: 33 Hz, 56 Hz, 100 Hz, 180 Hz, and 330 Hz.
• Low Mid: 220 Hz, 270 Hz, 330 Hz, 390 Hz, 470 Hz, 560 Hz, 680 Hz, 820 Hz, 1k and 1.2k.
• High Mid: 1.5k, 1.8k, 2.2k, 2.7k, 3.3k, 3.9k, 4.7k, 5.6k. 6.8k and 8.2k.
• High: 10k, 3.3k, 4.7k, 6.8k,10k, and 15k.
• "Hi-Q" button on the mid bands for narrower bandwidth.
• Filter Boost/Cut: +/- 12dB variable to .1db.
• Filter Slope: 12dB per Octave.
• Hi-pass filter: 27 Hz, 47 Hz, 8 ...

VirSyn has released version 2.0 of its reverb plug-in, Reflect.

Version 2.0 of Reflect comes with a new RealIR Engine using direct convolution of the critical early reflections without compromising the flexibility of the algorithmic reverb tail generation. The resulting density and smoothness rivals those of the most expensive hardware reverbs.

New Features :

• RealIR combines convolution of early reflections with algorithmic tail generation.
• Backward compatible with v1.x
• New presets.
• New User interface.

New customers can purchase Reflect for €169 (without the dongle). It is available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, VST3, AU and RTAS plug-in formats. The upgrade is free of charge for Reflect owners. A fully functional/time limited demo version is available (a Syncrosoft USB-eLicenser / Dongle is required).

Genuine Soundware unveils ShakePad, a virtual multi-effect unit intended for real time sound manipulation via an X/Y pad. It includes 50 different high quality effect algorithms with full stereo operation. Summary of main features :

• 50 high quality stereo effects
• X/Y Pad for multiple functions
• Adjustable release time from 0 to 10 seconds with variable rest point
• HOLD button
• Dry/Wet slider
• Real time parameter display
• Host Automation
• Easy MIDI Learn

ShakePad is available now for Windows and Mac OS X in VST and AU formats at the introductory price of €21 until August 31st, 2009. The full price will then be €29.