PC and Music News

Focusrite has released an update of the Liquid Mix firmware.

Changes :

+ Fixed a crash in Ableton Live crashes when loading LiquidMix if the hardware is not connected
+ Fixed a problem with CPU usage in Cubase 4 when inserting the first LM instance
+ Fixed a problem with Liquid Mix snapshot naming
+ improved snapshot loading robustness
+ Fixed a problem with Intel/PPC cross platform compatibility of snapshots / sessions
+ Fixed a problem with RTAS wrapping the LM plug-in for Pro Tools
+ Fixed a problem with recalling settings in logic 8 on some channels
+ Fixed a problem finding the stereo plug-in in Cubase 4
+ Problem with rotary controls Fixed on Windows build
+ Fixed Liquid Mix crash when trying to use 'Fixed' EQ controls
+ Fixed hardware parameter control in Cubase 4.5.1
+ Fixed bug causing continuous software controls from hardware
+ Fixed CPU spiking with certain emulations
+ Removed C++ Runtime Library dependency (Windows)
+ Remove dependency on the shared memory update - now using POSIX shared memory

This update is available at the following url :

Dark Minimal House Drum Loops is the latest release from Prime Loops containing over 100 Minimal House, Tech-House, Glitch & Electro Drum Loops.

This new sound suite challenges genres and mixes many current styles into a DJ-ready, optimised Sample-Pack ready for the clubs.

Inside you will find subliminal grooves from Sparse rustic drum loops, to intelligent micro-rhythms, interesting electronic percussion loops to distinguished driving tech-house beats, sublime quantum pulses to evolving micro-glitch patterns, and lots more.

The Sound Suite is available in many formats and has been mastered and maximised to enhance the production workflow - with over 100 original Minimal House Drum Loops. You can listen to the demo & download free samples visit Prime Loops at :

SampleModeling has released Mr. Sax T., its new Kontakt Player-based Tenor saxophone plug-in instrument, created by Stefano Lucato in cooperation with Giorgio Tommasini & Peter Siedlaczek.

Mr. Sax T. is a sample-based virtual instrument relying on a completely new technology, developed and patent-pending by Stefano Lucato. The saxophone is probably the most difficult instrument to emulate. Despite several attempts, using different technologies ranging from traditional sampling to sophisticated physical modeling, the results obtained so far fell short of the expectations. This is particularly true if real time use is concerned.

Synchronous Wave Triggering
This entirely new technology was developed by Stefano Lucato when it became clear that all the previously applied approache ...

Muse Research unveils two updated models of their famous Receptor hardware plug-in players. The Receptor 2 Pro and the Receptor 2 Pro Max are described as faster, smarter, and better units than the original.

Featuring entirely new computational engines with fast dual-core processors that offer twice the power of the previous generation, their new SATA-2 storage systems offer three times more disc bandwidth, 10 times the networking speed, and 50% more memory that is twice as fast as before.

The Receptor 2 Pro and the Receptor 2 Pro Max will be available soon with a MAP price of $2599 and $3199 respectively.

Kelly Concepts presents the Kelly SHU Composite, the latest addition to the Kelly SHU line of suspended kick drum microphone mounts.

Stage vibrations and low-end transfer can rob an amplified kick drum of its full sonic potential. A shock-mounted kick drum microphone platform is one logical defense against these unwanted mechanical interferences. This innovative new system promises to isolate the kick drum microphone from the drum and the stage that the drum sits on, both at the same time.

The economical new Composite series SHU mounts are injection molded using lightweight yet tough high-density reinforced compounds. The system fits any size or depth of kick drum, utilizing the drum's existing tuning hardware as attachment points for solid rubber isolation cords. The system accepts any standard kick drum microphone which is designed to fit on a conventional boom stand.

Manufactured and assembled in the U.S.A, the Kelly SHU Composite is available now at a list price of $62.

Audio Ease has updated Altiverb to version 6.3. This is a major update that greatly enhances efficiency, and ensures Pro Tools 8 and Pyramix Mascore compatibility. It is the result of ongoing extensive optimizations under the hood, from which all digital audio platforms will benefit.

Changes :

- Extensive optimization resulted in reduced CPU loads.
- Major rewrites have enhanced overall stability of Altiverb.
- When run in sessions higher than 48 kHz, when applying delays in early refs and tail errors in assembling the final IR could occur. This is fixed.
- Fixed problem in the naming of Altiverb presets.
- [PT] flatter cpu load within Pro Tools systems, reducing "CPU held off too long" -messages.
- [PT] fixed problem when using automation presets.
- [TDM] Improper load of settings removed.
- [PT PC] Altiverb TDM instances now map properly to Altiverb Regular counterparts when no XL authorization is found.
- [MAS] when "Reset All Parameters" is on, a song load does not delete all settings anymore.
- [AU] After "rescan IR folder" Altiverbs interface remains functioning properly.
- [PC] compatibility with Sequoia, Samplitude and Sonar improved.
- [PC Pyramix] silence at start of non-realtime mixdowns fixed.
- [PC Pyramix] surround mapping of output channels is now compatible.
- [PC Pyramix] integration with mascore completed.
- [VST] fixed mono-mono IR selection problem.

The Altiverb 6.3 update, and the monthly Impulse Responses are free of charge.