PC and Music News

To get into the holiday spirit, McDSP has decided to extend all their specials allowing customers to purchase anything and everything for up to 30% off ! And everything means everything - all bundles, individual products and upgrades are on sale now !

Hurry and make your purchase today, this offer ends December 31, 2009.

JZ Microphones introduces the first microphone in JZ Vintage series –V47, giving users a great microphone with legendary U47 sound, a unique double capsule and great designed microphone with a smart shock-mounting system.

The V47 vintage mic features :

• Original design in a flask shape
• Built-in shock-mounting system
• Swivel mount which works as a perfect positioning option
• Double diaphragm capsule
• Golden drops sputtering technology on capsule
• Improved electronics according to the nowadays standards
• 5 year warranty
• The feel of vintage sound

The new vintage mic will be available from the first day of Winter NAMM 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center. To hear it, visit booth #6946 in hall A, January 14-17.

Akai Professional announces that their RPM8 reference production studio monitors are now shipping to retailers. Perfect for contemporary music production, RPM8 monitors have been specifically tuned for use with the company's MPC music production workstations and production controllers.

RPM8 studio monitors are two-way, active, bi-amplified, nearfield loudspeakers intended for producers, recording engineers, remix artists, DJs and other musicians. The two-way monitors each feature an eight-inch woven-kevlar low-frequency driver with 80W RMS of continuous amplification for robust, full bass all the way down to 39 Hz. The monitors' high-frequency system consists of a one-inch silk-dome tweeter with 40W RMS of continuous amplification, mounted on a custom, functionally optimized waveguide f ...

The latest update to Novation's MIDI-control application, Automap, has been released. Automap v3.4 brings with it dozens of new mappings for plug-ins and instruments, and also carries firmware updates for Novation keyboards and controllers.

When developing Automap v3.4, Novation focussed on expanding Automap's on-board library of mappings (collections of assignments that tie knobs, faders, and buttons of Novation hardware to software parameters) for Logic, Reason, and Pro Tools. To acheive this, the mappings system was fully rebuild to allow thousands of new mappings across the Novation product range.

Now, Logic, Reason, and Pro Tools are 'fully mapped' (although Logic's Sculpture and Ultrabeat have inherent limitations). This means all plug-ins and software instruments that ship wit ...

Xils-Lab and audioMIDI.com have joined forces to offer the XILS 3LE matrix-style virtual modular synthesizer at just $20.00!

The XILS 3 is a virtual instrument based on the architecture of the classic seventies VCS3 matrix-based modular synthesizer. Matrix connection brings modularity and sound design to a new dimension. More than 450 connections (audio signal, controls signal, trigger signals) are available on the XILS 3, far more than any other type of modular synthesizer! Easy to connect, easy to modify, easy to see, the matrix is far and away the easiest way to connect modules to each other.

XILS 3LE is available for purchase via electronic serial number at this special price until 12/31/09, exclusively from :

Roland Corporation U.S. is pleased to announce general availability of the SP-404SX Portable Sampler. This update to the popular SP-404 offers 44.1kHz/16-Bit sound quality, improved DSP effects, a more versatile pattern sequencer, and easier data management.

The SP-404SX includes 29 DSP effects — including filter, delay, unique voice effects, subsonic, and looper — that switch seamlessly for a smooth performance. Twelve trigger pads, three control knobs, and a Sub Pad for rapid triggering allow DJs, musicians, and sound engineers to trigger samples and jingles and apply effects on the fly at the club, gig, or theater.

The built-in microphone, simple user interface, and optional battery operation enable recording with the SP-404SX anywhere inspiration strikes. It is also easy to import samples and utilize the high quality effects onboard for sound design or unique live performance purposes. The more versatile pattern sequencer now includes an improved quantize mode with new shuffle feel for creating the latest in hip hop, R&B, and reggaeton grooves.

The SP-404SX is now available with an MSRP of $465.50.