PC and Music News

Novation is now proudly shipping the new SL Mk II range of Controller Keyboards featuring Automap 3 technology.

The SL Mk II features over 70 controls including touch-sensitive faders and ringlet rotaries, backlit switches, and pads all tightly linked to the DAW/Plugin/Instruments via Novation's exclusive Automap 3 Pro software. The SL Mk II lineup includes the 61, 49, and 25-key versions as well as a control surface only ZeRO SL Mk II with touch sensitive 60mm faders optimized for controlling DAW mixers in addition to plugins and software instruments.

Lexicon announces the release of new Windows and Mac software drivers for the I·ONIX Series of Desktop Recording Interfaces.

With the new 64-bit Windows driver, these interfaces now operate seamlessly on computers running Windows 64-bit XP and Vista operating systems. The new Mac driver improves performance and now supports all Mac computers operating on OS X 10.4.9 or higher regardless of whether they are based on a PowerPC or Intel processor.

After releasing Cubase 5 and Cubase Studio 5 in the first half of this year, Steinberg now is also introducing the fifth version of Cubase Essential.

Offering a streamlined feature set that offers newcomers to Cubase a comprehensive set of composing, recording, editing, and mixing capabilities, the new version includes a range of functions from its sibling, Cubase 5.

Supporting Mac OS X 10.5, Windows Vista, and Windows XP, Cubase Essential 5 ($195.99/€149.75) will be shipping to European dealers and international Steinberg distributors, so availability may vary regionally. Cubase Essential 5 may also be purchased through the Steinberg online stores.

The Covert Operators announced a series of videos that are a complete guide to Ableton's MIDI Devices.

In 25 minutes time, you will learn what these devices do and in some cases you will see an example of how to put the features of a device into practice.

The Video Pack covers :

• The Chord Plugin (1:45)
• The Velocity Plugin (3:28)
• The Scale Plugin (4:10)
• The Note Length Plugin (7:00)
• The Random Plugin (4:29)
• The Key Zone Editor (2:39)
• Using a 3rd Party MIDI LFO in Live (1:43)

Pricing : 10€

Ueberschall has released Caribbean Flavors Vol.1, a versatile and very colorful production tool with a pristine sound which is focused on 32 live-recorded Construction Kits from the Caribbean. This upscale production offers many styles of the modern and traditional Latin music culture such as:

• Bachata,
• Buleria,
• Merengue,
• Salsa,
• Porro,
• Champeta,
• Cumbia,
• Montuno,
• Guaguanco,
• Guajira,
• Merengue.

All material provides the live-emphasized essence to aid in production realism, artistry and identity. Sessions were recorded with world-class musicians from Puerto Rico, Columbia, Cuba, Venezuela and Germany. Arrangment and ideas come from the famous musician, percussionist and Grammy Award winner Nené Vásquez; ...

Focusrite is now shipping the new Saffire PRO 24 DSP, a 16 Input / 8 Output FireWire audio interface that features VRM, a breakthrough monitoring technology, in addition to real-time DSP-powered tracking plug-ins, all tailor-made for the modern recording environment.

The Saffire PRO 24 DSP has an MSPR of $399.