PC and Music News

Roland announces that the VP-770 Vocal & Ensemble Keyboard is now shipping, featuring newly developed vocal designer effects and high-quality ensemble sounds powered by Roland's exclusive SuperNATURAL technology.

With a solid wood construction and metal chassis, the VP-770 features a newly enhanced interface, plus expressive onboard sounds applicable across a vast array of musical genres. A high-quality headset microphone comes standard and provides the best signal path possible in combination with the VP-770's pristine onboard microphone preamp.

Performers will especially love how inviting and inspiring the VP-770 is to use onstage. It's ideal for musicians who perform alone or in small groups, and for those who need an interactive, real-time backing chorus. Film and TV music composers who are challenged with time and budget can use the VP-770 to generate high-impact choral, string, and brass arrangements on the spot. Churches in need of a choir (or choir enhancer) will love the VP-770 as well.

The VP-770 is also equipped with high-resolution vocoder modeling, which can be used to generate signature vocal effects for the dance music, pop, R&B, and hip-hop genres without the hassle and expense of a separate vocoder or processor.

The VP-770 has an MSRP of $2199.

Granelli Audio Labs unveils the G5790, a real SM57 modified to turn 90 degrees.

Granelli Audio Labs uses brand new Shure® SM57s and inserts a custom-made aluminum part with an acoustically-engineered internal sound path. The result is a microphone that maintains the SM57's renowned durability and familiar tone while increasing functionality.

Well, this G5790 seems to be a winner for snare recordings !

The G5790 is available now at a price of $149.99.

MFB announces that the Schlagzwerg is now shipping.

Schlagzwerg combines the power of analogue drum and percussion sounds with modular versatility in a convenient and compact desktop unit. Schlagzwerg fusions CV-controllable percussion modules and a six-track CV/Gate-sequencer into a unique drum-machine for live and studio applications.

Thanks to its semi-modular concept, Schlagzwerg is ready to go without any need for patch-connections. Its internal pre-wiring comprises trigger-assignments for the gate-tracks of five (of six) drum-sounds as well as hihat decay-control. The additional CV-tracks can freely be patched to any of the modules' functions. Naturally, the available CV-inputs can also be addressed by external control sources like LFOs, envelope generators or a Theremin-controller.

Features :

• semi-modular drum-machine
• true analogue sound sources
• kick, snare and tom (DRUM-04/-05/-06)
• cymbal and hihat (DRUM-07)
• step-sequencer with 16 steps and 16 A/B-patterns
• 6 gate- and 6 CV-tracks
• separate CV/Gate-tracks, e.g. for use with Kraftzwerg
• integrated MIDI/CV-interface
• integrated stereo-mixer with panning


Schlagzwerg is available now at a price of €680.

Millennia AD-D96 and AD-R96 eight channel analog to digital converter options for the HV-3D and HV-3R are available now.

Millennia's audiophile-quality proprietary converter design, tightly coupled to the HV-3 preamp, removes many stages of potential distortion. The Millennia converters are 24-bit 96 kHz eight-channel AES format with Internal/External Clocking with AES or Wordclock in/out on BNC connectors. The AES output is on a DB25 connector that conforms to the Tascam wiring standard.

All HV-3D and HV-3R units can have the option installed.

Millennia AD-D96 and AD-R96 analog to digital converter options for the HV-3D and HV-3R are $1,500 MSRP.

Voxengo has updated its mastering limiter plug-in Elephant to version 3.3.

Changes :

• "Radial" knob mode can be now disabled completely.
• "Off-Line Render" indication added.
• Global level metering parameters added.
• A/B switch visual appearance changed.
• Knob read-outs now require a single click for keyboard entry.
• Occasional crashes in WaveLab and other hosts fixed.
• Host sample rate switch-related problem fixed.

Puremagnetik has announced the release of "Human Beatbox" and "Funky Constructions" Artist Kits, two new free Ableton Live 8 Packs.

The Human Beatbox Kit includes a dynamic and expressive beatbox Drum Rack and a collection of looped clips for Ableton Live 8.

Funky Constructions is a fine collection of funky beats and hot grooves for Ableton Live 8 in grouped "construction kit" format.

Both of them are available for free at :