PC and Music News

Shure has announced that the PG27USB and PG42USB Side Address Condenser Microphones are now shipping.

Designed with a flat frequency response and high SPL handling, the PG27USB naturally reproduces a wide variety of acoustic, amplified and vocal sound sources - with professional clarity and guaranteed "Plug and Play" Shure quality.

The PG42USB features a large, cardioid diaphragm tailored with high sensitivity to clearly reproduce refined performances. The voice-tailored frequency response has been specifically engineered to capture the subtle nuances of lead vocal performances. Also included on the PG42USB Microphone is a high-pass filter for additional control of unwanted low-end signal.

Both the PG27USB and PG42USB Recording Microphones feature :

• Large diaphragm ca ...

IZotope has updated Alloy to version 1.01.

Changes :

• Fixed delay compensation when toggling global bypass.
• Addressed issue with harmonic exciter when handling exceptionally loud input levels.
• Many minor bugfixes and performance improvements.

Moog Music and reKon audio have announced the release of the VST Little Phatty Editor,

Created by reKon audio, the VST Little Phatty Editor is a VSTi format software application that provides full control and editing of Little Phatty presets and performance controls via MIDI from within your VST compatible host application. This allows total management of custom sounds directly within the user's sequencing and music production environment. The following actions are supported :

• Full editing of all Little Phatty preset parameters via MIDI CC messages
• Automation of all LP parameters in real time through the VST host application
• Save/Load presets to and from the Little Phatty
• Presets can be saved in VST Editor format

VST Little Phatty Editor is available for Windows and Mac OS X in the VST instrument plug-in format. It is available directly from Moog Music for $69.

Avant Electronics introduces a new version of the Avantone Active MixCubes.

Each MixCube incorporates a Class A/B amplifier module which exhibits extremely low noise and distortions specs (.005% THD @ 1 KHz) that are comparable to the very finest studio rack amps. They are rock-solid; conservatively rated at 60 watts RMS per box. Together with our new power supply, they generate exceptional operating headroom.

The new Active MixCubes in addition to the new power rating and expanded headroom are also a true "Cube". "We were able to maintain the original Cube shape instead of an elongated shape as in the first edition. Furthermore, we have a detented System Gain knob on the back panel along with a pin 1 audio Ground Lift Switch, an illuminated On/Off Switch, Combo-style ¼"/XLR input j ...

Audix has introduced the next series of Fusion mic packages. The first package to hit the market is the FP5, designed for miking a 5-piece drum kit for both live and studio applications.

The FP5 contains a completely new series of dynamic microphones which is designed, assembled, and tested by Audix in the USA. The FP5 contains five microphones: the F6 for kick drum, the F5 for snare, and three F2's for rack toms and floor tom. Each mic is provided with the snap-to-fit DCLIP mic stand adapter, and the entire system is packaged in a heavy-duty custom aluminum carrying case.

The FP5 carries an MSRP of $559.

Optional accessories for the FP5 includes the D-VICE rim mounting system ($29.95), the CBL-DR25 25' right angle XLR-XLR mic cable ($29.95), the D-FLEX butterfly mounting clip ($19.95), the D-CLAMP clip for lug nut mounting ($29.95), and the STAND-KD pedestal mic stand for use with bass drum and guitar cabs ($44.95).

Akai Professional announces that its MPD18 portable padcontroller is now shipping to retailers.

The MPD18 is the smallest-sized model in Akai's line of MPD MIDI-over-USB pad controllers. The heart of the MPD18 is its bank of 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive genuine MPC pads, an Akai Professional exclusive. Users can access three different banks of sounds from the pads for a total of 48 sounds at once. The MPD18 also borrows the MPC series' assignable Q-Link controllers, enabling users to control nearly any parameters in their software in real time on an assignable Q-Link fader and an assignable Q-Link button.

Users will find the MPD18 to be convenient, sending MIDI information over its plug-and-play USB interface for use with Mac or PC without installing any drivers. The USB connection also powers the MPD18 so musicians can use the controller with no power supply. The MPD18 can control nearly any MIDI software, as well as MIDI hardware, such as synths, sound modules, samplers, sequencers, drum machines and more.

The MPD18 is available from musical instrument and professional audio retailers and has a U.S. Retail Price of $199.00 with an estimated street price of $99.00.