PC and Music News

One lucky customer who buys any sample pack from Goldbaby between 31st of January 2009 and the 28th of February 2009 will receive Goldbaby's very own Jomox Mbase 01. The Mbase01 is an analog drum machine designed to create phat analog bass drum sounds...

The customer will be chosen randomly on the 1st of March 2009 and will be notified by e-mail on that very day.

Orange Tree Samples has just released CoreBass Pear, an upright bass sample library for Kontakt 2 and 3.

Using Kontakt's scripting engine, CoreBass Pear intelligently interprets the input from your MIDI controller (or sequenced MIDI data) in order to produce realistic upright bass tracks. The library was sampled both using a mic and directly from the output of the bass pickup—two separate signals which can be mixed to create a variety of different upright bass tones. You can select between the presets CoreBass Pear comes with, or create your own, all within the sample library's interface.

The library features :

- 400 MB of hand-tuned 24-bit samples
- Full sustain with natural decay and release samples
- Separate mic and DI samples
- Individually sampled strings
- 2x intelligent round-robin sample cycling
- Seamlessly slide from one note to any other
- Variable pre-pluck noises
- Dynamic vibrato
- Harmonics, string slaps, mutes, and other special effects

CoreBass Pear is available for an introductory price of $54.95 (normally $64.95) as a direct download. The introductory discount ends on February 15th, 2009.

The human auditory system is sensitive to a wide range of sounds, both in terms of frequency pitch and intensity loudness.The lowest sound in pitch we can typically hear is about 20 Hz, and the highest sound 20kHz. However, we are not all equally sensitive with all differing frequencies...

Find out just how far your ears can hear ranging frequencies with Audiometry, an iPhone app which is a must have for all audio enthusiast.

With Audiometry, you will test your frequency threshold, using static volume tones. Using the iPhone headphones, you will be asked to adjust the iPhone volume, for clear and effective playback tones. Your left and right ear will be tested alternately with every frequency, from the above frequency ranges. After the test has been completed, you will get a report of your hearing frequency response.

Audiometry costs $0.99 / €0.79 and is available through

Cytomic unveils "The Glue" Bus Compressor effect plug-in.

Features :

- 4 in / 2 out stereo compressor (second stereo input for external side-chain processing)
- Accurate analog model of famous British mix bus compressor of the 80's
- Ultra-fast attack time of up to 0.01 mS
- Range knob to naturally control the maximum compression applied
- Peak Clip to optionally hard limit transients
- DSP coded using C++ and assembler, Interface coded using the Juce framework (C++)
- VST, AU and RTAS plug-in formats for Mac OS X and Windows

This plug-in is expected to be released Q1 2009 at a price of $99 (+VAT where applicable).

About Cytomic
Cytomic was formed in December 2007 by Andrew Simper as a company dedicated to producing DSP plugins using analog modelling based on quality algorithms, with a focus on ease of use and reasonable pricing. Andrew has been Head DSP Developer for FXpansion for the past 4 years, where he coded the effects for Guru and BFD2, and created the D-CAM: Synth Squad (to be released Q2 2009). Cytomic software is currently in use by top musicians and has already featured on number one singles on Beatport.

Last year AKG has launched the C 214, a recording microphone designed as a cost-effective alternative to the high-end C 414 family. Today AKG launches the C 214 Stereo Set which provides users with a complete solution that delivers "outstanding performance and excellent quality".

C 214 Features :

- AKG's Legendary 1" Edge-Terminated Large Diaphragm Sound'
- Outstanding Dynamic Range (up to 156 dB SPL, Ultra-Low Noise)
- Roadworthy Design
- Integrated Suspension to reduce mechanical Noise
- Switchable 20 dB Attenuation Pad and Low Cut Switch
- Rugged double mesh Grill for high RF immunity but unaffected Acoustics
- All-metal Die-cast body with shock- and scratch-resistant Finish
- Designed, Engineered and Build in Vienna, Austria

Accompanying a pair of C 214's, the Stereo Set includes spider-type shock mounts, stand adapters, windscreens, and a stereo pair certificate for authenticity.

Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH is pleased to announce that leading sample content and instrument manufacturers have committed to support for its new VST Expression technology. Already integrated into the new Cubase 5, VST Expression is a new system which aims to simplify composing with large sample libraries within Cubase, streamlining the way today's massive virtual orchestras and highly detailed instrument libraries are used in the context of creative composition for scores and songs.

"With virtual and hardware instruments becoming more and more expressive it has been time to provide a more flexible and more elegant solution for recording and editing sounds with multiple articulations," comments Arnd Kaiser, Steinberg's Product Planning Manager for Music Technology. "This is what VST Expression is all about. But it's not only a great way to record, edit and score orchestral instrument sounds. It's a powerful tool for any sound generator and a new creative platform for more expressive instruments we might see in the future," Kaiser adds.

VST Expression simplifies handling of articulations and expressions for advanced virtual instruments, large sample libraries and hardware sound generators. The new technology makes recording and editing articulation commands much easier, with all articulation data displayed separately in both track inspector and editor windows. VST Expression is part of the new Cubase 5, the latest version of Steinberg's Advanced Music Production System and is compatible with any VST or MIDI instrument. Steinberg's premium orchestral sample instrument HALion Symphonic Orchestra also supports VST Expression.