PC and Music News

MOTU has introduced the Traveler-mk3, a mobile Firewire audio interface for Mac and Windows personal computers that provides eight channels of pristine 192kHz analog recording and playback combined with twenty channels of digital I/O in ADAT optical, AES/EBU and S/PDIF formats.

Engineered for portable recording situations with either desktop or laptop computers, the Traveler-mk3 draws power from its Firewire connection to the computer. For extended remote sessions, the Traveler can be powered by an industry-standard field battery pack. As a complete audio recording system with 28 inputs and 30 outputs operating simultaneously, including four XLR/TRS "combo" style mic inputs equipped with high-quality preamps, the Traveler-mk3 inherits many features from the previous Traveler interface and adds many additional significant new features, including V-Limit signal overload protection, true hi-Z guitar inputs, a 32-bit floating point DSP for on-board effects and mixing, two banks of configurable optical I/O and much more.

The Traveler-mk3 is expected to ship Q1 of 2009 at the same price as the original Traveler. For more information, please follow the link below :

AuraPlug has released Fuzz-Stone, the second plug-in in their Freetortion Series of free VST plug-ins for Windows. Fuzz-Stone is a '60s-styled guitar fuzz tone pedal which simulates the Legendary Stones' Satisfaction guitar tone.

Features :

- Stompbox design.
- Level control.
- Distortion control.
- Cabinet simulation.
- Easy to use.
- Low CPU usage.

The Controls :
- Volume - Set the overall volume of the unit.
- Attack - Set the amount of distortion.
- Cabinet - Cabinet simulation.

Korg introduces the Kaossilator Pink Limited Edition.

The Kaossilator is a dynamic phrase synthesizer and comes packed with 100 sound programs that combine Korg's modelling synthesizer engine with effects from the KAOSS Pad series. Its horizontal axis is assigned to note/pitch, while the vertical axis is assigned to parameters such as: cut-off, feedback, or modulation depth, giving you a wide range of performance possibilities. In addition to classic synthesizer sounds, there are faithfully simulated piano, guitar and trumpet sounds as well as looped and one-shot drum sounds.

The Kaossilator offers you a choice of 31 different scales, including chromatic and diminished, as well as major and minor blues and pentatonic scales – by using the key setting function, you can play them in any key. In addition to the standard western scales, Korg has included a few more exotic varieties such as Spanish, Ryukyu, and Raga. It also includes a Gate Arpeggiator which enables you to produce specific patterns of notes in sync with user specified tempos, and a Loop Recording function allowing you to record a phrase with a specified number of beats to a maximum of two bars (or measures) and add layers to it.

This Pink Limited Edition will be available soon at approximately $300.

British hardware manufacturers DAV Electronics have released the Broadhurst Gardens No. 501 (BG501) which is a microphone amplifier with DI Input in the API 500 Series format. The features of this microphone amplifier consist of low noise and low distortion. It offers switched gain controls for high accuracy level setting (4 dB steps), D.I. Input (high impedance), level indication, 26dB pads (switchable), phase reversal and 48v phantom supply (switchable).

The BG501 is available at a price of £399 (excl. VAT).

BeesNeez unveils James, a new large diaphragm tube condensor microphone, hand built in Australia.

The James is built around the BeesNeez K47b capsule. This capsule is similar to the K47 capsules found in the Neumann U47's in that it is a single backplate 34mm capsule. It does though have a different hole configuration and depth helping to create the crystal clear and mid forward tones.

The James' tube is a hand selected European NOS. It has a very quiet noise floor and great frequency response. The mic circuit is point to point wired, paper in oil and film capacitors and is followed by a Cinemag Transformer.

Last but not least, it features a 10db pad, and a selectable SRO (Sibilance Roll Off).

The James is available now at an introductory price of $899. It ships with Suspension Mount, Power Supply, Lead and Flight Case.

The Vienna Symphonic Library team has released a sequel to their successful solo strings collection. The new Vienna Instruments Collection Solo Strings II, featuring the muted solo instruments, violin, viola, cello, and double bass, is now available from Vienna's worldwide network of distributors and dealers.

This new collection offers 46 GB of all-new articulations of the four solo string instruments. Solo Strings II contains many of the playing techniques that the first collection includes, but played "con sordino" (with mutes). It includes articulations such as muted short and long notes, crescendo and diminuendo variations, as well as Interval Performances such as legato, portamento, and trills. Furthermore, additional Legato Performances with very long notes have been recorded for use in slower parts. Thus, every single pitch and velocity is available in 24 variations.

Like all Vienna Instruments collections, Solo Strings II is a sample-based virtual instrument that ships in the formats VST (OS X, Win XP/Vista), RTAS (OS X) as well as AU (OS X) and also works stand-alone. Registered users are eligible to download the free mixing and host software Vienna Ensemble 2.

Pricing
Standard Library: $475, less Holiday Discount through January 15, 2009 $380 Extended Library: $355, less Holiday Discount through January 15, 2009 $284 Full Library: $830, less Holiday Discount through January 15, 2009 $664