PC and Music News

IMSTA is proud to announce that its long awaited Piracy Survey is now ready. This is the chance end-users have been waiting for to say what is on their minds to the music software companies.

The survey will run until December 31, 2008 and is open to music software users from all around the world.

If you have any questions or comments about this survey, please post it in IMSTA's Official Forum hosted by DontCrac[k]

Clavia is pleased to announce the Nord Stage EX models. The Stage EX units have gone through a hardware change and also received a cosmetic makeover. The new features are :

• Increased memory capacity for the piano samples. The EX units have twice the internal memory capacity compared to the former models, an increase from 128 to 256 MB.
• The front panel sports a new color scheme.
• The EX 88 and EX 76 models have labels printed on the front panel upper rim to indicate the position and function of the rear panel jacks.

The increased memory allows users to add more pianos from the Nord Stage Piano Library, to bring an even greater selection of these sounds to each and every performance.

The release of the Nord Stage EX will be accompanied by the release of a new grand piano, the Yamaha mk2 XL version, with more additions to the free Nord Piano Library to come in the following months. Any additions to the Piano Library will also be compatible with the previous Nord Stage units. The production of the Nord Stage EX models is scheduled to begin in the first weeks of October.

Camel Audio unveils Alchemy, a new virtual synth which they've been working hard on for the last four years.

Described as the ultimate sample manipulation synthesizer, Alchemy features additive, spectral and granular synthesis and resynthesis, sampling, and a very capable virtual analog engine with unison and PWM. You can morph or crossfade between sources. You can import your own samples from SFZ, WAV or AIFF files. A wide range of analog modelled filters are included, in addition to a flexible rack of effects which includes all those from CamelPhat and CamelSpace as well as many new effects such as a high quality reverb. The innovative modulation system is extremely flexible, yet easy to use. Alchemy also features a powerful arpeggiator with the ability to import the groove from any MIDI file for immediate synchronization to a beat.

Alchemy ships with over 2GB of samples and analysed content from in-house designers Tim Conrardy and Biomechanoid, as well as designers such as Ian Boddy, Robert Rich, Scott Solida and Nucleus SoundLab. A library of 300 excellent presets from many of the world's top sound designers is included, arranged into categories for rapid access to the sound you require. A variety of expansion sound banks are in development.

Alchemy will be released this Autumn.

IK Multimedia is proud to announce the sequels to the Total Bundle series: "Total Workstation 2" and "Total Studio 2" bundles.

Total Workstation 2 bundle offers the entire collection of all 5 of IK's virtual instrument and workstation plug-ins in one box (SampleTank 2.5 XL, Miroslav Philharmonik, Sonik Synth 2, SampleMoog and SampleTron) for a staggering 14,000 sounds and 28 GB of samples available in one convenient package, and at up to 72% off regular list prices.

Total Studio 2 bundle provides a collection of 12 plug-ins, including the 5 virtual instruments of the Total Workstation 2 bundle, plus 7 effects plug-in suites (AmpliTube 2, Ampeg SVX, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix, AmpliTube Metal, AmpliTube X-GEAR, T-RackS and Classik Studio Reverb), and offered at one amazing price of up to 80% off regular list prices.

In addition, as exclusive bonus content never released before, these bundles include exclusively made "Artist Signature Presets" by renowned players and producers from all genres: Dark Child- Rodney Jerkins, Ken Lewis, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Bernie Worrell, Wolfgang Gartner, Scratch-D of Dynamix II, DJ George Acosta, Carmen Rizzo, LVM of the Nasty Beat Makers, MTV's Jamie Laboz, Happy Perez, Lenny Dee and many more to come as additional free downloads.

Total Workstation 2 bundle is priced at $699.99/€539.99 or $599.99/€449.99 for the crossgrade version while Total Studio 2 bundle retails at $1,099.99/€839.99 or $899.99/€689.99 for the crossgrade version. Note that for a limited time, users of the previous versions of both Total Workstation Bundle and Total Studio Bundle, who have registered their product prior to this announcement, will also be able to upgrade to the new version 2, through the IK online store. For more information, please visit the link below :

Spectrasonics has finally released its long-awaited new virtual instrument : Omnisphere Power Synth.

This new instrument is the first to be based on Spectrasonics newly developed STEAM Engine. According to the company, this epic 'Power Synth' breaks completely new sonic ground by combining a wide variety of hybrid realtime synthesis techniques, an epic library of remarkable 'Psychoacoustic' sounds, and many innovative features that have never been seen before in any hardware or software synthesizer.

Omnisphere is available now for Mac and PC in AU, VST and RTAS formats, it has an MSRP of $499 / €379. There is an upgrade for all Atmosphere customers, available from the online Spectrasonics' Techshop.

Arturia has just released version 2.2 of its Analog Factory software.

New Features :

- Better management of the key parameters: 4 LCD's now displays the parameter controlled by the "Key parameter" knobs.
- New set of performance parameters: Some new parameters are accessible for each sound, the pitch-bend range, the polyphony number, the polyphony mode(Mono, unison, poly), the size of a step in a sequence, and the MIDI synchronization on the LFO.
- Modulation Wheel improved support: All sounds now respond to the modulation wheel.
- Mac Power PC version now compatible with Logic and other Audio Unit hosts

Bug corrections :

- Version 2.2 address issues when running in Pro Tools on Mac OS X Leopard
- When using the Analog Factory Experience keyboard with a host (Cubase, ProTools, Logic…) there was a problem when a current preset was changed; the virtual knobs would keep their previous value. This is no longer the case.
- Audible steps when stepping filters removed
- Some computers holding a specific video card got a blank window under Leopard. This is no longer the case.
- Mac OS X: Menu bar has been moved where it should be, at the top of the screen
- Reported Crash in Logic and Live 6/Live 7 in various circumstances fixed

This update is free for all registered owners.