PC and Music News

A touch-sensitive gadget with the sensing panel on its back, instead of the screen, is being developed by US researchers. Using your fingers behind the device allows a firmer grip and more accurate performance without obscuring your view of the screen. When the user touches the interface on the back, an image of a finger appears behind the icons on the screen and moves around in sync with the user's finger, almost as if the device were transparent. A small active spot marked on the finger's end is used to interact with buttons onscreen. To complete the illusion, the fingertip turns white as if pressed against a sheet of glass when the user presses on the touchpad.

Check out the video on 440tv and imagine how such a device can be used in our audio world...

Waveform Series is the laser-cut shape of waveforms in sound editing applications by japanese jewelry designer Sakurako Shimizu. She used some human sound sources such as yawn, atchoum, giggle, wow, and the sound of a church bell.

To late for Christmas but definitely a gift to consider for Valentine's day...

Pendulum Audio unveils the OCL-500 Compressor, a new single-space 500 series rack format compressor.

Since its introduction in 1998, the Pendulum OCL-2 Compressor/Limiter has become a modern classic. The new OCL-500 has the same compression circuit as the OCl-2, but uses a transformerless class A solid-state gain makeup circuit in place of the tube stage. The result is clean, transparent compression that can be used to shape the dynamics of any source while preserving its tone. Like the OCL-2, the OCL-500 has a wide variety of time constants and dynamic control to optimize the compression characteristics, including a sidechain hi-pass filter.

The OCL-500 will be available in January 2009 with a price tag toward $1295.

Here's a gift from Goldbaby :

"Hi

Just thought I'd say thanks to all the people who bought my products... or put up with my forum posts... or said nice things about my samples.

I wish you all a merry Christmas.... and here is a present from Goldbaby!

This pack contains drum sounds from the MicroTonic drum machine recorded to tape."

To download this free sample pack, please visit the link below :

Studiodevices has released two new impulse responses libraries : Lexicography Vol.1 and Vol.2. With an amount of over 2.3 GB, these collections consist in ultra high density 24 bit and 96 kHz impulse-responses. Every impulse-response is available in stereo und true-stereo and comes with the same quality and professionalism as their previous Bree Casedy Library. The Lexicography Libraries can be used with any convolution plug-in available.

Lexicography Vol.1 and Vol.2 Libraries are available immediately in Studiodevices' online-shop for each €79 or both in the Lexicography Bundle for €139. MP3 demos are available at :

112dB unveils a new range of plug-ins called Redline Series.

Redline Reverb is a musical reverb based on a completely new and original concept that excels in both warmth and transparency at extremely low CPU usage.

Unlike conventional algorithmic reverbs Redline Reverb does not need separate plate, hall, and room algorithms. Instead its comprehensive parameters set allows lush smooth vocal reverbs, convincing room simulations, almost infinite reverb tails, synth pad and delay effects, and everything inbetween.

Described as an indispensable tool for any serious use of headphones, Redline Monitor is a listening, mixing, and mastering tool. It replaces the extreme stereo separation that is characteristic for headphones with the detailed stereo image of near-field monitor speakers.

Its proprietary algorithm performs a sophisticated combination of filtering, frequency-dependent delaying, mid/side processing, and room simulation to create a convincing acoustic soundstage that allows you to properly localize sound sources.

Last but not least, Redline Equalizer is a versatile parametric equalizer with novel features. Combining mastering-quality processing with unrivaled workflow, Redline Equalizer provides high precision control over the entire audio spectrum with perfect transparency and absolutely zero phase shift.

Whether it's silky smooth highs or ultra-tight lows you're after, Redline Equalizer delivers. Boost or cut up to an incredible 60dB per band without any harshness or boom. Choose dynamic EQ to make your equalization curves adjust in realtime to the source material. Pick either linear phase for extreme transparency, or from several vintage phase and cut/boost characteristics to make your tracks stand out in a mix. And with its proprietary S.A.M. (Smart Auto-gain Makeup) you will never have to manually balance levels again.

All the Redline Plug-ins are expected to be released in Q1 2009. Pricing TBA.