PC and Music News

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.

Audio Damage has just released Automaton which is a very special "glitchy" plug-in. With four separate effects (Stutter, Modulate, Bitcrush, and Replicate) driven by a cellular automata sequencer, Automaton is capable of adding subtle seemingly random fills and "humanizing" effects, but, if you like, you can crank the sequencer up to eleven and watch as your DAW becomes a petri dish while Automaton makes complete hay of the track you've inserted it to.

Features :

- Cellular automata sequencer with host tempo-sync, five different musically useful rulesets (including a step sequencer), extensive randomization features, and a life of its own.
- Four sequencer-driven effects, including Stutter (a buffer delay for extremely short loop slices), Modulate (a self-modulating ring modulator), Bitcrush (sample rate and bit depth reduction, and our own "Error" effect), and Replicate (a special version of our Replicant effect, tuned for use with the cellular automata sequencer).
- Master section allows extensive mixing capabilities, enabling Automaton to excel at either adding subtlety (like an occasional extra hi-hat) or complete self-generating IDM madness.
- MIDI Learn for hardware control of most parameters (VST only).

Automaton is available now for Mac OS X and Windows in VST and AU formats for $49.

Note : Discover this plug-in on 440tv !

Schwa and Stillwell Audio have announced the release of Schwa's TinMan and Stillwell Audio's The Rocket Compressor.

The Rocket is a character audio compressor, singular in its extraordinary speed, responding in mere microseconds to variations in program level. Being in the order of several thousand times faster than most ordinary compressors, Stillwell Audio respectfully submit that The Rocket "kicks like a mf".

TinMan is an auto-peaking resonant filter with multiple pitch detection and individually triggered attack/decay envelopes. In other words, it listens to your audio and makes matching spooky "wooo-eeee-oooo" effects.

TinMan and The Rocket Compressor are both available for Windows (VST) and Mac OS X (VST & AU) and cost $50 each ($25 for those using them only on the Reaper platform and only in a non-commercial use environment).

Korg unveils the M50, a new workstation declined in 3 models : the M50-61, M50-73 and M50-88 with 61, 73 and 88 key respectively.

Features :

- Same "EDS" (Enhanced Definition Synthesis) tone generator found on the M3
- 256 MB of PCM data, provides 608 programs and 384 combinations featuring Korg's voicing expertise.
- The 61-key M50-61 and 73-key M50-73 use a new semi-weighted Natural Touch keyboard, while the 88 key M50-88 features the top-of-the-line Real Weighted Hammer Action 3 (RH3) graded action keyboard,
- The Drum Track gives you 671 patterns to stimulate and support your realtime performance and song production.
- The Polyphonic Arpeggiator delivers from simple phrases up to complex rhythmic gestures, and lets you use two patterns simultaneously in Combination mode or Se ...

Homegrown Sounds has announced the release of SoundScaper, a free VST Effect Plugin for Windows capable of Reverb, Echo and Comb effects.

It was designed primarily as way of creating atmospheric landscapes in the tradition of past HGSounds creations. It has almost infinite feedback time for many modes, and so is capable of producing rich and complex drones when used with a continuous sound source. It can also be used as a traditional reverb or echo suitable for any application.

SoundScaper has a diverse range of sonic possibilities using 300 datasets of comb/allpass timings, each providing a different effect model. Each of these modes can then be set to one of 33 different Multipliers (Styles) which take it through tight comb based effects, to reverbs and finally echo banks.