PC and Music News

MXL (a division of Marshall Electronics) is pleased to announce the introduction of the MXL Studio 1 portable USB condenser microphone for the home recording market. The Studio 1 is the latest addition to the line of existing USB microphones from MXL.

Unlike other products that require mixers, preamps, or expensive studio gear, USB condenser microphones are "Plug & Play". The MXL Studio 1 does not require any special drivers and is compatible with any PC or Mac computer.

The Studio 1 features a large two-micron diaphragm condenser capsule with a 40 Hz-20 kHz frequency response. The digital section features a 16-bit Delta Sigma A/D converter with available sampling rates of 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. A red LED light behind the protective grill indicates that the microphone is active and correctly oriented toward the user. The Studio 1 also has an integrated headphone jack which provides zero latency monitoring and clear audio playback. This zero latency feature provides a more accurate recording when doing voiceovers and Internet recording such as podcasts, interviews, and personalized radio or playlists.

The MXL Studio 1 includes a hard black plastic carrying case, desktop microphone stand / adapter, 10-foot USB cable, user's manual, and application guide. The expected street price is $99.95 with a MSRP of $129.95.

Native Instruments has just released Traktor 3.4 and Traktor Scratch 1.3, free software updates that equip both products with refined functionality.

They both now offer full Unicode support, allowing for file names and tags in nearly any international script and language including Japanese, Mandarin, Hebrew, Cyrillic and others. Both versions are also based on a revised high-performance audio engine that offers many functional advantages including hot-plugging and instant switching for audio interfaces, WASAPI support for Windows Vista and more.

Other improvements include increased tracking precision for scratching in relative mode, a new intelligent "Tracking Alert" function that gives early warning for adverse conditions like worn-out needles, enhanced MIDI controller handling and a large number of detail optimizations and fixes.

Both updates are available as free downloads for all registered users. For more information, please visit their web site.

Puremagnetik has released Vector - a new collection of Live Racks that turns Ableton Live 7 into a wave sequencing instrument reminiscent of the legendary KORG Wavestation. Vector includes a library of wave sequences, attack transients and vector morphing as found on the original. Users can load up any of the 50 included patches and performances or create their own unique presets from the library of included waveforms.

For more information, please visit their web site.

Roland has also announced shipment of the new ARX-01 and ARX-02 expansion boards for the Fantom-G series. Each ARX board is a synth with its own processor, graphics, and DSP, powered by Roland's proprietary SuperNATURAL sound technology for "organic, emotional expression".

The ARX-01 is dedicated to drum sounds. Once each drum is crafted, you can further refine it with the built-in compressor/EQ, reverb, powerful multi-effects, and an onboard mixer for adjusting the volume and pan position.

The ARX-02 turns your Fantom G workstation into an electric piano. You can change the position of the pickup, and choose from five amp models with dynamic control. Volume and tone change smoothly and realistically, based on the strength of the keyboard performance.

For more information, please visit their web site.

Roland is pleased to announce the release of v1.10 system upgrade for the Fantom-G series workstations, adding powerful multi-sampling capability, a new "Favorite Play" screen, a BPM calculator function for samples, and new enhancements to Single, Live and Song modes.

To download Fantom-G6/G7/G8 System Upgrade v1.10, please follow the link below :

Solid State Logic is very proud to announce that the Matrix mixing console is now shipping.

Designed to be at the heart of your every day creative process, Matrix is built to meticulous SSL hardware standards, to withstand even the most intensive studio use. Fully equipped to partner your monitors, workstations and outboard gear, Matrix lets you shape your project studio around the way you work.

Key Features :

- 16 Mono Line channels with two separate inputs per strip
- 32 x 16 x 16 insert router for up to 16 external processing devices
- Stereo Aux Send and 4 Mono Sends per channel
- 'Input to Cue Stereo' doubles mixdown channel count
- 'In Line' DAW monitoring with 'SuperCue' headphone mode
- Dual Stereo Mix Busses with summing Inserts and reassign
- 4 Stereo Returns with full stereo mix bus routing
- Stereo digital I/O (S/PDIF, AES/EBU) with SSL converter technology
- Stereo monitoring with independent Main and Mini monitor outputs
- 3 External Monitor inputs with source summing
- iJack front panel Monitor input
- Artist Monitor output with independent EQ and monitor source selection
- 16 motorised faders with multiple layer DAW control
- General purpose MIDI controller mode
- Additional motorised 'Focus' fader for simultaneous DAW/Console control
- Programmable function keys for keyboard key strokes/macros
- New DAW-based MIDI Fader automation
- Ethernet MIDI connectivity and PC/MAC Browser Interface

SSL will be supporting U.S. dealers with a series of Matrix events through the month of July. Product specialists will be visiting local pro-audio stores with a full demo system of Matrix and SSL's other analogue and digital products.

For additional information on pro audio dealer tour dates and seminars, please go to the Solid State Logic website.