PC and Music News

Universal Audio today announced the release of the highly anticipated Manley Massive Passive EQ plug-in.

Working with Manley Labs, Universal Audio's Massive Passive EQ plug-in represents their most ambitious hardware EQ modeling project to date, bringing UAD-2 users both the standard and mastering versions of this world-renowned EQ in one package. Specifically, the two-channel, four-band Manley Massive Passive EQ utilizes design strengths from choice console, graphic, parametric and Pultec EQs — delivering a fundamentally different EQ that's beyond compare. The Massive Passive's natural treatment of a signal lends itself to both radical tonal shaping as well as delicate vocal shading or subtle mastering enhancement.

FXpansion is proud to present the second instalment of Yamaha artist signature snares for your BFD2 library. With the usual high levels of detail, multiple channels and multiple articulations, BFD Signature Snares Vol.2 is ready for you to sequence and mix using BFD 2.1's powerful software interface.

The snares are captured in the same room as previous Yamaha expansion kits and the Jazz & Funk, Percussion and B.O.M.B expansion packs, in Omega Studios, Rockville, MD, USA. The tight, precise and very playable sound makes them sound great when combined with any kit-pieces in the BFD library.

BFD v2.1's support for custom articulations allows these snares to offer 'rim clicks' in addition to the standard snare articulations, as well as positional sensing when used with electronic drums. ...

XILS-lab is proud to announce its new product : the polyKB. The polyKB is a recreation of a very rare, very powerful polyphonic synthesizer released in the 80's by a french company. It is a polyphonic substractive synthesizer based on two waveform morphing, aliasing free oscillators and a self oscilating 4 poles low pass filter.

One of its features, never heard on other analog synthesizers, was the continuously modulated waveform, sort of a modulated waveform morphing. Recreating this feature in the digital domain, without aliasing was a very big challenge.

Features :

• two aliasing-free morphing oscillators: from triangle to pulse, through saw.
• one 4 poles low pass self oscillating filter
• two envelope generators (ADSR)
• two MIDI synced LFO
• one MIDI synced Sample and Hold
• one 128 steps polyphonic sequencer
• one arpeggiator
• chorus and delay effects
• mono/unison/poly playing mode with up to 16 voices of polyphony
• all parameters are MIDI controllable

The polyKB will be released soon for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU and RTAS instrument plug-in formats. Pricing is not yet announced.

Waldorf has released the TechnoTrance Soundset for Largo.

Designed by Rob Lee, this soundset contains128 brand new presets and consists of Arps, fat basses, House and Techno chords, searing leads, evolving pads and more, thus giving you all the tools you need to start producing quality Techno and Trance music. The download package contains the soundset as FXB bank as well as all single sounds in FXP format.

Available now for €30.

The latest addition to Roland's KC-Series keyboard amplifier lineup, the KC-110 Stereo Keyboard Amplifier is now shipping. It combines two industry firsts for a portable keyboard amp—AA battery-powered operation and true stereo sound—with a host of additional features that make it flexible for a variety of performance applications.

The KC-110 features 30 watts of stereo power driving two 6.5" woofers and two tweeters. Most modern keyboards feature stereo sound output, and the KC-110 enables musicians to experience the full, rich stereo sound of their instruments while using a small amp. Power can be supplied with eight AA batteries (including NiMH rechargeable types) or AC power, and there's even a removable battery case for quick and easy battery replacement.

Featuring a multi-channel mixer with a Mic/Line input, two stereo inputs, and two AUX inputs for connecting devices such as MP3 or CD players, this versatile amplifier is suitable for compact PA applications as well as keyboards. High-quality stereo digital effects are also built in, allowing performers to sweeten their sound with reverb, chorus, or a special "wide" chorus effect.

The KC-110 is now shipping with a suggested retail price of $469.00.

Synapse Audio has released a major upgrade to its virtual synth Poly-850, now named X-Poly.

Features / Changes:

• Full Stereo engine.
• Panorama knob for both oscillators.
• Dual Voice mode for thicker patches.
• Enhanced interface.
• Stereo Noise generator, providing more spacious sounds.
• Release stages are now semi-log as opposed to linear (sounds better).
• Zero CPU usage when idle.
• Chorus section now provides feedback and modulation depth controls.
• Maximum polyphony upgraded to 20 voices.
• Semi-transparent readouts for all knobs.
• Additional presets added.
• LFO Rate range extended.
• Amplitude responds to velocity.
• Bug fixes - Multiple instances on multiple cores now work properly.
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