PC and Music News

After three years of research and development SoundField has announced that their SPS200 A-Format microphone for stereo and 5.1 surround recording is finally shipping.

This is the first SoundField microphone to not require an accompanying outboard control unit, the SPS200 A-Format microphone relies on software for all format conversion, decoding and manipulation. The SoundField Conversion Lounge plug-in handles A to B-Format conversion and the SoundField Surround Zone plug-in looks after all aspects associated with stereo and surround sound decoding and manipulation. With its four low-noise, studio grade condenser capsules and weighs-in at less than 8 ounces (220 grams), the SPS200 provides the ability to capture 5.1, 6.1, 7.1-channel audio and simultaneous stereo with variable width and to continuously vary the effective polar pickup pattern and orientation without moving the microphone.

The SPS200 A-Format microphone is available now with a USD list price of $2,995.00.

Sensomusic unveils version 4.0 of Usine, it's universal audio software application designed for live or studio utilization. This new version will feature more than 100 improvements, including :

- Touch screen management.
- 16 audio in/out.
- Clear/save/open current track command in the main menu.
- New possible location for Interfaces builder windows: patch or parent patch.
- New rack mode : 'grid', 'rack' or 'play all'.
- Customizable layouts for all displayed controls (set the colors you want to all controls).
- Reset + reset values in steps modules (step, step-midi, lines, switches, points, array).
- No more auxiliary busses order limitations.
- etc...

Usine 4.0 will be released "soon"... Note that a demo video upon the touch screen feature is available at :

Steinberg is pleased to announce that the MR816 CSX and MR816 X Advanced Integration DSP Studios and the CC121 Advanced Integration Controller are now shipping worldwide. Designed by Steinberg and Yamaha and manufactured by Yamaha in Japan, the new hardware units are the result of the ongoing technological cooperation between the software and hardware experts at both companies.

MR816 CSX costs €1199, while MR816 X costs €799. CC121 is available for €399.

For September, McDSP has brought back a great special on the Project Studio Bundle to any and all users for $295.

The Project Studio Bundle includes LE Versions of Analog Channel, Chrome Tone, CompressorBank, FilterBank, ML4000, Revolver and Synthesizer One. This bundle supports RTAS and AudioSuite plug-in formats.

SoundHack has released Delay Trio, a collection of three plugins that Tom Erbe developed as class demonstrations while teaching computer music and studio technique at UC San Diego. All of these are derived from the same basic delay algorithm: a hermite interpolated delay line with variable modulation, and a feedback loop with dc blocking and saturation. Pitch shifting is achieved with a dual head crossfading delay (ala Eltro Tempophon/Dennis Gabor/Pierre Schaeffer phonogene) and is decidedly low-fi. The saturating feedback also allows them to be great drone and noise generators.

The three plugins are :

• +delay (classic delay effects).
• +pitchdelay (essentially the same plugin with controls oriented toward pitch shifting).
• +bubbler (a granular delay in which grains are pulled from the delay line with randomized start time, delay time and pitch shift value).

These plug-ins are available for Windows (VST, RTAS) and Mac OS X (VST, RTAS, AU); all are freeware.

Native Instruments just launched Guitar Rig Hero, a four-week worldwide video contest that challenges musicians to demonstrate their skills and creativity in combination with Guitar Rig 3. Hosted on a dedicated YouTube channel, the competition features prizes worth over $10,000, and is co-hosted by a jury of international pro guitarists.

Participants are asked to capture a video of their most original and spectacular performance using Guitar Rig 3, without any sonic or artistic limitations applying. Musicians who don't own Guitar Rig 3 can download the full-featured demo version from the NI website and use it for the contest.

Submissions will be accepted until September 30th, and the winners will be determined on October 14th. On top of the public voting by the YouTube community, the artist jury will judge the ten most popular entries for an additional grand prize.