PC and Music News

MXL Microphones will display their new Cube microphone at this year's Muskimesse (booth B47, hall 5.1). This mic caters to musicians who want a tool for recording drums and percussions.

Features :

• Gold sputtered, 6-micron diaphragm
• FET balanced output
• Cardioid
• Small size, low-profile
• Supplied with mic clip (optional shockmount available)

The MXL Cube is now shipping with an MSRP $159.95.

SONiVOX has released a new Grand Piano Virtual Instrument called Eighty Eight.

Conceived and designed as an exceptional virtual embodiment of a Steinway CD 327 grand, Eighty Eight affords piano and keyboard players alike the opportunity to experience a world-class grand piano from the relative comfort and proximity of their digital audio workstation.

Exhaustively sampled and expertly voiced, Eighty Eight was recorded within the same acoustic confines as the SONiVOX Symphonic Collection, utilizing the same recording philosophy of the simplest signal chain with the highest quality A/D converters and mic pre's.

The Eighty Eight package also provides a wealth of additional instruments, pads, and textures which, when taken as a whole, supply the composer a considerable arsenal of tools ...

Spring is nearly here, and EastWest heats things up with its "Buy One Get One Free" worldwide promotion of PLAY products.

Until April 15, 2010 each customer that purchases a PLAY virtual instrument will receive an additional free product of equal or lesser value from among the following products : SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA GOLD, PLATINUM and PLATINUM PLUS, SYMPHONIC CHOIRS, PIANOS, PIANOS GOLD, FAB FOUR, GOLIATH, STORMDRUM 2, GYPSY, MINISTRY OF ROCK, VOICES OF PASSION, SILK and RA.

For more information, please visit the link below :

FabFilter has released a new Synth Classics sound set by Daniel Maurer for FabFilter Twin 2, its powerful and innovative software synthesizer.

The Synth Classics sound set includes over 150 presets, featuring leads, pads, plucked sounds and a vintage polysynth selection, programmed by Daniel Maurer. All sounds were thoughtfully created to not simply bring back good memories, but to inspire new music with several fun twists the originals could never have done. Useful parameters are assigned to the Mod Wheel, Sustain Pedal and, of course, the fun X-Y pads in Twin 2 allowing for quick, painless personalization to your music.

Daniel Maurer is a long-time synthesizer lover and programmer who started tweaking synthesizers in 1978. Many classic synths followed these humble beginnings and at one point he was touring with six different keyboards across North America to produce all the sounds needed. Daniel's sounds can be heard in many of today's popular software synthesizers as well. The Synth Classics sound set was inspired by the way FabFilter Twin 2 faithfully reproduces and vastly improves both the sound and flexibility of those analog monsters Daniel used to work with.

The Synth Classics sound set for FabFilter Twin 2 is now available in FabFilter's online shop for €19, $28 or £17. It can be used on both Windows and Mac OS X in any of the available plug-in formats.

Developed for and tested by professional audio engineers, Stereoizer by NuGen Audio adds natural sounding width and depth to any audio recording, mono or stereo, leaving the inherent character of the original source intact. Quite simply Stereoizer will make your audio more coherent, highly polished and spatially balanced without adding artificial reverberation, chorusing or delay.

Stereoizer allows for the full range of stereo image enhancement, from gentle width adjustments to huge dynamic ambiences that transform the soundstage. With visual audio analysis feedback and an intuitive control layout, Stereoizer delivers a satisfying user experience and the right result with the minimum of effort.

New in Stereoizer 3:

• New IID algorithm
• New ITD algorithm
• Frequency limited processing
• New dynamics options
• Intuitive stereo spectral analysis
• Stereo position meter
• Balance controls
• Solo controls
• Comprehensive presets

Stereoizer v3.0 is available now for Windows (VST) and Mac OS X (VST/AU) for $99.

Waves Audio unveils the Chris Lord-Alge Artist Signature Collection, developed in collaboration with GRAMMY®-winning mixing engineer Chris Lord-Alge (CLA).

For over 20 years, Lord-Alge has been the mixer of choice for rock-and-roll royalty, with credits including Green Day, U2, Nickelback, Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Pink, Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews Band, The All-American Rejects, and countless others. Created from CLA's custom processing chains, the Waves' Chris Lord-Alge Artist Signature Collection gives users an all-access pass to Lord-Alge's hard-hitting, radio-ready sound. Included are six application-specific plug-ins with dedicated tools for bass (CLA Bass), drums (CLA Drums), effects (CLA Effects), vocals (CLA Vocals) guitars (CLA Guitars), and acoustic instruments (CLA Unplugged).

CLA Bass
Designed to help users lay down a solid foundation for any song, CLA Bass offers six essential effects: bass, treble, compression, sub, distortion and chorus/flange. Notes Lord-Alge, "From sub-shaking smooth sounds to Mr. Buzzsaw, CLA Bass is just what the doctor ordered. Whether you want it to rip, roar, growl, bark or cut, CLA Bass delivers."

CLA Drums
When creating the CLA Drums plug-in, Lord-Alge had one thing in mind: that anyone who uses it could get a great drum sound for any song or mix and just have fun. There are six different modes: Kick, Snare, Toms, Overheads, Room and, CLA's personal favorite, Cowbell. There are three color-coded presets for bass EQ, treble EQ, compression, and reverb, plus a noise gate to get rid of leakage. Faders let users control the amount of each effect, and a phase switch is included so anyone can find the best setting for the kit, which Lord-Alge points out is "especially important for drums."