PC and Music News

Puremagnetik has just released a new Micropak called B-System: Percussives and described as "a unique sonic adventure" through 10 electronic drum kits and 40 rhythmic loops recorded from an original Buchla 200e modular synthesizer.

B-System Percussives for Ableton Live includes ten full 2 octave kits (over 650 individual samples) programmed with advanced Macro integration and effects mapping. Utilizing multi-velocity zones for the ultimate in expression and playability each kit is sonically charged for instant electronic gratification! The Ableton Live version also includes 40 Live Clips of preprogrammed material, each one expertly tailored with effects racks and advanced Macro controls.

The Kontakt version of B-System comes with 10 menus of over 20 multisampled percussion sounds and a menu of looped phrases. Each instrument has been uniquely programmed with a custom Kontakt KSP GUI for instant tweakability.

B-System Percussives for Logic includes a collection of 10 electronic kits, multiple pre-programmed channel strips and 40 advanced SIAL loops that integrate flawlessly with EXS24.

Note that B-System: Percussives is the first in a series of B-System Micropaks that focus mainly on the Buchla 200e's percussion generating capabilities.

Pricing : Basic Monthly Subscription: $5.75/Month Basic Yearly Subscription: $60/Year All Access Pass - $198/Year.

Toontrack Music are delighted to announce the worldwide shipping of the very first SDX expansion pack for Superior Drummer® 2.0, the "New York Studios Vol.2 SDX".

The SDX contains unique recordings from legendary New York Studios Allaire and Hit Factory N.Y. and MIDI played by super session drummer Nir Z.

The "New York Studios Vol.2 SDX" is available now at a price of $179 / €139. Note that audio examples are already available at :

EarMaster ApS releases a lighter version of its ear training software EarMaster 5.

EarMaster Essential 5 offers the core features of EarMaster Pro and represents a valuable alternative for musicians and music students on a tight budget, yet not willing to give in to low-end instructional material. Like its bigger brothers EarMaster Pro and EarMaster School, EarMaster Essential is available in 21 languages for both Mac OS X and Windows. The official introduction of the program will take place at the 2009 Frankfurt Musik Messe on the booth of EarMaster's German distributor Klemm Music Technology.

Central features :

· 139 progressive lessons from classical music to rock, including a set of Jazz lessons.
· 4 exercise areas to learn how to identify transcribe and play intervals, chords, and rhythms.
· User-defined on-screen interfaces: staff, multiple-choice, piano, guitar, bass, violin, cello, and more.
· Interactive answering methods: MIDI instrument, microphone, plugged-in instrument, or the computer keyboard and the mouse.
· Detailed statistics.
· A customized mode to target specific elements of practice, etc.

Suggested retail price: US$/€ 29.95

Doepfer is about to introduce a new monophonic stand-alone Synthesizer with USB and Midi interface : Dark Energy. 100% analog, only the USB and Midi interface contains digital components.

Dark Energy is built into a black metal case with wooden side plates. Potentiometers with metal shafts are used and each potentiometers is fixed to the case (no wobbly shafts and knobs). The distance between the controls is a bit wider compared to A-100 modules and knobs with vintage look are used.

Dark Energy is also available as module A-111-5 for usage within the the modular system A-100. The only differences are the missing power supply and USB/Midi interface and the module uses the standard distances between the controls. The VCO frequency CV input (1V/octave) and the Gate input are normalled to the corresponding signals of the A-100 bus via jumpers. The jumpers can be used to interrupt the internal bus connections.

Dark Energy will be available on June 2009 at a price of €400.

Devine Machine has updated its Frame Synthesis based instrument Krishna Synth to version 1.5.

Frame Synthesis is and exclusive technology from Devine Machine that let you analyse a sound sample to obtain a special « movie » file that Krishna Synth will use as an oscillator. This process, the tools provided and the modulation possibilities can create sonic textures that you won't get from any other synthesis.

A full set of graphic tools let you edit that file frame per frame. Classical analogue oscillators and filters as well as a complete FX chain are also provided to enhance possibilities.

Krishna Synth 1.5 audio engine has been completely rebuilt from scratch to improve reliability and cpu usage, and some new features have been implemented :

- LFO and ADSR destinations extended to all parameters (including LFO to LFO)
- 'Snap to harmonics' option for the filter : each note will instantiate a filter to resonate to its own harmonic.
- Faster preset loading
- VST, RTAS, AU and Standalone availability for both MAC and PC

Krishna Synth costs 199€, the update is free for all registered customers. A fully functional demo is also available.

Learn more...

Devine Machine has updated One Shot Recorder to version 2.0 to support standalone, VST, RTAS and AU formats among other features.

New features :

- Decay knob control
- Multiple audio files Drag and drop to your host or to any folder
- automatic
- AIFF support
- 16/24 bit selection
- Automatic Reorder of recorded samples (peak, RMS, length, date, and note) greatly optimized.
- Interface has been completely redesigned to be larger and clearer.

OSR 2.0 is available as VST, RTAS, AU and standalone for both MAC and PC. It costs €79 and is available as a free update for current customers. Note that a fully functional demo is also available.

More info...