PC and Music News

E-MU Systems has announced the release of new "Beta" drivers for users of USB and PCI/PCIe audio interface products. These beta drivers will allow E-MU customers to continue to use their E-MU products with the latest Mac and PC operating systems.

These drivers are compatible with Macintosh OS X 10.5 and above (Leopard & Snow Leopard) and Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 32-Bit & 64-Bit versions.

There is no official support for these Beta drivers, however, customer feedback on these drivers is both desired and welcome.

Steinberg announces the free 5.5 update for Cubase 5 and Cubase Studio 5 music production systems, adding new features plus an array of enhancements to instruments and workflow.

The 5.5 update ensures an improved low-latency performance on systems with four or more CPU cores, while the included version increments of two Cubase 5 features, LoopMash and the REVerence convolution reverb, reduce CPU usage considerably. The native x64 version of Cubase and Cubase Studio features an enhanced VST Bridge to improve compatibility with the majority of bridged 32-bit VST2.4 plug-ins within a native 64-bit production environment.

Enhancements for both mixing and video work have been realized with additional automation functionality in the automation panel as well as expanding the Quick Control s ...

112db just released Big Blue Limiter, a tube modelling limiter. It is neither transparent nor intended to be. In fact it adds a little mojo to everything you run through it, if desired even when no limiting is taking place.

Big Blue Limiter uses analog tube modelling in its limiting circuitry, which makes any limited warmer and fatter by adding a pleasing amount of coloration. And as if that weren't enough it also features an independent preamp that just loves to be overdriven. Whenever your material lacks character or oomph you will find that Big Blue Limiter is exactly what it takes.

With its versatile sound, intuitive interface, easy operation, adjustable latency (down to 6 samples!) and negligible CPU load Big Blue Limiter feels equally at home during a mix session and a mastering session.

Akai Professional announces the immediate availability of the SynthStation music production app in the iTunes App Store. SynthStation transforms an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad into a portable music production studio. While the SynthStation app is powerful enough for professional musicians, virtually anyone can use it to easily create music. Built around Akai Professional's history in synthesis and drawing on the company's newest MINIAK synth, the SynthStation app sounds great and offers wide-ranging sonic flexibility with its virtual analog synthesis. The app gives musicians three synthesizers for creating melodies, chords and bass lines. For creating melodic and accompaniment parts, the SynthStation contains an on-screen keyboard complete with an arpeggiator and an XY control interface for ...

Zoom takes its R16 and turbocharges it with a sampler and drum machine, 8 additional recording tracks and 6 channels of phantom-power on the all-new R24. The R24 combines four production tools into one versatile device. In addition to 24-track playback and 8-track simultaneous recording using SD memory cards, the R24 is a digital multi-track recorder, an audio interface, a control surface and a pad sampler.

The R24's new sampler function consists of 24 built-in voices that can be triggered using 8 pads and 3 bank keys to assign sounds to each track and create loops. Also, you can use the unit's drum machine and its 400 rhythm patterns to create original backing beats, or simply output a metronome for tempo control. More than ever before, you have all the tools necessary to create studio ...