PC and Music News

Camel Audio has released Alchemy Player, the perfect solution if you lust after the sounds of their virtual synth Alchemy but don't want to create your own presets. It's also extremely affordable at just $59 / €49 / £39. The Player is included free when you purchase any Alchemy soundbank, turning each of these banks into a standalone instrument in its own right.

Alchemy Player includes 150 presets and 360 MB of samples taken from the full factory library, including evolving soundscapes, lush pads, and pulsing arpeggios.

Alchemy Player features the same advanced sample manipulation engine as its big brother, with additive, spectral, granular, sampling and VA synthesis for totally unique sounds, and is easily controlled via a simple and compact interface. This provides sixteen pe ...

JZ Microphones has announced the release of the second microphone in JZ Vintage series — V67, a newly, high quality studio microphone.

The capsule of V67 is made close to original U67 capsule but it has a couple of design and sound improvements. By taking advantages of technology for transistors, the V67 is not having a tube and with Mr. JZ improvements it still provides the same well known range of U67 sound.

Features :

• Original design in a flask shape
• Built-in shock-mounting system
• Swivel mount which works as a perfect positioning option
• Double diaphragm capsule
• Golden drops sputtering technology on capsule
• Improved electronics according to the nowadays standards
• 5 year warranty
• Pricing : $1999 MSRP

The new mic will be presented in Pro Light+Sound show 2010 at booth #H26 in hall 8.0, March 24. — 27.

JazzMutant unveils Mu, a multi-touch Ableton Live controller for the Lemur. Note that Mu is a Max for Live plugin - so you'll need Ableton Live 8 + Max for Live to use it.

Pricing and availability TBA.

Alesis announces that the DM10 Studio Kit is now shipping to retailers.

Based around the DM10 drum module, the DM10 Studio Kit features Alesis' RealHead drum pads, DMPad Cymbals and StealthRack mounting system.

Here is the latest news you can find on Toontrack's website :

"Wow - we can't believe the first two months of the New Year have already come and gone! With time flying by so quickly, we figured it might be a good idea to just check in with all of you and touch base.

We also figured that with so many projects currently "in development" here at Toontrack, it might be interesting to just "drop some hints" and hopefully peak your interests on a few of the things we have planned for you throughout the year.

So, let's look into the Toontrack crystal ball for clues to what the Swedish software future might hold...

What if you had a software production tool that allowed you to build custom drum kits, work with tonal & melodic phrases and indulge in every aspect of custom sound design you could ever really think of? What if you could have it in June?

Speaking of production tools - what if you had access to

MXL Microphones will demo the new MXL USB-77 at this year's Musikmesse in Frankfurt (booth B47, hall 5.1).

Designed for recording directly to a desktop or laptop, the MXL USB-77 is a cardioid condenser studio microphone with the look and feel of a 1940's era ribbon.

Features include a gold-sputtered diaphragm and 32mm capsule. An analog gain control dial can be used to manipulate the sound level of your recording and the USB-77 includes a 1/8-inch stereo headphone with amplifier so users can monitor their recordings without latency issues.

The MXL USB-77 interfaces with Windows and Macintosh computers without any special drivers. As a USB device, it carries the added benefit of not requiring an external microphone preamp, as is the case with most cardioid condenser microphones.

The MXL USB-77 includes a carrying case, desktop microphone stand and mounting ring, USB cable, and cleaning cloth. MSRP is $349.95.