PC and Music News

The Mobile Studio Canvas for Mac, PC, and standalone performance is the first such product in the Cakewalk hardware family. Capable of producing over 1,000 sounds, the Mobile Studio Canvas includes the Roland SD-50 Sound Module, redesigned GM (General MIDI) 2, and Roland's Solo Tones sounds. The unit's USB memory drive can playback MP3, WAV, AIFF, and MIDI files without a computer. It is also a 2-in/2-out audio interface as well as a 1x1 MIDI interface, and ships with SONAR 8.5 LE recording software for use with a computer (for Windows only).

The Mobile Studio Canvas is ideal for a wide range of users, including musicians looking for a great, general purpose sound source, karaoke and bar DJs, hobbyists and non-musicians who need portable MP3 and SMF playback, and any musician who needs ...

Steinberg is pleased to announce shipping of a benchmark-setting new hardware sync solution in almost any production situation: Nuendo SyncStation. A solidly-built 19" rack mount unit houses the latest sync technology designed by industry legend Colin Broad to lock with complete reliability to video tape recorders, analog tape machines, other DAWs, house sync generators to name but a few.

Designed for but not restricted to operation with Steinberg's Nuendo Advanced Audio Production System, Nuendo SyncStation supports an exhaustive list of standards and protocols, including MTC, LTC and MMC as well as VITC and Sony 9-pin via RS422, WordClock, HD/Tri-level sync, Black Burst and Varispeed operation over a huge array of Pull-up/Pull-down settings. Nuendo Sync Station also supports the sample-accurate VST System Link protocol over digital connections such as AES/EBU and S/PDIF. Uniquely, Nuendo SyncStation can offer extremely accurate sync using traditionally less accurate standards like MTC by referencing with sample-accuracy to each video frame.

Nuendo SyncStation will begin shipping to selected Steinberg resellers at the end of January 2010. Nuendo Sync Station will retail for €2999.00/$2999.99/£2608.00.

Following up on the runaway success of its StudioLive 16.4.2 digital mixer, PreSonus announced a new member of the family: the StudioLive 24.4.2. Like its 16-channel sibling, the 24-channel StudioLive 24.4.2 is designed for both studio recording and live sound, without compromising the requirements for either.

On top of the Portico 5017, Rupert Neve Designs has also unveiled the Portico 5024, a new quad mic preamp with Silk, MS, and Two DI.

Pricing and availability TBA. More details coming soon...

Alesis has announced the Q49 USB/MIDI keyboard controller.

The Q49 is a 49-note keyboard controller that works with virtually all music software and MIDI hardware devices. The compact controller features USB-MIDI and traditional MIDI jacks for easy connection to Mac, PC and MIDI hardware.

The Q49 provides keyboard players with a full compliment of controls including pitch and modulation wheels, octave up and down buttons, an assignable data slider and the ability to send program changes from the keys.

The Q49 will be available from musical instrument and pro audio retailers in March 2010.

MOTU is now shipping ZBox ($39.95), a guitar pickup adapter that matches the output impedance of a guitar with instrument inputs on audio interfaces or other devices.

Guitar inputs on audio interfaces, mixers, PAs, wireless transmitters, and other similar devices (often labeled "instrument") usually have impedance levels that differ significantly from those typically found on guitar amp inputs. This mismatch can make a guitar sound unnatural (too bright, thin and brittle). In addition, the guitar may not "feel right" while played through software- or DSP-driven amp models.

By providing the proper impedance levels, ZBox restores natural guitar tone that would otherwise be lost through a non-amp input.

ZBox is simple to use. Just plug a guitar into ZBox's Lo-Z or Hi-Z input (whichev ...