PC and Music News

EastWest has announced that it intends to bring the mystique and splendor of sounds from the "Silk Road" to users' workstations with the introduction of Quantum Leap Silk. This Virtual Instrument features a collection of historic and unique string and woodwind instruments from China, Persia and India.

All instruments featured in Silk are multi-sampled with extreme attention to detail, offering the maximum in expression. Quantum Leap Silk contains extensive articulations, interval sampling (where appropriate), round robin (alternate samples) and phrases to give the feeling of smooth effortless performance – like silk. Each musician recorded for Silk is a master of his instrument, providing the best and most accurate sound available. Silk also allows users to adapt the instruments using dozens of useful micro tunings in the key of their choice.

Some of the instruments featured in Silk include :

- CHINA: erhu, zhonghu, gaohu, pipa, guzheng, yangqin, sheng, suona low, suona high, dizi low, dizi hi, xiao and bawu.
- PERSIA: electric cello, kemenche, nay, duduk, tar, qanun and 30 piece string section.
- INDIA: dilruba, sarod, tanpura and bansuri.

Silk is available now for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU, RTAS and stand-alone formats at a fee of $595 / €455.

Steinberg is pleased to introduce the PlugIn Zone, a new section on the Steinberg website dedicated to renowned software companies and their acclaimed VST products.

"We're happy to offer this additional service to our customers as well as to everyone who employs VST-based plug-ins in their audio productions. Visitors will enjoy perusing the VST PlugIn Zone to find a wide range of useful plug-ins from our VST-partner companies," comments Timo Wildenhain, Marketing Manager at Steinberg. "The PlugIn Zone also features plug-ins that already implement VST3, the new industry standard. An increasing number of manufacturers have recognized the advantages that VST3 brings to the users," he continues.

Several companies have recently released new VST3-based products with exciting new features and capabilities — more information is available on the PlugIn Zone page. Check out popular and newly developed plug-ins by clicking on one of the many company names. And the "Plug-in of the Month" introduces you to a plug-in on a monthly basis, giving you a brief product description, screenshot and link to the manufacturer's website.

M-Audio has introduced a new series of USB MIDI keyboard controllers designed for professional musicians.

Available in 25-, 49- and 61-key models, the Axiom Pro series offers easy software integration to digital audio workstations (DAW) including Pro Tools(R), Cubase, Logic and Reason — as a result of M-Audio's HyperControl(TM) technology, which automatically maps keyboard controls to commonly accessed parameters in software instruments and DAWs. The constant two-way link with the host DAW means that the Axiom Pro series keyboards are always in sync with the software's active parameters. The intuitive graphic LCD constantly updates the current values, to ensure seamless editing and prevents parameter jumps—even when plug-ins are closed. Users can also easily toggle between Mixer and Instrument control modes, making the music creation process much more seamless.

Axiom Pro series keyboard controllers are also the first to combine MIDI control with ASCII keystrokes, allowing users to assign any button to send QWERTY key commands like cut/paste or undo directly to the host software. The controllers offer M-Audio's premium TruTouch semi-weighted keyboard action for a more tactile and responsive playing experience. They are also equipped with eight velocity-sensitive trigger pads with M-Audio's exclusive Trigger Finger technology for triggering loops and samples.

The Axiom Pro 49 is currently shipping and carries a MSRP of $599.95. The Axiom Pro 61 is expected to ship in the first quarter of 2009 and will carry a MSRP of $699.95. Pricing and availability for the Axiom Pro 25 will be announced at a later date.

Overloud announces TH1 Triode, its Essential Guitar Effects Suite.

TH1 Triode shares with the flagship TH1 the same new twist on the guitar player's stage and recording system by implementing both revolutionary features and a user interface that appeals to every level of player and producer, regardless of experience and technical know-how. Exclusive features such as SLR amplifier morphing, free life-like microphone positioning around cabinets, ReSPire cabinet technology, and Breverb-based reverb, are combined with a radically different and transparent user interface, a selection of mics, cabinets, and amps, stomp-boxes, pedals and rack effects, easy and powerful memory management, and unprecedented real-time control capabilities.

TH1 Triode will ship in February 2009 in RTAS, AU, VST and Stand-alone formats for Mac OS X and RTAS, VST and Stand-alone formats for Windows and lists for €69 worldwide and $99 in the USA and Canada. A 14-day full-featured demo will be available for download.

Cakewalk announces a new line of four cable-based interfaces designed to easily connect musical instruments and other components to a computer.

The three MIDI interface and one audio interface hardware solutions introduced today are compact, affordable products for a wide range of digital music creators — from hobbyists to professionals — who need to connect multiple instruments, MIDI devices, or other equipment to a computer. Each product will have a MSRP of under $100 US and be usable with both a Mac and PC. They are all USB-bus powered, requiring no AC adaptor and affording users enhanced mobility for recording on the go.

The new UM-1G, UM-2G, and UM-3G MIDI interfaces are designed to be affordable solutions to easily connect MIDI devices with a computer through a USB connection. The UA-1G is a compact 1 Stereo In/1 Stereo Out USB Audio Interface that offers excellent-quality sound via multiple connection options and a simple, user-friendly design.

Cakewalk will ship the UM-1G and UM-2G to retailers in the US beginning in March, 2009. The UM-3G USB MIDI Interface and the UA-1G USB Audio Interface will begin shipping in April, 2009.

Novation unveils the brand new FX Suite, its first independent collection of VST/AU plug-ins.

FX Suite provides five key effects from Novation's illustrious synth heritage, including signature effects derived from the legendary SuperNova II. The five independent VST/AU plug-ins include Chorus, Delay, Tremelo, Phaser and the famously flexible, powerful filter featuring overdrive. Each and every one of them offers a significant upgrade from standard sequencer effects.

The Novation filter plug-in is perhaps the most sought-after effect of the five. Modelled on the filter section of Novation's legendary Supernova II synthesiser, this powerful effect has an array of features and a unique sound that sets it apart from any other filter on the market. An audio triggered envelope alongside fi ...