PC and Music News

The E²Transienter version 1.05 brings ergonomic and display improvements:

- Mirror EQ on non attack option is now displayed and can be switched from the main interface. This option allows applying the same EQ on attacks and non-attacks, with an opposite gain.
- Process filtered signal option is now displayed and can be switched from the main interface. This option makes the E²Transienter acting as a kind of multi band transient processor: the side chain filter output is used for detection and processing.
- High and Low Cut filter knobs are now greyed when the filters are disabled.

These options allow working more quickly and efficiently with presets and with the numerous processing configurations of the E²Transienter.

Roland announces the Fantom-G Workshop series of booklets, now available for free download. Each Fantom-G Workshop booklet focuses on one unique aspect of the new Fantom-G and is intended as a companion to the owner's manual. Current Fantom-G Workshop booklets include :

- Fantom G Workshop 01: The Fantom-G Possibilities
- Fantom-G Workshop 02: Power User Control
- Fantom-G Workshop 03: Power User Control 2: The Pads

Additional Fantom-G Workshop booklets will be released over the coming months.

RME has announced that the world's first portable MADI solution for Laptops is now shipping.

Consisting of the HDSPe ExpressCard MADI and a small breakout box, the MADIface offers full MADI power: 64 channels input and 64 channels output, up to 192 kHz sample rate, in MADI embedded MIDI transmission, complete TotalMix that is even remote controllable and has all features of the 'bigger' HDSPe MADI, as well as lowest latency and CPU-load. To make the usage as comfortable as possible, the power for the breakout box is provided directly by the ExpressCard, so no external power supply is required.

The MADIface is fully compatible to all devices with MADI interface. While many MADI-based devices require an additional word clock or AES line, the MADIface uses SteadyClock to extract the reference clock at lowest jitter directly from the MADI signal, making long-distance connections even more convenient. Although not available at the MADIface itself, word clock input and output are thus available when using another RME MADI device.

Included software: DIGICheck for Windows: Spectral Analyser, professional level meter for 2, 8, or 64 channels, Vector Audio Scope, Global record, various other audio analysis tools.

Drivers: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/64 (full ASIO multi-client operation of WDM, GSIF 2.0 and ASIO 2.0), Mac OS X Intel (Core Audio and Core MIDI).

The HDSPe MADIface is available at a retail price of approximately €1300.

VRSonic has just announced the release of HeadSpace Room, a new reverb VST plug-in that uses physical modeling technology to accurately simulate room reverberation.

Headspace Room features a user-definable virtual listening environment including adjustable room dimensions and material properties. Floor, wall, and ceiling materials may be chosen from a bank of 35 materials to create a true to life room model. All parameters can be adjusted in real-time to optimize the mixing process.

HeadSpace Room features reconfigurable inputs and outputs which may be used in a variety of different configurations. Given mono input, it can produce reverb in either mono, stereo or 5.1 surround output. With stereo or 5.1 input the plugin applies mono reverb to each of the input channels acting as a multi-channel reverb unit.

HeadSpace Room is available now as a VST plug-in for Windows and retails at $99.

Kel Audio has announced the HM-7U, an affordable large diaphragm condenser mic utilizing a K47-Style capsule tailored for vocals and select instrument recording.

The capsule is similar to the type used in later Neumann U47s but couples it with a high-quality dual FET circuit, complete with professional-grade film capacitors, instead of the inferior tube circuitry found in inexpensive U47 clones.

In addition to adding a thick glossy sheen to vocals, the HM-7U works well on upright bass, mandolin, drums, woodwinds and piano. Because of its "small supercardioid" pickup pattern, the HM-7U may also be used successfully in live stage applications such as traditional jazz, folk and bluegrass concerts, where extremely high quality sound reinforcement is required.

KEL has also added several features to make it more versatile, including a low-cut filter and a 10dB pad for handling loud sources like kick drums and guitar amps. The HM-7U features a phantom power light, as well, to quickly indicate that the mic is active in busy recording or stage situations.

The HM-7U is priced at $299 USD and comes with an aluminum flight case, elastic shock mount and swivel mount for tight micing situations. Estimated ship date is late September.

A keyboard version of the analogue modelling synth Blofeld by Waldorf is on the road !

Features :

- 60 Megabyte sample memory
- Class compliant USB MIDI for PC,Mac and Linux
- 16 part multimode
- maximum 25 voices polyphony
- highest quality standard keybed with 49 weighted keys and aftertouch
- Internal power supply
- Pitchbend and modulation wheel
- Virtual analog, wavetable, and sample based oscillators
- MIDI in/out
- Sturdy metal case
- Stainless steel rotary encoders
- Backlit 128x64 pixel LCD
- Over 1000 sounds
- 3 oscillators, 2 filters per voice
- Selectable drive curves
- Frequency modulation for oscillators and filters
- Three LFO, four envelopes per voice
- Extensive modulation capabilities
- Complex arpeggiator
- Powerful effects section
- weight: apprx 8,-- kgs

Blofeld keyboard should be available very soon at an estimated price of €799.