PC and Music News

Steinberg has just released Cubase 4.5 and Cubase Studio 4.5 Update

The 4.5 update offers many new integrative technologies, with full support for the upcoming Steinberg MR816 CSX/X Advanced Integration DSP Studios and the CC121 Advanced Integration Controller. It also introduces VST Sound(TM), a new and improved universal media management format that is a fundamental part of VST3 standard. Last but not least, Cubase 4.5 includes the VST Sound Collection Vol. 1, offering 1.6 GB of new sounds and instruments for Cubase.

The 4.5 versions are available now as a download for all registered Cubase 4 and Cubase Studio 4 customers at :

Softube has announced the release of its new Spring Reverb plug-in.

Spring Reverb is an authentic spring reverb recreation that will add vintage character and grit to any audio track. It also includes novel features such as a fully automatable Shake control that will shake the virtual strings around for those thunderous spring effects, and a Tension control that tightens or loosens the springs to cover a wide range of spring reverb sounds.

Features :

- Shake control that shakes the springs around.
- Tension control to shape the spring character and reverb length.
- Number of spring pairs continuously adjustable from 1 to 3.
- Tube driver simulation with Bass and Treble in the reverb section.

Spring Reverb is available now for a fee of $99 (excl. VAT) in VST, AU and RTAS formats for Windows and Mac OS X. Note that a fully functional 10 day demo is available (iLok required).

Softube is also announcing the immediate availability of the Effect Bundle plug-in pack, featuring Spring Reverb, Tube Delay, and Acoustic Feedback in VST, AU and RTAS formats for Windows and Mac OS X ($229 excl. VAT full product, $149 to upgrade from one of the plug-ins, $49 from two).

Ableton will be running an interesting sales campaign in the fall of 2008. Effectively, customers who buy Ableton Live during the course of the campaign get Operator, Ableton's FM synthesizer, for free.

The offer applies to sales of Ableton Live 7, Live 7 LE and upgrades from Live Lite to the full version between September 1st and October 31st, 2008.

Wallander Instruments has just released WIVI v2. While the original WIVI version was well-known for its high flexibility and Breath/Wind Controller action, WIVI v2 introduces a number of concepts designed for the keyboard composer.

The most powerful new feature of WIVI v2 is the Sequence Editor. The Sequence Editor works much like an arpeggiator, but has the flexibility of a MIDI sequencer and more. By drawing notes and CC curves in an instrument's Sequence Editor, you make the instrument play that sequence each time you trigger a note. This way you can build advanced articulations, effects or even complex melodies triggered by the press of a key.
Even more importantly, the notes in the Sequence Editor can all be assigned a unique Voice for Polyphonic Mode. This way you can make sequences that adapt to the chords you play, creating "intelligent" arpeggios or articulations.

WIVI v2 is available now as a plugin in VST/RTAS formats on Windows and in AU/VST/RTAS formats on Mac. The currently available WIVI instrument collections are :

- Brass 1 ($599)
- Woodwinds 1 ($399)
- Woodwinds 2 ($299)
- Woodwinds 3 ($299)

Let me introduce you to Songsterr, an online flash guitar tab player that might encroach upon Guitar Pro's territory very soon.

Basically Songsterr is accompanying each song tab with an audio file that plays alongside it. The site's flash player will also automatically scroll through each tab, indicating exactly which note is being played and you can slow down to half speed when it's time for the tricky part.

Of course Songsterr lacks many advanced features such as slides, bends or vibrato but hey, it was launched earlier this month, let it grows ! Furthermore,the developers have some promises in stock :

- addition of library of 50 000 songs;
- support of more guitar effects (slides, bends, pull offs, hummer ons, etc);
- electric guitar sound engine and support of more instruments;
- upload of tabs by user (in Guitar Pro format);
- social features.

Just take a look and you will see that this online application has got a great potential !

Behringer updates its Eurodesk line of mixers with the new SX series of recording and live sound consoles. First to arrive are the SX2442FX twenty-four channel and SX3242FX thirty-two channel mixers.

Features :

- 16/20 XENYX Mic Preamps (SX2442FX/SX3242FX)
- Two/four stereo input channels with 4-band EQ plus 2 additional stereo input channels with Level and pre-fader Aux controls (SX2442FX/SX3242FX)
- Neo-classic "British" 3-band EQs with semi-parametric mid band
- Two independent 24-bit stereo FX processors with 100 presets including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter and various multi-effects
- High-precision 9-band stereo graphic EQ for monitor or main mixes
- FBQ Feedback Detection system
- Peak LEDs, Mute, Main mix and subgroup routing switches, Solo and PFL fun ...