PC and Music News

M-Audio has announced shipment of the Torq Xponent integrated hardware/software DJ performance and production system. This is a complete hardware/software system that delivers everything a professional DJ needs to perform with a computer. Xponent is both an advanced MIDI control surface for Torq DJ software and a four-output USB audio interface—including two stereo RCA outputs and a standard 1/4" headphone output with cueing. Every control on Xponent boasts the same rock-solid construction and rugged feel as traditional DJ hardware, making it an ideal way for longtime CD DJs to transition into the world of software.

Torq Xponent is currently shipping and carries an MSRP of $749.95 / € 679.00.

Ueberschall has just released a new product in the Liquid Instrument Series called Liquid Drums which is a flexible loop based drum tool. It includes a 2 Gb sample library offering more than 450 drum loop construction kits (over 2600 layered loops) including 100 breaks, intros and outros (over 640 layered tracks) in all styles and variations. Liquid Drums enables you to move, pitch, stretch or even delete any single note of the snare, hihat, bass drum, etc. loop without affecting the rest of the groove.

Liquid Drums is available now for Windows and Mac OS X (UB) in VST, AU, RTAS and stand-alone formats at a retail price of €174. For more details, please visit the link below.

Alesis announced today that they are now shipping the Trigger I/O, USB/MIDI, pad trigger interface. The Trigger I/O uses electronic triggers placed on traditional acoustic percussion sources (such as drum heads or cymbals) or electronic drum pad triggers, and converts them into MIDI note messages. With MIDI and USB 1.1 Plug and Play connectivity and ten inputs, an artist can expand performance options exponentially – playing sounds on synthesizers, drum modules, or even a computer.

Features :

- 10 TRS trigger inputs for single or dual zone trigger inputs (compatible with various manufacturer pad triggers, including Alesis, Roland and Yamaha)
- 20 programmable presets for storing and recalling various setups
- includes FXPansion's BFD Lite software drum module (Mac and PC) in stand ...

Propellerhead has announced Reason 4. New features include Thor, a new synth with six different oscillator types and four unique filters ; RPG-8, a brand new unit dedicated to the art of arpeggiation ; and the ReGroove mixer, a powerful tool which enables you to control the groove of each track independently. With a whole new look, a ton of fresh features and a completely new way of handling sequencer data, the Reason sequencer has matured.

The price for the full version of Reason remains the same at EUR449 / USD 499. There is also a discounted upgrade available for owners of previous versions of Reason. The upgrade is EUR99 / USD129. No release date for now but Propellerhead is lookign for Beta Testers... so visit the link below ;-)

Native Instruments has released Battery v3.0.2. This version offers not only numerous improvements, but also new sample-content: the update comes with three exclusive artist drum kits from Gorillaz Producer Curtis Lynch, Alexander Hacke (Einstürzende Neubauten), and Turntablerocker.

This update is free for all registered users. For more information, please visit their web site.

TC Electronic announces Digital Konnekt x32, an all-in-one digital patchbay, format converter and FireWire audio interface, for integrating digital outboard effects units and keyboards with modern digital audio workstation based studios.

As a stand-alone format converter and patchbay, Digital Konnekt x32 includes 8 channels of AES/EBU, 8 channels of S/PDIF and TOS, 8 channels of ADAT (up to 96 kHz SMUX) and Word Clock I/O. Any input format can be converted into either of the other formats and aligned to any sample rate ranging from 44.1 to 192 kHz. Digital Konnekt x32 allows sample rate conversion on up to four separate stereo inputs at once.
Konnekt Digital x32 functions as a computer interface with two FireWire connections streaming 16 channels of audio to and from the computer. The ...