PC and Music News

Roland introduced the OCTA-CAPTURE USB 2.0 Audio Interface, a 10- input/10-output device for computer-based multi-channel audio production.

According to Roland, OCTA-CAPTURE sets a new standard in portable USB 2.0 interfaces, combining premium components, 24-bit/192 kHz performance, and proprietary preamp and streaming technology in an affordable and compact unit.

Designed for high-level audio production, OCTA-CAPTURE features eight professional-grade VS Preamps with each channel providing an combo-XLR input jack, phantom power, low-cut filter, phase invert, and digital compression. These digitally controlled microphone preamps are built with premium components, resulting in transparent audio with a superior signal-to-noise ratio. The space-saving combo jacks also accommodate ¼-inch connectors, with Hi-Z instrument inputs on channels 1 and 2 and balanced TRS inputs on channels 3-8. In addition, channels 7 and 8 are well suited for high input levels associated with kick drum and snare drum recording. Additional connectivity includes eight ¼-inch TRS output jacks, coaxial S/PDIF I/O, and MIDI I/O.

Roland plans on shipping the Octa-Capture for $699 (MSRP) in October of 2010.

Roland announced the JUNO-Gi Mobile Synthesizer with Digital Recorder. Not only is the JUNO-Gi compact, easy to use, and affordable, it also boasts an all-new sound set designed for live performance, built-in eight-track digital recorder with 64 virtual tracks, and easy integration with many digital audio workstations through its built-in audio interface.

Features :

• Live performance synthesizer
• AC- or battery-powered
• Library of 1,300 sounds organized into Live Sets
• Tone Category buttons for sound library navigation
• Mod, Pitch Bend, and D-Beam controllers
• Built-in eight-track digital recorder
• Transport controls, mix faders, and a rhythm machine track
• Record up to 192 hours on SD
• Rear-panel XLR microphone, guitar, a ...

"RAW" is a sound bank for Image-Line VSTi Toxic Biohazard.

"It is a rich selection of sequenced melodies to mix with the spectral special effects or lush synthesizers. Try out the unleashed presets with the modwheel and aftertouch actions mapped. The wild and untamed sounds are to lead towards the final thought of the long awaited compositions."

Features :

• 89 composer sequences,
• 25 multidimentional special effects,
• 24 toxic synthesizers,
• 7 cooling keyboards,
• all the presets have modwheel and aftertouch action mapped,
• Windows and Mac.

Pricing : $23

The MasterWorks Collection by MOTU is now available for RTAS, Audio Units, and VST3 host software on Mac OS X (version 10.5 or 10.6) :

• MasterWorks EQ - Modeled British analog EQ
• MasterWorks Leveler - Vintage automatic gain control
• ProVerb - Stunningly realistic acoustic spaces

Pricing : $295

CFA Sound has released their E-Play Series Divorce sample player.

"How many piano libraries are out there ? Right, tons of ! So what's the deal with the CFA E-Play Series ? You don't get similar sounding (e)-pianos, you get a whole lot more. Modern, fancy, extraordinary, neverheard or hard-to-achieve keys, suitable for various styles from Jazz to Electronica - all at your fingertips. Samples are wrapped in a small and beautiful plugins for your daw - get in touch!"

Divorce - the dirty side of the e-play series. Divorce contains 25 unique e-pianos with a special dirty and nasty touch.

Features:

• Sampleplayer for PC-VST & Mac-AU
• contains 25 unique e-pianos
• 32 bit precision
• high quality interpolation
• DFD (direct-from-disk-streaming)
• 32 voices
• built-in reverb
• all e-pianos also included in NKI format
• 1,99 GB content

Pricing :

• Introductory price (first 100 copies): 25,00 €(excl. VAT)
• Normal price: 40,00 €(excl. VAT)

Here is an interesting info found on Audio Damage's blog about their next plug-in :

"This isn't a new product per se, but rather a significant update that will combine and deprecate several old products. One of the problems with our relatively large product line is that doing line-wide updates is disagreeable in the extreme; our intention in that regard is to reduce the number of products we offer, so that we're able to better deal with the fairly regularly timed body blows emanating from Cupertino.

So, this product, as yet unnamed, will be a multi-effect consisting of the engines of Liquid, Fluid, Vapor, and Phase Two. You will be able to select any one of those engines per instance, and the whole will be lovingly wrapped in a stereo delay. In this regard, it will be similar to Discord3, in both layout and operation, but rather than three different pitch shifters, it will have four modulation effects. The delay will be routed slightly differently, more like a send effect than inline as it is in D3, but that's a design decision that is down the road a bit.

For purchasing, we haven't decided on a final price, but we will almost certainly hew to our current major effect price of $59. The way upgrading will work will be that for each of the four individual effects you own, you'll receive a $10 discount from the price. So if you only own, say, Liquid, your price for this plug-in will be $49. If you own Liquid and Fluid, your price will be $39, and so on. We will, as I mentioned, be deprecating the four plug-ins in question."