PC and Music News

Chameleon Labs has announced that the 7802 Opto-Tube Compressor is now shipping.

In the spirit of classic opto compressors, the 7802 is a unique hybrid design of vacuum tube and transformer circuitry combined with modern, high performance components. The 7802 offers smooth, open, full bandwidth compression, while imparting a pleasant, subtle glow to your tracks. The silky attack is achieved via electro-optical circuitry, followed by a robust tube makeup gain stage. Final perfection is presented via the transformer balanced outputs. The 7802 can operate in dual mono or stereo linked mode, features a tube overdrive control, selectable compression (2:1 or 4:1), and a control path HPF for each channel.

The 7802 Opto-Tube Compressor carries an MSRP of $799.

Smart AV today announces that it's latest Tango software now controls Protools.

The powerful large touch screen interface of Tango with its user configurable Virtual Editor, combined with the power of MonARC makes Tango the most impressive third party controller for Protools.

Says Joe Narai, Smart AV CTO, "Like all 3rd party developers we have had to battle the limitations of the HUI/Protools interface, but in the circumstances we are very pleased with what we have achieved. Certainly initial customer feedback is very positive"

Tango has the latest touch screen technology as well as the unique ARC Technology developed for the Smart Console. Tango controls Pyramix, Nuendo, Logic, and Cubase direct as well as Protools through HUI. Discover this incredible control surface through those videos !

Tango is available at a list price of $7500.

Audio Damage is about to release bigseq2, a new version of its effect and gate sequencer.

"bigseq2 takes the concept of the gate sequencer to a whole new realm, with six effect and massive sequencing and randomization options."

bigseq2 will be available for both Mac and PC in VST and AU formats. Note that an audio example is available at :

Tone2 has released the second version of its virtual synth Gladiator.

Gladiator is a synthesizer based on the concept of Advanced Harmonic Content Morphing (HCM) Synthesis. It supports an extensive list of synthesis types : Harmonic Content Morphing (HCM3), Frequency Modulation (FM), Amplitude Modulation (AM), Phase Distortion (PD), Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), Phase Modulation (PM), oscillator sync, wave shaping, supersaw, resynthesis sounds, vocoding, additive and sample playback modes.

Improvements and new features :

- Improved sound: "Ultra quality rendering".
- Many new patches.
- 6,657 additional waveforms.
- HCM3 synthesis engine.
- Phase modifier for analogue, warm, noisy and supersaw sounds.
- 9 new effects: Autopan, tremolo, ring modulator, phaser, flanger 2, super strings, pitch shifter, reverb trance, reverb real.
- 2nd filter (effect section): Lowpass, bandpass, highpass, talkbox.
- 6 new unison modes.
- Additional subosc (OSC5) with 21 new waveforms.
- 256 voices.
- Improved filters, additional Moog filter.
- Feedback-delay module.
- 2 additional envelopes.
- 4 additional envelope shapers.
- Additional LFO.
- Improved mod matrix with 12 slots and new routings.
- Improved random patch generation.
- Improved user interface.
- Pan for each OSC.

Gladiator 2 is available now for both Mac OS X and Windows in VST / AU formats and it costs €149 / $199.

Big Fish Audio brings you the latest addition to their World/Ethnic section with Earth Tone, a warm, enthusiastic library full of diverse and classic ethnic percussion instruments, including the bata drum, frame drum, hydraulic triangle, steel slip drum, talking drum, timbau, hadjini, large ocean drum and many, many more. Add a splash of the Middle East to your hip hop tracks, or a hint of South America to your jazz tunes. Earth Tone is a gateway to all things ethnic percussion.

Contents :

- 6.1 GB on Disc (2.47 GB of 24-bit WAV files)
- 922 WAV loops on Disc
- There are 12 loop performance folders in tempos ranging from 72BPM to 200BPM.
- Format : Apple Loops/REX/WAV/RMX/Acid

Earth Tone is available now at a price of $99.95. Note that an audio example is also available here :

Wallander Instruments has released WIVI Saxophones 1 & 2.

Saxophones 1 (€299) includes the standard saxophone quartet, ranging from the soprano to the baritone :

• Soprano Saxophones 1-3
• Alto Saxophones 1-3
• Tenor Saxophones 1-3
• Baritone Saxophones 1-3

Saxophones 2 (€219) includes a variety of more exotic saxophones, extending the range to the sopranino and bass, and includes rare gems such as the C Melody :

• Sopranino Saxophones 1-3
• C Soprano Saxophones 1-3
• Mezzo-soprano Saxophones 1-3
• C Melody Saxophones 1-3
• Bass Saxophones 1-3