PC and Music News

Mackie announced the return of the MCU Pro and MCU XT Pro control surfaces.

The MCU Pro now features touch-sensitive, motorized faders designed by the experts at Alps. These robust new faders are belt-driven, with sturdy teeth and gears that execute ridiculously smooth fades (i.e. no "zipper" feeling) and feature a nice 100mm throw.

The "new" MCU Pro also includes a new user-requested feature that lets you re-calibrate the faders to ensure you get the accuracy required for your productions

Two years of hard research and 16 amp modelling ! it was a big chalenge for Line6 to prépare this new line of products Pod HD 300 et HD 400 (with 80 FX) and HD 500 (with more than 100 FX and a VDI connector). All of them with a loop recorder and of course, a tuner.

HD amp models deliver superior articulation, tangible touch response and never-before-heard levels of warmth, feel and realism that will inspire your playing on stage and in the studio. Behind the full-bodied tone of every HD amp model is a story that's just as rich.

The following amps were studied during our new HD model development*

* Bogner® Uberschall
* Divided by 13 JRT 9/15
* Dr. Z® Route 66
* ENGL® Fireball 100
* Fender® Bassman®
* Fender® Blackface Deluxe Reverb®
* Fender® Twin Reverb®
* Gibson® E ...

For a limited time, Waves is offering 40% off all its plug-in bundles and upgrades.

Note that SoundGrid bundles are not included in this promotion and that all purchases and upgrades include one full year of Waves Update Plan coverage.

Upgrade Info
To upgrade, contact your dealer or access your Waves account and click the
Upgrade link next to your product.
For your upgrade options summary, access your Waves account and click
Specials > Email My Upgrade Options.

AKAI PRO annonces MPK mini (25 keys), USB software controller with keyboard and drum pads. MPK mini has been unveiled at the 2010 BPM EXPO in Birmingham, England.

High portability and comprehensive software control by melding together the immediate control and grab-and-go convenience of the elders : LPK25 and LPD8.

The MPK mini keyboard is pretty good for quickly entering notes and phrases into a computer and is also velocity-sensitive. Dedicated Octave Up and Down buttons instantly access different pitch ranges and a Sustain button provides further performance options. The MPK mini also has a built-in arpeggiator to create sparkling, staccato leads and driving bass lines in a variety of time signatures and patterns. And Tap tempo !

MPK mini is plug-and-play with Mac or PC and requires no software driver installation or wall power for operation.

MPK Mini

M-Audio has announced that its new USB MIDI Keyboard/Controller, the Oxygen 88, is now shipping.

Top Features :

• 88-note graded hammer-action keybed
• DirectLink mode for instant controller mapping to common DAW functions—no setup required
• Compatible with Pro Tools, GarageBand, Logic, Live, Cubase, and more
• Dedicated transport and track select buttons
• 32 assignable knobs, faders, and buttons

Oxygen 88 is available worldwide for £540/€640.

ESI has announced that the MIDI keyboard KeyControl 25 XT is now available.

Features :

• 25-note MIDI keyboard
• velocity-sensitive keys
• pitch-bend wheel and modulation slider
• four endless rotary encoders that can be programmed to send your choice of CC numbers
• octave buttons
• input for a sustain pedal
• USB powered
• Cubase LE 5 and Toontrack's EZ Drummer Lite included

Pricing : £79