PC and Music News

Tascam has introduced the DR-03, a new portable 24-bit stereo digital audio recorder that's about the size of a energy bar.

Features:

• Stereo condenser microphone design
• Up to 24-bit, 48 kHz WAV recording or MP3 recording modes
• Records to microSD media
• Auto-recording function starts when input exceeds a reference level
• Limiter, low-cut filter, and auto gain control for input
• Variable Speed Audition changes the playback speed without changing the pitch
• Loop playback mode
• USB 2.0 connection for file transfer
• 1/8" stereo microphone / line input
• 1/8" stereo headphone output
• 96 x 96 backlit LCD display
• Powered by two AAA batteries or USB bus power
• Built-in speaker
• Built-in desktop stand
• Includes a 2 GB microSD card and AAA batteries

The DR-03 is now available with an MSRP of $149.99 and a retail price of about $100.

M-Audio unveils the Oxygen 88, a new USB MIDI Keyboard/Controller.

"The M-Audio® Oxygen 88 USB MIDI controller delivers a highly expressive playing experience that's designed to satisfy players who need the feel of a piano combined with the power of a modern MIDI controller. The 88-note, graded hammer-action keybed offers an impressive feel and response—while 32 assignable buttons, knobs, and faders provide complete control over your music software. DirectLink mode automatically maps these onboard controls to common DAW functions* including transport, mixer, track pan, and plug-in parameters. Built-in presets offer support for popular virtual instruments right out of the box—no complicated setup required. Featuring an unparalleled combination of great feel, total control, and ease of use, Oxygen 88 is the perfect choice for both studio and stage."

4Pockets.com presents StompBox which turns your iPad into a "great sounding fully fledged digital effects unit", complete with chromatic guitar tuner, metronome and recording tools. It allows you to chain up to 12 effects in any order and then save your settings as patch files that can be recalled at the press of a button.

Take a look at this trailer :


StompBox will be available in the next couple of weeks for your iPad.

Audio Damage has updated Axon, the Neuron Sequencer/FM Percussion Synthesizer plug-in, to version 1.1. This update includes :

• Multiple Outputs: Axon now has 7 additional stereo outputs, one for each voice/neuron. These are pre-mixer, and are not affected by mute, solo, pan, or fader.
• Zero Reset: A third sync mode has been added, RST. In this mode, Axon syncs to host, but every time you stop the host transport, the counters in each Neuron reset to zero. The net result is that Axon becomes much more determinate.
• Bug Fixes: The timing bug in Logic has been dealt with, as well as another obscure automation bug in the AudioUnit version, and some other minor bugs.

Although specifically designed for live sound, the audio performance, and the addition of a FireWire digital audio interface mean that the VeniceF is equally at home in recording and remixing applications. One look at the VeniceF confirms that this console is continuing the legacy established by the XL3 and XL4 consoles, then consolidated in the Heritage series.

Features overview:

• Frames: 16, 24, 32
• All-new Alex Cooper mic pre
• XL3 EQ – four-band swept eq with two parametric mids
• Input polarity switch
• Insert in/out switch with LED
• Direct out with pre/post EQ switch
• Discrete mono bus
• Individual routing to stereo, mono and groups with pan-to-groups enable switch
• 32x32ch. FireWire interface
• 100mm faders
• 3 year warranty

Availablility : October 2010
Pricing : TBA

Fire Juggler by 9 Soundware is a set of patches for the Thor Polysonic Synthesizer within Propellerhead Reason. The collection harnesses the variable architecture and modulation options of the highly flexible instrument. The patches, which span a vast array of timbres, were designed for performance interactivity, as well as mix-conscious tonal balance.

The sound set consists of 100 patches. It is divided into 5 categories. "Bass", "Lead", "Pad", and "Piano" (one-shot, tonal sounds) each contain 15 patches, and "Drums" consists of 40 patches which cover all drum kit components.

The 0.4 MB download includes 100 .thor files.

Fire Juggler is available now for $24.99 at :