PC and Music News

McDSP is proud to introduce Live Pack, a collection of plug-ins for mixing live performances. Features like ultra low latency, superior sonic flexibility and seamless integration with the Digidesign VENUE live sound system make Live Pack a "must-have" for any FOH or monitoring engineer.

Live Pack will begin shipping on April 1, 2009 and includes Channel G Compact, Chrome Tone, DE555, FutzBox, MC2000, ML4000 and NF575. In addition to supporting the Digidesign VENUE systems, Live Pack plug-ins also support TDM, RTAS and Audiosuite formats on Pro Tools HD, LE and M-Powered systems.

Live Pack HD will be available for purchase for $1995, or as a rental for $495 for three months or $695 for six months. Rental cost may be applied towards a full purchase before rental period expires. Customers who already own McDSP plug-ins may be eligible for upgrade pricing. Live Pack will be sold or rented as an electronic purchase.

Plogue has updated Bidule to v0.9685.

New Features :

- Added DSP Adapter feature to wrap groups to run a limited set of bidules at a buffer size of 1 samples (more bidules to be supported, other buffer sizes and sample rates support to come).
- Added OSC Monitor to show all incoming/outgoing OSC Messages.
- Optimized handling of presets to reduce memory usage and fix a few bugs.
- Added MIDI Message Creator.
- Added MIDI Note Off Velocity Remapper.
- Expanded MP Assign to use up to 8 cores.
- Plus many more little improvements.

Bug Fixes :

- AU Version : sample rate change could be missed.
- Integer parameter display not always being accurate.
- Message Remapper : remapping pitchbend doesn't work.
- OSC : using the open command on a file loading audio files in the Mediapool or using the polyphonic adapter crashes.
- Polyphonic Adapter: doesn't transmit some MIDI messages to active voices.
- Possible crash if a VST could not properly initialize itself.
- ReWire Device : added protection against out of range MIDI events timestamp.
- Value List : could load up with incorrect values.
- VST Hosting : some MIDI events coming out of plugins could be missed/skipped.
-Plus many more fixes.

Cytomic has released its Bus Compressor effect plug-in 'The Glue' in beta version.

Features :

- 4 in / 2 out stereo compressor (second stereo input for external side-chain processing)
- Accurate analog model of famous British mix bus compressor of the 80's
- Ultra-fast attack time of up to 0.01 mS
- Range knob to naturally control the maximum compression applied
- Peak Clip to optionally hard limit transients
- DSP coded using C++ and assembler, Interface coded using the Juce framework (C++)
- VST, AU and RTAS plug-in formats for Mac OS X and Windows

Trial versions are available now at :

Christian Knufinke Software has just announced the update of its SIR2 convolution reverb plug-in.

Changes :

- Initial Windows 64-bit release.
- Triangle envelope functionality.
- Finer Pre-delay adjustment.
- Search functionality, if impulse file not found.
- Ability to store EQ-presets (right mouse-click into EQ-Envelope).
- Improved project-portability between different workstations (relative filename will be stored too, so if the default impulse-response location is different, the IR will be found). Please note: to use this function, the project has once to be saved with this new version.
- New look.
- Support for "Ctrl+mouse click", for one-button mouse Macs.
- Improved host compatibility.

VirSyn has just updated its vocoder plug-in Matrix.

New features in v1.2.1 :

- Internal generator can now be used without MIDI note input.
- Line draw mode for channel matrix with shift+drag.
- AudioUnit standard effect without MIDI added.
- AudioUnit mono effect added.

Bug fixes :

- MIDI learn was broken in VST 2.4 / AudioUnit versions.

Matrix Users will be notified automatically about the update and the download links. A fully functional/time limited demo version is available - a Syncrosoft dongle (Steinberg key) is needed.

Scratch by 9 Soundware is the second installment in a series of three sample packs featuring DJ Shiftee, the winner of the 2007 DMC World Championships. This multi-format set of turntable loops are intended to complement the scratching found in DJ Shiftee: Extreme Turntablism. From simple, straightforward scratches which vibe up beats to vinyl madness at breakneck speeds, these versatile loops are effective as both textural and solo elements.

The set consists of 78 loops (1 to 4 bars in length) at tempos 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, and 140 BPM. The 216 MB download includes 78 WAV files (24-bit/44.1 kHz), 78 REX2 files (24-bit/44.1 kHz), and 78 Apple Loops files (24-bit/44.1 kHz).

Scratch is available now for $19.99 at :