PC and Music News

Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH today released the Steinberg Elements Pack. Comprising Cubase Elements 6 and WaveLab Elements 7, the Steinberg Elements Pack provides all the essential tools that make recording, editing, mixing and mastering music on a PC and Mac computer a rewarding experience.

he Steinberg Elements Pack is available until the end of this year as download and boxed version through the Steinberg Online Shop. The exact time of availability of the Steinberg Elements Pack at certified Steinberg dealers is subject to regional variations.

The suggested retail price for the Steinberg Elements Pack is EUR 149 including German VAT. Pricing may vary in other countries.

PLUS is a soundset for Xhun Audio's VSTi version of the world acclaimed LittlePhatty by Moog.

It is a collage of so far unseen variations of the LittleOne's possibilities brought to a litteral edge. Get more from one set as PLUS offers:

- 16 gated sequences and melodies,
- 16 involving leads,
- 7 organic drum tools,
- 9 soothing yet vivid pianos,
- 16 innovative special effects
- 64 daring pads and synthesizers
- and also "Special Assignment Package" of 55 bank presets.

TASCAM's DR-40 packs adjustable condenser microphones, four track recording, XLR mic inputs and extended battery life into a portable recorder your can take anywhere. It captures up to four tracks from built-in condenser microphones, XLR mic or line inputs. The high-quality internal microphones are adjustable from XY to AB position, helping you to tailor your recording to the sound of the room.

A pair of great-sounding TASCAM microphone preamps welcome condenser microphones with phantom power, recording at up to 96kHz/24-bit resolution. It accommodates balanced XLR or 1/4" line inputs using locking Neutrik Combo jacks. The DR-40 accepts SD or SDHC cards up to 32GB, and a 2GB card is included.

KV331 Audio announces the release of version 2.5 of their semi-modular synthesizer and effect plug-in SynthMaster. With version 2.5, SynthMaster becomes a cross-platform plug-in running on Windows (32/64 bits) and Mac OSX (32 bits) operating systems in VST and AU formats.

The latest version comes with 400 new factory presets, while introducing new filter types, improved filter algorithms with pre/inside/post distortion routings, stereo oscillators with improved unison, vector synthesis with 2D envelopes, sample playback (SFZ) synthesis, improved arpeggiator, improved modulation architecture, improved easy parameters, online preset browser, multiple skins, flexible effects routing, improved effects as well as 3 new effects: Phaser, Ensemble and Compressor.

As a hybrid audio interface, the 896mk3 provides flexible connectivity to any Mac or PC via FireWire or high-speed USB 2.0, with eight channels of pristine 24-bit 192 kHz analog recording and playback, combined with sixteen channels of optical digital I/O, stereo AES/EBU, S/PDIF and separate analog main outs (28 input/32 output).

You can Expand your system by connecting the 8pre mic input expander or other MOTU audio interfaces.

Tascam Announces iXZ Mic/Instrument Interface. iXZ is a pocket sized iXZ Mic/Instrument Input for iPad / iPhone / iPod Touch. Plug in a microphone, guitar or bass to interact with the latest guitar amp, sampling, recording and DJ apps. The iXZ supplies phantom power for condenser microphones and input setting sets the gain. There is also a headphone output to monitor from your iOS device.

iXZ can be used in various applications and will be sure to be an indispensable tool for anyone who enjoys creating music.

Some Features:

- Switchable mic/line input
- Phantom power
- Gain control
- 1/8" headphone output
- XLR mic input
- High-impedence guitar input
- Mic input powered by two AA batteries
- Non-powered guitar input