PC and Music News

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

The unique dynamic wavetable synthesis allows you to explore an unprecedented wide range of sonic territory. From acid loops, crystal clear percussions, realistic human choirs to complex musical sound scapes nothing seems impossible
with only a handful parameters to tweak.

New in version 1.1

- Line 6 MIDI mobilizer compatible
- Many new scales, scale base note added
- New keyboard for scale optimized playing
- On-screen keyboard now velocity sensitive
- Many bugfixes

DontCrack proudly announces the launch of a new audio plug-in series that might change the way we think about audio plug-ins. In response to users demand for high quality and efficiency, DontCrack has developed a new series of plug-ins that might simply change the way we think about audio plug-ins. DontCrack has partnered with leading plug-in designers from around the world to bring you the V.I.P. plug-in series.

The Bundle:
- DC analoger, DC brightness, DC chorus ensemble, DC clarisonix, DC classic flanger, DC classic phaser, DC cool, DC digital plate, DC digital reverb, DC dimension 3d, DC distorted, DC echoflex, DC electro optical, DC retro compressor, DC retro equalizer, DC retro filter, DC retro limiter, DC transcontrol, DC tremolo pan, DC ultramaxit.

If you buy DontCrack plug-ins then you truly are a "Very Intelligent Person". Each plug-in in the V.I.P. series will cost only $49 individually, but if you purchase the DontCrack "V.I.P. Bundle" you will spend only $489 for the entire collection! If you like to purchase plug- ins one at a time, DontCrack will upgrade you the entire V.I.P. Bundle for free as soon as you accumulate 10 plug-ins in your collection.

To celebrate the event DontCrack are making the V.I.P. bundle available for only $299 from today till Monday, October 10, 2011. Isn't that what you guys call a "no brainer"