PC and Music News

Native Instruments today introduced DROP SQUAD, a new MASCHINE Expansion that highlights the deep sound of dubstep and bass music culture. Bringing synthesis to MASCHINE and MASCHINE MIKRO for the first time, DROP SQUAD includes presets from NI's MASSIVE synthesizer which now comes as a free download when users register or upgrade their MASCHINE software.

The 35 kits and 120 patterns in DROP SQUAD contain a host of punchy drums, low-end wobbles, FX, stabs, sweeps and deep basses. An additional 10 special kits add tribal and mechanical one-shots along with many wobbles, drills and synthesized 'vowel' sounds that will be instantly recognizable to fans of dubstep.

Before a group buy for a given Voxengo product is initiated it should first collect a certain number of initial votes in the recent 20-day period, so for a group buy to be initiated there should be a high level of public interest available. The initiated group buy then lasts 15 days or until it reaches the maximal 50% discount. Each initiated group buy guarantees at least 10% discount upon its finish. You can recall your current vote at any time. Your vote does not construe obligation to purchase the product.

Voxengo group buys are fully automated and their outcome solely depends on its participants' social activity. The more votes a group buy collects the higher discount is reached during the 15-day voting period. So, if you are in, it is advised that you also invite your colleagues and friends via e-mails, forums, social networks, etc.

Chicago based Cool Bear Studios today announces Cosmic Top 1.3, an update to the toy top that buzzes with sci-fi sounds and glows with limitless, colorful shapes.

Cosmic Top is an audiovisual physics-based simulation of a spinning, wobbling, and sometimes morphing top. The new version brings full graphics support for 4-inch Retina displays, a new variety of color flow tops and glowing textures, and zoom button control for both the iPhone and iPod touch.

SSL announces the groundbreaking A-FADA automation system and the release of a new 'Pro-Station' version of their Duality console.

Duality Pro-Station is a new version of the industry-leading SSL Duality large-format console, which expands the available range of options. Pro-Station offers all of the benefits of SSL's hybrid workflow, combining the sonic advantages of a classic SSL SuperAnalogue mixing console with integrated hands-on hardware control over the DAW environment.

The Lyra family of audio interfaces offers Prism Sound performance at its most affordable ever.

They are based on the Orpheus audio path and clock circuitry, but in a smaller package for those who don't need eight channels of analogue I/O. There are two models Lyra 1 and Lyra 2.

- Class compliant (UAC2) USB interface
- ASIO and WDM drivers for Windows (32 and 64bit)
- Native CORE AUDIO on Mac OS X
- UAC2 operation on Linux (no control panel support)
- Ethernet interface with low-latency AVB capability
- Two Prism Sound premium-quality AD channels.

The Sound of Piano One comes from the Yamaha C7 concert grand, a true workhorse in the professional piano world, appearing on famous concert stages, in international competitions and in prestigious music events throughout the world.

By utilizing the Sound Magic Hybrid Modeling Engine, Piano One offers both the Realistic Sound of Sampling and the Playability of Modeling. Hybrid Modeling provides an instantaneous feeling - no delay - and a truer and richer sound than canbe created with either sampling or modeling alone. What's more, Piano One utilizes only 160MB, which is quite a small footprint, making Piano One usable even on older PCs. There is no waiting time when loading and the CPU usage is so small that it's virtually unnoticeable.