PC and Music News

Native Instruments today announced KONTAKT 5, the next generation of its leading software sampler. The new version offers profoundly enhanced sound shaping through a host of new high-quality filters and studio-grade effect algorithms, superior time-stretching, vintage sampling modes, and more. Further accommodating its role as the central sample library platform on the market, KONTAKT 5 also introduces two major new features for advanced instrument design.

In a further major expansion of its unrivaled sound shaping capabilities, KONTAKT 5 introduces a completely new suite of high-quality filters, developed by the creative mastermind behind the acclaimed MASSIVE synthesizer. Ranging from classic analog-style ladder and state-variable models to modern formant filters, some of the 37 new filters also employ the unique new "Adaptive Resonance" concept, which automatically manages the filter characteristics to prevent unpleasant sonic artifacts from excessive resonance peaks. At the same time, the superior new "TimeMachine Pro" time-stretching algorithm in KONTAKT 5 enables unprecedented sound quality for harmonic solo instruments and similar demanding source material.ONTAKT 5 will be available in September 2011 for $399 / 379 EUR. An update for owners of previous KONTAKT versions will be available for $119 / 99 EUR.

Native Instruments today announced new versions of its studio-standard software bundle. While KOMPLETE 8 has been further expanded to include 27 individual products at an unchanged price, the new KOMPLETE 8 ULTIMATE for the first time combines the full arsenal of Native Instruments' KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects range at the same substantial discount, with 50 individual products conveniently provided on a dedicated external hard drive.

Further expanding its versatile sonic arsenal, the new KOMPLETE 8 includes the latest KONTAKT 5 and GUITAR RIG 5 versions, and adds the charismatic WEST AFRICA percussion instrument. It also incorporates the versatile new STUDIO DRUMMER drum production instrument and the upcoming TRANSIENT MASTER dynamic processing effect. Furthermore, KOMPLETE 8 includes over 1,300 additional presets for ABSYNTH, FM8 and MASSIVE, derived from several acclaimed soundpacks previously available as individual products.

The new KOMPLETE 8 ULTIMATE includes the full content of the regular KOMPLETE 8 bundle and much more, combining the full range of all currently available KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects on a dedicated USB 2.0 hard drive. The resulting collection comprises 50 individual products with over 13,000 sounds and 240 GB of sample content, at an effective discount of over 80% compared to the individual prices. The hard drive enables a fast and convenient installation process, and also constitutes a compact and robust backup medium for the software.

Nuendo 5.5 highlights new editing functionality useful in audio production environments. Multitrack editing tools, grouping events and editing across multiple lanes are now eminently convenient alongside reworked transient hitpoint detection and phase-stable audio quantization to expedite workflows. The powerful audio/MIDI lane editing for quick comping provides an overall efficient recording experience.


Great quality in real-time time stretching and pitch shifting is revealed through the newly added acclaimed élastique Pro algorithms. Complementing the list of new features are also an advanced offline processing, automation editing with improved trimming functions, the VST Amp Rack plug-in, tempo detection and full 64-bit support for Mac.

ITCH 2.0 is the latest update for Serato ITCH, a digital DJ software designed to work with carefully co-engineered controllers made by the best hardware companies on the planet: Vestax, Numark, Allen & Heath, Pioneer and Novation.

ITCH 2.0 is the first version to include a re-optimized sync engine, with all new Serato SmartSync technology. Serato's unique SmartSync smashes the traditional notion of master/slave states, creating an entirely new sync structure behind the scenes. This technology, teamed with precise beatgrids, locks grooves for smooth, intuitive syncing of multiple audio sources.
The Serato SP-6 Sample Player makes its debut in ITCH 2.0, complete with Serato's SmartSync. The SP-6 Sample Player offers four banks with six slots each to trigger drops, loops and whole songs seamlessly into the mix.

Little Endian announces the release of SpectrumWorx version 2.5 for Mac OS X and Windows. This version adds Freeze and Convolver modules, and a 50-preset signature bank created by Syndicate Synthetique, thus representing a major update. Both OS versions have also been updated with stability and performance improvements.

Features:

- 100% Frequency domain operation.
- Modular design with five module slots.
- Over fifty modules to choose from (freeze, harmonizer, pitch shifter, classic vocoder, wah-wah, whisperer, wobbler, autotune, reverser, etc.).
- Sophisticated "time-to-frequency" engine optimized for low CPU usage.
- Flexible Preset browser with comment field.
- Shipped with over 250 presets.
- Free or tempo-synchronised LFOs with phase adjustment and 11 waveforms.
- External audio input for inter-sample effects.
- Slick and user-friendly GUI.
- Detailed User's Guide.

Special Limited-Time Offer: For the Month of August You Can Pick Up Auto-Tune EFX at Incredible Savings.

For the month of August, you can buy Auto-Tune EFX for an estimated street price in the USA of only $49 (that's over 60% off its regular MSRP in the USA of $129).

Powered by the same core technology as Antares' professional standard Auto-Tune 7, Auto-Tune EFX is the quickest, easiest-to-use tool for real-time pitch correction and creating the iconic Auto-Tune Vocal Effect. Auto-Tune EFX makes genuine Antares pitch processing accessible to anyone engaged in computer-based audio recording.