PC and Music News

Modartt has updated Pianoteq to v3.5.3 and announced the release of a Clavinet Add-on, which brings you the characteristic sound featured in many rhythm & blues, pop, funk, disco and reggae songs. It also offers additional features not available in the original instrument.

The clavinet add-on is modelled after the well-known D6 electric clavichord. Thanks to the powerful technology provided by physical modelling, it offers in contrast to the original instrument a sustain pedal, an extended range from C0 to C6 (original range F0 to E5), a variable mute bar, continuous pick-up mixing, and of course the well-known Pianoteq's possibilities to adjust the timbre such as hammer hardness, overtones and resonator. There is also a wah-wah feature and customized equalizer presets.

The clavinet was frequently used in recordings during the 1970-80's and is still being used today. It has a seducing characteristic bright staccato sound that many musicians utilize to enhance the rhythmic qualities of the songs. Its portability makes it popular for use on stage as well as in the recording studio.

The clavinet has a similar mechanism as the clavichord. The strings are stroked by small rubber tips and pressed on to an anvil at the striking point. For that reason, it is not loud enough by itself and is therefore amplified electronically, and no sustain pedal could be implemented in the real instrument.

The clavinet add-on is embedded in demo mode in Pianoteq's latest version 3.5.3 and can be unlocked for 49 €. Further details with audio demos are available at :

Sample Logic has taken A.I.R. into the next generation with their upgrade to A.I.R. Expanded. A.I.R.'s sample programming and user interface have been completely redesigned and enhanced from the ground up with five independent screens of more than 40 assignable effects and performance parameters. In addition, Sample Logic has meticulously revamped every original A.I.R. instrument and introduced a whole new collection of performance-ready instruments and multis.

A.I.R. Expanded blends the three essential building blocks of music (Ambience, Impacts, and Rhythms) into one score-effectual toolkit. Powered by Native Instruments Kontakt Player, this extensive 6 GB virtual instrument contains over 900 instruments and multis that include atmospheric soundscapes, impactual transitions, tempo-synced rhythmic loops and much more...

Available now for both Mac and PC (VST, DXi, RTAS, AU, Stand Alone) as direct download. Boxed version will be available March 1st.

Full Retail Product: $359.99 (Download or Boxed)
Current User Upgrade: $49.99 (Download Only)

Serafine FX Tron is an Infinite Player virtual instrument powered by Kontakt that works as stand alone software for the Mac or PC or as a plug-in for every major DAW such as Logic, ProTools, Cubase and many others. It comes with a broad range of sound effects for film, tv, games, radio, music and any multimedia project all in one powerful "Sound Effects Workstation".

From classic sci-fi FX Frank Serafine created for movies like "The Hunt for Red October", "Lawnmower Man" and "Tron" to a wide assortment of first call sound effects that multi-media producers are looking for this workstation has it all. Within the included Infinite Player software sounds can be layered, processed, manipulated and "performed" from a midi keyboard to create an infinite amount of effects for any media or mus ...

Plogue has announced that it has released demo versions of its Chipsounds software synthesizer and updated it to v1.0.0.3, which offers an improved set of presets now covering an even wider range of classic video games sounds and tones.

The demo limitations are :

• Silence after a 15 minute session.
• No Save.

Chipsounds is currently available for Windows and Mac OS X in stand-alone and VST, AU and RTAS plug-in formats for $95/€65 (excl. VAT).

After months of development we are proud to announce that Usine V5 is out !

This version contains hundreds of improvements and new features. Usine is more stable, powerful, light and ergonomic than ever.

whats new :

• Gesture and Multi-touch Implementation. (All design modules can receive Multi-Touch and Gesture informations that you can use directly in all the patches to create very ergonomic systems.)
• Video Tracker Module. (Enables audio interaction with a camera. Motion detection, dark zones and light zones.)
• Intelligent Auto Wiring. (Fast auto wiring system to build patches faster than ever... For that just Drag&Drop a Module or a VST directly on the wire to insert it in the process chain.)
• New Grid concept. (The new Grid mode mixes row/cell presentation and interface builder mode.)
• Surround. (Built-in 16 channels surround mixer and aux buses. If it's not enough, all audio modules can handle up to 64 channels.)
• Direct surround recording in the Sampler.
• VST's layouts. (Total integration of VST's in personal interfaces. Vst's forms can now be located in controls panels or in interfaces.)
• Patch window. (The Patching area is now a stand alone window to improve paching in dual screens systems.)
• New layouts. (Serious improvements of interface building. All controls are now resizable and with new layouts possiblilities.)

AcousticsampleS has announced the release of Bassysm-M and Bassysm-Pack.

The Bassysm-M bass is a four strings Musicman Stingray bass with roundwound strings recorded at 24bits 44.1khz from the direct output of a tube preamp (the same as the bassysm-S and Bassysm-J).

Features :

• 260Mo sample bank, no loops
• 11 velocity layers
• 10 velocities for the release
• slide samples
• hammers samples
• advanced legato/slide/hammers script
• additionnal frets noises, Multi velocity Ghost notes
• 4 different play modes: normal, legato, hammers, slides
• playable instrument, everything can be controlled from the keyboard
• Kontakt 2 or superior (separate versions for Kontakt 3.5). Easy to use Kontakt interface.
• available now f ...