PC and Music News

Platinum Samples is proud to announce the release of Joe Barresi's Evil Drums SDX Expansion Pack for Toontrack Music's Superior Drummer 2.0 software - after all, it only seems fitting to release Evil Drums for the flagship product from the company that gave us Drumkit From Hell.

Joe Barresi is one of the busiest producer/engineers working today with an impressive list of credits including albums by Tool, Wolfmother, Queens Of The Stone Age, Weezer, Clutch, Pennywise, Turbonegro, Bad Religion, and many more.

Featuring 6 full drum kits, 6 kick drums and 6 snares the Evil Drums Expansion Pack is unlike any other expansion pack available. Recorded to analog tape at two legendary rock studios using compression and EQ, Joe Barresi has captured a diverse ensemble of drum sounds with unprecedented detail and full bleed to create a unique and exquisitely evil expansion pack. Evil Drums also includes MIDI grooves performed by Pat Wilson (Weezer, The Special Goodness).

Platinum Samples is the first third party company to release Expansion Packs for Toontrack Music's best selling Superior Drummer 2.0 software. The expansion pack requires that Superior Drummer 2.0 be installed and is both Mac OS X and Windows compatible. Superior Drummer 2.0 supports Digidesign's RTAS format, as well as VSTi and Audio Units technologies.

Joe Barresi's Evil Drums SDX costs $199.

To start the New Year off right, McDSP has extended all their specials until May of 2010, allowing customers to purchase anything and everything for up to 30% off !

Once McDSP releases Audio Unit (AU) compatible versions in May 2010, all prices will increase. Existing customers may simply upgrade their plug-ins at that time to receive AU support. Visit the McDSP Store today to make sure you take advantage of sale prices before they go up !

Don't forget, you can still upgrade an LE plug-in to Native for only $69 each !

D16 Group has just announced the release of Syntorus, the latest plug-in from their Silver Line.

To create a chorus effect, an audio signal is mixed with one or more delayed, pitch modulated copies of itself. Described as a "Double Path Analog Chorus", Syntorus aims to provide a rich analogue chorus similar to the effect found on classic synthesisers like the Solina, Synthex or Juno.

Features :

• Emulation of analogue delay line.
• Double delay line.
• LFOs synchronized with host application.
• Built-in tremolo effect.
• Presets organised into groups.
• MIDI learn function.
• 64-bit internal processing.

Syntorus is available now for both Mac (VST/AU) and PC (VST) at a price of €35. All current users who own Silver Line effect(s) can take an advantage of a nice cross grade offer and purchase Syntorus for a lower price. Total Bundle and Silver Line collection have been updated and now both include Syntorus.

Toontrack Music is proud to announce the release of this colossus of a Metal MIDI package, featuring one of the most prominent players in today's metal scene, Dirk Verbeuren, drummer in Soilwork, Scarve and Aborted.

So, ever felt like having insane, extreme world class Metal drumming, executed with such a razor-blade perfection and ingenious brutality that it will hit you like a 20 ton wrecking ball of sheer metal.

Enter Library of the Extreme - Blasts & Fills, the ultimate and one of its kind collection of more than 1000 individually played MIDI files.

• All material categorized by Style, BPM and Leading Instrument
• Both Straight and Triplet variations available
• Works with EZdrummer®, Superior Drummer® (optimized for 1 or 2 kicks, 1 snare, 2 toms, 1 floor-tom, 2 crash-cymbals, 1 china and 1 ride-cymbal)
• Includes Dirk Verbeuren custom Kit Selections for The Metal Foundry SDX and Superior Drummer 2.0® core library N.Y - Avatar

Available now at a price of €15. Please check Library of the Extreme Audio demos, video and more at :

Audio Damage has announced the release of its first virtual instrument : Tattoo. This is a drum synthesizer where everything old is new again. Featuring 12 independent "voice-tuned" synthesizer topologies loosely based on the X0X series, and an incredibly sophisticated step/mod sequencer, Tattoo is at home in all forms of electronic music production.

Features :

• 12 Drum Synths: Tattoo comes equipped with twelve different voices, instead of the one general catch-all voice you find in most drum synth plug-ins.

• Sophisticated Step Sequencer: Tattoo's internal sequencer comes correct, taking grid programming to the next level.

• Randomization For Days: There are multiple routes to randomizing your beats, from subtle ghost notes to full on haywire.

• Par ...

CEntrance has announced a new hardware product : the DACport USB Headphone Amplifier, featuring a reference-quality audio signal path.

DACport is an audiophile-quality, stereo 24-bit / 96kHz Digital-to-Analog converter (DAC) with exceptional jitter management, resulting in extreme clarity and revealing musical detail. Its professional 1/4" output offers the highest quality headphone connection, while the unit also comes with an adaptor for 1/4" to mini 1/8" stereo for other headphone connections. Featuring CEntrance-designed AdaptiWave USB technology and innovative JitterGuard clock management system to offer the highest quality analog audio along with super-clean dual power supplies and an audiophile headphone amplifier, the DACport redefines the category of portable headphone amplifiers.

DACport is compatible with any Windows, Mac or Linux computer and draws power straight from the USB jack. The DACport connects to the computer without special software drivers - offering driverless USB performance up to 24-bit / 96kHz, plug 'n play operation, analog volume knob, and Class A headphone amp, DACport packs a lot of features into its anodized aluminum tube, setting new standards in portability, convenience and sound quality.

DACport ships with a handy belt clip, 6 foot USB cable, and a velvet carrying pouch. Available now directly from CEntrance for $500.