PC and Music News

Waldorf has just announced the release of Largo, a virtual instrument offering the same powerful synthesizer engine as found in the Waldorf Q-, MicroQ- and Blofeld-synthesizers.

Largo offers three fat oscillators, two of them with sub oscillators. These oscillators include models of classic analog waveforms as well as a selection of waves from the PPG and Waldorf Wave stored in two Wavetables. All these run through two Waldorf multimode filters with steep cutoff, resonance up to self-oscillation and a drive stage to add even more punch and grainyness to the sound. Ultra-fast envelope generators and flexible LFOs as well as an easy to understand, yet extremely versatile modulation matrix make for a sound designer's dream.

Largo contains a flexible arpeggiator with 16 freely programm ...

Humanoid Sound Systems has released a VST/AU version for Mac of Scanned Synth Pro.

Scanned Synth uses a unique new form of synthesis inspired by advances in digital music theory. It is designed to create rich complex digital tones and fantastic sound effects, while using simplified controls and traditional synths techniques such as filters, LFOs and effects.

Perfect for biting metallic growls, movement filled pads, and weird modular-like sound effects, Scanned Synth Pro provides a unique sound that is constantly changing and new every time you press a key. Featuring a "revolutionary" synthesis engine, combining the powers of both Physical Modelling and Wavetable synthesis, with simplified controls and full MIDI automation, Scanned Synth Pro is both simple and complex, powerful and easy to use.

Scanned Synth Pro is available for both Mac (AU/VST) and PC (VST) using the "pay-what-you-like" model (with a minimum donation of 30 US cents).

VSL has announced that its new virtual grand piano plug-in instrument, the Vienna Imperial, is now shipping. The venerable Bösendorfer Imperial 290-755 that the VSL team hosted at the Silent Stage for two months was equipped with the famed piano manufacturer's CEUS technology, which allowed for precise and extensive piano sample recordings.

Features :

• Up to 100 velocities per key, 1,200 recorded samples per key.
• Audience, player, and close microphone recording positions.
• Powerful proprietary piano engine.
• Multiple release samples for different note lengths (supports authentic staccato/staccatissimo performances).
• Repetition samples for pedal-sustained notes.
• Sympathetic resonances for sustain pedal up and down positions.
• Adjustab ...

AM Music Technology has just released the Mac OS X version of Pro SoloVst, a virtual instrument that reproduces the monophonic analog synthesizer from the early 1970s, the ARP Pro Soloist.

The sound engine of the Pro SoloVst is a software emulation of the real analog algorithms implemented inside the original instrument : VCO, resonators, filters, VCF, VCA and analog effects. So you can hear and feel analog-like warm sounds coming out from a set of 30 voices corresponding to the presets of the synthesizer.

Pro SoloVst is available for Windows (VST) and now also for Mac OS X (AU) at a price of €24.99.

Line 6 and D'Addario announced today the development of MIDI Mobilizer, a new portable MIDI interface, and Planet Waves Rig Remote, new iPhone software that will enable guitarists to control Line 6 guitars and amplifiers via Apple iPhone and iPod touch.

Marcus Ryle, Line 6 co-founder and SVP of research and development, demonstrated a prototype at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). He adjusted the tone of a Vetta II digital modeling amplifier and changed the tuning of a Variax digital modeling guitar from the palm of his hand. "With the MIDI Mobilizer," he remarked, "the iPhone becomes the most portable and versatile editor and tone storage device for your Line 6 gear. Finding the perfect tone has never been easier."

To answer all your nagging questions, please visit the link below :

The Edirol R-44 is a compact and lightweight recorder that offers quiet and reliable SD/SDHC recordings. It has up to four channels of uncompressed audio available at selectable 16- or 24-bit depths and between 44.1kHz and 192kHz (stereo mode only). Broadcast wave is also supported and two R-44s can be synced together to offer up to 8-channel recording for surround sound applications.

The latest update takes the R-44's software to v1.05 and enables users to add effects in Pre Record mode, and also includes updates for the BWF (Broadcast Wave File) marker format, notable with previously recorded data. Other improvements include quicker shutdown times in some modes with SD cards, and a smoother overall workflow helped by minor bug fixes.