PC and Music News

Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH today enhances their UR28M and UR824 USB audio interfaces with a comprehensive firmware update, adding class-compliant mode and loopback capability, four DSP-based guitar amp simulations for latency-free monitoring, a VST 3 effects bundle and a free copy of Cubase AI 7 for all registered UR28M and UR824 customers.

“This is possibly the widest ranging firmware update for any Steinberg hardware,” remarked Stefan Schreiber, product marketing manager at Steinberg. “Offering class compliance is definitely a first for us, and is the perfect complement for our Cubasis iOS app.”

Building on the interfaces’ dspMixFx technology, which already offers latency-free monitoring with the available REV-X reverb and the Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip, a set of guitar amp simulations christened Guitar Amp Classics has now been added to the UR28M and UR824 interfaces. Guitar Amp Classics comprises four amp types: Clean with built-in chorus and vibrato effects, Crunch for overdriven tube dynamics, Drive for heavy distortion and Lead.

The included Basic FX Suite consists of VST 3 versions of the Sweet Spot Morphing Channel Strip, REV-X reverb and Guitar Amp Classics.

The newly introduced CC mode, or class-compliant mode, enables connectivity with the iPad (2 or later) through Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit.

With the v2 firmware update, the UR28M and UR824 interfaces now provide loopback capability that consolidates all playback track and input channels and returns the mix to the computer.

Weighing in at over 16GBs, MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS is a collection of 1600+ morphed Instruments & Multis derived entirely from true orchestral recordings.

Created in association with Kirk Hunter Studios, MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS brings the original MORPHESTRA™ into a whole new generation of sound, creating a modern day virtual instrument that transcends ANY morphed orchestral/effectual sample library ever created. Geared for film, TV, and game composers, MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS includes amazing ready-to-play psycho-acoustic sampled symphonic winds, strings, and percussive instruments and morphs them into a world where music and sound design collide. If you already own the original MORPHESTRA™, you can easily upgrade to MORPHESTRA™ GENERATIONS, which also includes all the original instruments and multis from MORPHESTRA™ 1.0.

Audio Mind Project has announced a special offer for the widely acclaimed FM8 Experience soundset, containing 192 sounds for Native Instruments FM8 virtual synth.

During the promo period the soundset can be purchased for $20.99 instead of $29.99, which is 30% off the regular price.

The offer is valid until the end of October 2013.

Celebrating their 65th year, the AES Convention (October 17th-20th 2013) will once again host the world's largest gathering of audio professionals, attracting attendees from around the globe.

This year's convention will be bigger and better than ever, as the top names in professional audio engineering converge for the latest audio innovations through workshops, tutorials, technical papers, booth exhibits and product showcases.
Technical Program:
This year's technical program is full of fascinating events where you're sure to learn useful information from the experts leading these sessions. To get a high level overview of the entire convention you should look through the detailed calendar which has popup windows for each event. You can then click on that event's title to read more detailed information. We have also broken down the program into groups of related events such as "Tutorials", "Live Sound Seminars", and the "Special Events".

Duniverse focuses on Vintage presets, Cinematic/Trailers material, and Classic Electronic patches, and aims to bring back memories of the golden decades of the 70s, 80s, 90s (and "everything from the last century").

- 128 presets.
- Mod Wheel, Aftertouch and Expression Pedal assignations.
- Expressive instruments.
- Designer notes included in each patch.
- All presets properly tagged, organised in one bank (easy to load).
- Easy to browse bank due to classic preset nomination rules.

Price: 12.80 € (including taxes for ECC users).

Introductory offer: Until November 1st, 2013, get Le Lotus Bleu's Pure Electronic Soundbank DuneSteps for free if you purchase Duniverse.

AudioThing has released Toy Marimba for NI Kontakt.

Toy Marimba features a small tuned percussion instrument made of rosewood and rope. It was sampled with wood and bamboo mallets, with 3 Round Robin repetitions and 3 velocity layers for the main hits. Slides and glissandos (up/down with 3 speeds) are also included along with slowed down samples crafted for wooden and airy textures.

Details:
- 6 Kontakt Instruments (.nki)
- 4 Kontakt Multis (.nkm)
- Up to 3 Round Robin
- Up to 3 Velocity layers
- Glissandos Up/Down with 3 speeds
- 291 Samples (44.1kHz / 24Bit)
- 7 Custom Reverb IRs
- Formats: Kontakt and WAV
- Sample sets including: wood hit, bamboo hit, slides
- Native Instruments Kontakt 4.2.4+ full version required

Toy Marimba is available for the introductory price of €8 until October 13.
Full price: €10.