PC and Music News

PreSonus' new Music Creation Suite is a complete, integrated music-creation solution that's ideal for educators, students, and home studio enthusiasts. PreSonus will offer lesson plans and instructional videos to help music educators get the most from the new hardware/software recording and composition kit.

This all-PreSonus package includes:

- AudioBox USB audio/MIDI interface
- Studio One™ Artist recording and production software (DAW)
- Notion notation software
- PS-49 USB 2.0 MIDI keyboard

Four ports-connect AudioBox USB, PS-49, and two more devices
U.S. map/street price is expected to be $399.95. Custom site licenses for multiple units can be generated when the products are registered.

Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH announced WaveLab 8.5, a purchasable point update for the award-winning audio editing and mastering software. Available from June, WaveLab 8.5 includes new and easy file conversion and batch processing, A/B comparison between encoding formats, AAC encoder implementation and convenient multi-format rendering.

“This update marks an important step forward for the eighth iteration of WaveLab, focusing this round on encoding and processing audio files in a most efficient way,” said Timo Wildenhain, product marketing manager at Steinberg.

The new automated Watch Folder rendering feature applies processing to all audio files drag-and-dropped into designated folders. Users can now assign tasks, such as dithering, normalization, plug-in rendering and audio file format conversion, to any number of Watch Folders without having WaveLab open. Putting a big emphasis on working with codecs, WaveLab 8.5 sports the new Encoder Checker plug-in for real-time comparison of codecs and settings, with an FFT graph allowing for a precise analysis of the compressed sound quality. WaveLab now also supports encoding to the AAC file format to ensure compatibility with iTunes and related Apple hardware. Introducing new multi-format rendering capabilities facilitates exporting files to various formats simultaneously, and with much more ease than in previous versions.

Availability and pricing

The WaveLab 8.5 full retail version will be available from June 2014 as boxed version from authorized Steinberg resellers and through the Steinberg Online Shop. The suggested retail price is 549 euros, including German VAT.

60 channels of audio, high-end microphone preamps, reference class converters, a complete effects section and operation at up to 192 kHz are the base for many more features:

Ultra-low latency operation with USB or FireWire, combined with the legendary RME driver stability and maintenance. Active jitter suppression, individually switchable reference levels for all inputs and outputs, full stand-alone functionality, RME’s unique DIGICheck metering and analysis toolbox, and identical operation on Windows PC and Mac.

Karma-Lab has released KARMA Motif Software Version 3.1, a major update that adds support for several more Yamaha instruments and Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9. A free update for any current owners, version 3.1 adds the following new features and improvements:

- supports 5 Yamaha instruments: Motif XF, Motif XS, MOXF, MOX and Rack XS
- supports Mac OSX 10.4.11 through 10.9.x Mavericks, Universal
- supports Windows XP through Windows 8.1, 32 and 64-bit
- supports the Steinberg CMC-PD and CMC-QC external controllers, among others
- adds additional control ports for use with more external devices at the same time
- new Previous Scene, Next Scene and Startup Scene functions
- new Phase Activity Display shows the relationship of each Module's Phase Pattern
- support for scrolling via MouseWheel/Trackpad where applicable
- revised and updated Help File including .pdf version; new and updated Tutorials
- other new features, enhancements, and improvements.

KARMA Motif brings developer Stephen Kay's award-winning and patented KARMA algorithmic music technology to a number of Yamaha Motif-based models, giving them extensive new interactive groove generation, arpeggiation and arranger-like capabilities. The software uses the Song/Mixing/Multi Mode of the Motif-based instruments to provide 16 part multi-timbral templates with the kind of fully interactive real-time controlled grooves that only KARMA can produce.

The software includes the ability to use the keyboard's Remote Mode to control all of KARMA's functions directly from the keyboard, while KARMA sends parameter information and values directly to the keyboard's display. This allows you to control KARMA from the keyboard without looking at the computer, and makes it feel like the KARMA software is built-in to the keyboard.

KARMA Motif uses the keyboard's Song/Multi/Mixing mode, where each of the included KARMA Performances is a complete, 16 part multi-track six-module KARMA algorithmic music groove, with a left hand and right hand zone for controlling KARMA and soloing on top of it, and eight fully voiced and completely different scenes. The keyboard's arps are also additionally integrated in each Performance as additional elements that can be added via KARMA's Intelligent Chord Trigger Transposition features. And since you are already in Song Mode, you're just one step away from recording your KARMA-fied musical performances into the internal sequencer - or you can route the output to any DAW for external sequencing. Furthermore, a KARMA Performance can call up any Voice, Performance, Song, Pattern, or Master slot when loading, so that KARMA can be used in any of the supported model's modes.

KARMA Motif is available directly from Karma-Lab for US $199. A 13 minute Video Introduction on the Motif XF is available demonstrating many of KARMA's interactive performance capabilities.

At Musikmesse, manufacturers from all over the world present a complete spectrum of products for making music.

From classic instruments, acoustic or electric guitars and basses, brass and woodwind instruments, percussion and keyboard instruments to electronic equipment and computer hardware and software, Musikmesse is where all innovations are presented to international visitors at the same time and place.
Additionally, all important publishing companies exhibit at Musikmesse and show their works in all genres, from classic to jazz, rock and pop.

Mixer Feedback model M K by 10 Soundware is a sound set for Native Instruments Kontakt 5. Designed by Taichi Furudate, these patches are based on audio captured from a no-input mixer, an instrument contrived by connecting the output of an audio mixer with its input to incite feedback. The fourth in a series of four titles, each centered on a different mixer, this release features a contemporary, workhorse model by an American manufacturer (a model within a series known to have democratized professional quality recording in the 1990's).

The timbres generated by the mixer used in Mixer Feedback model M K can be described as "like a soft synth", according to Taichi Furudate. As a reflection of its distinction in its conventional usage, he characterizes its feedback signal in a no-input mixer configuration as "clear and accurate" and "relatively stable and controllable", in stark contrast to other models in his mixer collection. In this sole sound set in the 10 Soundware Mixer Feedback series to feature a modern, high fidelity mixer, he crosses professional audio equipment with hacker-like ingenuity.

The 32.8 MB download includes 50 .nki files and 100 WAV files (24-bit/44.1 kHz).

Mixer Feedback model M K is available now for $29.99.