PC and Music News

Synapse Audio introduces a new software synth to its product line. The EKS-9 is a VST/AU plug-in, dedicated to creating powerful electronic bass drum sounds, reminiscent of vintage hardware.

According to Synapse Audio, the virtual analog engine is not only capable of authentic recreations of the sounds from such machines, but can synthesize new kick sounds with lots of punch too.

The EKS-9 is available in VST and AudioUnit format for both Windows and Mac OS X. As an introductory promotional offer, it can be purchased for $39 during the first month (regular price is $49).

Analogue Solutions presents the Europa, a new hardware MIDI step sequencer. It has been designed from the ground up to be utilised with your MIDI synths, analogue modular, drum brains and drum machines. Europa was designed to be utilised with the SQ8 and Oberkorn analogue sequencers (and anything else with a compatible clock input).

Moog Music has released an update of the Voyager Operating System. Version 3.5 for the Minimoog Voyager Analog synthesizer adds a number of new features, including quick save, category browse, and legato glide.

After you update your Voyager to OS 3.5, there is a new bank for the freshest Voyager presets on the planet available as a free download. Programmed by Mile Davis keyboardist Adam Holzman, Danish producer Daniel Muschinsky, Moog engineer Steve Dunnington and Moog associate Ben Hovey, these sounds span the spectrum from classic to cutting edge.

Introducing iConnectMIDI, a MIDI interface for iPhone and iPod touch. Simply plug your electronic instrument (synthesizer, guitar, whatever) into iConnectMIDI and you can play and control your music, using your iPhone or iPod, your instrument, or both at the same time.

You're not limited to one musical instrument either. With iConnectMIDI you can connect up to 16 devices in a chain, controlling all of them with your iPhone or iPod Touch.

iConnectMIDI's USB port allows you to plug a USB-enabled electronic instrument into your iPhone or iPod Touch. Put on some headphones, load up an appropriate sequencing app on your phone, and you have the perfect mini-studio for travelling. The USB port also allows you to plug your instrument into a Mac or PC laptop via iConnectMIDI. Your iConnectMID ...

Here is a great news found via GearSlutz : people who don't want to get the standard Waves bundles will soon have three new ways to buy Waves plug-ins :

"Ever wonder which plug-ins were used on your favorite recordings? Or which plug-ins a particular producer or engineer uses to get his sound? Now, you can make the artists' faves your Waves.

Artist Choice
Audio heavyweights Andrew Scheps, Gil Norton, Thom Russo, Ross Hogarth, and Scott Martin Gershin have each hand-picked a selection of the Waves plug-ins they just can't live without. And this is just the beginning, with many more artists to come.

Quick Choice
Now, choose any 5 plug-ins from selected groups to get the most bang for your budget. Know exactly how much you intend to spend? Quick Choice has the plug-ins for you.

Custom Choice
For the very first time, you can compile personalized collections of Waves plug-ins! Tailor your selections to suit your production needs—the exact plug-ins you want, no more, no less."

These offers should be available on Monday, February 8th.

SoundsDivine has announced the release of 'Joy Of Sound' for U-he's ACE synthesizer. This new bank contains 130 new sounds for U-He's ACE, featuring punchy basses, overdriven analogue style sequences, modular mayhem, oriental instruments and deep rich pads. Most patches use modwheel and velocity assignments to make the sounds as expressive as possible.

Price : $25