PC and Music News

Blue Microphones has announced that the en·CORE 300 is now shipping. Here's what they say about it :

"The en·CORE 300 is the flagship condenser performance microphone in the en·CORE series with its roots in Blue's legendary tuned condenser studio microphones. The en·CORE 300's Condenser Capsule is hand-selected and tuned for an open, detailed and present sound that is as well-suited to the stage as it is the studio. Blue's engineers matched the capsule to a custom-designed phantom power circuit, which together provide a rapid and powerful sound that is an ideal match for powerful vocals. The en·CORE 300's unique reinforced chassis design mounts the capsule for optimal performance and isolation from handling noise, while providing vault-like protection for the capsule to ensure years of breathtaking performances."

If you like to rock out hard from time to time Brainworx have something that you will like. Their brandnew M/S stereo width and tone control tool bx_shredspread was designed to bring you the wide and roaring guitar sound of the pros, hassle-free and fast.

bx_shredspread is NOT an amp simulation or digital amp, it is an M/S tool with sophisticated algorithms developed especially for your guitar recordings. bx_shredspread will work with any doubled guitar tracks you have recorded and with any stereo guitar sound and samples.

bx_shredspread will be available at €119 after the public beta (starting next week) and will have decent intro offers and specials for all bx_bundle & bx_control V2 users (incl. Massive Pack 8).

Limited time only! Purchase a qualifying POD Studio USB audio interface between August 1 and 31, 2010, and receive up to $40 back instantly!

The discount amount depends on which POD Studio you buy; you will save $20 on the POD Studio GX, $30 on the POD Studio UX1, and $40 on the POD Studio UX2.

For details, please visit :

Sample Logic has announced the release of Metalix for Ableton Live.

Metallix is a toolkit of morphed metallic instruments, percussives, atmospheric soundscapes, pads, and tempo-synced audio loops for cinematic music production. Based on recorded metallic instruments and sounds, the instruments (presets) and clips (loops) are seamlessly integrated into Ableton Live, which makes for a smooth workflow with easy to use intuitive user controls. Each instrument uses Live's Rack format, with the 8 Macro Controls meticulously mapped to provide powerful top-level control for immediate tweakability. This also means that all of the instruments and loops are ready to be mapped to a hardware controller or automated directly in Live.

Effects and parameters include: Attack & Release, Reverb, Filter Delay, Arpegiator, Filter Cuttoff & Resonance, and much more.

Metallix works exclusively with Suite 8, Live 8 or Live Intro on Mac and PC. It is available only as a direct download at a price of $99.99.

Sugar Bytes has announced the upcoming release of Guitarist, a virtual instrument described as the ultimate guitar playing software for Mac and PC. Here's what they say about it :

"We announce the most complete guitar software of all times. Absolutely convincing guitar riffs, combined with amps, wah pedals and effects. The actual guitar player has been transformed into a step sequencer system that allows control about playing styles, chord progressions and song structures. Guitarist can be played live as well, with just two fingers you can combine chords and patterns easily. You can choose from factory chords or just create your own chords on the fingerboard. The Action Section allows you to tweak the sequence in realtime and apply timestretch, looper or other crazy effects. Guitar players, keyboarders, producers, Guitarist is the new solution when guitar tracks are needed.

Equalisation Primer by Samplecraze is a detailed video tutorial for beginners and intermediates on the subject of equalisation covering filters, slopes, various types of EQs and the terminology used.

The subject of EQ has always been one of confusion and misinformation. The understanding of how EQ works and the structure of filters and their responses seem to be an area rarely covered by technology sites.

This free primer video tutorial hopes to close those gaps and introduce the subject in a manner that can be understood by everyone. The ensuing EQ video tutorials will go further in depth and cover advanced functions and theories.