Sometimes when collecting and researching news and products for GearJunkies, we come along some interesting GEAR. So we stumbled upon ChordSpace. ChordSpace is a plug-in that generates MIDI chords. No knowledge of theory is needed to use it. You simply click around until you find a progression that works for you. ChordSpace has a palette of over 200 chords per key, all logically laid out so that great progressions are easy.
Universal Audio, a manufacturer of high-quality vintage audio hardware and DSP software plug-ins for digital audio workstations, today announced the simultaneous launch of two new single channel Mic preamplifers with Instrument DI. The SOLO/610 Classic Vacuum Tube Mic Pre and DI and the SOLO/110 Precision Class A Mic Pre and DI will bring UA quality to a totally new price segment.
The people at Arstechnica have done some research on the current state of audio editing using Linux. Most of us are using Windows or MacOS for our music production, but in the world of software development you can’t deny the open source projects that move beyond a specific platform. And especially targetting the Linux platform. Check it out, it’s a good read!
reFX has released another update for their softsynth Vanguard. After version 1.5. released only a few months ago, they have released version 1.5.1. VANGUARD combines the good old analog synthesizer idea with the latest technology. All analog devices of classic synthesizers are emulated by high-quality DSP (digital signal processing) functions. reFX spent a lot of time programming the synthesis functions, and the result is a warm and rich sounding synthesizer plugin with all the benefits of todays digital technology.
This years AES show has seen the unveiling of a revolutionary new product from Novation: the ReMOTE SL (Soft Label) 25. The 2-octave USB controller keyboard contains many of the popular features from the ReMOTE series, along with 2 major innovations.
Veteran keyboardist Rags Tuttle has created an entirely new instrument that brings fresh methods of playing to musicians of all skill levels. His creation, the Musicpole MIDI Controller, wraps a standard keyboard around a visually striking acrylic pole, using the music theory of the circle of fifths to arrange the keys in a unique spiral pattern. Unlike a standard, flat keyboard, the spiral layout of the Musicpole puts all of the right notes for a given musical key directly in front of the player in a vertical row. To play in another key, the player rotates the entire Musicpole to another of the 12 keys labeled at the top of the pole.
Muse Research recentlyannounced its latest version of software, version 1.4, for its Receptor hardware plug-in player. This new version of software improves the RAM utilization in Receptor as well as adding new MIDI features that improve its ability to serve as the ultimate synth, sampler, and sound module. Version 1.4 software will be available free to all registered Receptor customers this month.
PDAudio is our replacement for portable DAT recorders. PDAudio records two channels of 24-bit/192 Kilosamples/second uncompressed digital audio to compact flash memory cards and hard disks. The entire system fits in your hand and there’s nothing else like it in the world.
Cycling 74 has announced the release of Hipno 1.0, a new suite of over forty effect and instrument plug-ins for VST, AU and RTAS host applications. Hipnos objective is to make advanced audio technology intuitive, powerful, and fun. You will get the extraordinary features you have come to expect from Cycling 74 such as host synchronization and modulator plug ins for automated parameter control. But Hipno goes a step further, adding plug-ins that can be controlled with motion tracking derived from a live webcam, XML preset import/export, and references instantly available from within each plug-in.
BIAS Inc. announced that the Master Perfection Suite, a powerful collection of six plug-ins for mastering and sound design, will be available in Q1 of 2006 for Audio Units, DirectX, RTAS, and VST host applications on Mac OS X and Windows XP. BIAS first released the Master Perfection Suite last month as part of Peak Pro XT 5, an extended technology edition of Peak Pro 5 that also includes the acclaimed SoundSoap and SoundSoap Pro audio restoration tools. While currently compatible within Peak Pro 5, the Master Perfection Suite will soon be offered as a separate product with universal plug-in host compatibility on Mac OS X and Windows XP.
Ableton has released an upgrade for Live (latest version is 5.0.2.b8). Ableton Live is the only solution designed for each stage of the musical process, from creation to production to performance. During production, Live provides all of the professional tools and studio compatibility required to complete and perfect projects. On stage, Live delivers the expressive control and stability that innumerable performing artists have come to rely on.
Steinberg today debuted the latest update to its Nuendo Media Production System software at the 119th AES convention in New York. Featuring a range of new Control Room features currently unique in software production environments, Nuendo 3.2 will be available as an update for registered Nuendo 3 customers from the end of 2005.
Answering the call of remote recording engineers, the TASCAM HD-P2 Portable High-Definition Stereo Audio Recorder is the professional solution for challenging live and on-location applications.
The Native Instruments tonewheel organ classic returns with a fatter, even more authentic sound. The second version features new sound manipulation tools and additional effects. Dynamic Tube Response technology was used to create a perfect emulation of the original tube amp with rotor cabinet and a selection of additional speaker cabinets. Spring and studio reverb modules, new presets and a Preset Manager, adjustable tonewheel leakage and many other refinements make the B4 II more authentic and versatile than ever before.
Celemony is delighted to announce the imminent arrival of Melodyne3, which contains many new functions and improvements. Melodyne3 offers a new algorithm that allows any type of audio material to profit from Melodynes unique editing functions and sound quality; in other words, Melodyne is no longer limited to the editing of melodies but can handle homophonic and polyphonic textures. Melodyne3 also offers fully automatic analysis of the audio material, powerful macros for the correction of intonation and timing errors, and numerous improvements in the user interface. Melodyne3 is not only capable of doing far more than its predecessors; it is also faster and easier to use.