Alchemy Player is the perfect solution if you lust after the sounds of Alchemy but don’t want to create your own presets. It’s also extremely affordable at just $59 / €49 / £39. The Player is included free when you purchase any Alchemy soundbank, turning each of these banks into a standalone instrument in its own right!
The X-Poly is a free upgrade to the Poly-850 for Windows and OS X. Apart from being a maintenance update to improve compatibility for the latest OS X and Windows editions and multiprocessor environments, it adds very useful new features.
EVOLVE MUTATIONS 2 takes audio-visual sound design to the next level, bringing 2 GB of new and original sounds for composers of film and TV scores, game sound designers and music producers seeking unique effects and textures. Split into four useful categories, EVOLVE MUTATIONS 2 delivers powerful and dramatic content in a highly convenient package. Created by working pros in the film TV and games industry, EVOLVE MUTATIONS 2 also contains the debut of the incredible new Trigger FX feature for effortless and inspiring transformations.
TC Electronic have now released version 2.4 of the software package for their audio interfaces. With this free download, you will get support for 64-bit Windows-based operating systems as well as enhanced stability if you are using a Mac running OS X Snow Leopard.
For many moons G-Force have harboured the desire to release a full set of sounds recorded from their funky old Optigan. They considered building a completely new instrument but ultimately thay’ve made the decision to integrate these sounds within the M-Tron Pro, primarily because they sit so well along side those tones and rhythms already released. The OptiTron Expansion Pack for M-Tron Pro takes these nostalgic tones into completely new sonic territory and G-Force look forward to hearing them in your compositions in the future.
JazzMutant has released this teaser video for Mu, a multi-touch Ableton Live controller for the Lemur. Mu is a Max for Live plugin, so you will need Ableton Live 8 and Max for Live to use it. Pricing and availability are to be announced. Guess we will have to wait till the MusikMesse next week to get more details!
Renoise is a complete, expandable Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) with a refreshing twist. It is based on mod trackers. Mod trackers are characterized by displaying and editing music in an easily understood grid known as a pattern. These patterns are akin to sheet music, but are displayed alphanumerically instead of with musical notation. Another round of beta testing has passed, a brand new stable and rock solid Renoise (2.5.) is ready for production.
The German Elysia company is known for their high-end compressors which they have been building for several years now. They have teamed up with the designers of Brainworx and used their vast knowledge of discrete components and translate them to the digital path. The result Mpressor plugin is available as VST, RTAS, TDM and AU. I’ve tested the VST version in Cubase 5.1.1. To get it right I’ve taken longer than the standard 14 day trial period you can get provided that you have an iLok dongle.
Denon DJ Europe is exhibiting its complete new product line up, announced over the previous few months, at this year’s Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt (MusikMesse), including the world’s two best DJ mixers, a new digital turntable with powerful music file control features, and Serato software interface controllers for gigging DJs and mobile rigs. In addition the brand will be demonstrating the VJ mixing capabilities of its new DN-X1600 mixer and announcing a line up of top DJ endorsees, including UK DMC Champion, JFB.
112dB announces that Redline Monitor, the high-quality near-field monitor simulation for headphones, has been updated to version 1.0.4. This maintenance release applies to both the retail and the trial version.
The upcoming free MASCHINE 1.5 update will bring crucial enhancements to the innovative groove production studio. These include enhanced host integration, drag & drop MIDI and audio, new Vintage Sampling Modes (MPC60 / SP1200), MPC sample import, and many workflow improvements.
Cakewalk recently released a free update for SONAR 8.5 Producer and SONAR 8.5 Studio. The SONAR 8.5.3 update is focused on AudioSnap 2.0 providing usability enhancements, optimizations, and overall improved stability when performing complex audio timing tasks. Cakewalk has posted a few videos explaining and showing more on Audiosnap 2.0.
Symbolic Sound Corporation has expanded the list of real-time controllers and software that can communicate with its Kyma sound design environment by adding support for Open Sound Control (OSC) to its Paca(rana) sound engine.
The CDJ-2000 promises to become the standard for the digital DJ. Together with Rekordbox, this could create the ideal digital DJ environment!
SPL’s new software tool looks very promising, specially considering that the German manufacturer has an ace under the sleeve: their proprietary Transient Designer technology.