Latest News & Articles
Native Instruments Introduces DARK PRESSURE Expansion for MASCHINE
Native Instruments today released DARK PRESSURE, a new MASCHINE Expansion, created in association with the acclaimed DJ and producer Steve Lawler and sound design house Loopmasters. The pack brings the sound of tough underground dance music to MASCHINE and MASCHINE MIKRO, containing an expertly crafted selection of kicks, snares, hi-hats and percussion samples as well as a wealth of pre-produced rhythms optimized for techno, tech-house, minimal and similar genres.
Melodyne manufacturer Celemony honored with Grammy
Last weekend in Los Angeles, Melodyne manufacturer Celemony became the first German software company ever to be honored by the Recording Academy with its Technical Grammy. The highest distinction in the music business, this is given in recognition of “contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field” and is equivalent to an Oscar in the film industry.
Focusrite VRM Box – Video
The VRM Box is a high-quality USB headphone interface with a difference. VRM stands for Virtual Reference Monitoring. It gives you the option of listening to your mix on multiple sets of speakers, in different rooms, just using headphones. This helps to overcome the problems associated with creating a mix that translates well on many speakers. Burning CDs to listen to your mix in different environments will become a thing of the past.
Passion Pits Synth Sensation – Novation Ultranova
Passion Pit rose to fame in the late 2000s with the infectious, hands-in-the-air sound of their debut album Manners, which infiltrated the mainstream and quickly spread worldwide. Numerous accolades followed, including plays on countless TV shows such as Skins, Ugly Betty and Gossip Girl, as well as on feature films and in video games. On the live circuit, they played Glastonbury in 2009 and toured the USA with Muse in 2010.
Xils Lab Le Masque: Delay Released
Music software company XILS-lab is proud to announce availability of its first effects plug-in — in collaboration with Le Lotus Bleu (Laurent Bourgeon). Available in 64- and 32-bit versions, Le Masque: Delay is a Mac (OS X 10.4 and later; Audio Unit, VST, RTAS — Pro Tools 7.0 and later) and PC (Windows XP, Vista, and 7; VST, RTAS — Pro Tools 7.0 and later) compatible, polymorphic timeline-driven delay effects plug-in; it can behave like a regular digital delay, and inherits XILS-lab’s renowned filtering and audio effects technology, featured in the cutting-edge company’s lengthening line of virtual analogue soft synth plug-ins — PolyKB II (based on the RSF Polykobol II, plus extras), XILS 3 (based on the EMS VCS3, plus extras), and Synthix (Elka Synthex, and extras), and draws upon an accumulated wealth of research and development experience to allow users to speedily and intuitively perform hitherto unheard of delay-based effects.
Elektron introduces ECC -2 Carry Bag and PL-1 Protective Lid
Elektron Music Machines introduces the custom Elektron Carry Bag. Accommodating an Octatrack or a Machinedrum/Monomachine (both MKI/MKII versions) unit, it offers the ultimate protection for Elektron gear. Bundled with the bag is the PL-1 protective cover. Place the lid on top of an Elektron machine and all knobs and buttons will be safe during transportation. The PL-1 protective cover can also be bought separately.
We have arrived… at Dancefair!
Today is the day, Dancefair is opening its doors for everybody who wants to learn, see, share and meet people who are involved in dance music in any way. And we have landed on our booth with some ultra cool gear to make sure that Dancefair gets its shot of Gearjunkiness!
Steinberg Padshop – New VST granular synthesizer
Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH today announced their latest VST instrument, Padshop. From the inventors of Virtual Studio Technology, Padshop is a unique monophonic/polyphonic granular synthesizer for Mac OS X Lion and Windows 7 and runs as plug-in within any VST 3 host application.
A&H releases firmware update for Xone:DB4
Allen & Heath has released new firmware V1.12 for the Xone:DB4 digital DJ FX mixer, with many enhancements and new features, including a rotary mixer mode, revised gain structure, new effects architecture, new FX types, and the addition of X:Link functionality to connect other compatible Xone products.
Mashup from Mixed In Key introduced
Mixed In Key has released Mashup (mashup.mixedinkey.com) for Windows and Mac OS X, a new software application that lets you quickly and easily beatmatch two or more audio files, edit them, and save your results to a new audio file. Mashup uses Mixed In Key 5’s harmonic algorithm to find compatible songs, and makes the process of mashup creation incredibly easy. “Our goal was to design software that could help you create a mashup in five minutes or less,” says Mixed In Key’s president Yakov Vorobyev. “We think that mashup creation should be easier than it is with Ableton Live.”
Introducing unItOne ultimate midi controller
unItOne was designed with Ableton Live in mind but the format is sufficiently generic to be successful with any DAW. The layout was conceived as 8 channel strips (the 32 blue encoders and the buttons below them), 3 return tracks (the 12 yellow encoders), a master section (the 4 red encoders) and also a transport section on the right hand side. The return tracks double-up as a DJ mixer when used with the crossfader, for example as a 3 channel EQ with gains.
Der OTO – Firmware Upgrade for Biscuit FX Processor
OTO MACHINES introduces “Der OTO“, a new firmware update for its BISCUIT FX processor. Der OTO turns Biscuit into a 2 oscillators monosynth with a 16 step sequencer, for FREE!
Allen & Heath debuts GLD mixing system in Europe at ISE show
Allen & Heath’s new GLD live digital mixing system has debuted in Europe last week at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show in Amsterdam, Holland. The user-friendly, cost effective and scalable system is conceptually based on the hugely successful digital iLive series. A standard GLD 32 input system offers 28 XLR mic inputs with plug n’ play I/O expanders allowing easy expansion up to 48 inputs (44 XLR mic inputs).
Gearjunkies at Dancefair 11-12 february
Upcoming 11 and 12th of february will open the first edition of Dancefair, the educational event for everybody involved in dance music, and Gearjunkies will be there at booth #41! Dancefair is held at Jaarbeurs, Utrecht. Many many producers, DJ’s, record labels, manufacturers and schools will be there to show you their ins and outs when it comes to dance music. On both days, there are plenty of workshops and instructions for visitors to learn from the pro’s and get involved.
HG Fortune releases The Tiger Synth
The Tiger Synth is a highly versatile and flexible synthesizer being capable of complex multilayered sounds with some specific extras from the Aux oscillators, as well as groovy rhythmic sounds you would hardly expect from a synth, and, if you want, fairly typical synth sounds (brass, bass, strings PPG, DX, lead etc.).