Latest News & Articles
Steinberg CI2+ Audio Interface – Gearjunkies Review
Before I tell you what I think of the Steinberg CI2+, let me explain how this post came about. Untill a few months ago I had my modest home studio set up with lots of software and audio through a Echo Mia pci soundcard. Lovely, never had any problems with it and the sound quality was great. But my old pc was running old and became… outdated, plus a month ago it even completely crashed. Plans for the purchase of a new system existed but now I was forced to act upon those plans!
Live Beats with Ableton and Novation – 14-Leg Tour
After several successful events in the USA and Portugal earlier this year, the Ableton & Novation Live Beats series is to tour Europe this September, with 14 events across eight countries. The Live Beats events are designed so that attendees of all skill levels can discover more about using Ableton Live and Novation hardware. Demonstrator Thavius Beck will mainly focus on the hands-on music-making potential of Live & Launchpad, but will also be showing off other Novation hardware and demonstrating how Automap can be used to take your Ableton Live sessions to the next level.
iPhone and iPad controllers for Kyma
Harmony Systems announced the availability of three new products to its expanding Delora Software line of Kyma control surface and connectivity applications. vKi and vKi lite, for the iPhone/iPod touch, bring one-hand, remote Virtual Control Surface (VCS) control to Symbolic Sound’s Kyma X sound design environment, while vKiP turns the iPad into a full featured wireless multi-touch control surface for Kyma.
Jay-Z headlines US tour and European festivals with Midas XL8 system
Jay-Z is in the midst of a world tour with a string of US dates and European festival appearances accompanied by a FOH Midas XL8 live production system, provided by Clair Brothers. At the controls is Kenyatta ‘Kelo’ Saunders, the rap artist’s long-time sound engineer and Grammy-award winner, who’s worked with artists including D’Angelo, Eminem, The Roots, Joss Stone and Erykah Badu.
Audient Zen, the ideal console for Stephen Street
There’s No Other Way… Than Audient Zen for Blur Producer – One of the music world’s top producers, Stephen Street took just ten minutes to decide that Audient’s Zen would be the ideal console for his new studio room. With a reputation for creating hugely successful recordings with Kaiser Chiefs, Blur, and The Smiths to name but a few, Street wasn’t going to compromise on his new desk.
Is the iPad killer coming then?
As we are in the middle of the review/test of our iPad and the almost endless list of music app’s, we got news of the release of the Google Chrome OS Tablet later this year. Google is planning to release their tablet on November 26th. Better known as Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year in the U.S. It is pretty obvious that this Chrome OS Tablet will be the main competitor to Apple’s iPad. But will it be an iPad killer? The general expectation is that the Google tablet will have Flash, something that is missed by many on the iPad. And also what will this mean for the development of (music) app’s for the Chrome OS Tablet? A feature that specifically WE (Gearjunkies) are interested in.
Reason 5 – Record 1.5 – Just one more week
Yes, one week from now Reason 5 and Record 1.5 will be released. On August 25, noon CET the latest version of Reason and Record will be availble for sale and/or update! The beta testing is over, the manufacturing is completed and shipments of stylish software boxes are en route all over the world as this newsletter is being sent out. So mark your calendars and set your timers!
Make Music with Nintendo DSi
Rhythm Core Alpha is a music creation system designed for creating and performing live music in-front of an audience. It contains DRUM GRID for creating drum parts, a NOTE GRID for creating instrument parts, a unique 2D SOLO MODE where the user can play music live with the stylus, and a PATTERN SCREEN for arranging pattern and key/scale changes.
112dB updates Big Blue Limiter
112dB announces that Big Blue Limiter, their tube-modelling character limiter, has been updated to version 1.1. This maintenance release applies to both the retail and the demo version. Big Blue Limiter is a character limiter. It is neither transparent nor intended to be. In fact it adds a little mojo to everything you run through it, if desired even when no limiting is taking place.
The MUSIC Group Appoints Electrovision as Fulfillment Partner for Behringer and Bugera in EU
In light of recent changes to The MUSIC Group’s worldwide distribution strategy for the BEHRINGER and BUGERA brands, the company is delighted to announce the appointment of Electrovision Ltd as a sales fulfillment partner.
Avid intros new hardware for ProTools|HD
Avid today introduced a series of newly-designed hardware and software solutions designed to enhance the quality and performance of Pro Tools|HD, the industry’s leading digital audio workstation. The new HD Series interfaces HD I/O, HD OMNI and HD MADI, offer customers flexible configurations to support a variety of analog and open digital formats for audio recording, mixing and playback. Additionally, new HEAT (Harmonically Enhanced Algorithm Technology) software allows customers to add the realism of vintage analog sound to the Pro Tools® mixer via a single global control—eliminating the time consuming and complex task of managing plug-in changes across multiple tracks and allowing customers to remain focused on the craft of mixing.
Unity Audio unleashes The Rock
The ROCK – Years in the making…… Since 1995 Unity Audio Ltd has been synonymous with distributing professional monitor brands, so they have seen and heard it all over the years. Finally, they have decided to design and manufacturer their own range of professional monitors from scratch to overcome other the shortcomings found in most commercially available monitor systems and will deliver what true professionals expect. A brutally honest tool on which you can base the most critical decisions without a second guess or hesitation.
Sean Beavan on the use of Rob Papen Softsynths
Sean Beavan is a musician, record producer, and audio engineer best known for his work with Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, God Lives Underwater, and Slayer. His production style is typically heavy, with heavily saturated guitars, but his work is diverse and wide ranging as exemplified by bands like No Doubt to System of a Down, to indie bands like Thrice, and 8mm. In this video below Sean tells us more why he uses several Rob Papen synths and also how he uses them in his productions.
7 New GrooveMaker iPad Apps Now Available
Exactly one year after GrooveMaker for iPhone was made available on the iTunes App store, IK Multimedia is proud to announce the release of 7 more GrooveMaker style packs for the iPad. Debuted in April 2010, GrooveMaker for iPad now comprises a total of 12 style-based versions including Free, Hip Hop, House, Progressive-Tech House, D’n’B, Club, Techno, Trance, Electro, Rock, Reggae and Reggaeton covering all genres of dance music. This also means that all the packs for the iPhone are now optimized for the iPad.
New MIDI Hybrid mode for Denon DN-S3700
Denon DJ, a leading manufacturer of reliable, premium-grade DJ equipment, announces a major enhancement to its popular DN-S3700 Digital Media Turntable with the introduction of the new MIDI Hybrid mode via a free firmware update scheduled for late September 2010.