Today’s announcement furthers Cakewalk’s commitment to support our instrument customers with new sounds after their initial purchase. Along with Piscis, the company also released earlier this year a Minimoog Tribute Expansion Pack, designed by Craig Anderton for Rapture and Rapture LE, which gave customers exciting new sounds derived from classic Minimoog samples and enhanced with Rapture’s modern synthesis features.

A third Galbanum Expansion Pack for Rapture and Rapture LE is currently in development.

Second Coming Expansion Pack for Rapture highlights:

• 600 MB of new content, 1,393 files in all
• 80 custom, 64-bit, 65,536 point LFO Waveforms
• 40 velocity cross-faded multi-waveform SFZ instruments
• 16 special new “Spectrum Sample” SFZ instruments that span eight octaves
• Stereo waveforms that produce sounds with huge, 3-D-like spatial images
• Modulation Matrix and MIDI Controller assignments which enable complex sound morphing and eliminate static or lifeless presets

Perfect for creating Dance, House, Trance, Techno, Progressive, Downtempo and other electronic music styles

About Rapture
The 2008 MIPA winner for Best Software Instrument, Rapture lets users produce rich, hypnotic, and rhythmic basses, leads, and pads, and is perfect for performing and designing the modern synthesized sounds igniting today’s pop, dance, and electronic music.Pricing and Availability
The Second Coming Expansion Pack is available to registered Rapture and Rapture LE customers for $59.95 and can be downloaded via cakewalk.com/products/SecondComing.

For more information, visit their web site at cakewalk.com.

From Deep and Funky Grooves, Jackin Beats, Chunky Basslines and Smooth Filtered Synths — House Improvements vol 1 is a brand new collection of samples for house producers worldwide looking for the right sonic ingredients to compliment and create many types of current house music genres including Funky, Deep, Jackin, Fidget, Glitch and Minimal.

House Improvements includes over 480 House samples and is over 500Mb in size, including 100 brand new House Drumloops(with tops and breakdowns), 69 Floor shaking Bass Loops, 28 Filtered loops, 78 Music Loops (including Synth and Smooth Key progressions), 38 FX Filtered Vox Loops, 42 Vox FX, 8 Long Swooshes, 70+ club ready Drum Hits, 40+ Key Stabs and 7 Bleep Loops.

Tech Specs: 520Mb download, 486 Wav House Samples, 326 Rex2 Loops, 6 Ready to play patches for Halion, Kontakt, EXS, NNXT, and Cakewalk SFZ Soft Samplers. Apple Loops version also available.

For more information on Justin and the Sound Diggers visitmyspace.com/thesounddiggers.

For more information, visit their web site at loopmasters.com.

TRUE STRIKE TENSION is built on unique studio-quality sample material that has been carefully selected from ProjectSAM’s acclaimed “True Strike 2″ library. It draws upon various charismatic percussion instruments from Africa, Japan and the Middle East, including the Kenkeni, Darabuka, Bendir, Okedo-Daiko and others. All sounds in TRUE STRIKE TENSION are designed to add genuine suspense, tension and emphasis to any kind of dramatic music, with a special focus on Hollywood-style film scoring.

The advanced sound shaping and preset morphing features in KORE 2 and KORE PLAYER allow producers to intuitively adjust and animate all sounds in TRUE STRIKE TENSION, and make them better fit the dramatic requirements of any given scene. The included metadata also makes TRUE STRIKE TENSION integrate seamlessly with any individual collection of KORE SOUNDPACKS and other KORE-based sounds.

TRUE STRIKE TENSION is available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for a suggested retail price of $79 / 69 EUR.

Additional information on TRUE STRIKE TENSION including audio demos is available at native-instruments.com.

T-RackS 3 offers a full suite of classic tube-toned and transparent digital mixing and mastering tools for every step in the recording process. It combines new processors modelled after highly sought-after tube and analog gear, cutting-edge digital processors, and upgraded versions of the original T-RackS models. A new modular processing chain provides fast navigation and A-B-C-D compare options, and a new complete metering section makes it easy to view every aspect of the final mix. The standalone version offers professional editing features such as the ability to write fades, automation and batch processing. Included in the box are both plug-in and standalone versions, offering users unprecedented value.

T-RackS 3 provides a truly professional mastering and mixing solution that will put a polish on your tracks you may have never thought possible. No other plug-in offers the amount of control over the final mix, and nothing sounds like T-RackS 3.
Beyond Mastering.

T-RackS 3 Features:

1. 9 processors in the Deluxe version, comprised of 3 new analog and vintage emulations (including models based* on the Fairchild 670 and the Pultec EQP-1A), 2 new digital processors as well as the 4 classic, award-winning T-RackS processors. 4 Processors in Standard Version.
2. New configurable mastering/mixing chain – run up to 12 parallel/series processors
3. New complete built-in metering section with Peak, Perceived Loudness, Phase, and RMS meters, plus a Spectrum analyzer with Peak, RMS and Averaging indicators
4. New standalone and plug-in versions available in the same package for use in all the most popular native DAWs
5. New high-fidelity oversampling with crystal clear transparency, for high quality audio processing throughout the entire signal path
6. New SCC™ technology coupled with IK’s unique DSM™ technology provides the most realistic software emulation of vintage gear to date
7. Extremely easy to use, with style-based presets, full chain visualization, one-click single module or chain bypass, A-B-C-D compare function, multiple audio processing in standalone mode, and much more.
   

A separate conversion utility will also be made available to allow users who have created their own presets in earlier versions to use in the new release.

T-RackS 3 is now available from IK’s online store and international network of authorized dealers and resellers for only €379.99 ex VAT for the Deluxe version, and just €229.99 ex VAT for a reduced price crossgrade version (available to all registered users of any IK product).

Also available is T-RackS 3 Standard, which includes the 4 Classic T-RackS processors, at a price of €149.99 ex VAT.

Purchasers of the earlier T-RackS plug-in who registered their product after October 15, 2008 will receive the new T-RackS 3 Standard for free as a download in their IK User Area.

For more information on T-RackS 3, video and audio demos and more please visit: t-racks.com

The purpose of this product is to move focus away from the sometimes intricate and difficult process of sound synthesis and instead let you develop sounds by simply using your ears.

You will find that creating synth patches with Synplant will be as easy as listening and deciding what you like and then having the sounds evolve in the directions you desire. Although Synplant is exceedingly easy to use, whatever you do, do not let its relative simplicity fool you. Beneath its straightforward and playful interface you will find a versatile synthesizer of the utmost quality with lots of character. Also, once you are ready to get your hands dirty and dig deeper into the anatomy of Synplant you will have the option to crack open your sound seeds and modify their underlying genetic code.

For more information, visit their web site at Soniccharge.com.

In addition to numerous small gains and improvements of detail, the following problems have been resolved:

• Ableton Live: We have fixed a bug that in the VST variant sometimes led to a crash.
• Digital Performer: Melodyne plugin 1.0.4 is compatible with DP 6.01.
• Pro Tools (under Vista): A bug has been fixed that sometimes caused crashes when Melodyne plugin was removed from a channel strip.
• Pro Tools (OS X): The deactivation and reactivation of Melodyne plugin or of the entire channel strip now functions as expected.
• Sonar: A bug has been fixed that resulted in playback errors when a transferred file was played back for the first time.
• All hosts in conjunction with iLok: The transfer of a license to an iLok can now also be undertaken without problems using the License Assistant.

More @ Celemony.com.

VOX Amplification announces that its first-ever software product, JamVOX, is now shipping. In addition to providing drag-and-drop access to virtually any combination of sought-after amp and effects models, JamVOX allows users to import their MP3/iTunes library or their favorite CD tracks. Using new proprietary GXT Guitar XTracktion™ technology by Korg, guitarists can extract or “solo” guitar parts or reduce and essentially “mute” guitar parts from any prerecorded track. Using JamVOX’s recording capabilities, guitarists can then record their own guitar performances over their favorite tracks.

JamVOX’s GXT technology can also extract or reduce vocal tracks, making the software/hardware product an incredibly powerful practice, jamming and recording tool. Guitars and microphones can be directly plugged into the USB-powered hardware component for a complete practice solution. WAV/AIFF recording capabilities enable the player to overdub vocals as well as guitar.

The Mac®- and PC-compatible JamVOX delivers precise models of 19 of the most sought-after guitar amplifiers, 12 popular cabinets, 54 vintage and modern effects and a choice of guitar pickup simulations. Each of the unit’s over 100 preset programs features one amp/cabinet combination and a chain of up to five effects, plus noise reduction. User programs may be saved, and shared online.

High-quality time stretching and pitch shifting enable guitarists or vocalists to slow down or speed up tempos and adjust pitch. Loop record and playback captures a phrase and repeats it. A chromatic tuner by Korg has also been included, as well as an array of drum tracks.

The USB-powered amp/speaker hardware interface is equipped with two 3-inch full-range speakers and two bass reflex ports. The front panel includes a 1/4″ Guitar Input, XLR Microphone Input and Input Level Control, a Line Output Level Control, a 1/4″ Headphone Output and a Monitor/Headphone Level Control. The back panel provides L/R Line Inputs (2 x 1/4″), L/R Line Outputs (2 x 1/4″), a Footswitch port (1/4″), an Expression Pedal port (1/4″) and a USB port for connection of the JamVOX guitar/vocal interface to a computer. The compact 9.45″ W x 6.3″ D x 4.82″ H JamVOX head, featuring a matte-black finish and metal grill with the “VOX” logo emblazoned on it, pays homage to the brand’s timeless style and forward-looking engineering. Plus, it can perform double duty as an audio interface for popular software programs and for listening to music downloads on a computer.

The JamVOX is now available with an MSRP of $340.00.

For more information, visit their web site at Voxamps.co.uk.

Highlights in MU.LAB 2.0:

• New integrated high quality sampler, also featuring key & velocity mapping.
• New integrated synth ‘Synthia’ : Quick results, fantastic sound!
• Track Targets allow you to set a target plugin per track. You can still use free tracks where each part can have it’s own target.
• Drag and drop support e.g. Drop an audio or midi file on the composer, or a bunch of samples onto the multisample editor, etc…
• Reworked audio part system using an unlimited number of locators per audio file.
• Rack Desk can now be used in docked mode or in windowed mode.
• Enhanced plugin editor windowing.
• Improved multi-monitor support.
• Improved workflow in many aspects.
• Enhanced modular plugin system.
• Enriched MuSynth oscillator can produce really fat sounds.
• New fully customizable metronome sound.
• Extended patch library.
• Optimized VST plugin support.
• Smart plugin bypass system avoids unnecessary cpu load.
• Enhanced MIDI controller mapping.
• Extended Mixdown functionalities e.g. Mixdown to 32bit floats, Mixdown directly into sampler.
• And many other improvements!

Watch the MU.LAB 2 Demo Slide Show here.

Check out the MU.LAB 2.0 product page : www.mutools.com/products.html

Download MU.LAB 2.0 : www.mutools.com/downloads.html

A super versatile Rom-Synthesizer with Performance Sequencer for grooving Chord/Arpeggio Sounds.

CONSEQUENCE is the new member of our product family and it will make your tracks get a move on.
Consequence is a chord groovebox, with a surprising depth of possibilities while being easy to use, due to an intuitive workflow.

Chords are alternated, split up to custom arpeggios and turned into leg-driving basslines, amazing melodies or dreamy sound textures.
The internal audio recorder keeps your ideas when they come or records loops or even full tracks. The allround soundlibrary contains
all possible kinds of instruments, from thick basslines to gentle violines. Combine these with individual triggering options for unheard sequences full of joy and groove! Combine sound-presets and sequencer-presets, an unlimited source of inspiration.

CONSEQUENCE is a composition tool which can create chordlines or whole songs on the fly, but also chords which are played via MIDI can be supersized using the innovative sequencing engine.

System: Mac/PC, VST/AU
Price: 149,

More @ Sugar-byte.

The good news regarding the latest releases of Voxengo’s Crunchessor, Elephant, and Varisaturator compressor, limiter, and saturation (respectively) plugins is that they sound very, very good, offer plenty of flexibility in routing for applications like sidechaining, are easy on the host CPU, and are very reasonably priced for the high quality they offer. The bad news where Crunchessor is concerned is that its operator interface is neither typical, self-explanatory, nor well-documented in the user manuals, and so may confuse many people who might otherwise find the exceptionally good sound and price of this plugin irresistible. That would be a shame, because there are few  compressor plugins that sound as good or do so many things at anything near the price.

Elephant 3.1

Latest version: 3.1 - User Guide (PDF) - Primary User Guide (PDF) - Forum: Elephant
Let’s start with Elephant, a piece of kit that ranks very high on the value for money scale.  Voxengo’s website proclaims that “Voxengo Elephant is a mastering limiter plug-in for professional music production applications.  The most remarkable feature of this signal limiter is its ultimate transparency.”  I beg to differ: the terrific transparency of this limiter is apparent as soon as you push it hard, but even more remarkable is the wealth of voicing options on tap.  Compared to Ozone 3’s limiter, a very capable tool with which I am thoroughly familiar, Elephant simply offers a lot more options for shaping the character, not just the volume, of a track.

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Everyone from novices to skilled engineers will find plenty to work with here. There are 9 different limiting modes available, along with 2 types of dithering, DC offset removal, 5 types of metering, and tools for editing such details as release time, channel linking, transient time and shape, and knee.  Voxengo has also included a set of presets that address a range of common limiting applications, and these make Elephant immediately useful even for a novice, right out of the box.  Users of simple tools such as Cakewalk’s Boost 11 will find Elephant to be a very reasonably priced upgrade that expands their mastering options and quality enormously with a very short learning curve; pros seeking a more powerful tool will not be disappointed.

In short, Elephant is simply an outstanding mastering tool, and a great value at the asking price of $US 90.  For anyone seeking a pro-grade mastering limiter plugin that’s both flexible and as easy to use as you want it to be, Elephant should be near the top of the short list.

Crunchessor 2.3

Latest version: 2.3 - User Guide (PDF) - Primary User Guide (PDF) - Forum: Crunchessor
Crunchessor shares its user interface conventions with the rest of Voxengo’s line, and like Elephant, it offers both very good sound and a range of voicing options. Few compressors in this modest price range (about $US 50) can take on so many varied characters; options include 13 different “modes” (including clean and various “crisp” and “valve” setting) and 9 different “styles” (such as warm, punchy, neutral, smooth, etc.).  The variety is not just window-dressing either; all of these options produce notably different results, they all sound very good, and they’re named in ways that clearly identify what they sound like. It’s very gratifying to experiment with these options to find exactly the right sound for a track, and Voxengo provides a useful set of presets for starting points, again clearly named in ways that indicate exactly how to use them.  Especially considering its ability to sidechain, for many productions, Crunchessor is all that’s needed to handle compression for every track in the mix.  In other words, this plugin, like Elephant, represents great value for money.

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However, there’s a fly in this ointment, and that’s Crunchessor’s somewhat idiosyncratic and not-nearly-well-enough documented user interface. For example, sidechaining works very well, but figuring out how to set up the routing is far from obvious, and the manual contains neither a simple step-by-step description nor a clearly marked illustration. I had to search two user forums to find out how to do it; it’s puzzling that it’s not in the manual, especially given that the manual is the easiest thing for a developer to change.  While we’re discussing the manual, let me note that Voxengo’s products ship with two PDF files, one of which describes interface conventions common to all Voxengo’s products, the other the particular product you’ve purchased.

Naturally, there’s no way to know which manual contains the specific information you’re searching for until you’ve read through both.  Further, the manuals seem to be written largely for users who are expert in matters technical, not (oddly enough) for the novices who are the clear beneficiaries of the well-designed-and-labeled presets.

And in some cases, neither manual has the goods.  For example, Crunchessor’s interface handles input, compression, and output level displays in unique ways, and the meaning of a particular graphical item can vary from meter to meter, e.g. a red line apparently means something different in the input and output meters as opposed to the gain reduction meter.  I say “apparently” because the meaning of a red line for a particular meter isn’t explained in either manual that ships with Crunchessor. To further complicate matters, each meter has two level indicators–a moving set of bars, and a white (or red) line that shifts occasionally in apparent relation to the moving bars, though exactly what the relationship is I can’t say.

The manual does explain the rather unique way that Crunchessor displays gain reduction; suffice it to say that there’s nothing as straightforward as, say, an indicator that tells you what the maximum gain reduction is that’s being applied to your track.  What you get instead is a display that shows gain reduction changes relative to the average of the last two seconds.  I for one do not find that to be very useful information, since I set gain makeup for the track based on peak levels, not on the last two seconds of activity. The net effect is to force the user to rely on his or her ears, as opposed to a numeric readout of what the compressor is doing.  That’s not a bad thing, I suppose, but it’s not how a lot of users work nowadays, and it’s definitely not what’s conveyed in a typical user interface.

On the plus side, Voxengo’s head developer Aleksey Vaneev is extremely responsive to user inquires, as a glance at their forum shows.  So if you’re baffled by the user interface, you can head to the forum for an answer.  I do think that it wouldbe helpful to all involved if the company were to put the effort into the next draft of the user manual instead.  In the meantime, Crunchessor’s exceptionally good sound, low price, plentiful presets, sidechaining capability, and general ease of use (user interface notwithstanding) should help put it on the short list for anyone looking for a general purpose single-band compressor.

VariSaturator 1.4

Latest version: 1.4 - User Guide (PDF) - Primary User Guide (PDF) - Forum: VariSaturator
Varisaturator is in some ways the most subtle of the plugins reviewed here.  Voxengo’s website says that “VariSaturator can be used both to boost the loudness of the audio tracks without increasing their peak levels proportionally, and to apply subtle harmonic coloration that makes tracks sound more pronounced and polished.”  To put it another way, varisturator adds depth and color to tracks by applying subtle distortion, both digital and valve-style.  Voxengo recommends applying it as the last stage before the peak limiter.

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As per the other Voxengo plugins reviewed here, Varisturator includes lots of controls for precise shaping of sound–such as high and low frequency input gain and FX levels for valve and digital saturation, frequency crossover settings, high and low frequncy output gain, and dry/wet signal mix–plus a useful set of presets for immediate application. Like PSP Audioware’s very similar Mixsaturator, Varisaturator is best used to add moderate amounts of color to a track, not to slather it with distortion. I find that it’s particularly useful for adding depth, color, and excitement to otherwise flat-sounding digital synth tracks, and it’s also found its way onto a number of my recent drum tracks. The valve and digital saturation effects both add unique flavor to a track, and the ability to apply different levels of both distortions to high and low frequency content makes it very easy to fatten up a track in exactly the right places.

Varisaturator’s direct competition includes the aforementioned PSP MixSaturator, which sells only as part of PSP’s MixPack2 bundle for $200.  The asking price of $US 70 for Varisaturator alone isn’t directly comparable, of course, but in general Varisaturator, like other Voxengo products, represents very good value for money.

Nearly fully-functional demo versions of all the plugins described in this review can be downloaded from voxengo.com, along with a number of free plugins (such as voxengo Span, a frequency analysis plugin that makes mixing a whole lot easier, TempoDelay, TubeAmp, and other good-sounding and useful freebies) that are well worth owning.  Purchase for all plugins is via download.  The license validation process is simple and does not require an online connection, which is a relief for those of us who choose to keep our DAWs disconnected from the cesspool of malicious actors that is the modern Internet.

Summary:

very good stuff, very well priced, highly recommended.