Week of November 16, 2003 Saturday, November 22 2003 | dmac Traxmusic updates... Folks we just added 3 new articles in the Review & Articles section. First up Derik White gets to grips with Devine Machine with an article about modern beats. Kevin Rossiter writes an interesting articles on what might be a "Bargain of the Year?". He checks out Manytone's 24 bit Acoustic Drums kits. He also writes an article that many of you will find interesting, that deals with improving your arranging & mixing skills with midi files. Check it all out Review & Articles section. Enjoy, Darren. Friday, November 21 2003 | dmac ProSounds for Rob Papens Albino Released Following on with the success of the ProSounds series of sounds for software synthesizers we are pleased to announce the release of five brand new soundsets for Rob Papens Albino.   The five volumes - Basses, Leads, Pads & Textures, Modulatory Madness and Essential Soundz - each contain 128 presets for this popular software synthesizer designed by our top designers.   Each of the five volumes are priced at just $14.95 making them an affordable addition for owners of this excellent software synthesizer. A bundle is also available which includes all five soundsets at the reduced price of $59.95. For more information about these new products and to download 25 free demo presets visit www.pro-sounds.net Friday, November 21 2003 | dmac Version 3 of Ozone Mastering Plug-In Released iZotope has released a new version of their 64-bit mastering plug-in, Ozone 3. This latest version extends the analog modeled processing while simultaneously adding options for "digitally transparent" and intelligent processing. Highlights some of the new version include: Analog Modeling Proprietary MBIT+ wordlength reduction technology Tape modeling for warm multiband excitation Tube modeling for classic dynamic excitation Analog modeled lowpass and highpass EQ modes Digital Transparency Linear phase multibands with adjustable Q control Linear phase EQ processing Transparent loudness maximizer mode 64-bit acoustic modeled reverb System Requirements: Pentium II 500 or greater 64 MB RAM or greater Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP DirectX host application For more information, visit their web site at www.izotope.com. Friday, November 21 2003 | dmac Host updates Steinberg Cubase SL 2.0 released: Steinberg have released v2.0 of Cubase SL for Windows and OS X. Features: Next generation VST 2.3 audio engine with full plug-in delay compensation. New Look and Feel for better workflow. Flexible new mixer with FX Return channels. Freeze Function. New Time Warp tool. Improved handling of multiple parts. Configurable toolbar and track controls. You can view a comparison of the feature sets of Cubase SL and SX here (PDF). Emagic Logic Platinum v6.3.2 released Emagic have updated Logic Platinum to v6.3.2. This is a service release for Mac OS X which also resolves Panther compatibility issues. Thursday, November 20 2003 | dmac DashNews: TubiLeSax Update, EVE new smaller DEMO, QiK Sound-Engine, Pro and Lite info EVE VSTi V1.0 New DEMO files: Complete Windows Demo - 58.2 Meg Small Windows Demo - 10 Meg TubiLeSax V1.82 released: Better samples, fixed lag (latency) Better Loop-Points (noise removed) Also, new DEMO versions: Complete Windows Demo - 22.2 Meg Small Windows Demo - 2.8 Meg. More @ dashsignature.com. Wednesday, November 19 2003 | dmac Yamaha Tech Creates New Virtual Vocalists ZERO-G announced the world's first three Virtual Vocalists powered by Yamaha's impressive Vocaloid singing synthesis, a new virtual singing technology originally announced at the Frankfurt Musikmesse earlier this year. To be launched at Winter NAMM, January 2004 are Vocaloid LEON, male virtual soul vocalist, and Vocaloid LOLA, female virtual soul vocalist. LEON and LOLA are virtual soul vocalists modelled on real professional singers, and when they are installed on a PC they allow the user to create singing with improved realism over other technologies. They can sing any words you ask of them, in English - literally anything - be they beautiful lyrics or comical trivialities, Monteverdi madrigals or manic chants. Vocal tracks of soulful singing can be created using any lyrics. You just type in your own lyrics, and synthesize. Then add expression to taste. LEON and LOLA are under your total control. Vocaloid MIRIAM is the third virtual vocalist, which will be launched later at the Frankfurt Musik Messe. MIRIAM is a vocal font modeled on the voice of Miriam Stockley. Miriam is the voice of the multi-million-selling Adiemus albums, which showcase her vocal techniques. The Zero-G web site does offer some audio examples of the Vocaloid synthesis engine in action so you can hear for yourself what it can do. It's definitely worth a listen - voice synthesis has come a long way! For more information, visit their web site at www.zero-g.co.uk. Wednesday, November 19 2003 | dmac SAMPLE TANK 2 FINALLY SHIPPING (Read our interview with IK here) IK Multimedia is proud to announce that SampleTank 2 plug-in sample workstation is now shipping worldwide. One of the most anticipated virtual plug-in instruments this year, SampleTank 2 has been completely redesigned to create the most advanced sample based sound workstation ever made. A unique, powerful plug-in with a wide range of exclusive, revolutionary features that set it apart from other samplers or sound modules, SampleTank 2 is a giant step for sampling technology. Instantly compatible with every platform! SampleTank 2 is available for Mac0S9, Mac0SX and Windows XP, VSTi, DXi, RTAS, MAS and Audio Units all from the same box. Price and availability SampleTank 2 is available in 2 models: SampleTank 2 XL, 8CDs of sounds with 1.500 sounds and more than 4.5 GB of samples, 8 CDs, $/Euro499 SampleTank 2 L, 4CDs of sounds with 500 sounds and more than 2GB of samples, 4 CDs, $/Euro299 2 upgrades are availabe, all to XL version (must be a registered ST1 user to be eligible): SampleTank 1 DJ, L, XL 1 to Sampletan® 2 XL , 8CDs, $/Euro249 SampleTank 1 SE (Digidesign bundle), LE 1 to Sampletan 2 XL, 8CDs, $/Euro349 Users having registered SampleTank 1 DJ, L and XL it since 1st May 2003 will be able to download a FREE special upgrade to SampleTank 2 . Detailed information and sound examples of this new, revolutionary, sample-based sound workstation can be found online at: www.sampletank.com. Tuesday, November 18 2003 | dmac FIRIUM 2.0 BRINGS CREATIVITY TO LINEAR PHASE EQ Elemental Audio Systems announced today the availability of version 2.0 of Firium, it's flagship linear phase equalizer. In addition to a redesigned user interface and two significant new features, version 2.0 brings Digidesign Pro Tools RTAS compatibility to Mac OS X and Windows XP users. Firium version 2.0 is also available in VST and Audio Unit formats for Mac OS X and VST format for Windows. New in version 2.0, Firium's sophisticated spectrum matching engine learns the spectral profile of an audio source and applies it to another - indispensable for matching the sound of different tracks. The spectrum matching process can be controlled manually or automated, and user's are given constant visual feedback on the learning process as Firium hones in on the best spectral profile for the learned audio. For ease of use, Firium offers four locations for storing learned profiles and automatically matches when switching amongst available locations. Monday, November 17 2003 | dmac Plugin updates Vanguard revield by reFX.net: Here is a preview of Vanguard which will replace the former available JunoX2 from reFX. Vanguard will be available late this year, but still before the holiday season. There is no upgrade price. Vanguard is free for all JunoX2 customers. More @ reFX.net. Monday, November 17 2003 | dmac Cameleon 5000 Additive Morphing Resynthesiser Cameleon 5000 is a virtual additive synthesiser, featuring unique resynthesis and sound morphing technologies, and offering unparalleled ease of programming. The Cameleon 5000 blurs the boundaries between sampling and synthesis in unprecedented ways. Want a bass sound with the tone of an acoustic, but the punch of an electric? Simply import samples of both, and click in the "morphing square" to create your own hybrids. Related links: Read more | Check out the Demo | Buy Now! Sunday, November 16 2003 | dmac The Sound Guy, Inc. Releases SFX Machine RT 1.03 Update The Sound Guy, Inc. announced the release of SFX Machine RT 1.03, a real-time audio effects plug-in. SFX Machine RT is available in VST format for Mac OS 8/9/X and Windows, as well as Audio Unit format for Mac OS X. SFX Machine RT comes with hundreds of presets, including conventional effects like choruses and flangers as well as a wide variety of unique effects. Many of the presets include a pitch tracker or envelope follower, allowing the effect to respond intelligently to the input signal. The plug-in also allows automated parameter control via a simple "MIDI Learn" interface. A Randomize button enables the user to get an idea of the range of possibilities contained within each preset. Version 1.03 fixes a number of bugs, including a problem whereby the Randomize button did not work with certain host programs. For more information, visit their web site at www.sfxmachine.com.