Week of August 27, 2006 Friday, September 1 2006 | dmac Line 6 Announces GuitarPort XT Now Shipping Line 6, Inc. announced today that GuitarPort XT is now shipping. The hardware and software bundle, which will include GearBox™ 2.0 software, is a powerful tool for guitarists seeking a no-hassle way to learn, play and record music. GuitarPort XT works with both PC and Mac computers, including the new Intel-based OS X machines. GuitarPort XT delivers 18 classic and modern guitar amp models, 24 cab models, and 28 must-have studio and stompbox effects. Plus, included tools such as a chromatic tuner, hum reducer, metronome, and riff looper with half-speed playback ensure a great musical experience. "We've taken the studio standard digital modeling we perfected with POD XT, and our expertise in guitar-friendly user interfaces, and combined them into a computer-based product anyone can use and afford," said Mark McCrite, Product Line Manager for POD & PC Products, Line 6. With the optional GuitarPort Online™ membership, the musical possibilities of GuitarPort XT are almost limitless. Using an Internet connection, GuitarPort Online members can immerse themselves in a world of guitar tones, tracks and tablature. An incredible collection of loops, grooves, in-depth artist lessons, and original Line 6 songs are instantly available for jamming. The online library also features hundreds of the world's greatest guitar songs. Ranging from blues to hardcore to modern rock and country, most tracks are available with and without guitar. Recorded with the same painstaking detail as the original versions, users can learn their favorite songs by using the provided tablature, then "sit in" with a band like Double Trouble on Stevie Ray Vaughan tunes. GuitarPort Online members can even jam with the original master tracks from Jimi Hendrix exclusively remixed by original engineer Eddie Kramer. All lesson, cover, and master tracks are matched with perfectly dialed in amp, cab and effect tones for the ultimate in-studio experience that only Line 6 can offer. GuitarPort XT (hardware/software package) - $139.99 MSRP, $99.99 Street Price For more information, visit their web site at line6.com. Friday, September 1 2006 | dmac Access Music Releases Virus TI Software Suite v.1.2.3 A software update for the Virus TI synthesizer and PC/Mac components is available for download on virus.info. The new version is a Universal Binary build supporting PowerPC and Intel based Macintosh computers. It also improves the startup behaviour of the Virus Control plug-in, feels much snappier, fixes a couple of bugs which caused crackling with certain patches and lowers the CPU consumption when the plug-in window is open. The free update requires Windows XP SP2 or MacOS 10.4 and is available now. For more information, visit their web site at access-music.de. Friday, September 1 2006 | dmac HK Audio's L.U.C.A.S. System Check Now Available Online The well-known L.U.C.A.S System Check display is now available online featuring many different possibilities to select and adjust application and audience size. With two turn-switches, the adjustments can be selected and the indicator instruments show the load of each system corresponding to the adjustments. This clarifies at one sight which L.U.C.A.S system is the most suitable one for the requested application. Thus, those interested in L.U.C.A.S will be able to identify quickly the right system for their needs. As additional features, the System Check offers direct links to the product details of each L.U.C.A.S system by a click on the logo. Furthermore, by entering the postal code, local System Check partners are listed where all systems are available for listening tests and comparisons. For more information, visit their web site at hkaudio.com. Tuesday, August 29 2006 | dmac ModernBeats Releases Sequel To Urban Anthemz Instrument Loops ModernBeats.com has just released volume 2 of its 'Urban Anthemz' instrument loops series for all major MAC and PC music software. Urban Anthemz 2 contains 400 loops of urban melodies, riffs, and hooks where styles range widely from ganksta hip hop loops all the way to unheard of modern hip hop melodies & hooks. Urban Anthemz 2 works seamlessly with all other ModernBeats loop series where each series utilizes same group & tempo layouts. This allows users to build full productions within minutes by mix-matching & layering loops from each series together. The library is organized into 4 popular hip-hop industry tempos: 87bpm, 92bpm, 97bpm, and 102bpm. Each of the tempo groups contain 25 original loop themes including 4 variation loops within each theme: "Hook1", "Hook2", "Verse1", and "Verse2". That's 400 loops across the Loopset with a total of 100 original hip hop melodies, riffs, & hooks per tempo. A myriad of instruments & effects were used to design the loops such as ethnic woodwinds, orchestral woodwinds, full brass sections & stabs, trumpets, saxophones, ethnic strings, sitars, dizus, erhus, guchins, yangchins, pipas, tremolo strings, violins, cellos, pizzicato & exotic plucking, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, flamenco guitar, wah-wah guitar, banjo, harps & harp glissandos, classic pianos, baby toy pianos, xylophones, marimbas, metallic bells, tines, synth pads, analog synths, sound effects, ambiences, atmospheres, plus more! The 'Urban Anthemz Vol. 2' library is offered on CD-ROM or as a download. Prices start at just $59.95. Universal Format Compatibility: Sample Accurate Acidized WAV, Stereo For more information, visit their web site at modernbeats.com. Tuesday, August 29 2006 | dmac AraldFX And Dash Signature Release Mac Version Of Grand Electrix Virtual Piano AraldFX and Dash Signature has released the Mac version (AU, VST and AU Universal Binary) of Grand Electrix Virtual Piano, an emulation of the famous CP70 electroacoustic piano. To celebrate the Mac release the price is reduced to only 50 USD for two weeks, until 10th of September 2006 (then it will get back to full price $79 US). The license at $50 US includes both Mac OS X and PC Windows versions. "Grand Electrix" is a sample based virtual instrument featuring a new stream from disk custom technology ("direct from disk"), for very low memory and CPU usage. Samples are streamed in real time from the computer disk, so there is no need for large amounts of RAM. Features: 180 MB multisample full decay, no loops, crossfading layers Stream from disk custom technology for very low memory and CPU usage Complete control on Velocity response, curve, min max, sensivity 3 Band EQ Tremolo Chorus Temperament Menu (microtuning) Stretch tuning adjustable Samples are derived from the acclaimed Hollow Sun library "Definitive CP 70". A demo of Grand Electrix Virtual Piano is available here. For more information, visit their web site at araldfx.com.