Week of January 9, 2005 Friday, January 14 2005 | dmac Precisionsound Releases Angelic Vocal Pads II The latest sample collection from Precisionsound, released in SoundFont, HALion, Kontakt formats, Angelic Vocal Pads II was recorded with two different male singers, "Dario" & "Antoni". "AAA", "OOO" and "MMM", note by note chromatically, treated, filtered and seamlessly looped. Each singer comprises a separate sample set. Each SampleSet contains: 2 programs for the SoundFont versions (16 bit 44.1KHZ Stereo); "Normal", "Slow attack". 2 programs for the HALion, Kontakt versions (24 bit 44.1 KHZ Stereo): "Normal", "Slow attack". The SoundFont versions are 100% compatible with all virtual samplers supporting the SoundFont format, like GigaStudio, HALion, Kontakt, EXS-24, VSampler, NN-XT, Sfz, Audigy and Emulator X. Each sample set currently sells for $29.60, with the bundle going for $44.50. Both the SoundFont and HALion/Kontakt Sets are included in all SampleSets. For more information, visit their web site at precisionsound.net. Thursday, January 13 2005 | dmac Version 3.1 Update for Lake Controller Software Released Lake Technology has released version 3.1 of its Lake Controller software for Lake Contour digital loudspeaker and Lake Mesa Quad EQ digital matrix processors. Lake Controller v3.1 software introduces a number of significant new and improved features in response to user requests, such as MIDI and AMX control options, an even more comprehensive user interface that offers enhanced functionality, including improved data entry methods, and direct access to online utilities. MIDI control of Lake Contour and Lake Mesa Quad EQ units is now implemented using System Exclusive MIDI messaging, offering external control and automation of Frame Preset Recall, Input Mute/Unmute and Overlay Bypass/Insert. External control of Lake Contour from AMX-compliant devices, such as commercially available control touch screens, is now available with the addition of a special firmware upgrade, available directly from Lake Technology. Onscreen data entry improvements include the expansion of available keyboard shortcuts to allow fast system navigation and adjustment when a keyboard is attached to the Lake Controller PC. Additionally, a smaller version of the full onscreen keyboard is now displayed when numeric values are being edited, displaying only those relevant keys. Newly introduced Designer Worksheets speed up the system integration process by providing system designers with rapid data entry tools. Data is entered and viewed through the real-time spreadsheet-style interface, which is accessible in Designer Mode via Module Properties. Parameter values for Contour and Mesa Quad EQ processors are directly accessible, may be adjusted in real time, and can be quickly and easily copied and pasted between spreadsheet cells. A new All Pass Filter function has been made available in Designer Mode. The new feature introduces first-order and second-order All Pass filters to allow phase adjustment on the XOVER and AUX OUTPUT tabs of Contour processors only. Version 3.1 Lake Controller User Mode and Designer Mode Manuals have additionally been released, containing details regarding the new functionality. Spanish language versions of the v3.0 Lake Controller User Mode and Designer Mode manuals are now available from the Lake Technology website and on the installation CD-ROM. If the PC running Lake Controller is web-enabled and an internet connection is available, the new Online Automatic Software Update Utility allows users to check for and download new versions of the Lake Controller software. A Support Forum link has also been added that provides immediate, direct access to the Lake Proaudio support forum. Loudspeaker presets are now included in the Lake Controller software installer together with a link in the START menu to Lake's online Speaker Preset Archive. For more information, visit their web site at lake.com. Thursday, January 13 2005 | dmac ManyStation Virtual Instrument Introduced Manytone Music has announced the ManyStation, a sample based workstation with over 1GB of included multi-sampled soundsets. The focus of ManyStation is on detailed and highly playable sounds. Some of the real instrument soundsets include between 20 and 60 multi-samples for detail, with special layers (such as slides, string noise and guitar palm mutes). The ManyStation also allows extensive programming and comes with onboard FX (including chorus, distortion, delay and reverb). Over 1GB of sounds will cover multi-sampled acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, cellos and vintage hardware synths. There are hundreds of presets covering drums, percussion, pads and FX. All samples have been hand edited by Manytone with painstaking attention to sonic fidelity, usability and noise levels. ManyStation uses the Wusikstation engine and allows user soundsets to be imported as well as soundsets in Wusikstation and DashSignature EVE formats. Naturally all of the Wusikstation functionality is available in ManyStation. The ManyStation will be available in February 2005. The price will be $99. For more information, visit their web site at manytone.com. Wednesday, January 12 2005 | dmac "Electric Blue" Minimoog Voyager Released Moog Music has made a new addition to the Voyager family, the MiniMoog Electric Blue. The Electric Blue incorporates virtually all of the functions of the original Minimoog Synthesizer (produced from 1971 to 1984) with sound and beauty all its own. The Electric Blue is housed in an ash cabinet with a fractal blue finish and the electric blue backlit front panel. Whether it's a beautiful look or sound that you are going for the Electric Blue has it. Equipped with custom pre-sets this new Voyager has all of the warm fat analog sounds that have become synonymous with Moog. With three analog oscillators, dual Moog Filters, and analog envelope generators, the Electric Blue is sure to draw attention from players, audio engineers, and analog synthesis aficionados alike. The MiniMoog Voyager Electric Blue sells for $3295 and is immediately available. For more information, visit their web site at moogmusic.com. Wednesday, January 12 2005 | dmac Sonik Synth 2 Now Shipping IK Multimedia announced that Sonik Synth 2 is now shipping, and they've also launched a new product website to support it. A co-production between IK Multimedia and Sonic Reality, Sonik Synth 2 is a synth workstation with over 5,000 sounds and 8 gigabytes of modern and vintage instruments. Sampled flavors of just about every type of synthesis and vintage synth gear are here, plus a workstation sound set of important compositional tools such as evolving motion synths, pads, leads, basses, electronic drums, percussion, and FX, as well as pianos, organs, guitars, drum kits and beats, orchestral instruments, human voices, ethnic instruments and more. Sonik Synth 2 also features a 152 MB, 3 dynamics, grand piano and other high performance instruments. Also available are Sonik Synth 2 FREE and free lessons from www.soniksynth.com. Sonik Synth 2 FREE is not just a demo. It is a fully working plug-in limited only by the provided sounds. It can be downloaded and used without any limitations. Sonik Synth 2 Features 16 parts sample-based synth workstation. Over 5,000 sounds and 8 GB of samples on 2 DVDs. Built in 32 DSP effects - use 5 per instrument. Sound editing with full access to 50 Synth-Sampler engine controls Loop Sync feature for precision and flexibility Zone feature for single sample accurate editing 256 notes polyphony Supports VST, RTAS, DXi, AU formats For MacOS and Windows. Sounds compatible with SampleTank 2 Sonik Synth 2 is now available at an MSRP of $/€399. SampleTank 2 users are eligible for a special crossgrade price of $/€199 until March 1st 2005. Crossgrade price will be $/€249 after promotion ends. For more information, visit their web site at www.soniksynth.com.