Mac and Music News

IK Multimedia is pleased to announce that the 2x1 FX Madness Promotion is now in effect! From July 1st to August 31st, customers who purchase and register any of IK's effect plug-ins can get another IK effect absolutely free!

Customers can choose from the following :

- AmpliTube 2 - The highly popular guitar amp and effects modelling software that raised the standard to an unprecedented level of high-quality emulation and extreme flexibility, for crafting the ultimate guitar tone.

- Ampeg SVX - The world's first dedicated bass amp plug-in with the real signature sound of Ampeg®, the historic brand that invented bass amplification

- Classik Studio Reverb - The award-winning suite of four high-end studio-quality reverbs modelled after popular outboard ...

Sugar Bytes has announced version 2 of their multi-effect Artillery.

Features :

- Effects still handled with MIDI notes.
- 28 effects included.
- Universal modulator per parameter.
- Unlimited FX chaining.
- Innovative effects like step looper, turntable, tonal resonator, reverse...

Artillery 2 is expected to be released on July 20, 2007, priced at €149. It will be available for Mac OS X (UB) and Windows in VST and AU formats.

Audio Damage has announced Dr. Device, an effect plug-in offering two hi-octane analog-style effects in one. First in the chain is a multi-mode filter, featuring Audio Damage's own private reserve 4-pole lowpass, along with 5 other tasty musical modes. Then, your audio takes a trip through the true-stereo analog delay. Couple these effects with a two-node XYZ pad, motion recording, and kinetics and you've got an effect well-suited for both live performance and studio tweaking.

Features :

- Multi-mode filter (4PLP, 3PLP, 2PLP, 4PHP, 2PHP, and 4PBP modes). The 4PLP self-oscillates at high resonance without audio input, allowing Dr. Device to be used as a theremin-type instrument.
- "Tube" style soft saturation and bit reduction.
- Stereo bucket-brigade-style delay, with two filtering ...

Arturia announces that its entire "V" line is now available in a single and luxury pack : the V Collection. This "ultimate bundle" offers all the emulations of the most legendary and sought after synthesizers: the Moog Modular, the minimoog, the CS-80, the Prophet 5, the Prophet VS, the ARP 2600 and the Jupiter-8.

The V Collection will be available on the fourth of July for Mac OS X (UB) in VST, AU, RTAS and standalone versions at a retail price of $699 / 549€. Note that a special upgrade path for Arturia customers owning one, two or more of the synths will also be available available.

MakeMusic has unveiled Finale 2008. This upgrade offers a lot of new features :

- Record/import a mono or stereo audio file to enhance playback.
- More than 250 world-class instrument sounds from the makers of the acclaimed Garritan Personal Orchestra are included free. In addition to orchestral instruments are saxophones, trumpet and trombone mutes, jazz bass and drums, guitar, marching percussion, world instruments and more.
- Multiple sound libraries now work together seamlessly. Combine all the included sounds, add Native Instruments-supported libraries (available separately), hear them all in playback and save the results in an audio file.
- Copy music, adjust expressions, transpose, add repeats and much more – all with one tool.
- Intuitive keystrokes can select measures or p ...

Waves announces the release of The API Collection, the latest in its line of modeled plug-ins which deliver the sound of classic consoles and components. Developed in association with API (Automated Processes Incorporated), the API Collection features four processors, painstakingly modeled on the most renowned and popular API modules: the 550A 3-band equalizer, 550B 4-band EQ, the 560 graphic equalizer and the 2500 stereo compressor.

The API Collection is available now and requires iLok authorization. It carries a U.S. MSRP of $2,000 TDM and $1,000 Native. For more information, please visit their web site.

TC Electronic announces the immediate availability of C400XL, a dual gate/compressor. C400XL uses advanced TC Electronic multiband dynamics technology to compress any source - from vocals and percussion to guitars and even keyboards. The unit is adaptable to any source, analog or digital, and a gate, compression or a combination can be easily applied. And finally, the source-based compression, intuitive user interface and mix knob for parallel compression makes for an easy-to-use unit that produces high-resolution results.

Main features :

- Balanced analog XLR
- Balanced digital (AES/EBU)
- Precision gating – ultra fast and click free
- De-essing
- Dual engine compressor or gate
- High resolution input and gain reduction metering
- Threshold LED indication
- True dual mono, stereo or serial operation
- Brickwall limiting for peak stop and hot levels
- Dual band expansion for non-percussive sources

C400XL is available now at a retail price of €320 excl. VAT.

Cakewalk has announced the release of Cakewalk Studio Instruments. Basically this is a collection of virtual instrument featuring a drum kit, a bass guitar, an electric piano, and a string section.

Highlights :

- An entire band all in one package: Electric Piano, Bass, String Section, & Drum Kit.
- Easy to use animated user interface with powerful controls (cymbals crash, bows bow, bass strings vibrate, etc.).
- Play stand-alone or use it in your favorite recording software.
- Professionally recorded patterns and instrument sounds.

Cakewalk Studio Instruments is available for Mac OS X (UB) in VST, AU and standalone versions at an estimated street price of $49.99.