Mac and Music News

The Vienna Symphonic Library has added plenty of new download products to its web shop.

47 brass and woodwind instruments in the categories of Flutes & Reeds, Clarinets & Bassoons, Saxophones, Horns & Tubas and Trumpets & Trombones are now available instantly and wherever on the planet users might need them — provided they have Internet access, a credit card, and a ViennaKey.

Prices start at €60.

Yamaha presents the Pocketrak CX, a new compact pocket recorder equipped with big diameter and high sensitivity 90° X- Y microphone.

Unlike his "big brother", the Pocketrak 2G, this new device works with micro SD or micro SDHC cards. The included re-chargeable "eneloop" AA battery makes 22 hours continuous recording in CD-quality. The "eneloop" battery does not suffer from the self-discharge problems of similar batteries - so it will be ready for at any time.

You can connect the Pocketrak CX to a computer with the enclosed USB cable. High performance DAW software Cubase AI4 customized for exclusive Yamaha is bundled. A variegated play-back function is built into, and plenty of accessories provides a big conveniences for you.

Features :

- Memory micro SD-Card / micro SDHC-Card
- Recording format 16 Bit, 44,1/48 kHz, Linear PCM / MP3 Stereo 32 kbps, 64 kbps, 128 kbps, 192 kbps, 320 kbps
- Playback MP3, WMA, WAV, PDDRM-WMA
- Built in 90°X-Y stereo microphone
- Battery 1x AA Alkali battery or 1x AA "eneloop" battery
- Battery life ("eneloop") MP3: 40 hours, PCM: 22 hours
- "eneloop" recharge: 220 minutes
- Inputs Mic / Line (stereo mini φ3.5mm)
- Outputs Earphone / Line (stereo mini φ3.5mm)
- Computer connector USB 2.0
- Monitoring integrated loudspeaker or enclosed earphone
- Dimensions / Weight (Width x Height x Depth) 4,65 x 12,95 × 1,75 cm / 92 gram
- Accessories Stereo earphone, USB cable, AA "eneloop" rechargeable battery, Wind screen, 2GB micro SD card, CUBASE AI4 DVD, Carring case, owners manual, Microphone stand adaptor

Price and avaibility TBA.

Togu Audio Line has released TAL-Dub-II, an extended version of TAL-Dub with a completely new sound engine. A 4x over-sampled distortion stage allows you to add vintage distortion to the delayed signal (it is also possible to make clean delays). A sinus LFO has the possibility to modulate delay time and low pass filter cutoff. Adjustable LFO stereo width is also included. An analog sounding 6dB low pass filter with resonance and a 3dB high cut filter are also parts of TAL-DUB-II. Different routing options open a wide range of possibilities.

Features :

- Synced delay times (1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1/1, 2/1 and tripled and dotted notes).
- 4x over-sampled distortion stage.
- VU-Meter shows gain reduction.
- LFO (low pass cutoff and delay modulation, stereo width).
- 6dB resonance low pass filter.
- 3dB high pass filter.
- MIDI learn for all pots.
- 20 factory presets.
- Documentation.

TAL-DUB-II is available now for Windows VST and Mac OS X Audio Unit and VST Universal Binary. The good news... it's a freeware, so enjoy !

Time Unlimited together with Ueberschall are launching the "Trance ID 2" Remix Contest. Any remixes which are based on Mike Koglins sample kit "Antidote" from Trance ID 2 can enter the competition. The kit may be downloaded free of charge on their web site. The contest starts at the 01st of August, all entrances must be submitted by 30th September 2008.

The Jury consists of course of the four international producers who have provided the construction kits on Trance ID 2 :

- Mike Koglin (Noys Music)
- Darren Tate (Mondo Records)
- Mark Pledger (Anjunabeats)
- Marc Steinmeier (Time Unlimited)

The winning remix will be rewarded with a guaranteed release on the renowned electronic/trance label Time Unlimited.

XT Software AS has signed an agreement with Trinity Audio Group Inc to integrate energyXT Indamixx Version, a super compact DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), with Indamixx, a handheld and portable Linux studio based on Samsung Q1 Ultra.

Indamixx with energyXT inside is in sale worldwide at a price of $1200.

RME has announced that the HDSPe AES is now shipping. This new PCI Express card is fully identical to the successful HDSP AES-32, a PCI based card. Both cards can be used simultaneously in one computer, thus using the available slots (PCI / PCIe) as efficient as possible. These cards provide 8 AES inputs (16 channels) and 8 AES outputs (16 channels) at 192 kHz sample rate. They support Single, Double and Quad Wire transfer and direct conversion between these formats. Two MIDI I/O ports and a word clock I/O are also available. The word clock input adapts to Single, Double and Quad Speed automatically.

Features Highlight :

- Support for 192 kHz at full channel count
- Native support for Double and Quad Wire transfer
- Direct conversion between these formats
- SteadyClock for highest jitter suppression and clock regeneration
- Intuitive and clearly laid-out user interface
- TotalMix: 512 channel mixer with 42 bit internal resolution
- 48 level meter Peak/RMS, hardware-computed

Delano Audio has announced the release of it's new website of downloadable sound effects and samples, created by sound professionals for professional sound users. Debuting with over 14,000 sound effects, the Delano Audio site focuses on professional formatted downloads of Broacastwave files, 4 channel Surroundsound, Appleloops Sound Effects and Reason Refills.

The inital offerings are sounds from the prestigious Digiffects Sound Library and the online search system is fast, fun and effective. Individual Broadcast Wave sounds start at $4.99 each and Surround Sounds are available for $7.99.

Studio Electronics unveils the Orion Galaxy Omega 8, a new all-analog 8-voice poly synth. In fact the synth isn't completely new, it's "just" an Omega 8 in a wonderful seventies flavoured design.

Here is the description found on their website :

"what is this? it is art. it is light. it is glorious design brought to life by Antoine Argentieres, the man, who sagely let his fondness for Stanley Kubrick's past century enigmatic odyssian vision of the future (and re-visioning of pivotal past events) inspire a house fit for the majestic voice and verve of the Omega8––a cathedral of transformation; the great work of the synth; a mind before matter mystical alignment of awareness: light and sound waves that reveal the ORION GALAXY, expanding and growing and luminous."

Price and availability TBA.