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03-31-08 / 11:24 PM : EastWest : a product offered for another (cjed)
To celebrate its 20 years anniversary, EastWest provides (from March, 24 to April, 30) a product for free for each software buyed, among these : FAB FOUR; GYPSY; MINISTRY OF ROCK; VOICES OF PASSION; COLOSSUS; SYMPHONIC CHOIRS; RA; PLATINUM ORCHESTRA BUNDLE; PLATINUM PRO XP; GOLD ORCHESTRA BUNDLE; GOLD PRO XP; SILVER ORCHESTRA; STORMDRUM; PERCUSSIVE ADVENTURES 2; HARDCORE BASS XP; ADRENALINE; STORMBREAKZ;PERCUSSIVE ADVENTURES 2 LE.
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03-31-08 / 09:55 PM : EastWest PLAY Trial Pack (cjed)
EastWest provides PLAY Trial Pack : at 9,95$ it allows to test during two days FAB FOUR, GYPSY, MINISTRY OF ROCK and VOICES OF PASSION. A full licence can then be buyed to continue using each of the four softwares. The whole installation requires 50Gb available space (and an iLok key).
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03-30-08 / 12:54 AM : Waves GTR Solo (cjed)
Waves presents GTR Solo, an effects plugin for guitar derived from GTR3 (and more affordable) : 10 amp simulations, 10 types of cabinets and 13 stomps (OverDrive, Distortion, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus, Delay, WahWah, Spring, Pitcher, Vibrolo, GateComp, EQ and Volume). It is priced 140$ (380 to 500$ for GTR3 depending on the inclusion of the hardware module) and a demo version is downloadable (7 days period).
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03-30-08 / 12:35 AM : Guitarist/Pianist/Drummer for iPhone (cjed)
Moocowmusic provides three music applications for iPhone (donationware) : Guitarist, Pianist et Drummer (15 pads, Rock, Dance, Jazz 1 and 2, and Electro kits, that can be selecetd through on button). The interface is stunning (better than many PC audio softwares UI) : guitar animated strings, piano animated keys, illuminated drums pads, quick navigation through frets or piano octaves. Up to 5 notes can be played simultaneously (multitouch 5 points).

Instruments are multi-sampled (one sample per note). A future version of Guitarist will include more sounds (for now only acoustic guitar) and a chord sequencer. Pianist still includes a sequencer and allows to play MP3 in background (also the case with Drummer). Custom made kits can be added in Drummer. Demo videos are provided (see also Space Invaders on Drummer)
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03-29-08 / 09:40 PM : Logic 8 Pro perf : targeted to QuartzGL ? (cjed)
Logic Pro 8 performs slower graphically compared with Logic Pro 7 or Express. In fact it seems the this new version has been programmed with QuartzGL in mind, that as stated by ArsTechnica leads to optimization choices that are opposite to what we did with Quartz 2D. Then if we activate QuartzGL on Leopard (through sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver \QuartzGLEnabled -boolean YES), scrolling under Logic 8 becomes perfectly smooth, as it is with Logic 7 under Tiger. It however requires a graphic card that can manage hardware CoreImage acceleration and QuartzGL (Radeon 9600 Pro min). With a Radeon 9000 Pro Leopard only provides software CoreImage (managed by the G4).

We also note that without QuartzGL, Logic 8 Pro uses (under Leopard) 30 to 40% CPU with MIDI events only (compared with 7% in Logic Express 7 under Tiger), and it drops to 10% if Logic Pro windows are hidden. So QuartzGL should fix this.
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03-28-08 / 01:13 AM : Yamaha P-85/P-85S available (cjed)
The new Yamaha P-85/P-85S digital pianos presented during the Winter NAMM 2008 are now available (799$). We can watch videos here. These portable pianos can reveive an optional stand (Matching Stand and LP-5 Pedal Unit). Featuring Graded Hammer Standard touch, it can serve as a nice master keyboard.
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03-26-08 / 10:59 PM : RealStrat review (cjed)
Audiofanzine provides a review of RealStrat, from the same company as Real Guitar. We can also read an article at soundonsound.
Videos and audio examples are available here, and a demo version can be downloaded (works for 30 days, with limited samples, playing styles and patterns).
The software is priced 140$, including 1Gb samples and more than a thousand patterns.
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03-20-08 / 11:17 PM : Korg : new free patchs for M3 (cjed)
Korg provides for free at download 512 new patchs for M3. That is here. There is also 128 new patchs available that use the EXB-RADIAS expansion.
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03-19-08 / 10:58 PM : iPhone SDK : no CoreMidi / i3L (cjed)
The iPhone SDK gives access to CoreAudio but not to CoreMidi, what prevents developing a portable Midi sequencer. The framework i3L allows to send messages from an iPhone to a receiver application on another mac through internet UDP protocole (that is through WiFi then). We can watch a video here.
It would be better to plug an USB Midi interface on the iPhone USB port, but besides requiring CoreMidi, the iPhone wouldn't probably feed enough power (no power supply for example in the Fastlane USB interface).
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03-18-08 / 11:57 PM : SoundAndEffect : 4 libraries for Kontakt (cjed)
SoundAndEffect released online (through download) 4 samples libraries for Kontakt 2 : The New World (80$), Synths of the 70s (50$), The Wizard II (100$) and Electrified! - Kontakt (1,5 Gb, 130$). Audio demos are available.
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03-17-08 / 11:41 PM : Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer (cjed)
Futuremusic provides an old ad of Linn Electronics LM-1 Drum Computer (80-83), that was priced 5000$ at that time. We can watch a video at youtube, and read an article at keyboardmag.com, where we learn that its sampled sounds weren't filtered (as it is used, at a half the sampling frequency, that is the upper cut frequency stated by Nyquist, because beyond that limit the frequencies are distorded).
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03-15-08 / 12:25 AM : Yamaha NX-A01 Cubic Stereo Speaker (cjed)
Yamaha presented cube type mini speaker (9cm side) with original design, the NX-A01. Each cube delivers stereo sound through two speakers (one on two opposite sides). It uses the SR-Bass (Swing Radiator Bass) system to reinforce bass. The power is 2*4W (at 8 ohms), and the frequency response 90hz to 20khz (so limited in bass frequencies as supposed, but fine for its size). The THD is high (10%). It is priced 99$.
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03-14-08 / 11:51 PM : Prosoniq OrangeVocoder 10 (cjed)
Prosoniq announces the 10th version of their OrangeVocoder effect plugin (one of the most famous plugins, that first shipped in 98 as a VST1 plugin). The new verison is finally available as an AudioUnit, and is universal binary. Audio examples are provided here. It is however priced 169$ (from 149$ for the previous version).
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03-13-08 / 12:53 AM : Motif Rack XS (cjed)
Yamaha presented the Motif Rack XS, that brings the same audio engine as the Motif XS (355Mb ROM, 128 notes polyphony, arpeggiator, Cubase AI 4 bundled. No sampling module), at only 1499$. We can listen to Motif XS (keyboard version) demos here.s
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03-13-08 / 12:41 AM : M-Audio ProKeys Sono 88 (cjed)
M-Audio announced the ProKeys Sono 88, a semi-weighted 88 keys master keyboard that onboards an USB audio interface (only 16 bits/44.1khz) with inputs (XLR and Jack) , as well as samples (Steinway piano, electric piano, organ, clav, strings, choir, GM bank). The polyphony is limited to 40 notes and it is priced 550$ . At that price we can better choose a graded weighted master keyboard with aftertouch, if we still own a better audio interface and samples libraries.
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03-11-08 / 11:26 PM : ImageLine Toxic Biohazard (cjed)
ImageLine presents Toxic Biohazard 4, an hybrid virtual synth (FM, subtractive) with multimode filter, effects, step sequencer. It works onIntel and G4 (Tiger and Leopard) and is priced 99$. Two audio examples are provided, and a demo can be downloaded.
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03-11-08 / 11:19 PM : VSL Special Edition PLUS boxed (cjed)
Following separate downloadable Vienna Special Edition PLUS extensions, VSL presents a boxed version including all extensions (575$ for standard, 505$ for extended, 1080 for full).
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03-10-08 / 11:19 PM : Kontakt 3.0.2 / Massive 1.1.3 (cjed)
Native Instruments announced through its forums updates to Kontakt 3 (3.0.2) and Massive (1.1.3).
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03-08-08 / 04:08 PM : VC-1 D-50 video (cjed)
The site gearwire provides a video of the VC-1 D-50 card in a V-Synth XT.
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03-08-08 / 02:54 PM : Bobby Blues : best of Roland D-50 (cjed)
The site Bobby Blues presents, through a funny approach, the D-50 synthesis, audio examples of most of the D-50 factory patchs, samples from commercial songs using D-50 (from M. Jackson, JMJ, Eric Serra - however the Digital Native Dance patch used isn't mentioned -, Michel Jonasz, etc. Here is missing the famous Zenith concert from S. Gainsbourg), and finally the list of all D-50 commercial ROM banks produced : 50 makers or artists, with a photo and the patchs list for each card, very useful !
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03-07-08 / 11:22 PM : TB-303 & TR-606 original ads (cjed)
FutureMusic came accross an old Roland ad for TB-303 and TR-606. A that time the TB-303 didn't encounter a commercial success, it was said too much synthetic sounding. Many years later it was recognized as a standard, through the first instrument emulation software, Rebirth RB-338 (in 1997) from Propellerhead (editor of Reason).
To remember, Rebirth is now free and can be downloaded at Rebirth museum (version 2.0.1 CD - MacOS9 only -, plus additional musics and mods, a free registration is required). Propellerhead also provides a Refill for Reason (97 Mb) that includes samples made from Rebirth, but not all capable sounds so and the result seems less good
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03-06-08 / 10:47 PM : Kore 4 new Sound Packs (cjed)
Native Instruments presented 4 new Kore SoundPacks : Massive Expansion vol. 1 (200 patchs for Massive, 5Mb, 59$), Best of ABSynth (200 patchs, 80 Mb, 59$), Kontakt Sax and Brass (includes all saxophones, trumpets and trombones from Kontakt 3 library, 820 Mb, 59$. However the K2 to K3 upgrade may be worth more at 149$) and Pop Drums (20 kits, 960 Mb, 79$). Audio demos are available.

The packs can be purchased online directly (download). They require a Kore hardware interface or the free Kore Player software, that can be downloaded here (works as a plugin in a host sequencer, or in standalone mode). Pop Drums can also be used with Kontakt 3.
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03-06-08 / 12:15 AM : Eastwest / Quantum Leap Piano shipping (cjed)
Eastwest / Quantum Leap Piano is now shipping, after a long wait. Il includes 263 Gb samples (35 dual-layers DVD !) : a Bechstein (73Gb), a Bosendorfer (87Gb), a Steinway (58Gb) and a Yamaha (46Gb). It is priced 445$. It requires an iLok key (for Play). Audio demos are available through the Demos tab.
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03-05-08 / 10:56 PM : Filmmusicweekly free /VSE review (cjed)
The site filmmusicweekly provides free pdf magazines (one per week !), through simple email registration (then we can download the current issue, and receive the later issues through email). In a previous edition we can read a review (page 12) of Vienna Special Edition (400$). It seems the best complement to it is Appassionata Strings, and even more considering it is now listed among VSE extensions.

It has to be mentioned however that in the SE String PLUS extension, the included Appassionata Strings samples of the Extended part (330$) only represent 1,4Gb (and even less considering that the Extended part also includes Chamber strings), whereas the original Appassionata Strings (645$ base and 1120$ Full) includes 18Gb (Full). So the String PLUS extension for VSE may not provide all articulations (and probably no 24 bits samples).
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03-04-08 / 11:24 PM : MusikMesse : march, 12-15 (cjed)
As there were finally few announcements at the Winter NAMM (except Roland GX, but they were expected from a long time), gearjunkies is waiting the MusikMesse, that starts next week (march, (12-15). They will even travel to Frankfurt.
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03-03-08 / 10:27 PM : VSL Special Edition extensions (cjed)
VSL provides extensions for Vienna Special Edition : SE Strings PLUS, SE Woodwinds PLUS, SE Brass PLUS, etc. Each is priced about 300$ in full version.
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03-03-08 / 10:21 PM : Fab Four, Gipsy and VOP review (cjed)
Audiofanzine provides a review of Fab Four, Gipsy and VOP from EastWest.
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03-02-08 / 04:07 PM : Roland Clan : patches for JV/XP and D50 (cjed)
The site Roland Clan provides user custom patches for JV/XP and D-50 (for this later, the Web downloads collection is in SQS format, it must be opened with Midi Quest. a demo is available for OSX). We can also find many patches for Fantom S/X, and notably a file named XV Collection (169ko), that provides some presets from JV, XP and XV, reprogrammed to work with Fantom S and X internal samples !
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03-02-08 / 03:59 PM : Roland SRX-06 : original SRJV patchs (cjed)
At Synthmania we can listen to patchs from Roland Roland SR-JV80-13 Vocal Collection and SR-JV80-16 Orchestral II cards. Their samples are included in the SRX-06 Complete Orchestra card, however it provides new reworked patchs. The original SRJV cards patchs are provided on a CD bundled with the SRX. Finally some SRJV patchs seem useful and are not found on the SRX patchs list, so it can be a good idea to check them.
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03-01-08 / 11:02 PM : Roland SR-JV80-04 Vintage Synth : a classic (cjed)
At synthmania site, that provides many orignal audio examples from many instruments and expansion cards, we can listen to hundreds of great demos of best patchs of the famous Roland SR-JV80-04 Vintage Synth card.
Among these we find Random Pad, and other unique sounds (not present in later JV and XV).
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