Author: Christopher Laird Simmons

PSP Audioware re-releases freeware plug-in PSP PianoVerb, now compatible with 64-bit OS

Christopher Laird Simmons

WARSAW, Poland /MuseWire/ — PSP Audioware has announced the re-release of its classic freeware plug-in PSP PianoVerb. Now it is compatible with newest systems including OSX. The “new” PSP PianoVerb version 1.7 is still a freeware plug-in but requires authorization. PSP PianoVerb reproduces special kind of reverberation originally provided by piano strings. It generates reverberation […]

Native Instruments Introduces ABBEY ROAD MODERN DRUMS

Christopher Laird Simmons

Berlin /MuseWire/ Native Instruments today introduced ABBEY ROAD MODERN DRUMS, a new instrument developed together with the iconic British recording studios. Providing two high-end drum kits for use in the free KONTAKT PLAYER and the KONTAKT 4 sampler, ABBEY ROAD MODERN DRUMS gives musicians and producers access to expertly engineered drum sounds for contemporary music […]

Music Computing starts ODM services – offers up DrumMC, world’s first PC-based electronic drum trigger brain for grabs

Christopher Laird Simmons

AUSTIN, Texas /MuseWire/ — Music Computing, Inc. today announced it will now offer ODM (product development) services to assist companies in producing computer-enhanced solutions for today’s creative professionals. With decades of combined experience, the design team’s mission is to work with traditional music instrument companies to transform their products into modern-age solutions, which provides more […]

Blue Microphones Announces Second Generation Mikey Portable Recorder for iPod

Christopher Laird Simmons

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. /MuseWire/ — Blue Microphones (www.bluemic.com), a leading innovator in microphone technology and design, announces the second generation Mikey, portable recorder for iPod and iPod touch. Building upon the award-winning audio technology developed for the original Mikey, the second generation portable mic is designed for iPod and iPod touch, featuring improved circuitry for […]

Musicrow updates Golden Ensembles pack for Reaktor to v2.35 and introduces the DigiFreak

Christopher Laird Simmons

Israel (MuseWire) – Musicrow updates golden Ensembles to v2.35. All the ensembles are now fully compatible with Reaktor 5.5. The new update for Golden Ensembles also includes a new reaktor ensemble: DigiFreak. DigiFreak is a unique synthesizer that takes the Lo-Fi sound to new extremes! This powerful synthesizer combines digital wave-shaping, special sound degradation processes, […]

Korg Updates Legacy Collection Virtual Instruments, Breaks up Bundles

Christopher Laird Simmons

(MuseWire) – Korg announced this week that, as of November 17th 2010, the components of all KORG Legacy Collection series will now be offered for sale as individual virtual instruments including: “MS-20”, “Polysix”, “Mono/Poly”, “M1”, “WAVESTATION”, “MDE-X.” Also available is the new “KORG Legacy Collection – Special Bundle”, which is the complete bundle of all […]

Minnesota State University, Mankato Announces New Online Music Industry Undergraduate Certificate Program

Christopher Laird Simmons

Mankato, Minn. (MuseWire) – As the business of music continues to move online, MNSU is taking a leadership role in educating the next generation of music industry professionals. This program is designed to provide a real world education to students who want to position themselves for leadership roles in the global entertainment landscape. Many students […]

Music Computing Ships First Sample Library and Updates TriggerGRID Sample Player to 64-bits

Christopher Laird Simmons

AUSTIN, Texas (MuseWire) – Music Computing ships MC-Pad(TM), a sample library consisting of over 1100 high quality drum sounds including: Kicks, Snares, Toms, Hi Hits, Percussion, EFX, TR808, and Tones. Designed to work with Music Computing’s TriggerGRID(TM) sample player, which is now a fully 64-bit VSTi, users have even more choices to create with than […]

Music Computing Inc. announces StudioBLADE and iKeyDOCK Music Workstation Keyboards now shipping

Christopher Laird Simmons

AUSTIN, Texas (MuseWire) – Music Computing, Inc. today announced their brand new line of keyboard workstations for both gigging musicians and any size recording studio, are now shipping. The StudioBLADE(TM) and iKeyDOCK(TM) are complete, portable production stations, which either include a built-in Windows 7 64-bit PC with touch-screen and DAW software and virtual software instruments, […]

Songdrops Music is Offering All Teachers Free Downloads of all 3 CDs of Bryant Oden Children’s Songs

Christopher Laird Simmons

DENVER, Colo. (MuseWire) – Songdrops Music has announced it will be offering all teachers free downloads of all three Bryant Oden CDs, from November 15th through December 1st 2010, through http://Songdrops.com . If you haven’t yet heard a Bryant Oden children’s song, there’s a fair chance you will soon. His viral hit “The Duck Song” […]

Haken Audio Announces Continuum Fingerboard Firmware Version 4.10

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: Haken Audio has announced a new update to the unique MIDI controller and virtual instrument developed by Lippold Haken. The new v 4.10 firmware adds new features, including a new internal sound model, “Mouth String” (for the models with the built-in sound feature).

Native Instruments Introduces THE MOUTH by Tim Exile

Christopher Laird Simmons

BERLIN (MuseWire) – Native Instruments today introduced THE MOUTH, a unique performance instrument and sound processor designed by electronic artist and musical innovator Tim Exile. Based on powerful REAKTOR technology, THE MOUTH generates intriguing melodies and harmonies from any audio signal on the fly, easily turning vocals, drum loops and other sources into rich electronic […]

Music Computing Inc. Launches Referral Associate Affiliate Program

Christopher Laird Simmons

AUSTIN, Texas (MuseWire) – Music Computing Inc. announced this week a new affiliate program that invites music industry pros, VARs, installers, and other M.I. folks to become an authorized sales rep for the company. As a “referral associate” the company will pay a commission on sales which are generated by the rep. There is a […]

Cakewalk reveals Sonar X1

Christopher Laird Simmons

(MuseWire) – Cakewalk announced today the impending release in December of the latest version of Sonar, now called Sonar X1. At first glance many multi-platform DAW users will notice striking workflow similarities to Apple Logic Pro, and frankly this is a good thing. Also notable is the new “realistic” pricing with X1 Producer SRP of […]

AmpliTube 2 for iPhone announced by IK Multimedia

Christopher Laird Simmons

Italy (MuseWire) – IK Multimedia this past week announced that AmpliTube 2 for iPhone is now available on iTunes app store! This is a major update to the leading guitar amp and fx system for iPhone and it is one of the most powerful music creation apps available. When combined with the iRig interface adapter, […]

Toontrack announces Metalheads EZX

Christopher Laird Simmons

Sweden (MuseWire) – Toontrack announced today their latest EZX expansion for their drum systems: Metalheads. The promo text goes like this: One world-renowned drummer, Tomas Haake, member of the extreme metal band Meshuggah. One in demand producer, Daniel Bergstrand, whose mixing and producing credits include the likes of In Flames, Strapping Young Lad, Soilwork and […]

VirSyn updates iVoxel to v1.3 – Akai SynthStation25 compatible

Christopher Laird Simmons

Pfinztal, Germany (MuseWire) – VirSyn announced today that iVoxel 1.3 is available now. iVoxel is not only an amazingly sounding vocoder for iPhone/iPod and iPad – the unique concept of iVoxel turns this vocoder into a singing machine going far beyond the capabilities of traditional and software vocoders on any platform. iVoxel lets you: Speak […]

Native Instruments Introduces GEORGE DUKE SOUL TREASURES

Christopher Laird Simmons

Berlin, Germany (MuseWire –­ Native Instruments today introduced GEORGE DUKE SOUL TREASURES, a new software instrument that makes the charismatic keyboard work of soul legend George Duke available for any music production. Based on advanced KONTAKT sampling technology, the instrument provides over 500 exclusive licks that can be easily tweaked and re-arranged to suit any […]

Music Computing Inc. announces MotionCOMMAND line of music-centric multi-touchscreen panels for music creation, performance and production

Christopher Laird Simmons

AUSTIN, Texas (MuseWire) – They’re all the rage. They’re used by musicians, newscasters, business professionals, home theatre lovers and more. They’re large format multi-touchscreen controllers and they’re everywhere! And, Music Computing(TM) is the first company to deliver this revolutionary technology for amazingly low prices. “While we’re rolling out several new products, these touchscreen products are […]

New iPad app bundles four of the most popular Kyma controllers into one wireless multi-touch package

Christopher Laird Simmons

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (MuseWire) – Symbolic Sound’s new ‘Kyma Control’ app for the iPad gives sound designers, musicians, and researchers a new wireless multi-touch controller for the Kyma/Paca(rana) sound design workstation. ‘Kyma Control’ bundles four of the most popular Kyma controller-types into one, wireless multi-touch package that includes: * An auto-mapped, labelled, bi-directional controller/display that mirrors […]

A Product is Born: Music Computing rolls out its first line of computer music instruments

Christopher Laird Simmons

MuseWire COLUMN: Yesterday, a new Austin, Texas, start-up opened its virtual and physical doors with a new line of music instruments, Intel-based PCs, and accessories for both Mac and Windows-based notebooks. Music Computing, Inc., headed by former Open Labs guru, Victor Wong, and a bunch of his fellow mad-men, debuted over a creaky, static and […]

Capo Released for iPhone and iPod touch by SuperMegaUltraGroovy

Christopher Laird Simmons

WATERLOO, Ontario (MuseWire) – SuperMegaUltraGroovy has released Capo for the iPhone and iPod touch, available now in the iTunes App Store. Capo allows musicians to choose music from their iTunes library and helps them learn how to play it by ear. “This release was long overdue,” says Chris Liscio, the company’s founder. “If I could […]

Arturia Origin Keyboard Now Shipping

Christopher Laird Simmons

Grenoble, FRANCE (MuseWire) – ARTURIA is happy and proud to announce that Origin Keyboard is now shipping. The Origin project started in 2004 and was aimed at creating a new kind of synthesizer. Ambitious from a features stand-point, innovative in design and sounding like no other digital synthesizer on the market- the Origin concept was […]

Audinate announces European operation, Audinate Limited, based in the UK

Christopher Laird Simmons

Sydney, Australia (MuseWire) – Audinate announced today that it has formed a European operation, Audinate Limited, based in the UK. A significant portion of Audinate’s OEM partners and customers are based in Europe and this expansion reflects the widespread industry adoption of Audinate’s Dante™ media networking technology. As a result of this new expansion, Audinate […]

New A&R Dbase in Pocket Form: ‘DemoGod’ App for iOS announced by Sample Magic

Christopher Laird Simmons

Brighton, U.K. (MuseWire) – Sample Magic today announced the release of the DemoGod iPhone/iPad App, putting the world’s largest collection of dance music A&R contacts at your fingertips to make demo submissions a breeze. DemoGod is a brand new iPhone App that contains over 700 labels with active A&R interests, including the biggest labels in […]

IK Multimedia offer SampleTank FREE – a 500MB Virtual Sample Instrument for Mac and Windows

Christopher Laird Simmons

(MuseWire) – IK Multimedia this week announced a new “free” edition of their venerable SampleTank virtual instrument, appropriately called “SampleTank FREE.” With a 500MB sample library on tap, this free instrument rivals many classic ROMpler keyboards of the past for its base sound set, and is an ideal addition to anyone using min-keyboards, portable keyboards, […]

TC Electronic Updates PowerCore 4.0 Software for Mac, including 64-bit Software

Christopher Laird Simmons

ONTARIO, Canada (MuseWire) – TC Electronic is proud to announce that PowerCore 4.0 software for Mac is now ready for download. At the same time this marks the final release of the Vintage Guitar Bundle that is now available for both Mac and PC. The Mac version supports OSX 10.5 (Leopard) running in 32-bit on […]

Moog SlimPhatty Desktop/Rack Mount Analog Synth Coming for the Holidays

Christopher Laird Simmons

(MuseWire) – As if the announcement about the Moog Voyager XL and a new iPhone audio app weren’t enough, music dealers have started putting Moog’s latest creation into their sell systems, even though it’s not officially yet on Moog Music’s own website. The new Moog SlimPhatty is basically a keyboardless version of the Moog Little […]

Moog Announces Filtatron App for iOS Devices

Christopher Laird Simmons

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (MuseWire) – Moog Music this week announced Filtatron, a real-time audio effects engine and powerful studio tool coming soon for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The heart of the Filtatron is a finely-modeled Moog Ladder Filter, the same filter that gives Moog instruments their warm, thick character. It musically shapes the sounds supplied […]

Apple Updates Logic Pro to 9.1.2 with Improvements for OSC, 64-bit, and Hexacore Systems

Christopher Laird Simmons

(MuseWire) – For those of us who weren’t paying attention this morning, Apple has released an update for Logic Pro, which is a minor update as noted by the dot-dot revision number of 9.1.2, versus a major update such as 9.2. So, while there aren’t really any new content pieces or plug-ins, there are some […]

TC Electronic adds new amp and cabinets to the Bass Amp 2.0 range

Christopher Laird Simmons

ONTARIO, Canada (MuseWire) – BH500 is the newest addition to TC Electronic’s Bass Amp 2.0 line up, and combined with the BC410 / BC212 / BC210 cabinet range, it stacks up to become any rig imagineable – for small bar gigs, indoor rock clubs, outdoor stadium concerts, or anything in between! The BH500 feature set […]

Audinate and Four Audio Announce Partnership for Network Based Audio

Christopher Laird Simmons

PORTLAND, Ore. (MuseWire) – Audinate and Four Audio are pleased to announce collaboration in which Audinate’s Dante(TM) networking solution will be integrated into several future Four Audio products. Four Audio has licensed Audinate’s Dante Brooklyn modules to provide a high quality, tightly synchronized TCP/IP networking solution for their HD2 loudspeaker management system. This will enable […]

Former Head of OpenLabs announces new company: Music Computing to Launch Ten New Music Products

Christopher Laird Simmons

MuseWire NEWS: — Music Computing, based in Austin, Texas, announced today it will roll-out both the new company and a new product line in a special live streaming broadcast October 20, 2010 (12:00pm CST). The virtual product tour and event will be at www.MusicComputing.com, where the company will showcase eight new hardware and two new […]

Oh Baby Baby! Musician Son and Fertility Doctor Dad Collaborate on Inspirational Song and Video for Infertility Patients

Christopher Laird Simmons

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (MuseWire) – The Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine (SIRM) announced last week the release of a new song and video inspired by and dedicated to couples dealing with infertility. The song, “I Believe,” sung by musicians Steve Carlson (co-written and produced by Darren Sher, son of SIRM Founder Geoffrey Sher, MD) and […]

DiscWatcher REVIEW: Prince of Persia – The Sands of Time

Christopher Laird Simmons

It’s always fun when all the summer movies start to hit Blu-ray, DVD, and pay-per-view earlier and earlier each year. Used to be, I would have to wait practically until Christmas to see the movies I skipped going to the big-screen theaters to see during “blockbuster” season. Last month the first crop hit the home […]

SonicProjects Announces OP-X PRO-II Virtual Oberheim OB Synth

Christopher Laird Simmons

China (MuseWire) – One of our favorite virtual analog synths for Windows has been updated to a new “enhanced” edition, according the publisher, SonicProjects. According to the company, “OP-X PRO-II is the new top flagship of the OP series and is the consequent continuation of the development of OP-X PRO, based on many collected wishes […]

iZotope Releases RX 2: Complete Audio Repair Suite

Christopher Laird Simmons

Cambridge, Mass. (MuseWire) – iZotope, Inc., a leader in audio DSP processing, has released RX 2 and RX 2 Advanced, updates to their award-winning audio repair software suites. With a range of new features and functionality, iZotope has expanded the scope of RX into any field where audio is recorded or restored by both consumers […]

Helping San Bruno Fire Victims: DJ Jimmy Stewart Jr. and Sesene Entertainment Spin for a Cause

Christopher Laird Simmons

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (MuseWire) – DJ Jimmy Stewart Jr. and Sesene Entertainment are joining forces at a free fundraising event to support the victims of the San Bruno, CA fires. The event is scheduled for September 25, 2010, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the San Bruno Recreational Center and San Bruno City Park […]

EASTWEST Announces Hollywood Strings Gold Edition

Christopher Laird Simmons

Hollywood, Calif. (MuseWire) – ­EASTWEST, one of the industry leaders in virtual software instruments, follows their critically acclaimed Hollywood Strings Diamond Edition virtual instrument with the announcement of “Hollywood Strings Gold Edition,” bringing the best professional scoring tools within the reach of any composer. Designed for film, television, and video game scoring, Hollywood Strings breaks […]

Stargazing on the iPad – a Window to Augmented Reality

Christopher Laird Simmons

I’ve been a big fan of star gazing since I was very young. Living in places like Santa Barbara in the 1960s, and the “just built” Davis, California college town circa 1970, it was an amazing sight to sit outside at night and see the world spin against the sky of light. Anybody who still […]

Toontrack announces Allen Morgan II S2.0 Producer Presets

Christopher Laird Simmons

Sweden (MuseWire) – According to Toontrack, the new set “Allen Morgan II S2PP” was produced “in conjunction with our good friend Allen Morgan, this pack of presets for Superior Drummer 2.0 picks up right where Allen´s last pack left of. Giving you yet another great set of tools to spice up you Superior Drummer 2.0 […]

The Studio Edge Tutorial DVD released by ASK Video

Christopher Laird Simmons

Ontario, Canada (MuseWire) – ASK Video Interactive Media, a leading creator of software tutorials on DVD, is now shipping The Studio Edge: Pro Audio Recording Series Tutorial on DVD, announced in July. This first installment, entitled Studio Concepts, Gear & the Physics of Sound, is designed to give home recording enthusiasts the solid grounding in […]

SADiE 6 Official Release to include iZotope Plug-ins

Christopher Laird Simmons

Cambridge, UK (MuseWire) – Prism Sound, manufacturer of the SADiE product range of high-end DAWs, is delighted to announce a major addition to its new SADiE 6 release. In a deal just announced with iZotope, all SADiE 6 systems will include an expanded audio effect feature set powered by iZotope technology. These nine VST plug-ins […]

Allen & Heath Launches iLive Module for Audinate’s Dante

Christopher Laird Simmons

PORTLAND, Ore. (MuseWire) – Allen & Heath and Audinate showed a Dante networking audio interface card for the iLive digital mixing series at PLASA 2010. The Dante audio interface card allows iLive systems to work with Audinate’s Dante audio networking solution, providing capacity for 64×64 bi-directional audio with full network redundancy. iLive MixRacks and modular […]

Novation announce new synth keyboard, the UltraNova

Christopher Laird Simmons

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (MuseWire) – As a long time Novation SuperNova II owner, I was pretty surprised to hear about Novation’s new keyboard, the “UltraNova,” which appears to be targeted to the popular small form factor of synths like the Akai Miniak, sibling Micron SE, Korg’s MicroKorg and R3, etc. What has been interesting to […]

Moog Unleashes Minimoog Voyager XL – 61 keys, ribbon cable, patch points, real analog!

Christopher Laird Simmons

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (MuseWire) – For those of us wondering when we’d see something new from Moog that wasn’t a pedal or a guitar, or yet another backlight color for the Minis (“Select” et al.), it was pretty exciting to learn this week about the first truly “big” Moog since the company relaunched under the late […]

Soundminer Licenses iZotope Sample Rate Conversion Technology

Christopher Laird Simmons

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands ­(MuseWire) – IBC 2010 –­ iZotope, an industry leading audio digital signal processing company, has licensed their acclaimed 64-bit Sample Rate Conversion Engine (SRC) to Soundminer for integration into their new HD Plus Asset Management System and is also scheduled to be added to an upcoming release of their noted V4/V4pro product. […]

TC Electronic announce LM2 – authority loudness and true-peak level meter

Christopher Laird Simmons

DENMARK (MuseWire) – IBC 2010 — New loudness meter conforms to the latest American, Japanese and European broadcast standards. Launching at IBC 2010, LM2 brings an authority meter within the reach of any production studio. TC Electronic is already at the forefront of loudness metering for the broadcast industry. For decades, TC has been responsible […]

The Pit Stop Players launch Fall-Winter 2010 Season in Central Park West

Christopher Laird Simmons

NEW YORK, N.Y. (MuseWire) – The Pit Stop Players, a thirteen-member instrumental ensemble, will play its opening concert of the season on Monday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m., at New York’s Second Presbyterian Church, 6 W. 96th St. @ Central Park West. The eclectic, genre-defying group will perform works by William Bolcom, Anthony Barrese, Dmitri […]

Renegade Media Group Announces BLAST: Modern Urban Production Tools

Christopher Laird Simmons

New York City, N.Y. (MuseWire –­ Renegade Media Group, a leading sample library company founded by producers Josh Harris and Bobbybass, announces BLAST: Modern Urban Production Tools Vol. 1 and 2, two new sample libraries chock full of kits, sounds, and loops. Bobbybass himself used sounds from this very library on the #1 billboard, 3x […]