Digital Music Reviews

Arturia has announced that Prophet V, its reproduction of the Prophet 5 and the Prophet VS hardware synths, has been updated to version 2.0. The main improvements are: Arturia's preset navigation system, called SoundMap. New Syncrosoft copy protection. MIDI RPN "pitch bend range" message is now recognized. Ability to use NRPN MIDI messages for automation. Fresh batch of presets made by a selection of top sound designers. Presets now respond to modulation wheel. Double click on joystick resets to center position. Lower CPU utilization on Mac OS X. Better Audio Unit compatibility (Digital Performer most notably). Better handling of control surfaces while changing preset. Better mouse response of Audio Unit version. Windows 7/Snow Leopard officially supported. Vista/Windows 7 compatibility no longer requires UAC deactivation. Numerous bug fixes. The upgrade is free for all registered users. MORE INFO

Antress has updated the free Modern Plugins bundle to v4.85, adding three new plug-ins: Modern Expander MK-IV, Modern Vacuumer and Modern Splitter. Modern Expander MK-IVModern Expander MK-IV: VU meter include. Threshold control (-96 dB to 0 dB). Ratio control (1:1 to 30:1). Knee control (0 to 20 dB). Range control (0 to 60 dB). Attack time control (0.1 to 3 ms). Release time control (150 to 3000 ms). Mix control (Full wet to dry). Output control (-20 to +20 dB). Modern VacuumerModern Vacuumer: Racing style Gain Reduction meter. Neon style level light. Easy/Over compression lights. Gain control (Semi-Auto, 0 to 30 dB). Threx control (Threshold, 0 to -60 dB). Atta control (Attack time, 1.2 to 12 ms). Releax control (Release time, 240 to 2400 ms). Hape control (Ratio, 3:1 to 30:1). Modern SplitterModern Splitter: Solo mode switch. Left channel solo. Right channel solo. Mid channel solo. Side channel solo. L/R Centered switch. Output level control (1% step, 0% to 200%). Changes in v4.85: M

Native Instruments has introduced Abbey Road 60s Drums, the first instrument created in its collaboration with the iconic British recording studios. Recorded using sophisticated engineering techniques and exclusive vintage gear, Abbey Road 60s Drums provides a versatile arsenal of classic drum sounds with "absolute tonal authenticity, supreme playability and immense sonic flexibility". For use in the free Kontakt Player and the Kontakt 4 sampler, it provides a unique resource for typical Sixties sound aesthetics as well as for modern pop, rock and urban music styles. Abbey Road 60s Drums Abbey Road 60s Drums Abbey Road 60s Drums Abbey Road 60s Drums Abbey Road 60s Drums features two quintessential drum kits of the Sixties era, a Gretsch and a Ludwig, which were recorded in "painstaking" detail utilizing Abbey Road's engineering expertise and arsenal of vintage equipment. Classic AKG, Neumann and STC microphones from the studios' famed microphone collection,

WaveMachine Labs has announced the pricing and release date for the next major Drumagog release, Drumagog 5. Available beginning April 7, 2010, Drumagog 5 represents more than two years of design and development. Pricing (MSRP): Drumagog Basic: $149 Drumagog Pro: $289 Drumagog Platinum: $379 Drumagog 4 Upgrade: $149 (Same tier, i.e. Pro to Pro, or Platinum to Platinum) WaveMachine Labs will also offer cross-tier upgrades for those interested in moving into the higher editions of Drumagog, like Drumagog 4 Pro to Drumagog 5 Platinum. Drumagog 5 Drumagog 5Among the most requested improvements to Drumagog is sample alignment. While Drumagog 4's auto align algorithm did a fair job, samples sometimes suffered from phase issues, especially when blended with the original track. Drumagog 5's new Auto Align 2.0 is the result of years of collaboration between WaveMachine Labs and Fraunhofer (inventors of the MP3 format). This work has resulted in a new sample alignment algorithm. Samples

Pro-Sounds has announced the release of Genusis, a new bank of 128 presets for reFX's Vanguard synthesizer. Genusis was designed by Frank Genus who, Pro-Sounds says, "plunged deep into Vanguard's virtual circuitry and pulled out some of our hardest hitting sounds to date". Genusis covers a broad range of sonic territory, from the obvious to the obscure. Users will find complex arps, esoteric pads, searing leads, otherworldly atmospheres, heavy-hitting basses, and more. Vanguard users off all stripes, from those producing Techno and D&B to those making audio for video, will find Genusis to be a valued addition to their toolbox, according to Pro-Sounds. Genusis is available now for $24.95. A free 30-preset demo bank is available. more info

Peavey has announced the next version of its ReValver amplifier modeling software, ReValver MK III.V, which debuts nine new amplifier and effects models. It will be available in Q2, 2010. MSRP TBA. ReValver MK III.VReValver MK III.V will feature the debut of the Peavey 3120, Peavey Masterpiece, Peavey Sensation, Budda SuperdriveII, and Budda Superdrive V Series amplifier models. New effects models in ReValver MK III.V are the classic Peavey VCL-2 tube compressor and the Budda Budwah expression pedal. All of the amp and effects models and deep editing popularized by ReValver MK III are also available in MK III.V. ReValver utilizes an exclusive algorithm that analyzes the interactions of the amps' components at the circuit level, based on the original schematics. By mapping these amplifier models from the component level, ReValver is able to model every nuance with amazing accuracy, allowing players to design their ultimate custom amps and speaker systems. As advanced as ReValver'

IK Multimedia has announced AmpliTube 3, a massive upgrade to the guitar and bass tone gear-modeling software, now featuring over 160 precisely modeled pieces of vintage and modern gear available in one package. AmpliTube 3 AmpliTube 3 AmpliTube 3 AmpliTube 3 AmpliTube 3 AmpliTube 3 AmpliTube 3 contains over 160 pieces of gear, more than double the amount of other packages, including models from the most sought-after vintage collections and modern-day workhorses. You'll get 51 individual stompboxes and effects, 31 amplifier, preamp & power sections, 46 speaker cabinet models, 15 high-end stage and studio mics, and 17 post-amp rack effects. Plus, with the new AmpliTube 3 open architecture, you can add more packages as you need them, like AmpliTube Fender and Ampeg SVX. More Feel - True Dynamic Response AmpliTube 3 gear models give you realistic playing feel - not just the tones - but the actual dynamic response of their hardware counterparts. Plus, with IK's proprietary VRM

Steinberg has announced the immediate availability of a fully functional trial version of its Cubase 5 Advanced Music Production System. All that's needed to use the full 30-day trial version is a USB eLicenser and a MySteinberg account at www.steinberg.net. The Cubase 5 software can be downloaded from the Steinberg website or obtained on DVD from any authorized Steinberg dealer. Users of other DAW products who do not yet own a USB eLicenser receive a full refund on the price of the USB eLicenser in the Steinberg online shop when buying the full Cubase 5 version. "The Cubase 5 Trial version is the ideal way for customers of older Cubase versions or any software that uses the USB eLicenser to try out Cubase 5 for 30 days," comments Helge Vogt, Steinberg's Product Marketing Manager for Cubase. "Importantly, this is not a functionally limited demo version but the full Cubase 5 installer with all features, sounds and instruments. We're sure that some musicians a

KarmaFX Synth Modular has been updated to v1.10. Changes: Added recording functionality to the sampler module. Added copy & paste buttons to the pattern module for easier pattern duplication. Added "New" item to input menus that adds a new default module and automatically patches it to the respective module or knob. The "New Bank" menu item has been removed from main pop-up and added to the bank selection menu instead. Re-enabled the non-resetting, analog-style envelope attack (was disabled in v1.07). An "Analog" option has been added to the ADSR envelope attack knob. This option is on by default. Added "Crossfade Sustain Loop" option to right click menu in Sampler. If sustain is enabled this will alter the sample to create a seamless sustain loop by crossfading the attack/sustain/release areas. The keyrange/velocity view in sampler has been extended to also show the ranges of any pressed keys. A sample selection region can now be resized by

Musical-instrument and sound-equipment innovator Peavey Electronics (NAMM exhibit #5740, Hall B) and software and hardware platform specialists Muse Research and Development (NAMM exhibit #6729, Hall A) have established a collaborative strategic alliance to introduce innovative new products to the global marketplace. This exclusive partnership brings together Peavey's 45 years of research, development and VST software innovations, as well as its extensive global distribution network and manufacturing capabilities, with Muse Research and Development's ground-breaking technology-based product designs. By utilizing each company's core competencies, the companies will bring to market innovative new products beginning with the new uniquely flexible MuseBox Musical Instrument and Effects Box . "We are very excited to establish this relationship with Muse Research and Development," said Hartley Peavey, founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics Corporation. "Peavey