I’ve been waiting to do this review for a while to give Arturia ample time to get this program on the road. There are several bugs in the system that can be a bit tricky to work with.

I’ve owned Analog Factory for a while now so when Analog Laboratory came out, I had high hopes. I’m using this program as a virtual instrument in Pro Tools 9 so this review mainly focuses on it as a plug-in and not the stand-alone version BUT from what I’ve used on the stand alone version, it is extremely stable with the exception of the noise in the preset changing which I will address later in the review.

This program is $249.00, which you would think for that price you would be getting a better quality, stable virtual instrument; but alas as a plug-in, it performs sub-par at times. Changing presets is like playing Russian Roulette with your ears because you never know what horrible pops, clicks, or just god-awful noises you will get at preset changes. I pray you’re not using headphones unless you like that ringing sound that soon follows high SPL blunt force trauma.

And that’s really a shame because the presets are quite remarkable. You can find almost any preset for ANY style of music. They fit perfectly in the mix with very very little to no external processing. They’ve somehow found a way to perfectly emulate the classic analog synths and to add to the vintage feel while still masterfully integrating into modern day applications. The only issue is that the behavior of the vintage synths have found their way into the plug-in by constantly crashing, but with a new program, this is to be expected. I just wish the crashes didn’t completely kill my entire Pro Tools session.

The graphical part of the interface is very sleek looking, a very good match to its hardware counterpart. One of my favorite things about the interface is they have the presets categorized by type but the icing on the cake is that they even go as far to describe the feel of the presets by category. That makes life a great deal easier to find the right sound to find that one preset to fit the type of song you’re playing. I use this feature constantly. The performance presets with sequenced patterns have an issue however. The latest update has quasi-fixed most of the rhythmic patches but they’re still really glitchy. For example, say your Pro Tools session is set at 80 bpm and have the LFO Sync checked, most of the presets will match the rhythm but they won’t really sound like the original. Plus when you try to manually change the rhythm to match the tempo, nothing happens. So you basically have to build a song around the tempo they have set or the preset changes so drastically, it doesn’t sound like the original. For instance, the rhythm will cut as much as half on the pattern when you simply match the LFO sync even if the rhythm is a few BPM off. Also, as far as I’ve seen from messing with it and running through the preferences, there’s no way to alter the step sequences. The controls on the front end control parameters to a certain extent but I would like to see a more in depth preset editor to shape the sound and not just the filters, delay, sustain, etc…

The great parts of this soft-synth really add to the sting of having to deal with the headache of trying to use it without it obliterating your Pro Tools session. Also, if you do need help with the program, it might take some time for some issues but they do try to do everything to help with issues. I’ve just about become personal friends with ole Antoine at Arturia. Well the first part was due to the fact that I was too cheap and lazy to get a Steinberg key to store my authorizations with Analog Factory… That brings me to another point… make sure and buy a Steinberg key if you need to use it on multiple computers. The authorizing is very simple but if a hardware changes in your computer, you will have to request a new code.

Now would I recommend Analog Laboratory? … Hmm well its worth every penny when it works, but having such a great program at your fingertips and it not working almost makes it worse than not knowing about it at all sometimes. The standalone part of the software seem extremely stable when in the time I’ve used it with a USB Controller, but it really doesn’t seem to play nice with my DAW. Hopefully in the future, we can get a version that plays nice. As of now, they’ve released version 1.2.

In summary, this program is glitchy, annoying, and makes me cry at times but I can’t stop using it. This is my “Go To” synth for every session. The presets are that good but don’t just take my word for it, click HERE to get a 15 day trial.

Recording foley sounds is getting more and more popular. I’ve never really got into that area of recording because, well… I hear enough of the things around me and want to create something new… unless you count recording your friend’s farts is considered foley sounds. Oh you do? Well then I just found the perfect mike for the situation. Speaking of the situation, watch THIS douche try to be funny.

Audio-Technica is now shipping its AT2022 X/Y Stereo Condenser Microphone.
A dual-element condenser microphone designed for stereo recording, the AT2022
features two unidirectional condenser capsules in an X/Y configuration pivot
to allow for 90-degree (narrow) or 120-degree (wide) stereo operation for
extremely versatile pickup. The capsules also fold flat for storage and
transportation. It is designed for general stereo recording, as well as field
sound capture.

The AT2022 includes a 1.6′ (0.5 m) cable terminating in a 3-pin XLRF-type and a 1/8″
(3.5 mm) connector. The output of the microphone is a 3-pin XLRM-type connector. The
microphone requires a 1.5V AA battery for operation.

A switch permits choice of flat response or low-frequency roll-off (via integral 80
Hz high-pass filter) to help control undesired ambient noise. The microphone is
enclosed in a rugged housing. The included AT8405a stand clamp permits mounting on
any microphone stand with 5/8″-27 threads. A fuzzy windscreen, battery and soft
protective pouch are also included.

The Audio Technica AT2022 is available for $439.00

For more info, click HERE

I didn’t have a proper pic for FXPansion because their press releases don’t have any so I’ve inserted this clever gif. Anyways… Look at what FXPansion has released!!

FXpansion is proud to present Himalaya: Modernity, a DCAM: Synth Squad preset pack created by acclaimed sound designer Electric Himalaya. Modernity is the modern dance-oriented counterpart to Antiquity, Himalaya’s comprehensive set of vintage analogue-style presets.

Modernity Highlights:

280 stunning electronic/dance sounds for DCAM: Synth Squad Fusor
Searing basses, leads and special FX
Churning, modulated dubstep basses
Expressive polysynth patches and pads
Diverse arps, textures, plucks, chords & stabs.

Also we have this as well!

FXpansion is proud to present JM Essentials Vol.1, a BFD Groove Pack produced by vastly experienced composer Jacques Mathias. JM Essentials Vol.1 contains varied, expressive patterns that cover genres such as rock, hard rock, alt-rock, heavy metal, trash metal and pop-punk. Authentic and very musical, the Grooves are bursting with the human feel of a real drummer.

Highlights:

50 Groove and Fill variations in each palette
Over 1300 patterns in total
Stunningly realistic rock, metal and pop-punk Grooves
Palettes supplied in BFD2 and BFD Eco versions

Himalaya: Modernity is GBP £25.00, Euro €29.00, USD $39.00 and is available now from the FXpansion Webshop
For more information, full preset listing & audio examples, please visit the Himalaya: Modernity pages at our web site.

JM Essentials Vol.1 is GBP £25.00, Euro €29.00, USD $39.00 and is available now from the FXpansion Webshop

For more info, click HERE

Pro Tools 9 is a remarkable leap in Avid’s flagship DAW, but with the new advances come a little confusion and frustration, but FEAR NOT. My hardship is your gain. Is your 002, 003, or Mbox getting the awful error: “Pro Tools could not initialize the current playback device?” Its really annoying and it appears you are completely powerless because you can’t select any options to change anything so you’re stuck right??!!

Not necessarily.

What’s going on is your Pro Tools instance playback device isn’t matching the device settings stored. So how do you fix it?

Very simple. All you have to do is follow these instructions

1. Launch Pro Tools 9

2. When the splash screen appears on the screen, hold down the “n” key on your keyboard, which will eventually open the Playback Engine dialog for Pro Tools.

3. At the top of this window, you will see the ‘Current Engine’ drop-down menu.

4. Choose a different Engine (such as Pro Tools Aggregate I/O)

5. Click OK.

This should allow Pro Tools to launch.

Mac OS X Only

If the solution above fails, you can try deleting the “com.apple.audio.AggregateDevices.plist” preference on Mac OS X. You can find this preference file in the following location:

* Macintosh HD > Library > Preferences

 

If any of these don’t help your problem, you might want to try reinstalling or if you haven’t yet, installing the drivers.

You can find all the drivers HERE

Hope this helps

I have a friend named Mike who once claimed he could get better gas mileage by peeing in the gas tank. I don’t know how many times we’ve had to pull his car home and drain the gas tank, but he would still try it. I’m just glad it was pee and not something else. Well I’m almost completely positive this “Mike” gives Mikes a better rep. It appears to be an actual condenser mic for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Mac. Looks like IK Multimedia needs to make one of these as well.

Mike by Apogee is the most compact studio quality USB microphone available for iPad, iPhone and Mac. About the size of an iPhone, Mike makes it easy to capture your best take with incredible quality, anywhere your music takes you. Record any sound you can imagine, from vocals to vibraphones, acoustic to lap steel guitars, pianos to percussion and everything in between, and build a track right on your iPad with GarageBand. Mike is also the perfect companion to JAM, Apogee’s studio quality guitar input. Never before has the personal studio been so portable or so powerful. Join the recording revolution with Mike, JAM and GarageBand on iPad.

• PureDIGITAL technology delivers pristine sound quality
• Designed to record vocals and acoustic musical instruments
• Great for voice overs, interviews and podcast recordings
• No configuration, just plug in and record
• Easily adjust input levels without accessing software
• Multicolor LED for status indication and input level monitoring
• Made for GarageBand on iPad and Mac
• Includes desktop stand and mic clip
• Size: 4.5″ tall

So far no release date or price but keep looking HERE for info.

First Melodyne gives away a lot of copies of their innovative pitch correction software. Now they’re allowing you to run the software for 30 days with no limitations. They’re also offering training for it as well so now, even the most tone deaf of people can sound like your favorite character on Glee, (GAG.)

Celemony is making entry into the world of Melodyne simpler than ever before: you
can try out the current version of Melodyne editor now for 30 days without any
limitations on its use. Furthermore, a multi-language “First Steps” video tutorial
including a demo arrangement is provided to guide users swiftly to their first
taste of Melodyne success.

The trial version of Melodyne editor allows you to try out all the functions in a
relaxed manner without the exasperating limitations typical of demo versions. For 30
days, you can use the trial version of Melodyne editor in exactly the same way as
the full one: either as a stand-alone application or as a plug-in in the DAW of your
choice, using your own material in an authentic practical context. You can save
projects, open them again, and even exchange them with other Melodyne users.

To register and use the program, all you need is Internet access. Later, you can
purchase the full version from within the trial one, with no further download or
fresh installation being necessary.

Like the full version, the trial version comes with a “First Steps” tutorial that
offers a swift and easy way of getting to know and experiencing your first taste of
success with Melodyne. The tutorial consists of a film about ten minutes long
introducing all the most important functions of Melodyne, from note detection to
navigation and the editing of notes, drawing examples to demonstrate their use from
the supplied audio material. With this material and the ready-prepared arrangements
for Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Live and Studio One, users can try out the various
procedures themselves, getting to know and learning to master Melodyne effortlessly
along the way.

You will find the trial version of Melodyne editor in the Download section of the
web site, www.celemony.com, or directly HERE

If you’re looking at this from one of my sexy Craigslist posts from stuff I’m selling, thanks for the traffic… and the crabs. And you probably thought this was spam but its something even worse… INFORMATION… and apparently Fred Durst look is making a comeback with iPhone owners who like to record painful bowel movements like the guy in this lovely 90′ish stock photo. Wonder how that guy sleeps at night… Odds are he scream / cries “More Than Words” by extreme every night before bed. Either way IK Multimedia has released the VocaLive for iThingies. This is a similar product to the iRig, which allows you to plug a guitar into your “Steve Jobs’ money box.” You can even use pitch correction on this and become the scurge of the earth and MAKE A CAREER OUT IT. Yes, each of those words is a different link.

IK Multimedia is proud to announce that VocaLive™, the first professional performing and recording vocal processor app for the iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad®, is now available for download from the iTunes App Store.

VocaLive provides vocalists with a suite of 12 real-time professional vocal effects along with a capable recorder for studio quality sound in a portable package. When used with the newly announced iRig Mic, VocaLive gives singers an easy-to-use but extremely powerful music creation tool that provides professional results previously achievable only with expensive hardware or complex computer software.

VocaLive includes 5 Vocal Effects – Pitch Fix (for tuning correction or stylized quantization FX), Choir (a 3-part harmonizer), Morph (an X-Y pitch and formant shifter that changes the tonal quality of the voice from subtle deepening to radical gender bending), De-Esser and Double (Double effect gets unlocked by registering) – along with 7 Studio Effects – Reverb, Delay, Parametric EQ, Compressor, Chorus, Phazer and Envelope Filter – that together create the perfect vocal processing solution. The effects can be combined into a chain of three processors and saved as presets. A collection of dozens of Presets is also included to get you up and running immediately.

VocaLive gives you the ability to record vocals or other instruments (single or multi-track) with effects, sing along with your favorite songs from your iTunes library (with a Voice Cancel feature for practicing over songs with existing vocals) and warm up your voice with the included Vocal Tools. VocaLive is an incredible professional vocal effects workstation that you can take with you anywhere.

For the best quality, use VocaLive on stage or in the studio with IK’s new iRig Mic. You can also have fun with it or record quick ideas using the built-in iPhone mic, or you can use VocaLive with earbuds that have a built-in mic.

With its 12 professional effects, Recorder and Vocal Tools, VocaLive is the most powerful vocal processing tool available on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad!

VocaLive features:
• Real-time vocal processor + recording app
• 3-processor vocal effects chain
• 12 professional studio quality vocal effects
• Single track Recorder expandable to a full 4-track studio available for in-app purchase
• Import and play songs from your iPod library or computer for use as backing tracks
• Voice Cancel feature lets you create sing-along backing tracks by removing the vocal track from existing recordings
• 50 Presets included with 4 Favorites for fast recall
• Includes metronome and vocal warm-up tools
• Low-latency for real-time vocal processing
• FREE version also available

VocaLive is now available from the iTunes App Store at 19.99 / €15.99.

A Free, expandable version is also available that allows the user to purchase the individual effects a-la-carte inside the app. Vocal Effects cost $4.99 / €3.99 each, and Studio Effects cost $2.99 / €2.39 each. The 4-Track Recorder for both the Free and Full versions costs $4.99 / €3.99

For more info, Click HERE

Ask Video has some great tutorials but I’m not much on owning physical DVDs because its just more space taken up in my carry-all, ITS NOT A MAN PURSE!!! Now ask has decided that you can now download the videos directly from their site thus leaving extra space in your purs…. NOW YOU HAVE ME CALLING IT THAT.

ASK Video Interactive Media, a leading creator of software tutorials on DVD, is now offering their entire catalog of music software tutorial videos as digital downloads in addition to the original DVD format. Downloads are available direct or your favorite online retailer.

The move to download has been made possible by AVP, or Ask Video Player. AVP is built upon the company’s popular instruction delivery system and takes advantage of the latest technologies to give the user the best video experience possible. AVP has both product authorization and built-in online product registration to ensure ease of use and provide a secure method of distributing videos instantly to customers.

This new distribution method gives both customers and online retailers an advantage. Retailers no longer have to ship and stock physical product, while having the entire ASK Video catalog available for sale. This also means that customers can instantly purchase and begin using any title as well. They simply download and install the AVP and authorize the ASK Video title with the purchased serial number.

 

For more information, click HERE

Its Fat Tuesday and I’m dangerously close to the epicenter of this brazen, unholy day. Excuse me for one second *Lifts up shirt and gets pelted with beads. WHOOOOOOO….

Ok… where was I? Funny that the act of lifting your shirt and exposing your breasts (male or female) you get a plastic necklace… I digress. Want a cost effective stereo compressor that adds a musical tonal flavor to your mix? Aren’t we all? Well Overstayer Recording’s got a new one.

The Overstayer Stereo VCA compressor is meant for creative use on the ‘way in’ while tracking, and on the ‘way out’ while mixing, and anywhere in between. It has wide ranging timing controls, as well as blend and high and low frequency shelf eq boost controls, all continuously variable for quick and fluid shaping of dynamics and tone. The behavior of the compression is shapeable from gentle mix bus compression to aggressive pumping and extreme ambient and transient effects.

Introductory Price $799.00 + $30 Shipping and Handling (US, Canada, Australia)
For more info, Click HERE.

We all know that if an Apple iPad were a female, I would probably attempt to convince it to marry me just so I could be in good with ol Steve Jobs and we would sit around a grow mustaches together and do stunts. Alas the iPad is not human and cannot be considered a life mate (plus people would look at me funny making out with it in the park) BUT the good folks at Apple have released a new iPad 2 and with that comes the release of Garageband for iPad.

This one looks alot like the OS X version but of course with a touch screen interface instead. You can choose to use a multitude of virtual instruments, loops, and other devices built in or you can track externally using the headphone port and / or devices such as the iRig or an ISP Breakout box for those bigger cabled instruments.

The instruments have pressure sensitive capabilities, allowing your piano to work as a real one would with different dynamics according to how much pressure you apply to each key. Also, you can palm mute the virtual guitar as well. Not too shabby. Still you might want to take lessons on how to do this from THESE GUYS.

Garage Band iPad will be available March 11th for 5$.