Thursday, September 25, 2003
M-Audio will support AMD 64 bit processor...
M-Audio is joining the 64 bit band wagon, announcing that all of their PCI cards will support AMD's new 64 bit processor. According to M-Audio, they are using PCI 2.2 to support any PCIX based system, offering both 32 bit and 64 bit support.
With Microsoft releasing the beta of their 64 bit version of Windows, it looks like 64 bit processing might be here sooner than we think!
Posted at 2:14 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Saturday, September 20, 2003
Using Soft Synths with Sibelius, Finale and others...
Midi Yoke is a free download for those midi software synth users who feel comfortable with midi routing. Midi Yoke is a virtual MIDI patch cable - it is used to connect the output of any MIDI application to any other program's inputs. The midi data stream is passed directly from output to input. This is a great way to access non-compatible soft synths, samplers, or even VST instruments that require a different host program! For example, you could use a soft synth such as "The Grand" with Sibelius! Load "The Grand" into a VST host program, such as Cubase, and then link the output of Sibelius to the input in Cubase using MIDI Yoke.
- Dave
Posted at 12:45 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Is your garage door opener protected by copyright?
A sure sign that the American DMCA needs to be overhauled - a company that makes garage door openers is suing a company that markets a universal replacement remote controls, claiming that their remote control is protected by copyright law.
What's next? Your universal remote control for your TV? Already Lexmark is suing companies that create third party printer cartridges for their printers. (Lexmark's business model is built on giving their printers away for free and charging big bucks on the supplies - obviously they are upset someone is selling cheaper replacements.)
As musicians, we recognize the need for copyright laws to ensure that we get credit for music that we write or record. Do we really need to copyright inkjet printers and garage door openers?
Maybe I'm an ego-centric musician, but should copyright laws exist to protect art?
Fortunately, for those of us north of the border, Canada has not yet adopted a DMCA style act. (Instead, we get punished with a tax on blank media - more on that one later!)
- Kelly
Posted at 3:50 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Monday, September 15, 2003
Improve your sound...
Dave just added an article on "Improving Your Computer's Sound".
He explains the difference between audio and MIDI, and offers some suggestions on getting better sound from your computer.
- Kelly
Posted at 3:28 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Software Sampling...
Still not convinced that you'll never get realistic playback from MIDI? Check out the new MP3 demos from SampleTank 2. With their new "Stretch" technology, it is amazing what they've managed to pull off! Listen to it yourself and tell me if you aren't impressed!
- Kelly.
Posted at 6:35 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Live 3...
Adding to the string of new software coming out this fall, Ableton has released Live 3 to public beta. They expect to ship the new version in October, and they are offering a free upgrade to anyone who purchases it after August 1st.
Among the new features will be the ability to draw changes in volume, pitch, pan, effects controls directly into the waveform - an innovative way to work with your loops. According to Abelton, this will allow the user to create infinite variations from just one sample in real-time - but more importantly (at least in my opinion) it will offer the ability to add dynamics and expression to static loops. Although I've heard some great tracks made by artists using Live, one of the biggest complaints about loop based music is it's lack of expression - maybe Live 3 will help correct that!
- Kelly
Posted at 10:50 AM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Monday, September 08, 2003
Fighting credit card fraud...
We recently went through a lot of work getting set up for "Buyer Authentication" from Visa and MasterCard. Also known as Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode, you can get all of the details in our FAQ. Briefly, it is a system designed by Visa and MasterCard to ensure that you, and only you can use your credit card on-line by entering a password that gets verified directly with your bank - the merchant can never view or have access to your password.
We are currently testing the system with large orders, along with any orders our sophisticated fraud system flags. In the past we didn't allow payment by credit card for laptops and our Music XPC system, because of the risk of fraud. Now that we have Buyer Authentication set up, we are now accepting on-line credit card payments for these items.
Frankly, I think that this should have been addressed years ago. Up until now, credit card companies have done very little to fight fraud. Although they like to complain, it is usually the merchant who gets stuck with the bill when there is credit card fraud. It is nice to see them finally come up with a solution that works. Amex had a great idea with their smart cards and card readers, but who really wants the hassle of setting up a card reader on your computer just for on-line shopping? A simple password, just like using your PIN at the bank machine - why did it take this long to come up with that idea?!?!
- Kelly
Posted at 12:13 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Thursday, September 04, 2003
Version Aversion...
Steinberg finally released the details of Cubase SX 2.0. Our sources tell us that we it should arrive in North America by the end of September, if not before.
The freeze feature will be great, and there are some other nice changes, but I have a hard time getting really excited about it. Perhaps the new VST audio engine is one of those things that needs to be heard - all we have to go on right now is a press release!
You can expect to see Sonar 3 and Sibelius 3 announced within the next few weeks as well. We hear that Sibelius 3 will try to get ahead of Finale by offering a lot of similar features along with some new tricks as well. (Rumor has it that they worked with Native Instruments to build a soft synth right into the program - should be interesting!
Speaking of new versions, SampleTank 2 should start shipping soon, and the venerable Band in a Box will be due for it's annual update later this fall. Not sure if I'm ready for Band in a Box the 13th! A bit scary.
- Kelly
Posted at 7:21 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Wavelab 4.01
Wow! Steinberg has made one of my favourite programs even better. For those of you who have not had a chance to try out WaveLab, it is a phenomenal program for audio mastering and editing. I use WaveLab to add the final touches to all of my projects, as well as for live recording situations. I use a laptop, portable USB sound card, and two microphones for recording acoustic ensembles.
WaveLab gives me the input meters I need to get a balanced recording. The tools included
make audio production a pleasure. I should also mention that WaveLab is used in many professional situations including extensive use in radio.
For those of you already using the program, Steinberg has released a free update to WaveLab 4.01
Here is a list of the new features included with the update:
- WaveLab now provides scripting support for audio file processing, file format conversion, batch processing, playback and recording. Scripting allows remote control of these WaveLab functions, automating repetitive tasks and optimizing workflow.
- AES 31 support: import and export, including interpretation of Nuendo markers as WaveLab specific CD track markers
- Audio Error Detection and Correction framework (very cool!)
- New file formats: MPEG Layer 2, Windows Media 9, Ogg Vorbis, ADPCM, ASCII
- Extended file format support: all file formats available for all tasks including recording, CD grabbing, rendering etc.
- Enhanced CD grabbing: CD text, exact extraction, CD image comparison tool
- Support for ShuttlePro hardware controller
Download the update today!
- Dave
Posted at 10:38 PM by Kelly's Music :: Archived :: TrackBack (0) ::