Following 2 years of beta releases, MachineCodex Software has announced the release of AudioCodex v1.0 (previously known as MachineHead).

AudioCodex is the only player for Mac OS X that tightly integrates your media, iTunes Library, Quartz Compositions and CoreAudio Audio Units effects. AudioCodex is made for musicians, DJs, audiophiles and casual listeners alike. AudioCodex allows users to easily create loops and apply real-time Audio Units effects to tracks from iTunes and elsewhere. It is built around a unique hybrid CoreAudio/QuickTime playback engine which preferentially plays files with CoreAudio.

AudioCodex is available now for Mac OS X at a price of $29.95. Note that a free 30 day trial version is also available.

Native Instruments today announced two new members of the Guitar Rig family : Guitar Rig Session and Guitar Rig 3 XE.

Guitar Rig 3 XE :

Guitar Rig 3 XE is a new declination of the Guitar Rig software which offers a selection of five "true-to-life" tube amplifier models and 12 cabinet types, as well as 21 stomp boxes and effect units. All components can be freely combined in the virtual Guitar Rig rack. A library with over 150 instantly playable tones from different musical eras and genres is included, together with several helpful tools including dual tape-decks, metronome, tuner, and a dedicated Live View.

Guitar Rig 3 XE will be available in June 2008 for a suggested retail price of $119 / €99. More information available here.


Guitar Rig Session :

Guitar Rig Session is a new recording solution for guitarists, bass players and songwriters which combines the new Guitar Rig 3 XE software with a specially designed audio interface and additional recording software.

The crucial link between the instrument

Are you interested by a Pianoteq license ? Well, Modartt has just launched a contest, open for everybody, where there will be 3 winners, each receiving a license of Pianoteq. Note that if you already own a license, you will be offered a free upgrade to a forthcoming product !

And what is the contest about ? In an audio file, you will hear a medley of classical piano works by famous composers. Tell them which composers you can hear in this medley. If you manage to recognize all of them, in the correct order, you will participate in the lottery of 3 Pianoteq licenses. The lottery will take place on May 31 which is the last day to participate.

There are a total of 10 excerpts of piano works by 10 composers. Some may be piano transcriptions of orchestral works, some may be easily recognized, others may be a challenge. Credits will be given to the performers when announcing the winners, together with a description of each work.

McDSP has released Emerald Pack 3.0 (HD and Native) to include the new DE555 De-esser, FutzBox Lo-Fi Distortion Effects, and NF575 Noise Filter plug-ins. Emerald Pack 3.0 also includes existing products; Analog Channel, Channel G, Chrome Tone, CompressorBank, FilterBank, MC2000, ML4000, Revolver and Synthesizer One.

On top of that, for the month of May, purchase or upgrade to Emerald Pack HD 3.0 and be eligible to purchase Emerald Pack Native 3.0 for only $995, saving $600 over retail price.

Last but not least, McDSP has extended the April Project Studio Bundle Special to any and all users for $295 for the month of May.

Ableton has just released the Orchestral Instruments, four sampled instrument collections representing the four sections of an orchestra.

The instrument collections are available individually or as an attractively priced bundle and bring rich, authentic, symphonic sound to Ableton Live. Strings, Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion have been painstakingly recorded in a number of velocities and articulations, employing the expertise of world-class musicians, engineers and producers. The Orchestral Instruments are seamlessly integrated into the Ableton Live environment and use a technology called SmartPriming to manage system resources efficiently, providing big symphonic sound with a minimum of CPU action.

Produced in partnership with SONiVOX, the instruments include violin, viola, cello, double bass, French horn, trombone, trumpet, tuba, flute, clarinet, bassoon, oboe, English horn, vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, crotales, glockenspiel, tubular bells, cymbals and timpani. Many instruments are provided in solo and ensemble variants and multiple articulations. Each instrument is available in a high-fidelity version for studio production and a lower-fidelity configuration for decreased overhead and instant performance.

The Orchestral Instruments are available now and priced as following :

- Orchestral Instruments Collection : €499/$599
- Orchestral Strings : €159/$189
- Orchestral Brass : €159/$189
- Orchestral Woodwinds : €159/$189
- Orchestral Percussion : €129/$159