Doepfer is about to introduce a new monophonic stand-alone Synthesizer with USB and Midi interface : Dark Energy. 100% analog, only the USB and Midi interface contains digital components.

Dark Energy is built into a black metal case with wooden side plates. Potentiometers with metal shafts are used and each potentiometers is fixed to the case (no wobbly shafts and knobs). The distance between the controls is a bit wider compared to A-100 modules and knobs with vintage look are used.

Dark Energy is also available as module A-111-5 for usage within the the modular system A-100. The only differences are the missing power supply and USB/Midi interface and the module uses the standard distances between the controls. The VCO frequency CV input (1V/octave) and the Gate input are normalled to the corresponding signals of the A-100 bus via jumpers. The jumpers can be used to interrupt the internal bus connections.

Dark Energy will be available on June 2009 at a price of €400.

EarMaster ApS releases a lighter version of its ear training software EarMaster 5.

EarMaster Essential 5 offers the core features of EarMaster Pro and represents a valuable alternative for musicians and music students on a tight budget, yet not willing to give in to low-end instructional material. Like its bigger brothers EarMaster Pro and EarMaster School, EarMaster Essential is available in 21 languages for both Mac OS X and Windows. The official introduction of the program will take place at the 2009 Frankfurt Musik Messe on the booth of EarMaster's German distributor Klemm Music Technology.

Central features :

· 139 progressive lessons from classical music to rock, including a set of Jazz lessons.
· 4 exercise areas to learn how to identify transcribe and play intervals, chords, and rhythms.
· User-defined on-screen interfaces: staff, multiple-choice, piano, guitar, bass, violin, cello, and more.
· Interactive answering methods: MIDI instrument, microphone, plugged-in instrument, or the computer keyboard and the mouse.
· Detailed statistics.
· A customized mode to target specific elements of practice, etc.

Suggested retail price: US$/€ 29.95

Attention all DJs and producers ! On 11 April 2009, 365Mag, SAE and Media Satellite will be organizing the official Dutch launch of the long-awaited Ableton Live 8 and Suite 8 at the Sugar Factory in Amsterdam! Expect another full-feature workshop, special guests, free goodies... and Lee Burridge !

Ableton Live 8 and Suite 8 incorporate a plethora of ace new features as well as a white-hot, brand new addition titled Virtual Instruments which includes Collision, Operator and Latin Percussion. German DJ/producer and Ableton specialist Dankmar Klein will be hosting a highly exclusive and in-depth workshop as well as giving a performance during which he will be showcasing the many jaw-dropping features of this innovating piece of gear. Next to the official launch of Ableton 8, the programme features a second exclusivity in the form of a 30-minute demo session of the revolutionary Resolume Avenue 3 VJ software... one of the very few VJ tools to sync perfectly well with Ableton.

The french company Two Notes Audio Engineering announces the release of the new firmware 1.26 for their hardware speaker simulator Torpedo VB-101. This new version include three new features :

- Improvement of the audio engine : Load Compensation is now accessible from the "SETUP/audio" menu. This option improve the bass register when using the VB-101 after the power stage of guitar amplifier. This allows a better transparency.

- The Torpedo Remote has undergo few changes, including a faster Loading/Save zone and the possibility to exchange several files simultaneously between VB-101 and the Remote.

- The Torpedo Capture software allows you to "capture" the sound signature of your own speaker cab + microphone and to store it with the numerous other cabinets available.

Two Notes will be at the MusikMesse. If you have the chance to be around, drop a visit to their stand to see "The Beast" you won't regret it !

Devine Machine has updated One Shot Recorder to version 2.0 to support standalone, VST, RTAS and AU formats among other features.

New features :

- Decay knob control
- Multiple audio files Drag and drop to your host or to any folder
- automatic
- AIFF support
- 16/24 bit selection
- Automatic Reorder of recorded samples (peak, RMS, length, date, and note) greatly optimized.
- Interface has been completely redesigned to be larger and clearer.

OSR 2.0 is available as VST, RTAS, AU and standalone for both MAC and PC. It costs €79 and is available as a free update for current customers. Note that a fully functional demo is also available.

More info...