Alesis announces that the MasterControl audio interface and control surface is now shipping. MasterControl will be on display at the 2009 NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif., January 15 — 18, 2009 at the Alesis booth, number 6400.

Features :

- FireWire connectivity: one cable carries all audio and control data
- DICE II chip with JetPLL technology for stable clock sync
- Up to 192 kHz (highest available) recording / playback capability
- Eight analog inputs, expandable up to 26 simultaneous
- Nine Touch-Sensitive, 100mm, motorized, capacitive Alps faders
- Eight assignable knobs, three banks each
- Two banks of eight assignable buttons, two banks each
- Dedicated transport controls with multifunction jog wheel
- Three pairs of independently assignable stereo outputs
- Dual, independently assignable stereo headphone outputs
- Flexible, direct monitor routing, assignable through any/all output pair(s)
- Dedicated talkback microphone with control surface or footswitch operation
- Steinberg Cubase LE included
- Ableton Live Lite included
- HUI+ Control Surface
- Compatible with all popular DAWs, virtual instruments, and other audio software

MasterControl is available from pro audio and musical instrument retailers. It has an MSRP of $1,299 and a street price of $899.99.

Synful has just updated Synful Orchestra to version 2.5.1. This new release includes a new French Horn.

The new Synful Orchestra 2.5 French Horn is an important step in the evolution of Synful's RPM technology. For most playing just set the Expression Brassiness control to a desired level and play in a normal style. Synful produces natural slurs, attacks, and varying note shapes automatically. Solo horn or sections from 2 to 16 players are easy - just turn the number of players knob. Like all Synful Orchestra instruments, when you play harmony in a section the players distribute themselves over the notes of the chord - automatic divisi. You can change continuously from a very dark sound to an extremely brassy sound. Realistic slurs, glisses, rips, trills, dramatic crescendi and dimuendi are simple and intuitive. The new French Horn is the first fully expressive instrument to use our second generation RPM Synful synthesis engine. The new French horn does not use Delay for Expression. Everything you play live is the final product. It is based on new 24 bit recordings which have been translated to a new generation additive synthesis format.

For more information and sound examples, please follow the ink below :

Leoné has released a Mac OS X version of MusicReader, an innovative software that makes reading music easy and convenient. The software offers solutions for all kinds of problems musicians have with (paper) sheet music, both individually and in orchestras and ensembles. This includes easy page turning, a convenient music library and flexible annotation making. It also anticipates on the developments of sheet music offered online. Digital sheet music can easily be converted to MusicReader and paper sheet music can also be digitized by using an easy to use scanning and conversion program.

There are two versions of MusicReader available, Solo Basic ($59) and Solo Pro ($99). MusicReader Solo Basic version contains the annotations, navigation and music conversion features. In Solo Pro also full screen and two page display, measure detection and tuner/metronome/music player are present. Note that an evaluation version is also available.

Alesis has launched a video competition called the "Alesis Show Your Rig Video Competition".

Just visit the following link and upload a video of a performance (solo or group) or demonstration of you using your Alesis gear to YouTube between now and January 11, 2008 to enter the contest. Videos must cover current (not legacy) Alesis products to win, preferably from the new products page.

The lucky winner will receive an Alesis DM5 Pro Kit with SURGE Cymbals for their entry!

OnyX, the multifunction utility for Mac OS X, has been updated to version 2.0. OnyX allows you to verify the Startup Disk and the structure of its System files, run miscellaneous tasks of system maintenance, configure some hidden parameters of the Finder, Dock, Dashboard, Exposé, Safari, Login window and some of Apple's own applications, it deletes caches, removes a certain number of files and folders that may become cumbersome and more.

For more information, please visit the link below :