Ableton finally releases a range of new products available today: Ableton Live 7, several new add-on instruments and Ableton Suite.

Version 7 renews the core of Live:
- The enhanced audio engine improves fidelity with 64-bit mix summing, POW-r dithering, optimized sample rate conversion and other advances.
- The new compressor device integrates three compression models, one of which is based on a feedback design commonly found in the most praised vintage compressors.
- Fully integrated side-chaining capability is available for the new Compressor as well as Gate and Auto Filter.
- High-Quality modes have been added to Operator, Dynamic Tube and Saturator for anti-aliased processing, reducing typical “digital” artifacts.
- EQ Eight has an improved user interface and a 64 bit mode for increased accuracy.
- The new Spectrum analyzer provides visual feedback for any audio signals within Live (and it looks really cool!).
- The MIDI engine has been reworked to minimize timing error (jitter) of recorded MIDI.
- Hardware integration has been streamlined—hardware synthesizers and effects can now be inserted into device chains just like software plug-ins.
- New memory management technology allows users of large sample libraries, such as Ableton’s new sampled instruments or third-party libraries imported via Sampler, to run an impressive number of instruments at the same time. This happens automatically, with no setup changes required.
- New Audio and MIDI fact sheets explain exactly how signals are (or are not) being modified when using specific features in Live and provide tips for achieving the highest quality results.

Read the full article at Harmony Central, and be sure to visit the official Live 7 website, as well as the sub-page of Ableton’s whole new product range.

Nady has finished their second effort on USB mics, after the release of the USB-24M mic they are now introcuding the Nady USB-1C Condenser Mic, a condenser mic with a better design than its predecessor that will be very helpful for computer-based vocal or acoustic instruments recording tasks and for podcasters, as well.

The Nady USB-1C Condenser Mic features cardioid unidirectional polar pattern, 19 mm gold-sputtered diaphragm, FET preamps, 16-bit audio resolution, 44.1 and 48 KHz sampling rate, 20 Hz to 20 KHz frequency response, low self-noise and USB 2.0 port. This combination of components produces a high-quality, warm and natural sound.

The mic comes with a 10″ USB cable and a mic basemount and optional Sony ACID Music Studio 7 recording software that includes effects and loops that will allow you to create your own compositions. The Nady USB-1C Condenser Mic is now available and its price is $150 / €102.

Check out the articles at PCmusic.org, musicgadgets.net and Harmony Central. Also visit Nady Systems official website here.

I’m sure most of you have heard or used BFD, FXpansion’s excellent drumming VSTi, which also happens to be one of my personal favorites when producing music. While browsing through various forums today, I fell on an old post (January 2007) at Vdrums.com, but yet very detailed on what we should expect from BFD 2 which is currently under development. Here is the thread as written by its author (I’m only filtering out some facts that weren’t finally confirmed):

At NAMM I was able to speak to someone in the FXpansion booth about BFD 2.0. Here is a sneak preview of what to expect:

- If it’s true that BFD 2.0 is being completely rewritten from the ground up, this date seems pretty aggressive to me. I’m guessing they mean public betas start in the summer. And if 1.5 is any indication, the public beta program could run 6 months or longer.

- Although he didn’t say this, I’m expecting BFD 2.0 to be a paid upgrade.

- It’s ironic that now that Toontrack EZ Drummer and Addictive Drums have copied so many parts of the BFD 1.5 interface that BFD 2.0 will have a completely redesigned interface designed for better workflow. With the new interface will be a whole new look and feel.

- FXpansion is working on a new library recorded at George Martin’s Air Studios in London that’s supposed to “redefine the sampled acoustic drum experience”. Let’s hope that means it includes positional samples.

- One of the biggest features in BFD 2.0 is built-in studio-quality EQ, compression and effects. And although Addictive Drums user might think this is a me-too feature, FXpansion is apparently going to great pains in the way they’re modeling their effects. Since I know that FXpansion is close to both Universal Audio and SSL, I wouldn’t be surprised to find licensed copies of their legendary effects, which may blow away the DSP Addictive Drums is using.

- Unfortunately VST effect support will not be found in BFD 2.0. Although I’ll miss this, this will allow them to standardize presets, so you can have the full Andy Johns drum sound. Not just his EQ. This feature is huge for V-drummers like me who would rather play than tweak.

- MIDI support in BFD 2.0 will be greatly expanded with the ability to completely edit MIDI drum sequences. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could create sequences from scratch as well. Although this doesn’t seem of use to V-drummers, it is a nice way to preview kits.

- Apparently FXpansion is close to announcing several licensing deals for new drum sample libraries.

In the following video, you can see Steve Baker presenting some of the new features of BFD 2. Check it out. Thanks to my buddy Spiros Dafalias for sharing this video, whose article about BFD 2 you can find here (in Greek).

The Zoom H2 Handy Recorder puts pro-quality audio literally in the palm of your hand! The followup to Zoom’s super-successful H4, the H2 Handy Recorder gives you an amazingly versatile tool for capturing top-notch 2-track audio. Its internal 4-mic capsule allows for several different polar patterns which, combined with its signal-processing capabilities, give the H2 the ability to record 4-channel data that can be authored into 5.1 surround! With a USB interface, external Mic In, and time stamp function, the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder is a compact wonder!

H2 Handy Recorder Features:

• 4 mic capsules and signal processing make flexible polar patterns possible
• Built-in USB interface
• WAV 96kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz and MP3 up to 320kbps VBR data format
• External Mic In can connect general plug-in-power stereo mic
• Time stamp function
• Possible Polar Patterns: front 120 degrees cardioid, front 90 degrees super cardioid, rear 120 degrees cardioid, rear 90 degrees super cardioid, 360 degrees polar pattern
• Includes 512MB card, Stand, Mic Clip Adapter, Windscreen, Earbuds, USB Cable, and AC Adapter
• Dimensions: 2.5″ wide x 4.33″ high x 1.26″ deep

The Beatles’ discography will finally be available for on-line purchase some time in the next year, as Sir Paul McCartney recently stated on a big musical website.

The legendary band was keeping their music away from sites like Napster or iTunes until now.

According to Sir Paul, the delay was due to terms and conditions of the contract, while all included parts were contrary to on-line distribution up until today.

“You don’t want to do something that now seems good and in three years you might say, oh my God why did I do that?” Sir Paul announced at Billboard.com.

Even though the Beatles’ music is not yet available through the internet, the solo albums of each of the band members can still be found and purchased.

The Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert, originally scheduled for Monday, November 26th and featuring Led Zeppelin, Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings, Paul Rogers, Paolo Nutini and Foreigner has been postponed until December 10th due to Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page fracturing his finger.
 
The injury to Page’s finger, which was sustained this past weekend, will not allow him to play guitar for 3 weeks.
 
The specialist treating Mr. Page said, “I have examined the fracture to Mr. Page’s finger, and it is my opinion that with proper rest and treatment, he will be ready to resume rehearsing in three weeks time, and thus able to perform on December 10.”
 
Jimmy Page added, “I am disappointed that we are forced to postpone the concert by two weeks.  However, Led Zeppelin have always set very high standards for ourselves, and we feel that this postponement will enable my injury to properly heal, and permit us to perform at the level that both the band and our fans have always been accustomed to.”

TICKET HOLDERS PLEASE NOTE:

All Tickets for the November 26th show will be valid for the rescheduled date.
 
Any customers who are unable to attend the rescheduled concert on the 10th December should apply for a full refund of the ticket purchase prior to midday (UK time) on November 14th 2007.   Any tickets made available as a result of refunds will be offered to ballot winners selected at random from original registrations after the 15th November 2007.

Ableton has announced that users of Live 6 LE  will be able to upgrade to the full version of Live 7 with a generous discount when it becomes available later this year. Let us remind that Live 6 LE is an easy-to-use, professional-grade music making solution - a first step into the world of computer music that anyone can afford. The boxed version will be available at retail shops across the globe and at the Ableton webshop for €329 / $389. The download version will be available at the Ableton webshop for €299 / $349. Don’t forget to take a look at the features of the upcoming Live 7, which is currently in beta testing. If you are interested, check out the beta page. Also, be sure to visit the official Ableton website.

Incorporating 24 touch-sensitive motorized faders and 16 pristine Focusrite Class A mic preamps, the Control|24 is an incredible front end to your Pro Tools system. Dedicated switches let you easily record and mix on Pro Tools, and the extensive analog routing section means this controller/ preamp/router can be the centerpiece of your Pro Tools rig. Each control strip offers exactly the functionality you would expect from Digidesign: a multi-function knob (which defaults to pan); dedicated buttons to open dynamics or EQ plug-ins assigned to that particular channel; and switches for mute, solo, record arm, etc. Even the most complex Pro Tools functions can be turned into a series of simple steps, offering incredible freedom in recording and letting those of us used to working on an analog console to concentrate on making music rather than navigating screens.

With 16 award-winning Class A discrete transistor-based preamps, the Control|24 is far more than just a world class control surface. These mic preamps are not your run of the mill inputs either, they’re Focusrite’s Platinum preamps with a reputation for smooth, flat response that sounds great on just about anything! Their gain range is 0 to +60db and the frequency response is -0 dB @10 Hz, -3 dB @200 Hz. World class control with Focusrite Platinum preamps - the Control|24 is a bargain!

Some of the features in a quick glance:

• 24 touch-sensitive motorized faders
• 16 Focusrite class A Mic Preamps
• Hands-on access to Pro Tools recording, routing, mixing and editing paramiters
• Comprehensive control room section capable of up to 5.1 surround monitoring
• Illuminated switches for mute, solo, record arm, channel selects, and automation mode on every channel
• Dedicated EQ and Dynamics switches on every channel
• 26 scribble strips provided for system feedback
• Connects to Pro Tools TDM systems VIA high-speed ethernet
• High resolution LED display for transport location at a glance
• Integrated submixer with 8 stereo inputs
• Touch-sensitive automation of plug-in parameters using faders via plug-in flip mode

Source: SweetWater, from which you can also purchase for $7.995 / €5.505 .

Also, be sure to visit GearWire for a video review of C|24. Also visit Harmony Central for an extensive analysis as well as Digidesign’s official website.

Google’s so awaited entry into the mobile phone market is finally a fact, after today’s announcement. During a press conference that took place a while ago, Google has unveiled their plan to create an open source OS for mobile phones that can be used by any company, and inserted into any number and kind of mobile phones, without any limitations.

The open source platform called Android will allow manufacturers to create interesting applications and services that every company can combine with new hardware features. For this reason, an alliance of 34 companies has been formed in order to extend Android’s abilities so they can compete Nokia and Microsoft, both of them on the top of the mobile OS charts with their own “closed platforms”, Symbian OS and Windows Mobile respectively. The alliance will be named OHA, which stands for Open Handset Alliance. Some of the biggest companies in the world will support the alliance like Motorola, LG, Samsung and HTC.

Android is based on Linux of course, and it has been under development for the last three years. All companies supporting the OHA will have access and usability rights of the platform without any further economic responsibilites towards Google, completely differentiating the policy that Nokia, Microsoft, Palm and RIA Blackberry follow on their own systems. Most of Google’s already widely known services are expected to be found on the new platform like AdSense, Gmail and Calendar.

At November 12th, a first version of the Android SDK will be released at the OHA website. This will result in the development of the first applications, so that we can get a first taste of what new is going to be brought by Google to the mobile phone market, which actively sypports 3 billion users. The first devices are expected to be presented at the second half of 2008. After repeatedly being asked about this, Google’s president Eric Schmidt has made clear that his company today announces Android and nothing more, while if there is to be a Gmobile in the future, it will be running this platform.

Finally, he has added that the user interface is very impressive, while the browser included has full HTML capabilites, like iPhone’s Safari. Furthermore, OpenSocial API applications which were announced last week will be running with no problems on Android.

Apple has silently released a new series of MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops, with more advanced tech features. Still, the rumours about a new, thinner appearance were not confirmed.

Specifically, Apple withdraws the old models and swaps them with the new ones, which utilise the all new laptop architecture called Santa Rosa by Intel. Among others, Santa Rosa includes a powerful graphics subsystem named GMA X3100. The prices for the new hardware are:

White 13.3″:

$1099/€760 2.0GHz/1GB RAM/80GB/Combo/GMA X3100
$1299/€899 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/120GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100

Black 13.3″:

$1499/€1037 2.2GHz/1GB RAM/160GB/SD-DL/GMA X3100

Apple also offers the possibility of upgrading the MacBook Pro CPU with a Core 2 Duo @ 2.6 GΗz. Optionally, you could also upgrade it with a 250 GB hard disk as well.

Check it out at MacRumors.