DSK Music has released DSK Analog Matrix, a free Analog FM Synth for Windows.

Features:
» 2 OSC with 6 waveforms
» Amp. Envelope
» Octave & fine tuning
» Advanced pulse modulation
» 2 LFO with 6 waveforms
» 2 Filter (4 modes)
» Osc 1/2 Balance
» Osc sync
» Velocity response knob
» OSC & Filter route
» 7×14 Matrix panel
» 3 Effects: Chorus, Reverb & Drive

DSK Music’s Analog Matrix is a free VSTi plug-in. More information on DSK Music Analog Matrix.

In what looks to be a more of a political move than anything of real substance, several Internet Service Provider’s (ISPs) in the UK have agreed to issue letters to subscribers suspected of illegal file trading on their networks.

The six ISPs, Virgin Media, Orange, BT, BSkyB, Tiscali and Carphone Warehouse, have signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that their PR reps called a “groundbreaking agreement” that would “significantly reduce illegal file-sharing” by drawing greater awareness to the issue of piracy. Please.

The Future: Clearly a means of pacifying over-zealous government agencies who just want the content trade groups off their backs, now the ISPs can say they’re “doing something” to thwart piracy.

Tascam has shelved the GigaStudio line up of sampler products including the Giga Virtual Instrument, GigaPulse convolution reverb and the GigaViolin. Tascam has made no announcement about discontinuing the product line, or issued a press release regarding the matter. The product was simply moved to “legacy software” status on their website.

Tascam helmed the development of GigaStudio after it acquired NemeSys, the company that originally unleashed the product as GigaSampler in the 1990’s. Despite its enormous storage requirements, GigaSampler made a name for itself by being one of the first robust soft samplers available on the market.

Sales and support for all Giga products will officially end on December 31, 2008.

More “information” on GigaStudio’s demise.

Montreal’s Stereo Nightclub was the victim of a fire on July 3rd shortly after midnight. The good news is that no one was injured. However, the smoke and soot damage was considerable.

Only the club’s infrastructure was affected and their noted sound system was mostly unharmed. The largest repair workload will be related to the reconstruction of the walls, floors and ceilings.

Stereo is working hard to reopen its doors as quickly as possible, however they will have to wait for the investigation into the criminal fire to be concluded in order to begin work after the Construction holiday ending August 4th.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the majority of FCC commissioners have reached a tentative deal to approve the merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio.

The only FCC member left to vote is Republican commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, and she is expected to sign off on the deal in exchange for a consent decree that resolves several enforcement issues involving the satellite radio companies and a combined fine of about $20 million, an FCC source close to the deal said.

Mojave Audio has announced the MA-201fet Cardioid Condenser Microphone. The MA-201fet is suited for recording vocals, dialog work of all types - including broadcast and voiceovers - recording acoustic instruments such as guitar, piano, and wind instruments, as well as choral work.

Mojave claims the new MA-201fet provides warm, full-bodied reproductions of vocals and instruments without the shrillness and high frequency artifacts so often encountered with modern condenser microphones. The microphone’s warm FET circuitry and Jensen transformer combine to deliver low noise and high quality performance. As a solid state, large diaphragm condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern and a 3-micron thick, 1-inch (diameter) gold sputtered capsule, the new MA-201fet is a truly versatile recording instrument.

Features:
» Hand-selected 3-micron 1” capsule
» Jensen audio transformer
» Military-grade FET
» Custom designed low-noise resistors
» Ultra clean signal path

Mojave, a company founded by David Royer (known for his work with ribbon microphones), says the MA-201fet has a frequency response of 20 Hz-20 kHz ± 3.0 dB, a sensitivity rating of -39 dB, with a distortion rating not to exceed <1% @120dB SPL; <3% @134dB SPL. The microphone operates on standard 48 V Phantom power.

Mojave’s Audio MA-201fet costs $695, and will become widely available in September of 2008. More information on the Mojave Audio MA-201fet.

High-performance, portable hard drives is a small market niche that is set to explode in the next 18 months. With laptop computers getting smaller and smaller, as well as new powerful pocket computing devices hitting the market, users are now looking for reliable, high-rpm drives with a wide variety of connectivity.

Several concerns have stepped up to the plate to offer comprehensive solutions (We’re currently TestDriving Glyph’s PortaGig 800 –Ed.) including Avastor, which has announced their new line of SDX portable hard disk drives.

Avastor claims the SDX hard disk drives are designed to exceed the requirements of the most demanding users. For example, each SDX drive has an external 3 amp grounded DC power supply that auto senses 90-240V that makes for worldwide compatibility with an IEC power cord. Also every SDX has an ultra-quiet cooling fan for maximum heat dissipation and power and activity lights, a feature not usually found in drives in this price range. To ensure maximum connectivity, performance and durability, the SDX drives are available in an anodized aluminum design. The power adapter uses extra heavy gauge wire as well as a heavy duty connector with oversized pins for 5 VDC and 12 VDC.

The SDX line is available in three models: SDX 200 (USB 2.0 model), SDX 400 (dual FireWire 400/USB 2.0) and SDX 1000 (QUAD model: FireWire 400/800/eSATA/USB2.0), each with a choice of 80 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB, 500 GB, 750 GB or 1 TB capacities. eSATA technology offers 3Gb/s performance in a single drive configuration for data-intensive applications including real-time video editing, digital photography and high-speed data back up. All models are equipped with the Oxford Semiconductor bridgeboard which offers compatibility and reliability across different computer platforms and digital workstations – for example, Digidesign Protools.

Just like the HDX series, every SDX has a sustained speed test and is MAC HFS+ formatted before being shipped. All SDX drives are equipped with 7200 RPM SATA II internal drive mechanisms with up to 32 MB cache. High-quality, data cables are included for each interface type, allowing the drives to be easily connected straight out of the box. Every SDX hard disk drive is packaged in a compact, reusable box with a convenient carry handle and is backed by a comprehensive two-year warranty.

Avastor’s SDX portable hard drive line is currently shipping (although there’s nothing on their website) and starts at $135. More information on the Avastor SDX portable hard drives.

Native Instruments has updated Traktor to version 3.4.

Enhancements:
» Unicode character support displays file names and tags in any script and language (including Japanese, Mandarin, Hebrew, Cyrillic etc.)
» “Tracking Alert” feature in timeocde mode gives advance warning about adverse tracking conditions (e.g. dust buildup)
» Improved tracking precision when scratching in relative timecode mode
» Various Drag & Drop improvements including “Transparent Deck Duplicate”
» Hotplugging for audio devices (Core Audio and DirectSound)
» Instant audio device switching
» Automatic device aggregation via DirectSound to use more than 2 channels
» WASAPI support under Windows Vista
» Hotplugging for MIDI devices
» Support for Virtual MIDI ports on Mac OS X

Native Instruments’ Traktor 3.4 update is free for registered users via their Service Center. More information on Native Instruments Traktor 3.4.

Cowon has released its new P5, a personal media player with a 700MHz RMI Alchemy AU1250 processor. The 800 x 480, 5-inch touchscreen display features the Korean company’s dynamic, Icon and Haptic graphic interface.

The P5 also touts T-DMB broadcast TV, FM radio, Bluetooth, TV-out (component, S-Video, and composite), stereo speakers, USB connectivity, and up to 80GB of storage.

It comes pre-installed with a Win CE Internet browser but without Wi-Fi, a major misstep for markets outside of Korea. Software includes MS Office document viewer, a dictionary, and support for AVI, ASF, WMV, MPG, OGM, DivX, Xvid, MPEG4, WMV9, MP3, WMA, AC3 media formats. Cowon claims battery life of 9-hours of video or 14-hours of straight audio.

No pricing has been announced by it should hit the Korean market at the end of July and other markets by the Fall in three colors Red, Black and Silver. More information on the Cowon P5.

We’ve been geeked on the idea of a MacBook Tablet computer for some time. In fact, we believed that the product was likely to make it’s debut just before the Christmas “silly season” last year. However, several reports have popped up online recently that are now fueling the tablet rumors once again.

According to MacDailyNews, who broke the wireless iTunes a week before its official announcement, Apple is readying the “MacBook touch” for release in October:

Think MacBook screen, possibly a bit smaller, in glass with iPhone-like, but fuller-featured Multi-Touch. Gesture library. Full Mac OS X. This is why they bought P.A. Semi. Possibly with Immersion’s haptic tech. Slot-loading SuperDrive. Accelerometer. GPS. Pretty expensive to produce initially, but sold at “low” price that will reduce margins. Apple wants to move these babies. And move they will. This is some sick shit. App Store-compatible, able to run Mac apps, too. By October at the latest.

Now marry this report to what Apple’s CFO Peter Oppenheimer disclosed during his quarterly financial results call — the company will make a key “product transition that cuts back on its profit margins to help shut out rivals,” and will release “new products with technologies and features that others can’t match.”

In addition, if you look at all the patents that Apple has filed recently that describe a tablet-like device, it appears likely that Apple is developing a product of this nature, or at least is protecting themselves from patent terrorists.

Although the picture above is just a figment of a Photoshop user’s imagination, the Logic Studio application with the virtual keyboard is enough to get the juices flowin’ - wow!

The Future: A MacBook Touch computer running any music app makes Yamaha’s Tenori-On look real sissy! Especially if it’s the same price…