Music Technology Update - August 2008
This month we have lots of free and "free after rebate" deals to tell you about, as well as a variety of exciting new products. Music teachers can find a great deal on Music Ace Maestro site licenses, and Sibelius's Competitive Crossgrade special is still only $99 until the end of September – keep reading for all the details!
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Free Stuff! |
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Free Inspire 1394
Purchase a FireStudio, FireStudio Tube, or FireStudio Project before August 31st and receive a free Inspire 1394 by mail in rebate from Presonus. See US Rebate Form or Canadian Rebate Form for details.
Free Mic Stand with Mic Purchase (US Only)
While supplies last, receive a free A-379 microphone stand when you purchase any microphone over $199 from Kelly's Music & Computers! (Offer valid only in the US, lower 48 states.) No rebate form required!
5 Free Music Ace Maestro Licenses (when you buy 25 or more)
Purchase a Music Ace Maestro licenses for 25 computers or more before the end of September, and you will receive 5 free licenses! Contact us for more details or to order. Music Ace Maestro is one of my favorite programs for teaching musical literacy and I can highly recommend it - feel free to call or e-mail me to talk about Music Ace! As with most programs, you can download a demo on our website by going to the Music Ace Maestro page and clicking the "Downloads" tab.
Buy 1, Get 1 Free from IK Multimedia
Summer is the time to buy software! Here are more "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" promos to consider:
- Purchase Amplitube Metal or Amplitube Jimi Hendrix between July 1 and August 31 2008 and receive the other one free by download from IK Multimedia when you register.
- Purchase SampleMoog or SampleTron between July 1 and August 31 2008 and receive the other one free by download from IK Multimedia when you register.
Finale 2009 & Sibelius Competitive Crossgrade Special
Finale 2009 has been released, with a streamlined workflow for dynamics, tempo indicators and other text, more Garritan sounds, more Drumline sounds and multiple page editing. Finale 2009 now supports any VST/AU software synth and ASIO support for Windows users. If you already own Finale, you will need to purchase the upgrade directly from MakeMusic. However, Sibelius wants you to consider using your upgrade money to make the switch to Sibelius 5!
From now until the end of September, the Sibelius 5 Competitive Crossgrade is only $99. This upgrade offer also applies to Encore users. If you haven't already done so, you can download the demo of Sibelius from our website and try it yourself!
Save Big On Loop Libraries!
Wishing you had more loops? (Who doesn't?!) Although this isn't a "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" like every other deal this summer, we still have a great deal for you! Until August 31st, save on Sonic Refills Gold, Miroslav Gold, or RAW Gold. These are huge loop libraries, at excellent prices and since the loops are in REX, Apple Loop and Acid format, they are compatible with virtually any software that supports loops! (Reason, GarageBand, Cubase, Sonar, etc.) | |
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What's New?
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Strum Acoustic GS-1 Virtual Guitar |
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How do you make a keyboard respond like a guitar? Strum Acoustic GS-1 does it for you! Keyboardists will love this new software instrument from Applied Acoustic - just play the chords you know on your keyboard, and Strum will voice them as a guitarist would. Rather than a collection of sampled guitar sounds, Strum uses physical modeling to create a synth that "thinks" and behaves like a guitar, giving you lots of control over your sound - you can even adjust the response of each string individually!
Strum operates in plug-in or stand alone mode, and can be controlled using its own interface or an external MIDI controller. Choose from a versatile collection of different guitars and musical styles, and use your keyboard or MIDI loops to strum or create effects. Download the demo or to listen to sample recordings - we were impressed - let us know what you think! |
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Garritan Steinway Professional & Standard |
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Have you always wanted a Steinway grand, but didn't have the room (or the money) for one? In the Garritan Authorized Steinway Model D, Garritan has worked with Steinway and Sons to create not just another piano library, but one which faithfully reproduces the incredible detail inherent in a real Steinway’s sound. The Professional Edition offers the superb Steinway Model D piano with five different listening perspectives: Close audience; Classic; Under the lid (suitable for jazz and pop); Stage Side; and Player Perspective (from the bench). The Standard Edition offers the classic and under the lid listening perspectives with the same distinctive Steinway sound, recorded at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall - regarded as one of the very finest piano concert halls.
The developers went to great pains to create as accurate a representation as possible of the Steinway’s sound, collecting 50,000 samples – 1.2 terabytes of audio data! - and carefully selecting the best possible samples of each note. Still, mere notes alone cannot convey the act and art of musical performance. When trying to achieve the sound of a real piano, the more control options you have, the more successful you will be. Real pianists perform on the instrument in a variety of ways. They alter dynamics instantly or gradually over time; they do a variety of subtle pedaling; and they impart a wealth of refined playing techniques. Garritan has developed a user interface that is intuitive, inviting and very easy to use, allowing the keyboard player to emulate those and other performance actions with relative ease. The Authorized Steinway also has true recorded soft pedal samples. Unlike most other libraries, they aren't simulated by muting or filtering.
Still believe that software instruments are inherently unmusical? Try listening to the mp3 samples. Garritan has produced complete performances of several well-known piano works. Any pianist who has slaved to perfect the subtle nuances of Brahms' Op. 118 No. 5 will be amazed at how expressive this software instrument can be.
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iGTR |
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Any guitarist that's used to carrying heavy amplifiers with them everywhere they go will love the new iGTR. Small enough to fit in your pocket, iGTR has inputs for your guitar as well as an auxiliary input so you can chain 2 iGTRs together and play with friends, or hook up your mp3 player and jam along with your favorite tunes. Dual headphone jacks allow you to connect to an amp or recording device, as well as giving you the flexibility to play any time of day or night without disturbing the neighbors! iGTR is easy to use and offers a variety of Virtual Amps, variable-speed Modulation Effects and Ambience Effects. Powered by AAA batteries, it can be used anywhere, any time.
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Reason Premium Edition, Reason Studio Combo |
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If you've never used Reason, there's never been a better time to start! Reason version 4 is a virtual studio rack with all the tools and instruments you need to turn your ideas into music. More than just a set of excellent synths and effects, it's a complete music system. Its award-winning, all-in-one production environment has long been used by professional musicians, but with its user-friendly interface, anyone can learn to create great-sounding music. Each unit in Reason's virtual rack is edited from its own on-screen front panel. All the sliders, knobs, buttons and functions are right in front of you, ready to be tweaked, turned and twisted in absolute real-time. And all your front panel actions - filter adjustments, pitch bending, gain riding or panning - can be recorded and automated in the Reason sequencer.
Reason can be used as a self-contained synth studio system, sub-system or as a workstation synth that is perfect for live gigs and performances. It's also easy to integrate with your existing software and hardware. Teachers can take advantage of the free downloadable resource, “Teaching Music with Reason”.
The new Reason Premium Edition gives you the award-winning Reason version 4 bundled with four great sound libraries - Reason Drum Kits, Reason Pianos, Abbey Road Keyboards and Reason Electric Bass ReFills – a great value! For those of you that already have Reason, the Studio Combo gives you the same four sound libraries in one convenient bundle. | |
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Yamaha Pocketrack 2G Digital Recorder |
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Creating professional quality recordings couldn't get any easier. Yamaha's Pocketrak 2G joins the DR-1, R-09HR and MicroTrack II portable digital recorders, providing a fast and easy way to create great-sounding recordings.
Just hit "record" and when you are done, copy the files to your computer to burn a CD or upload to the web. The Pocketrak uses its built-in memory of 2GB rather than removable media, which enables it to be smaller and more compact. Weighing just 1.7 ounces and with a thickness of ½ inch, it can be carried easily in a shirt pocket, but don't let its size fool you - it is capable of recording up to 3 h 10 min of CD-quality audio.
Easily review your recordings with the built-in speaker, or edit them with the included CUBASE AI digital workstation software. The AAA eneloop battery (also included) allows for up to 19 hours of continuous mp3 recording and can be recharged through the USB port on your computer as you transfer your files. If you prefer the flexibility of additional memory and don't mind a slightly larger recorder, you may wish to consider other products such as the DR-1, R-09 and MicroTrack II, which allow you to carry as much memory as you need.
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AT2020 USB |
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If you prefer to record directly to your computer, but don't want the hassles of setting up an audio interface, Audio Technica's new AT2020 USB mic is the perfect choice. Equipped with a USB digital output, it's perfect for home studio recording, field recording, podcasting, and voiceover use. Best of all, it comes with a tripod desk stand, pivoting stand mount, USB cable and storage pouch – a great value for the price!
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ProKeys Sono 61, 88 |
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Want to write, record and perform your music without a lot of added equipment? The Prokeys Sono line of digital pianos are your all-in-one solution. These pianos feature high-quality built-in sounds – 5 in the 61-key and 7 in the 88-key model – so you can play without having to connect to a computer (you will, however, need to connect a power adapter, which is not included in the box.)
The semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys and Steinway grand sound bank deliver an expressive playing experience. ProKeys Sono pianos have a built-in, 2 -in/2-out audio interface which allows you to record CD-quality audio by connecting microphones or other instruments to your keyboard. Dual front-mounted headphone jacks give you additional listening options.
The many possible uses for the ProKeys Sono makes it ideal for educational settings or for practicing at home. If you are looking for similar features in a more compact keyboard, you may also wish to check out the KeyStudio 49i, a smaller instrument that offers a built-in piano sound as well as the built-in audio interface.
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Sibelius First |
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There are lots of great programs for composing and printing your own music. Sibelius and Finale are popular choices for professionals and educators, but if you don't want to spend the money on these high end programs, Sibelius has a solution for you with their new Sibelius First. Sibelius First features “can’t mess-up” templates and plug-ins to help you create lead sheets, guitar tab and complete scores. Its friendly user interface and realistic playback makes it easy to print professional-quality scores or parts, burn your music to CD, or share it on the web.
If you think you may be interested in upgrading to the full version of Sibelius at some point, you may wish to consider Sibelius Student instead. It is similar in terms of features to Sibelius First, and despite the name, is for students, teachers, or anyone! The main advantage is that Sibelius Student users can take advantage of Sibelius' competitive crossgrade (that is on sale until the end of September!)
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Free Guide to Setting up Your Monitors!
It can be extremely frustrating to spend hours slaving over the perfect mix-only to find that it sounds horrible in your car, living room or another studio. A good monitoring system can prevent this by helping you to produce mixes that are clear, balanced and translate well across a broad range of speaker systems. Not only does M-Audio manufacturer some great studio monitors, but now they even have a 16 page PDF file that you can download here to help you get your monitors set up.
Remember, if you have a question you would like answered, please e-mail sales@KellysMusicAndComputers.com or give us a call!
Kelly's Music & Computers - http://kellysmusic.net
USA: 1-800-510-3485
Canada: 1-888-562-8822
International: 1-204-753-5280
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Kelly's Music & Computers
Box 658
Pinawa, MB, Canada
R0E 1L0 | |
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