The Official Sonic8 Blog

Amazing Black Friday deals for Antares Auto-Tune, FXpansion’s Geist and DCAM: Synth Squad plus Zildjian’s GEN16 Promotion and Sonic8’s £500 Christmas Prize Draw

2011-11-25T12:35:00.000Z

FXpansion Black Friday Special Deals From Nov 25 through to Dec 31, 2011 FXpansion are dropping the prices of their award winning GEIST and DCAM: Synth Squad software products. These 2 products represent the cutting edge of what can be achieved with software synthesis and beat creation technology. Geist is now reduced from £165 inc. VAT to £99 inc. VAT DCAM: Synth Squad is now reduced from £165 inc. VAT to £69 inc. VAT Contact your local dealer or click here for more information. Sign up and view the Sonic8 catalogue now - click for your chance to win £500 worth of pro audio gear. E&OE
Sonic8 Christmas 2011 Prize Draw - just look at our new a catalogue! To celebrate the start of the holiday season and the release of our Sonic8 2011 Autumn catalogue, we are offering you the chance to win £500 worth of the finest professional audio kit of your choice from our extensive portfolio. Be it superb drums with FXpansion's BFD, industry standard audio editing with BIAS Peak or professional preamplification from ART, we can help you realise your music making and recording dreams this Christmas. Simply sign up to view the Sonic8 Autumn 2011 catalogue at www.sonic8.com/catalogue between 24/11/2011 and 24/12/2011 and you will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win Sonic8 products of your choice up to the value of £500! (For full terms & conditions of this prize draw, click here).
Buy and register Auto-Tune 7 Native or Auto-Tune 7 TDM between Nov 25 and Dec 31, 2011 and claim a free copy of Mic Mod efx worth £119.99 inc. VAT! Buy and register Auto-Tune 7 Native or Auto-Tune 7 TDM between Nov 25 and Dec 31, 2011 and claim a free copy of Mic Mod efx worth £119.99 inc. VAT (fulfilled at time of registration via electronic download). This stunning piece of software enables the mics you own to sound like the mics you wish you owned - using Antares' patented Spectral Shaping Tool™ technology, they've created precise digital models of a wide variety of historical classic and exotic microphones. Simply tell Mic Mod efx what microphone you are actually using and what microphone you'd like it to sound like. It's as simple as that! Contact your local dealer or click here for more information. Sign up and view the Sonic8 catalogue now - click for your chance to win £500 worth of pro audio gear. E&OE
Gen16-Digital Vault Promotions As of November 1st, we are offering an unbelievable deal on the fantastic Gen16 - Digital Vault Series of cymbal expansion packs. These are complete sets of Zildjian's classic cymbals in digital format compatible with FXpansion's BFD2. Alternatively just plug them straight into your favourite DAW as the Gen16 Digital Vault Z-Pack includes it's own version of BFD ECO. Deal 1: Purchase GEN16 Digital Vault Z-Pack and Receive S-Pack Vols. 1 & 2 at NO CHARGE!! Deal 2: Purchase S-Pack Vol. 1 and Receive S-Pack Vol. 2 at NO CHARGE!! Remember, this offer will end on 31st January 2012! Contact your local dealer or click here for more information. Sign up and view the Sonic8 catalogue now - click for your chance to win £500 worth of pro audio gear. E&OE

BFD Eco Price Crash and other FXpansion Deals

2011-09-01T17:56:00.000+01:00

As of September 1st BFD Eco - Fxpansion's entry level version of BFD has become even more affordable. Until December 31st this fully featured drum application will be available for just £29.00 inc VAT!!! That's a saving of over £70!!! This is available right now from all good retailers and the BFD Eco page at www.sonic8.com

In case you still don't know what BFD Eco does exactly here's what you missed:

BFD Eco gives you easy access to the some of the best sounds in the BFD2 library, recorded at London's Air Studios. The included sounds are full of dramatic levels of detail and mojo... Anything but sterile, BFD Eco is imbued with a musical character that sets it apart from the homogenized, flat sounds found elsewhere.

Included are over 40 presets that showcase the powerful, punchy-sounding mixing section. The EQ and dynamics/effect processing allow you to sculpt the raw sounds and lush stereo ambience for any situation. DCAM circuit-modelled compression, filtering and drive provide hardware-style tone and grit, while Overloud's Breverb plate algorithm can be used for artificial reverb effects.

BFD Eco also contains a Groove section containing over 1500 drum patterns to drag into your DAW, or to sequence on the built-in Drum Track. Preview patterns in sync with your project and use the humanization effects to adjust the feel to your needs. You can even export a stereo mixdown from the Groove engine - ideal for loops and breakbeats.

Other advanced features that set BFD Eco apart from the competition are its customizable keymapping, electronic drum support, the ability to combine kit-pieces from different expansion libraries, and an interface perfectly balanced between ease of use and powerful flexibility. It also can be upgraded to BFD2 - both are fully preset-compatible to enable a seamless transition.

Great stuff huh?

If that wasn't enough we thought we'd remind you that there are still 2 other FXpansion promotions running to keep you making beats as the nights draw in and the days get colder.

That's right! If you buy BFD2 (£178.99 inc. VAT) or upgrade your copy of BFD Eco or BFD (just £119.99 inc. VAT) before the end of September you'll get a copy of BFD B.O.M.B absolutely free! See your local dealer or go to the BFD 2 or BFD II Upgrade pages on our website to get your hands on this stunning deal!

And last but by no means least until September 30, 2011 all purchasers of DCAM: Synth Squad will receive 3 FREE Preset Packs – Himalaya: Modernity, Himalaya: Antiquity & Myagi: Ferocity worth over £70 inc. VAT. Again contact your dealer or check out the DCAM page of the sonic8 website

Happy beat-making.

The Sonic8 Team...

Sonic8 Meet the Gadget Show Live

2011-04-15T16:11:00.000+01:00

Our intrepid tech, Tom Carter was recently sequestered into educating the lovely folks at the Gadget Show about the virtues of Antares Auto-Tune.

Gadget Show Live

In an eventful session alongside Pollyanna Woodward, one of the presenters from the Gadget Show, Tom and their faithful engineer ran Auto-Tune EVO Native through its paces in a real-time, live show, show-down...

Everything ran smoothly and latency values were down to 5.6 milliseconds allowing the sound engineer to control, in real-time, the retune speed so the singer could sound like T-Pain/Cher in the choruses and simply natural in the verses.

There will be a total of 15 shows throughout the Gadget Show Live and this one should be aired on Channel 5 on Monday the 18th April, be sure to check it out!

Antares To Donate 25% of All Sales From March 20-22

2011-03-21T11:43:00.000Z

Antares Will Donate 25% of All Sales From March 20-22 to Rotary International Japan Relief

Barely a year after last year's devastating Haiti earthquake, the world is once again witnessing a natural disaster of almost unimaginable proportions, this time in Japan. And once again, Antares is partnering with Rotary International to help provide relief though ShelterBox, a Global Rotary Club Project.

And once again, you can help.

For every Antares product sold or upgraded from 12:00 AM Sunday, March 20th through midnight, Tuesday, March 22nd (Pacific Daylight Time), Antares will donate 25% of the purchase price to Rotary International's Japan relief effort. So, if you've been thinking about adding Antares vocal processing plug-ins to your system, or upgrading to the latest versions of Auto-Tune 7, AVOX Evo, or Harmony Engine Evo, now is definitely the time.

Here's how to make sure your purchase in Sonic8 territories counts:

Products purchased at Antares dealers or via our website

Fax or email a scan of your dated sales receipt to Antares by March 25, 2010.

- Fax your receipt to: (001) 831 461 7801

- Email a scan of your receipt in JPG or PDF format to japan_relief@antarestech.com

Again, this program applies to every Antares product or upgrade purchased from Sunday, March 20th through Tuesday, March 22nd. Not only will you be getting world-class vocal processing tools, but you'll be providing desperately needed help to Japan earthquake survivors. It's a true win-win proposition.

Sonic8 Win Antares' International Distributor of the Year Award

2011-01-25T15:10:00.000Z

Sonic8 Limited have been crowned with the prestigious title, for our work in 2010, after beating a whole host of companies from Asia, Europe, The Middle East and beyond..

Sonic8's Robert Morgan-Males stated: "We are very proud to have received this award and will continue to develop the Antares brand throughout all our territories in 2011."

Sonic8 and Dr Andy - (From L-R)
Stephen Helm, Bruno Wynants, Robert Morgan-Males and Dr Andy Hilderbrand

Antares have gone from strength to strength throughout 2010 with the release of Auto-Tune 7 and a whole host of EFX branded products.

For more information on Antares products check out the Antares Page at www.sonic8.com

Pianoteq Pro receives the EM 2011 Editors Choice Award for Most Innovative Product

2011-01-21T12:03:00.000Z

Sonic8 Limited are proud to announce that Pianoteq Pro has received the Electronic Musician 2011 Editors Choice Award for Most Innovative Product...

Check out what they have to say about it here:

Pianoteq Pro receives the EM 2011 Editors Choice Award for Most Innovative Product

Or for more info on Pianoteq products check out the Pianoteq page at www.sonic8.com

Morpheus Announce The BOMBER

2011-01-18T13:52:00.000Z

Well we're back from NAMM and, boy have we got some hot news!

First up: Brand new from Morpheus.....

The BOMBER pedal features cutting-edge pitch-shifting technology that lets you perform deep dive bombs and full chordal whammy-bar string bending, as well as a number of other tricks. With surprising accuracy, the BOMBER "bends" all your strings, and you can select a range from two octaves up all the way to five octaves down by using the thoughtful pedal layout.

Morpheus BOMBER Features:

Pitch-shifting pedal for deep dive bombing
Select from two octaves up to five octaves down
Full chordal bending effect with surprising accuracy

Yea baby!!

Check out the morpheus guitar effects page at www.sonic8.com for more info and pricing..

MORPHEUS DropTune Update

2011-01-06T11:15:00.000Z

Morpheus are offering a free firmware update for their hugely successful DropTune pedal. DropTune V1.2 makes the groundbreaking polyphonic pitch drop technology even better, with more punch, clarity and realism than ever before. All that's needed is a PC, a USB cable, a DropTune pedal and the Morpheus DropTune Update1.2.exe to kick the DropTune pedal into high gear.

Droptune Baby!

The upgrade is available free at http://www.morpheusefx.com right now!

All Morpheus pedals come with a USB port, allowing for continual upgrades as Morpheus engineers make them available. With Morpheus, a guitarist's pedal will never be outdated.

For more info on the DropTune check out the Morpheus Drop Tune Pedal page at www.sonic8.com

Drumagog 5 receives MusicTech Choice Award

2010-12-22T11:20:00.001Z

Drumagog has always been a product championed by professionals but the new version 5 of the software is now receiving critical acclaim from the press and has won this month's MusicTech magazine's Choice Award.

It's host of new features, improved interface and exceptional sound quality have led MusicTech's reviewer, Mark Cousins, to state: "Drumagog 5 is easily the most accurate and effective drum replacement tool available" - High praise indeed!

Now, while this is no new news to us it's nice to see it in black and white, especially when it's lauded as "an essential tool for anyone working with drum kit recordings". Nice!

Check out the full review in this month's MusicTech or get the lowdown from the Sonic8 Drumagog 5 page - You can also purchase from there or from your local dealer.

iLok2 Now Available

2010-11-30T14:41:00.000Z

Sonic8 Limited are proud to announce the release of iLok2 the new version of the iLok.

iLok2 is smaller than the original iLok. It’s shiny, sleek, and black with a bright blue LED band that lights up when it is plugged in to a working USB port. It’s stronger, more durable, and typically holds over 5 times the licenses. If you’re more into form factor, it’s shiny and has a cool blue light!

iLok2 was designed to meet the increasingly sophisticated demands of both users and software publishers and has addressed issues raised by users to create the ultimate in copy protection.

The iLok2 typically holds over 500 licenses but depending on the type of licenses you own, the iLok2 may hold far more. With this increase in capacity, you can carry more licenses with you than ever before.

With iLok2 you can have both original iLoks and iLok2’s in your account (at www.iLok.com) at the same time. The new version is backward-compatible with the original iLok, the only exception is the discontinued License Card slot. You can download new licenses and move licenses between iLoks of either type registered to your account using iLok.com's Move Licenses utility. You can also transfer licenses from either type of iLok to a different iLok.com account using the Transfer Licenses utility, subject to software publisher restrictions.

iLok2 can be protected with Zero Downtime protection just like the original iLok.

iLok2 features:
• Typically 5 times the number of licenses of the original iLok.
• A smaller size (as requested by users), iLoks can now be inserted side by side in adjacent USB ports.
• Even tougher construction.
• Customization. You can add your own custom labelling underneath a protective sleeve. Add stickers, photos etc. It’s your iLok, customize it! You can download templates to make your own custom labels from iLok.com

iLok2 represents a significant step forward in protection for software licenses and is now even more portable, convenient and durable than ever before.

Sonic8 Limited - Professional Audio Distribution

Sonic8 Limited Distribute Gen16 by Zildjian

2010-11-26T14:47:00.000Z

Sonic8 Limited are proud to announce that we've recently been appointed distributor of the Gen16 range of products by Zildjian.

Gen16 is the home of the most groundbreaking acoustic-electric percussion products – advanced music and sound technologies that enhance the quality of musicians' life through better performance, recording, and teaching tools.

Zildjian call these products Intelligent Percussion.

Gen16's Intelligent Percussion is a new generation of tools and technologies. Gen16 users include not just drummers and percussionists, but also artists and musicians, producers and engineers, educators, students and hobbyists. Gen16 Intelligent Percussion is equally at home in live performance, recording and project studios, film and TV composition, houses of worship and other multi-media oriented fields.

While electronic drums and drum sampling software are not new, Gen16's Intelligent Percussion takes these genres to an entirely new level. Gen16 products will fundamentally change the ways in which musicians approach and interact with acoustic and electronic percussion. In short, Gen16 Intelligent Percussion will change the way you think about making music.

For more information on the available products check out the Gen16 page at www.sonic8.com

Raffle Raffle Raffle

2010-11-26T14:34:00.000Z

Sonic8 Limited provided the prizes for the Raffle at the Music Producers Guild AGM this year.

The winners walked away with Synth Squad and BFD2 with B.O.M.B. from FXpansion. Along with quality products from other manufacturers.

From left to right the raffle winners were...

Andrew Hunt, Tony Platt, Sarah Yule (on behalf of Haydn Bendall), Paul Smith and Phil Da Costa.

We wish all the winners the very best and hope that Tony who won the Synth Squad (and has worked with AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Bob Marley) and Paul who won the BFD's can make good use of them on their next productions.

Antares Mic Mod EFX

2010-11-19T12:12:00.000Z

Here at Sonic8 we like superb products and we like to think we've got a fair few.. We uses them and abuse them just to see what they can do.

Every now and then a product comes along that makes us stand back and say "WOW!" MicMod EFX is one of those products...

If you've no idea what Mic Mod is then here's the lowdown:

Mic Mod EFX is a Classic Microphone Modeler

In essence if you've ever wished for an extensive collection of exotic mics but shuddered at the cost, then Mic Mod EFX is the plug-in for you as it can make the mics you own can sound like the mics you wish you owned!

Mic Mod EFX uses Anatres' Spectral Shaping Tool technology, they've've created precise digital models of over 120 mics, including a wide variety of desireable classic and exotic microphones. Just tell Mic Mod EFX what microphone you are actually using and what microphone you'd like it to sound like and boom! Instant classic! It's as simple as that.

For more detailed information on what it can do check out the Mic Mod EFX page on our website. Or get over to your local Antares Dealer

If thst wasn't enough to whet your appetite we're offering it for the introductory price of £89.99 (down from £119.99) until 31st of December..

The "Don't Sue Us!" Disclaimer: All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The manufacturer names and model designations are used solely to identify the microphones analyzed in the development of our digital models and do not in any way imply any association with or endorsement by any of the named manufacturers. This product is not guaranteed to produce, and will not necessarily produce, audio results that are consistent with or match audio results that could be achieved using any of the referenced microphone models.

Get Auto-Tune EFX at a great Low Price

2010-10-05T16:18:00.000+01:00

We've Lowered the MSRP of Auto-Tune EFX for the Month of October. See Your Antares Dealer to Pick Up Your Copy at the Lowest Price Ever.

For the month of October, we've temporarily lowered the MSRP of Auto-Tune EFX, making what was already a great value absolutely irresistible. Just head on down to your local Antares dealer and pick up a copy of Auto-Tune EFX for as low as £75 (estimated street price in the UK).

Auto-Tune EFX is the quickest, easiest, most affordable tool for real-time pitch correction and creating the signature vocal sound of our time, the Auto-Tune Vocal Effect (the T‑Pain/Cher‑style effect).

Powered by the same ground-breaking Evo™ Voice Processing Technology as Antares' industry-standard Auto‑Tune Evo, Auto‑Tune EFX makes genuine Antares pitch processing accessible to anyone engaged in computer-based audio recording.

You can learn more about Auto-Tune EFX here. Then visit your Antares dealer and get your own copy at a great low price. Remember, this deal is only available for the month of October, so don't procrastinate.

Come and meet Sonic8 at Producer Sessions Live

2010-09-20T18:11:00.000+01:00

Sonic8 willl be at the new Producer Sessions Live event held at SAE college in London this weekend. On the 25th and 26th you can come and see us, alongside FXpansion and Rebeat Digital, exhibiting our latest products and giving exclusive demonstrations.

Over the two days at SAE audio engineering school in London, Producer Sessions Live will be hosting intimate production tutorials and lectures from some of the biggest names in Electronic music. They’ll be deconstructing their tracks, taking questions and giving you expert tips.

The current list of confirmed artists are:

Nu:Tone
James Hockley
Steve Mac
Jon Carter & Alex Blanco
Sharooz
Freemasons
Dave Spoon
Tommy D
Danny Byrd

And others yet to be confirmed

Daily Express Auto-Tune video featuring Sonic8

2010-08-25T13:26:00.001+01:00

As distributors of Antares Auto-Tune, Sonic8 are often called upon to answer questions regarding this industry standard application but it's unusual to catch us on camera....

In this article and video by the Daily Express we see Director Robert Morgan-Males interviewed at The Limehouse Recording Studio, London while reporter Sophie Donnelly tries her hand at using Auto-Tune with Del Gibbons at the controls.

Check out the results here

Auto-Tune Gate!

2010-08-24T11:10:00.001+01:00

The scandall that's rocked the TV talent show world has spilled over to the mainstream media, even Jon Snow's having a go at using Auto-Tune himself now.. And he's actually not that bad... Simon Cowell, you might have a new contestant!

This one doesn't look like it's going away in a hurry. The Xfactor boss was quoted in the Daily Mirror saying that 'the sh** has hit the fan' and was "shocked about the fans' reaction and wanted to do something straight away" so has banned the use of the product on the XFactor...

Will we now get an idea how bad (or good) they really are... Will this mean the end for the X Factor brand now the public have lost confidence? Who knows!

Sonic8 Limited have even been interviewed about the issue this week, acting as a voice of reason our director Robert Morgan-Males stated on the PM show on Radio 4 " about 90% of chart material may have been auto-tuned but it's used so subtley that you'd not notice it".

Robbie Williams and wife Ayda Field

Even Robbie Williams has been quoted saying "Everybody uses Auto-Tune these days. Have you got a spellcheck on your computer? Why, can't you spell?"

We'll be posting the rest of the fall-out from this as develops....

The Auto Tune X Factor

2010-08-23T15:38:00.000+01:00

According to the BBC today X Factor bosses have admitted using vocal enhancement processes on the hit ITV talent show.

Artists such as Gamu Nhengu, G&S and Shirleena Johnson all show signs of "autotune moments" according to Future Music editor Daniel Griffiths.

As the UK, Ireland, Benelux, Iberia and DACH distributors of Auto Tune, Sonic8 Limited are keeping a close eye on this story as it unfolds.

Click here for the full story about the X Factor Auto Tune episode from the BBC

Or click here for Sky news' take on the XFactor Auto Tune issue

Click here to check Gamu Nhengu's performance for yourself. You'll also see a post by a disgruntled viewer saying:

"Cannot believe they autotuned her, listen to the words 'door' and 'telephone' and its very clear. Shes so good aswell, but obviously the producers of xfactor didnt think she was good enough..."

It's going to be interesting to watch the fallout from this and we'll keep you posted on the developments.

Bias Sizzling Summer Specials

2010-07-27T11:58:00.000+01:00

BIAS have launched four compelling new promos for the long hot summer (fingers crossed). The promos entail additional free product at no charge when you purchase select BIAS products between July 10 and August 31, 2010. Simply use the online rebate form to request your free product, and it'll be delivered as a download:

Buy Peak Pro 6 - Get Free DDP Export

Customers purchasing new retail editions of Peak Pro 6 — the award-winning audio editing, mastering, and delivery application exclusively for Mac OS X — are eligible to receive a free DDP Export Extension. The Disc Description Protocol (DDP) Export extension allows fully compliant DDP 2 files sets to be exported directly from Peak Pro 6. This valuable addition ensures accurate reproduction of pre-masters designed for commercial replication as well as compatibility with high-end digital audio workstations and CD replication systems used by major labels and production studios worldwide.

Download rebate form

Buy Peak LE 6 - Get Free SoundSoap LE

Peak LE 6 offers many core features from the award winning stereo recording, editing, CD mastering, and delivery software exclusive for Mac OS X. Customers purchasing new retail editions of Peak LE 6 will be eligible to receive a special edition of SoundSoap — our popular audio restoration plug-in — at no additional charge for a limited time. SoundSoap LE offers the same audio cleaning power as the standard edition, while its compatibility is simply limited to running within Peak on Mac OS X. The addition of SoundSoap LE makes Peak LE 6 an amazing value for an all in one Mac-based audio restoration and mastering suite. Whether restoring recordings from vinyl LPs and tapes, cleaning up audio from an iLife project, authoring loops, editing dialog, or mastering songs — Peak LE and SoundSoap LE deliver quality results at an unparalleled price.

Download rebate form

Buy SoundSoap Pro 2 - Get Master Perfection Suite Free (or vice-versa)

Customers purchasing SoundSoap Pro 2 or Master Perfection Suite — both powerful audio plug-in suites for AU, RTAS/AS, and VST hosts on Mac and Windows — may receive the complementing product at no additional charge. SoundSoap Pro 2 is the critically acclaimed high-end edition of the company's popular SoundSoap audio restoration software and features additional parameter controls while integrating four comprehensive restoration tools in a single plug-in — including adaptive noise reduction (ANR), a powerful broadband dynamic noise reduction technology added in version 2 and lacking in most competing solutions.
Master Perfection Suite is a powerful collection of six plug-ins designed for mixing, mastering, and sound design including; Reveal (7-tool analysis suite), Sqweez-3 & -5 (linear-phase multi-band dynamics), Repli-Q (linear-phase spectral matching), PitchCraft (pitch correction/transposition), SuperFreq (4,6,8 & 10-band paragraphic EQ), and GateEx (gate with downward expander). The combination of SoundSoap Pro and Master Perfection Suite at effectively 50% off represents an astonishing value for anyone interested in enhancing their audio production workflow.

Download rebate form

Buy Any Single MPS Plug-in, Get One Free

All six plug-ins from Master Perfection Suite are also available separately — customers purchasing any one of them may receive an additional single Master Perfection Suite plug-in of equal or lesser value at no additional charge through this special promo for a limited time.

Download rebate form

For more information on these deals please contact your local BIAS dealer or go to the BIAS product page at www.sonic8.com

Auto-Tune hits the big Time!

2010-03-30T13:02:00.000+01:00

We just heard that TIME magazine have selected "Auto-Tune the News" as one of the all-time top 50 YouTube videos. You can reorganize the list, so make sure to check it out!

Auto-Tune The News in Time Magazine

Elektron Announce Octatrack — Creative & Timeless Sampling

2010-03-25T14:40:00.001Z

Announced at Music Messe this week is the long anticipated new unit from Elektron:

The Octatrack is designed to revolutionize the concept of sampling. Recording sounds is a breeze thanks to the intuitive user interface, but the fun really starts once the samples are inside the machine. Loops are now completely elastic. Cut up and rearrange them in real time. They will always stay in sync no matter if they are pitch shifted or if the tempo of the sequencer is changed. Single sounds can be molded into any shape or form. The static nature of samples is finally a thing of the past.

The Compact Flash card allows for huge amounts of samples to be constantly accessible. The USB port is ideal when transfering sample libraries between your computer and the Octatrack. The optical fader can be assigned to any of the parameters, adding a wealth of live control possibilities.

Specifications
8 stereo tracks | 4 audio inputs | 4 audio outputs | Separate Headphone Output | USB 2.0 port | Compact Flash Card Reader | Optical Fader | Improved Elektron Sequencer | Realtime pitch shift and time stretch | Real Time Sampling | 2 Effect blocks per track

Sonic8 Take on E-MU distribution.

2010-03-10T09:29:00.002Z

Sonic8 Limited would like to announce that we have just been appointed UK and Ireland distributors of e-mu systems.

E-MU Systems are renowned worldwide for their samplers and their use of sampling and digital audio technologies. They are a leading developer of digital audio products to serve musicians and audio professionals. They design and manufacture audio/MIDI interfaces, software instruments, USB/MIDI controllers and powered reference monitors, many of which make use of proprietary VLSI/Chip technology and E-MU's advanced software algorithms.

Some folks think E-MU Systems was born in the early eighties in an old Victorian house in, California. In fact, E-MU Systems was started in 1971, in a fifties-era house a few blocks away. The story goes that they decided to try to build their own synthesizer and the electronics suppliers kept asking for a company name, so they decided on E-MU Systems (pronounced 'Ee-myoo'), which of course are the first syllables in 'Electronic Music'.

E-MU's very first prototype was called the Black Mariah and in the summer of 1972, E-MU moved to Santa Clara and officially opened its doors. It was April of 1973 when the first E-MU modular synthesizer was sold. It wasn’t until 1981 when the Emulator I started E-MU down a long and storied road of digital instruments and technologies that continue to be developed to this day. Many of these instruments, like the SP-1200 and Proteus 1, have fundamentally changed the way the world makes music today, and E-MU continues to develop new products and technologies that will inspire great music into the future.

Click here a product history timeline

Sonic8 Limited are proud to be working alongside such an innovative manufacturer who have pushed the boundaries of electronic music and recording for so long.

CME RELEASE BITSTREAM 3X IVORY

2010-03-08T14:38:00.000Z

CME has marked the success of the Bitstream 3X by launching a 'new look'
version in Ivory which will be displayed on CME's booth at Musikmesse.
Bitstream 3X is renowned for its stable operation and CME are offering a 3
year warranty on Bitstream 3X Ivory. Production starts immediately.

......................................................
"3X" stands for "3 Axis" because the Bitstream 3X features full control over
three different Axes - X, Y and Z. A joystick allows control over two (X and
Y), while a ribbon controller is used for the Z axis.

The Bitstream 3X Ivory is fully programmable and is perfect for controlling
Virtual Instruments, DAW, and other MIDI hardware. This compact desk-top
unit includes 35 knobs, 8 sliders, 16 buttons, a joystick a cross-fader and
infra-red controller. It includes more than 13,000 presets for popular
samplers, synthesizers, and software including Propellerheads Reason and
Rebirth, Steinberg Cubase, Ableton Live, Native Instruments Reaktor,
Traktor, Kontakt, and Absynth, Fruity Loops and more. An 8 track motion
sampler, transport functions, and a large LCD display round out this
versatile unit.

Digital DJ's will love the MIDI Cross fader and the 8 track motion sampler
allows automated recording of the movements of the knobs, joystick, cross
fader and ribbon controller.

CME Bitstream 3x Super MIDI controller is now compatible with Windows 7

2010-01-26T20:45:00.001Z

The CME Bitstream 3x Super MIDI controller has now been tested under the Windows 7 Operating System.

CME have confirmed that trials have been successfully carried out.

Bitstream 3x is a totally unique programmable MIDI controller with 35 knobs, eight sliders, 16 buttons, a joystick, a crossfader and a ribbon controller, the Bitstream 3X is the only 3-axis (X, Y, and Z) controller. You'll have total hands-on control of your DAW software and MIDI hardware.

CME Bitstream 3X MIDI Controller Features:

Hands-on MIDI controls
Unique dual-axis analog joystick, ribbon controller, and crossfader
35 knob, 8 sliders, 16 buttons
Transport functions
Automated MIDI controls
Built-in programmable LFO
8-track motion sampler for recording all controller movements
Enhanced arpeggiator
Large backlit graphic display
13,000 presets for a huge variety of synths and software
USB compatible
100 snapshot scenes

Sontronics 5th ANNIVERSARY & 5 NEW PRODUCTS FOR NAMM 2010

2010-01-25T11:13:00.000Z

The 2010 NAMM Show saw the fifth anniversary of British microphone brand Sontronics, who released five new products as well as plenty of positive news.

Sontronics are distributed by Sonic8 in Benelux where their popularity is growing and growing.

"It's been a great year for Sontronics," says Sontronics founder, designer and MD Trevor Coley, "and we've seen fantastic growth, The brand is getting more recognition all round the world thanks to great support from our worldwide distributors and from the MI press."

After five years of success, Sontronics continues to grow with the release of 5 new products:

• SATURN multi-pattern condenser,
• STC-10 pencil condenser,
• STC-20 large-diaphragm condenser,
• STC-2X omni/cardioid condenser
• ST-PAD/PHASE inline switch

Like all of Sontronics' microphones, they have been designed and developed in the UK and, unlike many NAMM announcements, they'll all be in the shops within a couple of months.

"SATURN is the big news and it certainly turned plenty of heads at the NAMM Show," says Trevor. "It's inspired by the classic vocal mics of the 1940s and 50s, and while I originally designed it for vocals, it actually gives brilliant results on anything you put it in front of. It's been road-tested over the last year by various artists, producers and educators including Flood and Alan Moulder, and everyone's said it's an incredible all-rounder."

The other new mics are inspired by two Sontronics best-sellers, the STC-1 pencil condenser and STC-2 large-diaphragm condenser. "These continue to be popular," begins Trevor, "but we wanted to create something even more affordable. The STC-10 and STC-20 give users the first-class sound reproduction and top-quality build they associate with Sontronics products combined with a realistic price they can afford.
"At the same time I also wanted to push the potential of STC-2 so we've created the STC-2X featuring cardioid AND omnidirectional polar patterns plus a two-stage pad (-10/-20dB) and a two-stage filter (75/150Hz)." Available in silver or black, the STC-2X comes with a shockmount in an aluminium flightcase.

Sontronics has also released a four-pack of its most popular mic, the STC-80 dynamic. "We found that many users were buying four or five STC-80s to use for vocals and guitar amps on stage and in the studio," explains Trevor, "so to save people carrying four flightcases around, we now do a set of four STC-80s in a single flightcase with an extra saving on the full price."

Finally, Sontronics has launched the ST-PAD/PHASE switch. "We know some people using our ribbon mics have needed an attentuation control when miking very loud sound sources, especially if they don't have the feature on a desk or audio interface. The ST-PAD/PHASE is an inline switch with two -10dB attenuation/pad controls (giving a total of -20dB) plus a 180° phase invert control, useful for dual-miking snare drums.

Five years of success and five new products (with more to come later in the year) all add up to being a fantastic year for the British mic brand that everyone's talking about!