Korg has just released version 2.0 of the operating system for their Pa2X/Pa800, the company’s most powerful arranger keyboards. The new OS is a free download for registered owners from Korg’s website, and it can be easily installed by the user. This new operating system includes important new features and enhancements, such as the extraordinary DNC (Defined Nuance Control), a Score Viewer, a powerful Search function, and much more.
- Defined Nuance Control (DNC) is a significant advancement in both sound generation and performance control. By assigning special articulations, noises, and nuances to a physical control or playing style, users can increase the realism of their sounds. By playing legato, users can call up a different sound, or they can use aftertouch or the joystick to add breath noise and harmonics. They can also let the Pa automatically cycle between slightly different samples, to add timbral variety. A set of new sounds and performances has been added to make full use of the new DNC features and to serve as an example for users to do their own programming.
- The Score Viewer displays any track in traditional musical notation, with notes or chords together with lyrics and chord abbreviations. Chord names can also be seen in different languages. For music learners, Korg also added a function to show note names next to each note.
Ableton announced that it has updated its hugely popular Live software to version 7.0.12. Among the improvements/enhancements is MIDI control surface support for the Alesis Master Control and the Vestax VCM 600. Bug fixes include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Operator’s voice stealing now works properly.
- Under certain conditions, an empty MIDI effects rack could’ve lead to audio drop-outs. This has been corrected.
- The “Rename” command for an Impulse slot is now available via the Context menu.
- A copied or moved Reverb now properly shows the correct curve, with Diffusion Network enabled.
- After successfully installing content packages, a dialog no longer shows a message about a failed installation.
- A copied or moved Tension instrument would not show the correct filter curve. This has been corrected.
- Dragging a particular chain from a Drum Rack into “empty” Arranger space no longer crashes Live.
- In Windows Vista, resizing the main window no longer flickers heavily if AERO was enabled. Also, locking the computer or coming back from a screen saver no longer temporarily disables AERO.
- In Mac OS X, the functionality to ask the AU plug-in for its supported formats now works properly.
Apple has just released Pro Applications Update 2008-04, which also includes an update for Final Cut Pro (to version 6.0.5). The Pro Applications Update improves reliability for Apple’s professional applications and is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio. It also addresses general performance issues and improves overall stability. Applications included in the update are: Final Cut Pro 6.0.5, Compressor 3.0.5, Color 1.0.3, and Shake 4.1.1.
Final Cut Pro v6.0.5 Release Notes:
- Improved high-precision rendering: If you render sequences using the high-precision video processing setting, updating to Final Cut Pro 6.0.5 assures improved reliability when rendering still images and footage in high-resolution formats.
- There is now extended metadata support for the Panasonic AG-HMC150 camcorder: Final Cut Pro 6.0.5 captures the additional metadata for footage recorded in the AVCHD format.
- There is improved support for the Panasonic HDC-SD9 camcorder: Final Cut Pro 6.0.5 provides enhanced precision and reliability when ingesting files from the HDC-SD9.
- There is improved support for Metadata imported from P2 Cards.