Z3TA+ 2 has been making a lot of noise lately and continues to be a favorite with critics and users all over the world. If you haven’t tried Z3TA+ 2 yet, you are missing out on one of the greatest synths of all-time. MusicRadar.com did a round-up of the 39 best plug-in synths in the world and Z3TA+ 2 came in at #13.
Now through June 30th, we are sweetening the deal even more for Rapture, Dimension, and Studio Instruments users. Regularly $99, you can download Z3TA+ 2 today for only $69/£55/€69 – get 30% off the price.
Z3TA+ 2 features 1000 new sounds from top sound designers including:
If there is anything the Cakewalk crew likes as much as music, it’s computer technology. So, as you might imagine, we have more than our fair share of hardcore PC gamers.
When the Cakewalk gamers found out that Steam (the enormous video game platform by Valve) was opening up to offer other computer software, we became hell-bent on being the first major music software on board. And that day has finally come!
Music Creator 6 Touch is a great fit for Steam users and anybody looking to get started making music with fun, powerful, and inexpensive recording software. Music Creator 6 Touch makes it easy to create original music with no musical experience required. Music Creator has all the tools, loops, instruments, and FX needed to create, edit, and mix music, transforming any Windows 7 or 8 computer into a music studio. Musician’s can share music with the world by burning a CD or using SoundCloud to post music on Facebook and Twitter.
Music Creator 6 Touch was previously available as a download from Cakewalk’s store for $49.99/£39.99/€49.99, and now it makes its debut on Steam. Created by Valve, makers of best-selling game franchises like Portal and Counter-Strike, Steam has more than 50 million users around the world and offers more than 2,000 titles. And the folks at Valve could not be cooler.
They let us have a little fun recreating the song “Want you gone” from the Portal 2 video game in Music Creator for the new Music Creator 6 Touch video. Check it out!
We are pleased to announce that we have updated the ProChannel Pack to include the new CA-2A T-Type Leveling Amplifer.
Through May 23rd, you can download the new ProChannel Pack for only $149/£119/€149 (regular price if purchased separately is $276). Here’s everything you get with the ProChannel Pack:
CA-2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier: Faithfully modeled after one of the most sought after studio compressors in history, the CA-2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier puts the silky, smooth sound of this highly desirable unit right into SONAR X1 Producer Expanded or SONAR X2 Producer. It includes a VST and ProChannel version.
ProChannel Concrete Limiter: Tame rogue peaks and get punchier, in your face, mixes with the ProChannel Concrete Limiter. Advanced DSP combines highly transparent, look-ahead, limiting with low-latency performance and is suitable for peak limiting of individual tracks and level maximization of mix buses.
PC4K S-Type Expander/Gate: Expertly crafted by the Cakewalk DSP team, this ProChannel module rounds out our legendary, vintage-style, ProChannel modeling. The PC4K S-Type Expander / Gate Module features a classic design providing gate function to remove unwanted sound from a signal and upward expansion, employed by countless engineers to expand the dynamics of vocals and instruments.
PC4K S-Type Channel Compressor: A must-have addition to your effects arsenal, the new PC4K S-Type Channel Compressor adds vintage-era, console-style, channel compression to every ProChannel strip in SONAR X1 Producer Expanded and SONAR X2 Producer.
Attention UK customers: We have set-up an amazing offer through June 30th (or while supplies last). When you buy any qualifying Roland hardware, you can add SONAR X2 Studio for only £59. SONAR X2 Studio is a fully-featured DAW that includes all the tools, instruments and FX needed to create professional-sounding music. It’s the perfect partner to your new Roland hardware, especially when you can buy it for just £59, saving £140 on the normal price.
Visit the Roland UK Blog to learn more about this special offer
Free Platinum Samples Rock Legends Kit 3 with SONAR X2 Producer
Now through June 30th, all customers who purchase or upgrade to SONAR X2 Producer will receive the new Platinum Samples Rock Legend Kit 3 free as part of the SONAR X2 Producer Content Club May-June giveaway. This kit was recorded by Grammy nominated recording engineer Rail Jon Rogut whose credits include Meshell Ndegeocello, Ry Cooder and Michael Jackson. Designed for Session Drummer 3 and Dimension Pro, this expansion kit was recorded via a classic Neve 80 series console, Sontec Equalizers and a Fairchild 670. Microphones used included Telefunken ELA M 251’s on the Overheads and the Floor Toms, AKG C12A’s on the Rack Toms & Neumann M49’s on the Stereo Room.
The free Rock Legends Kit 3 is a natural ambient kit with a shank style hi-hat. Rock Legends Kit 3 is a larger, roomier version of the kit with a different Crash 1 and additional EQ and compression on the Kick, Snare & Toms. The free Rock Legends Kit 3 only has 2 round robins with 16 velocity levels.
Highlights:
125th Aniv. Limited Edition Gretsch Rock Legend drum kit.
Played with metal tip sticks.
Recorded using vintage Neve, Sontec, Fairchild gear and Telefunken, AKG and Neumann microphones.
If you already own SONAR X2 Producer, your free download is now available on your My Account page on the Cakewalk Store.
Music Creator 6 Touch makes it fun and easy to create original music or remix your favorite songs – with no musical experience required. Transform any Windows 7 or 8 computer into your own personal music studio. Music Creator has all the tools, loops, instruments, and FX you need to create, edit, and mix great music. And when you’re ready to share your music with the world, you can burn a CD or use SoundCloud to post your music on Facebook and Twitter.
Music Creator 6 Touch also adds touch support for Intel-inspired Ultrabooks and other Windows 8 touch enabled devices. Use the same multi-touch gestures you’ve grown accustomed to on your smartphone to interact with Music Creator 6 Touch.
Highlights
NEW! Seamlessly create, record, edit, and mix your music using the award-winning Skylight user interface – with over 100 enhancements
Get creative with 32 audio tracks and 128 instrument tracks
NEW! A complete backing band – features 6 virtual instruments including Studio Instruments (Bass, Drums, Electric Piano, and Strings)
All the must-have FX including Reverb, EQ, more
NEW! Plug-in your guitar and get incredible sounds using the Overloud TH2 Creator amp sim
NEW! Create beats and drum tracks with the integrated Step Sequencer
Trigger audio and MIDI loops using the Matrix View for real-time performance and remixing
Easily drag and drop loops, instruments, FX, and project templates from the built-in Browser
NEW! Windows 7 and 8 support
NEW! Use any Windows 8 touch enabled device and interact directly with the software using your hands (touch device not required to use the software)
Save more with new bundles: You can get even more value and savings when you purchase Music Creator 6 Touch bundles which include Music Creator 6 Touch plus additional sound packs.
Save over 50% off the exclusive PSP Pack for Cakewalk customers
We have partnered up with PSPaudioware to bring you an amazing, limited-time offer. Through May 23rd you can download the exclusive PSP Pack, created just for Cakewalk customers.
PSP 3-Pack:
PSP VintageWamer2 (reg $149): a high-quality digital simulation of an analog-style, a single- or multi-band compressor/limiter. It combines rich, warm analog processing with a straightforward user interface, and comes with a comprehensive library of presets. The plug-in processor is highly flexible and can be used for both softknee compression and brick-wall limiting. This makes it an essential tool for mixing and mastering engineers.
PSP BussPressor (reg $99): a compressor optimized for group and master buss processing. It combines the sound of classic VCA compression with wide tuning capabilities. Extra controls allow you to adjust a side chain high pass filter or apply parallel compression.
PSP RetroQ (reg $59): a unique take on a musical equalizer with unique sonic character and low phase distortion. This makes RetroQ sound smooth and musically natural. It’s shelf filters are based on fabulous-sounding VintageWarmer’s filters, and PSP RetroQ’s addition of a mid-range filter is designed using the same internal architecture.
Regularly $307 when purchased separately, you can download all three for only $149!
Last day: Save 15% off anything at the Cakewalk Store thru April 30th
Enjoy incredible savings from now through the end of April. Just use the promo code APRIL2013 to take an additional 15% off every product at the Cakewalk Store. Get instant savings on anything we offer including SONAR X2 upgrades, videos, instruments, FX, expansion packs, and much more.
Last day: Huge savings on X2 Producer: Plus get 3 amazing products free
You can download SONAR X2 Producer today and save 15% off the regular price. SONAR X2 Producer has been completely redesigned to streamline the music production process. We’ve updated the Skylight user interface with over 100 enhancements. We’ve added a modular ProChannel and a Console Emulator to the mixing console making it easier to achieve great sounding mixes. Editing is now far more intuitive with the improved Smart Tool and new Smart Grid. And we’ve also included many new plug-ins like BREVERB SONAR, TH2 Producer Amp Sim, R-MIX, Rapture, and more.
SONAR X2 has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the press and user community. Future Music magazine raved that, “working in SONAR X2 feels so natural and intuitive.” Sound on Sound magazine endorses this upgrade stating, “for existing SONAR users, this is undoubtedly a worthwhile upgrade.”
In addition, when you upgrade to SONAR X2 Producer today, you also get 3 free products worth almost $100:
Get up to speed on all the new features with SWA Complete SONAR X2 Video (9 hours)
Get additional sounds with (1) AAS Sound Bank and Player
Get inspiring new FX Chains with the FX Chains Odyssey Pack
Plus use promo code APRIL2013 to get 15% off your already low upgrade price
Below are some of the new features in SONAR X2 Producer:
Skylight enhancements including Auto Zoom, Timeline Zoom and revamped NOW time
Better views including Take Lanes, Clips Pane, PRV, Loop Construction View and Matrix View
Enhanced editing tools including the improved Smart Tool and the new Smart Grid
New Automation Lanes with Latch, Touch, Overwrite, and Punch modes
Buy SONAR X2, get 9 hours of video tutorials for free ($40 value)
SONAR X2 is a huge leap forward in DAW technology. From the Skylight interface, to the Smart Tool, to the ProChannel (Producer Exclusive) – almost every part of SONAR X2 has been enhanced based on feedback from customers and professional users. In addition, SONAR X2 now includes Windows 8 and touch support in all versions, proving once again why SONAR X2 is the best choice for Windows based recording studios.
Don’t take our word for it – SONAR X2 has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the press and user community. Future Music magazine raves that, “working in SONAR X2 feels so natural and intuitive.” Music Tech magazine declares, “it’s a DAW in the truest sense of the description: a complete production environment with a wealth of features that enable you to take your ideas from initial sketches to finished masters – and throws in things like remix and live performance tools to boot.”
There has never been a better time to make the leap to SONAR X2. In the month of April, when you purchase any version of SONAR X2, you will also receive the SWA Complete SONAR X2 video for free ($40 value). Featuring over 9 hours of video tutorials, SWA Complete SONAR X2 offers the most comprehensive look at SONAR X2 to date. Learn more
We all know the feature-set and workflow in SONAR X2 is world-class. It still amazes me that we can make Major Label sounding records in our homes these days as long as you have a good system, good enough ears and some good old fashion knowledge. The one feature I personally love that I think gets overlooked is the FX Chain Preset.
We live in a musical world these days where time is of the essence. While some folks have the luxury of spending as much time as needed on musical works, other folks like myself are not so lucky. I look at it as a balance between creativity/quality vs. time/money. With this being said, the FX Chains Presets have been a life-saver for me.
The beauty of FX Chains is that they are in fact a massive time-saver, but still allow you to get uniquesounds by creating your own effects.
Time-saver:
What starts to happen when you uncap the power of FX Chains? You start to build your own library of Effects where at any given point in time you can simply drag-and-drop a chain on any effect bin, bus, or even clip. For example, let’s say you are working with a certain vocalist/songwriter one week who returns back for another song a month later. If you have saved that vocalist’s chain as an effect chain preset, you can simply drag-and-drop it from the preset folder to the track in this new project. It sounds basic but it’s not; what happens over time is that you develop your own catalogue of multiple effects that are instantly available to you on any project. What is significant, is that these FX Chains presets work with any Cakewalk or third-party plug in your arsenal. Personally speaking, I don’t know what I would do without them after becoming accustomed to their ease of use. I’m constantly fighting for minutes in a day, and having the ability to fire-up FX Chains instantaneously without sacrificing any creativity has been a game-changer. In fact FX Chains presets actually inspire me to create new sounds.
Unique Sounds:
It’s simple to map multiple effects’ parameters to single knobs and switches. The uniqueness comes in to play when you start to automate the knobs and switches to get some interesting sounds. The fact that you can control multiple parameters from a single source opens countless doors of sound-character. For example, the ability to map the “left” and “right” panning sliders to one knob allows me to control where a reverb rests in a mix. Now if you take that one step further by mapping the “left” and “right” pans of a delay to another knob, you can start to split effects’ signals up. An interesting effect from here would be adding a flanger, and mapping its’ depth and speed parameters along with the delay’s feedback parameter to one more knob; so as the delay repeats more and more, the flanger effect becomes more intense.
These are just a few real-world examples of how I find the benefits of FX Chains very useful and practical. SONAR X2 ships with 48 FX Chains in Essential, 76 in Studio, and 160 in Producer. As a bonus for SONAR X2 Producer Content Club members, I’ve created a new set of 15 FX Chains that work particularly well on buses. These can obviously work on tracks as well, but I built them in buses thinking they would work well on spacious recordings that encompass vocals, clean guitars, piano and light drums or percussion. You can experiment with other types of music as well, but I think these are best suited for recordings where there is some room in the mid-range department between 600Hz and 2K.
Some of the highlighted presets in the bonus FX Chain Odyssey pack include: (Please note for demonstration purposes I have turned up the Effect Send considerably on these examples.)
Circus Buzzards – An eerie reverse reverb that is entrenched in a warm overdrive provided by TH2 and finished off with a modulation option.
Panable Ambiance – A great reverb and delay effect for vocals where you can position the reverb in the stereo field.
Smoke Stack – This is basically a button box where I have mapped overdrive parameters, wideners, and modulation to various knobs to create interesting overtones.
How to download the FX Chain Odyssey pack:
If you already own SONAR X2 Producer, the FX Chain Odyssey presets download is already in your account as a bonus treat from the SONAR X2 Producer Content Club. If you purchase or upgrade to SONAR X2 Producer by April 30th, you will be able to download the presets from your account on the Cakewalk Store.
Customize your own FX Chains:
Another cool feature about FX Chains presets is the ability to customize the skin with your own designs. You can add interesting graphics, knobs, switches and background colors to keep your eye and mind fresh for those long mixing sessions.
So with all these components packed into the FX Chains preset feature, it’s easy to get uniquely creative while staying on top of the clock. If you have not done so already, I highly recommend you get acclimated to the world of FX Chains in SONAR X2. Here is a great overview video to get you started.
If there is anything the Cakewalk crew likes as much as music, it’s computer technology. So, as you might imagine, we have more than our fair share of hardcore PC gamers.
We all know the feature-set and workflow in 
