Traktor Kontrol Z2

TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2 puts Native Instrument's most advanced DJ controller in the body of a professional 2+2 channel mixer – TRAKTOR SCRATCH included. This new package includes:
- 2 stand-alone channels + 2 full Remix Channels
- Sturdy aluminum chassis, with Innofaders
- Intuitive control of Macro FX, and Flux Mode

TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2 is the world’s first 2+2 DJ control mixer. Built tough for pro club use, the Z2 excels both as a state-of-the-art club mixer alongside turntables and CDJs, and as the hub of an advanced setup of Remix Decks and controllers.

All-new Macro FX and Flux Mode in the latest TRAKTOR software expand your creative arsenal. And the heavy metal, standard installation-height chassis, sturdy RGB control buttons, and Innofaders assure rock-solid dependability. Whatever your style, however you play, welcome to the future of mixing.

Based on industry-standard DJ mixer design, TRAKTOR KONTROL Z2’s DJ-friendly layout is ergonomic and intuitive for uninterrupted flow from the moment you get your hands on it. A spacious control surface with faders, 3-band EQ section and dedicated chunky filter knob per channel – each in exactly the right place – gives you maximum control.

Additional TRAKTOR rotary encoders for Macro FX and Remix Decks are placed in the Kontrol Section alongside Flux Mode buttons for easy access, and multi-colored cue point trigger buttons allow you to jump through and re-edit your tracks in style.

IDJ PRO

Deck out your iPad for some serious mixing. iDJ Pro from Numark is a professional DJ controller that expands your iPad’s touch interface, seamlessly integrating with Algoriddim's djay for iPad app to form a completely new DJ experience. iDJ Pro features a sleek, brushed aluminum casing and is equipped with all the professional controls you expect, plus some design features and capabilities that will inspire brand-new surges of creativity.
Combining the industry-leading design of Numark DJ controllers with the power of your iPad and Algoriddim's djay app, iDJ Pro puts a dock for iPad at the center of its traditional dual-platter setup, giving you access to your iPad’s touchscreen alongside an expanded layout of physical controls: capacitive touch-sensitive platters, large die-cast aluminum volume knobs, a dedicated music-library scroll knob, plus hot cues, looping, pitch and effect controls. Once your iPad is docked, a latching door provides secure and seamless integration, giving you an intuitive, flexible and powerful DJ system.

DJ IN THE CLOUD
Thanks to your iPad’s wireless capability, you'll have access to virtually any song instantly. iDJ Pro empowers you with access to the cloud, allowing you to download tracks and have them pumping in seconds. And with AirPlay and Bluetooth compatibility, you can blast your set wirelessly through AirPlay or Bluetooth speakers. iDJ Pro comes ready to party with professional microphone and external device inputs as well as balanced XLR master outputs.

Buy 1, Get 1 Free from Best Service!

Buy 1, Get 1 Free! Buy and register select Best Service products between December 20 and January 13 and receive a free Best Service product of equal or lesser value as a free download from Best Service. (See rebate form for details.)

EarMaster 6!

Ear Master 6 is now available!  With lots of new features, this is a great way to improve your musicianship.

Here are some of the many new features:

• New activity: Melodic sight-reading (play or sing a musical phrase as you read it and get instant feedback)
• New activity: Melody playback (play or sing back a musical phrase after hearing it)
• New notation engine with 2 types of notation: classical and jazz
  
• Addition of a vocal range setting in the exercise setup
• New types of interval and chord executions combining harmonic and melodic playing
• New audio detection algorithm provided by Mu Technologies
• New sound playback engine with possibility to load soundfonts
• Revised questioning engine that adapts to the user's score
• More nuanced feedback on user performance
• New options for note articulations (legato, staccato, sustained)
   


- And outside -

• New answering interface: Solfege keyboard
• New streamlined user interface
• Fingerboard interface with 2 options: Rosewood and Maple
  
• New guitar tuner
• Addition of user profiles: Piano or stringed instruments with automatic settings
• And hundreds of many other additions and improvements

Real Guitar On Sale - $189 until the end of December

MusicLab is also getting in the holiday spirit by reducing the price on their RealGuitar 3, Real LPC and RealStrat to $189 until the end of the month. These are also electronic delivery, so you don't have to worry about delivery in time for Christmas. If you are a keyboard player, but need to sound like a guitarist, the Real Guitar series is your answer!

RME & Alva Year End Sale

Until the end of the year, we have a few of RME's top selling products on sale.  If you want the best possible quality, RME is the way to go.

We also have the Alva Nanoface on sale.  The Nanoface is a popular alternative to RME when you want great quality, but need something inexpensive as it strikes an excellent balance between high end and low price.

Notion 4 & Progression 2

Notion 4 has just been announced, with some great new features and a huge price cut! With the new price around $100, it is definitely worth considering Notion for creating music - even if you already love Finale or Sibelius. It is a great tool to consider adding to your arsenal since it sounds great and is easy to use.
The latest version of Notion builds upon Notion's award-winning software foundation with all new possibilities and enhancements. Notion is continuing to redefine the way notation software is used while staying true to the original goals: great playback, a simple easy-to-use interface, great compatibility, and incredible customer service.

Compose, playback, and edit music with a quality and ease of use that must be experienced. No endless level of menus to find what you need. Notion is the most efficient notation product, making it simple to write and edit your ideas quickly.

Notion gives you the best playback of any notation product. Orchestral samples recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. Guitar samples by Neil Zaza, bass samples by Victor Wooten and drum samples by Roy “Futureman” Wooten.

All samples were painstakingly recorded using the best equipment by top engineers recording an array of dynamics, articulations and performance techniques.

No other product allows you to create a score on your desktop and transfer it to your iPad, where you can continue to edit and playback your music. Now, with Notion you can. If you have Notion and the Notion iPad app, you can send and open scores from each device and continue to work on your score, anywhere, anytime.

Now you can enter notes into Notion with the interactive fretboard, keyboard, and drum pad. Many users find it convenient to first capture their pitches or guitar fingerings on an instrument before translating them into notation or tablature. These interactive entry tools allow for a quick, convenient way to build your score. You can customize the number of guitar strings on the fretboard or the order of entry for each voice for the drum pad. Also, use the chord library to enter the chord name or voicing you want to appear in your score. Choose from standard chord symbols and fretted chord symbols.

Notion’s Sequencer Staff feature is loved by many. Now, there is Sequencer Overlay. This is a feature that allows you to see both notation and its MIDI performance on the same staff. You can edit each individual note’s velocity, duration, start-point and end point by simple click and drag functions. For precise values, you can double click each note and enter in the numeric values as well. With this feature, Notion combines the power of the MIDI sequencer with the clarity of standard notation in a unique and powerful way.
Progression 2 (the "light" version of Notion) has also been released for around 1/2 the price of Notion, but to be honest, since Notion 4 is so inexpensive, you should consider paying extra for the full version.

T-Pain Effect - 1/2 price until the end of December

Izotope’s T-Pain Effect is a fun way to make beats, record vocals and share your music.  On sale for 50% off until the end of December, the T-Pain Effect would make a great Christmas gift for any aspiring musician (including yourself!)

 New to making music? In a matter of minutes, The T-Pain Engine will have you arranging beats, recording vocals, and posting your tracks online. More experienced? The T-Pain Engine is the perfect musical sketchpad for getting your creative juices flowing.

Here’s what you can do:
- Make beats: choose from dozens of killer beats, all designed by the pros, or customize your own
- Record vocals: sing, rap, or freestyle, then add the official T-Pain Effect
- Share: post songs for all to hear, straight to the web via SoundCloud

ZKeys Upright Piano & Expansion Kit

Ezkeys is a revolutionary plugin and stand alone instrument that combines a world-class piano player, songwriting partner, arranger and a meticulously sampled instrument - all in one package! Aside from breathtakingly rich tonal qualities, EZkeys allows the user unlimited creativity through its groundbreaking functionality.

EZkeys comes with an extensive MIDI library performed by a professional session pianist. Played with increasing complexity in full song sections and covering all major genres such as Rock, Pop, Country, Gospel, Blues and Funk, this library is not only a creative boost, it’s an untapped source of inspiration for your yet unwritten songs. Drag, drop and lay down the foundation to a track in no time!

EZkeys includes a host of revolutionary and creative songwriting features. Transpose full MIDI tracks on the fly, use the groundbreaking EZkeys Chord Wheel to customize chord voicing and harmonic color with just one mouse-click - and much, much more.

The Ezkeys Upright sound library is a carefully sampled Östlind & Almquist piano and this award winning Swedish brand dates back to late 1800s and delivers a characteristic, rich and warm tone unlike any other instrument of its kind. It was sampled in painstaking detail at a world-class studio using only the best of the best in modern and vintage recording equipment.

Izotope studio tools on sale until the end of December!

Izotope’s popular audio processing software can help improve your recordings and creativity.

The Studio Bundle is only sale for $399 until the end of the month and includes Alloy, Ozone 4 and Nectar.

For only $549, the Studio & Repair Bundle adds the powerful RX2 audio repair tool to the bundle. If you haven’t heard of RX2 yet, be sure to click on the “Downloads” tab on our RX2 page to request the videos – it is an amazing tool!

New Pro Tools 10 Resources

Want to master Pro Tools 10? We have three new Pro Tools 10 resources:

• Pro Tools 10 Course Clips: Featuring more than five hours of step-by-step, hands-on video tutorials, this DVD is proof positive that learning can be both easy and fun. Watch over the shoulder of a Pro Tools expert, and listen and learn as he walks you through the features and functions of the latest version of this popular, creative software. First you'll check out the features new to version 10, then you'll dive in and learn about the workspace browser, recording, editing, instrument tracks, using plug-ins, Beat Detective, mixing, exporting, and much more.
• Pro Tools 10 Advanced Music Production Techniques: the official Avid Learning Series Expert Level guide to the advanced operation of Pro Tools in a professional music production environment. It includes technical insight into both Pro Tools HD and HDX hardware and software, common workflows, and advanced editing and mixing topics. The materials on the supplemental DVD---sample sessions and source files used in the book’s many exercises and projects---help to reinforce the skills being learned.
• Pro Tools 10 Advanced Post Production Techniques: An official Avid Learning Series Expert Level Guide, Pro Tools 10 Advanced Post Production Techniques is the go-to guide focused on advanced operation of Pro Tools 10 in a professional post-production environment. Today's and tomorrow's post engineers simply must know the ins and outs of this popular software---the industry standard---and this book shows the way. It includes technical insights into Pro Tools hardware and software and offers hands-on exercises, discussion of common workflows, and intermediate-advanced topics, detailing how to use a Pro Tools|HD system to record, edit, mix, and output sound for professional film and video applications.

2 for 1 on AAS software synths

From now until January 15th, when you purchase one of the popular Pro Series software instruments from Applied Acoustics, you get one free!

Applied Acoustics makes some of the best sounding and most playable software synths on the market.  Their popular Strum instrument is perfect for adding realistic guitar tracks if you aren't a guitar player, and their Lounge Lizard gives you All the classic electric piano sounds: Rhodes™, Wurlitzer™, RMI™, and Hohner™.

Sibelius 7 Music Notation Essentials

Need some help getting the most out of Sibelius 7? Sibelius 7 Music Notation Essentials provides a thorough introduction to the fundamental operations of Sibelius 7, and lays the foundation for studies at the more advanced levels.

The book is built around five hands-on projects, including an introduction to the Sibelius 7 interface and basic editing operations; setting up a score and entering notes; importing MIDI, MusicXML, lyrics, and more; creating a worksheet; and scoring video. The learning method is tutorial-based, step-by-step, and visually compelling. The projects in the book are fully integrated with the accompanying tutorial videos and include many helpful screenshots and diagrams. On the companion website are 31 tutorial videos in which the author walks you through every key skill learned in each lesson. In addition, the accompanying CD provides you with all of the resources you need to complete the course in Sibelius, plus five extension projects.

Haven't upgraded to Sibelius 7 yet? The upgrade is on sale until December 31st!

Roland Integra-7 Sound Module

It isn't cheap, but with the development of SuperNATURAL sound and Behavior Modeling technology, Roland has blurred the boundary between acoustic and electronic instruments. The new INTEGRA-7 gives musicians a gold mine of the latest SuperNATURAL sounds in a fast-access, fully stocked 16-part module. The powerhouse rack comprises a “greatest hits” collection of sounds from Roland’s flagship keyboards and V-Drums modules, plus a coveted lineup from the legacy SRX library. It also introduces a new technology called Motional Surround, a 17-part ambience engine that lets you graphically control the distance and position of each part within 360-degree sound field. With the immense power of the INTEGRA-7, you can create amazingly realistic and detailed orchestral arrangements, immersive, spatial sounds, and beyond.

Free Peavey ReValver HPse when you purchase Addictive Drums before the end of December!

Free Peavey ReValver HPse when you purchase Addictive Drums before the end of December, plus the price just dropped to $99!  Addictive Drums is a a Complete Drum Production Studio! It has everything you need to add professional drum tracks to your music without being a drummer.

15th Anniversary Sale - 15% off everything on December 4th!

15 Years of Kelly's Music & Computers... 15% off!It is hard to believe that 15 years have gone by since Kelly's Music & Computers first opened for business.  Thanks so much for your support over the years!

We are a small company, and our customers mean a lot to us.  To show our appreciation, we wanted to invite you to a special sale to celebrate our anniversary.

When I started Kelly's Music & Computers way back in 1997, it was out of a desire to help people use music technology.  I couldn't find many companies back then that knew about music & computers.  So, while I was a student in my final year of a music education degree, I set out to become an expert and share my knowledge by establishing Kelly's Music & Computers. 

A lot has changed since our first website, but I still have the same passion today that I did 15 years ago.  Although I'm not teaching in a classroom, I'm still helping to educate our customers every day and I provide on-site and on-line training to help music teachers around the world use music technology .  We've answered over 40,000 questions about music & computers.  Perhaps that's the key to our success - focusing on helping our customers instead of selling stuff to them. 

Of course, selling stuff pays the bills and keeps us in business, so we really appreciate it when you decide to make your purchase through us!  It also means a lot to us when you tell your friends about us.  We want to be here another 15 years, so we try our best to offer you the best value and service possible.  This means no hold times when you call, same day e-mail responses, price matching and our popular "Name Your Price" feature found on our website.

We love hearing from you, so feel free to call or e-mail anytime if you have questions about music technology, or if you just want to share your experiences with our team over the years.

So once again, thank you!

Special anniversary sale - 15% off everything, Tuesday December 4th only!

To show our appreciation to our customers for 15 great years, we are having a one day sale on Tuesday December 4th.  Everything will be 15% off the regular price!  The discount will apply to our academic pricing. 

No discount code is required - the prices shown will be the sale price.  Just head to our website on December 4th (or maybe even the evening before...)

We've never done this before, and likely aren't going to again, so be sure to take advantage of this special offer.

Of course there is always fine print... It is very likely we will sell out of popular items and unfortunately, that means you may not get the sale price on that item.  We will do our best, but we apologize in advance if we can't ship your order because we ran out of the item.  We are a small company, and Laurie, Lorraine, Michelle and I probably won't be able to remove items from the sale that sell out quickly.  

Roland A-49 and A-88 keyboards

There’s no shortage of portable MIDI keyboard controllers on the market, but portability often equates to subpar keyboard action. With the new Roland A-49, the game has changed- this lightweight, slim-line controller features a premium-grade, full-size keyboard that raises the bar in its class. Available in pearl white and black finishes, the A-49 is a dream for musicians seeking a simple, easy-to-use MIDI keyboard with pro-quality playing feel.

The A-49’s keys have a rounded shape for better reaction to the player’s touch and more comfortable glissandi. Other enhancements have been made to reduce the already low mechanical noise and eliminate vertical shake. All of these features add up to a keyboard that even the most discerning pros will appreciate.
Add color to your sound and excitement to your performance by waving your hands over the invisible D-BEAM. The A-49 can assign all its controllers automatically for fully utilizing an external SuperNATURAL sound module such as the INTEGRA-7. It’s also a great second keyboard for controlling synthesizers that have onboard SuperNATURAL sounds, such as the JUPITER-80 and JUPITER-50.

Recently, many musicians have gravitated toward their Apple iPads to record musical ideas. While there are small MIDI keyboards that can be used with the iPad, the A-49 gives you pro playability as well as mobility. Its clean, clutter-free surface and excellent feel keeps your fingers on the keys and your mind on the music.

Need more keys? With 88 pro-quality weighted keys, the A-88 sets a new standard for streamlined, portable MIDI controllers. Its Ivory Feel-G weighted keyboard — a trusted asset found on high-end Roland workstations and digital pianos — brings a new level of grand piano luxury to the portable MIDI controller market. But even with its premium keyboard, the A-88 remains slim, compact, and easy to transport. For players looking for great weighted-keyboard action in a portable package, the A-88 is the best MIDI controller available.

Featuring Roland’s acclaimed Progressive Hammer Action design with Escapement, the A-88’s Ivory Feel-G keyboard provides the functions, appearance, and texture of keyboards found on Roland's flagship pianos. It’s equipped with advanced sensor technology, and the white keys feature a comfortable, moisture-absorbent surface that feels like real ivory.

Like the A-49, the A-88 includes Roland's popular D-Beam and will also work with an iPad - pretty cool for a 88 note, weighted action keyboard!

Project Sam - ORCHESTRAL ESSENTIALS

Kelly's Music now carries Project Sam's Orchestral Essentials - the essence of film scoring. Orchestral Essentials will boost your film composer career at an unbeatable price.

ProjectSAM has carefully selected the essentials from each of their products, including the highly praised Symphobia series, True Strike series and Orchestral Brass Classic, and bundled them into one effective, incredibly versatile package. Moreover, new instruments not found in any other ProjectSAM products have been included.

Covering full orchestra, string, brass and woodwind ensembles, classical and world percussion, Orchestral Essentials gives you the right ammo to start scoring for film, games or pop with the acclaimed "cinematic SAM sound". For each of the orchestral sections, an essential list of articulations is available, as well as one expressive legato instrument and an inspiring set of clusters, textures and effects. Apart from these orchestral elements, you will also find a concert harp, church organ, ProjectSAM's renowned Dystopia sound design, and, exclusive to Orchestral Essentials, an enchanting grand piano and harpsichord.

All samples have been reprogrammed for the newly designed and intuitive Orchestral Essentials interface. All Multis are completely new and, because of the inclusion of piano, harpsichord and harp, are more inspiring than ever before. This makes Orchestral Essentials a fantastic library for first-time SAM users and existing SAM owners alike.

Orchestral Essentials follows ProjectSAM's ensemble recording philosophy. Strings, brass and woodwinds were sampled as sections, as nothing beats the authentic blend of orchestral instruments in a concert hall. ProjectSAM captures this magic in various orchestrations; for example, imagine the noble sound of horns and trombones performing together naturally.

Samplitude Pro X Suite - 40% off, plus upgrades on sale!

With a 12 GB premium sound library, loads of effects and lots of tools, Samplitude is an amazing value at the regular price.  Now with the Samplitude Pro X Suite on sale, it is even more incredible.

Just getting into recording?  Samplitude has all of the high end features, including surround sound support, without the high end price or difficult learning curve.  Even if you already have a DAW, take a few moments to check out Samplitude because you may just love the workflow and want to make a switch.  (Or at least add another option to your recording process.)

EastWest 50% off sale - until the end of the year

Most of EastWest's popular virtual instruments are on sale until the end of the year for 50% off.  This is an excellent opportunity to add some of their great sounding libraries to your collection.

Although EastWest has "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" offers a few times a year that involve a mail in rebate, it isn't very often we see a straight up "50% off" sale.  Since you don't have to pay full price and then pay shipping on the free one, this 50% off sale is a better deal.

The sale includes their massive "Goliath" which is a great general sound bank with over 180 instruments that you can use on its own or with most other programs that can use VST/AU instruments such as Finale or Sibelius.

The sale also includes the newly released and very popular Hollywood Strings and Hollywood Brass.

Addictive Keys Studio Collection

Addictive Keys is a powerful music production and songwriting software setting a new standard for virtual keyboard instruments with its unique sound creation ability, smart workflow, fast loading times and high quality producer presets.

Addictive Keys is a powerful tool for musicians, producers and songwriters, setting a new standard for virtual keyboard instruments.

With its unique sound creation ability, smart workflow and fast loading times, Addictive Keys is suitable for any production style or music genre. Mix and match different microphone perspectives, add professional effects and advanced envelopes to create truly unique sounds. Two years in the making, Addictive Keys is the ultimate blend of engineering, innovative design and creative expression. The stand alone version is perfect for spontaneous jamming and live performances and the plug-in version support all major DAW hosts.

Addictive Keys brings a new level of creativity by offering an ever-growing collection of instruments packaged in an intuitive and easy to use interface. ExploreMaps offer production presets sorted by instrument and style, the preview function makes it easy to find the right sound for a production - or the inspiration to write a new song! The combination of great sound quality, fast workflow and reliable performance makes Addictive Keys the perfect music companion – at home, in the studio and on the road.

VT-12 Vocal Pocket Coach

From music school to home, from recording studio to backstage dressing room, the pocket-sized VT-12 is your ultimate traveling vocal coach. With a variety of built-in exercises and warm-ups for improving your vocal skills, the VT-12 provides real-time analysis of your pitch while you sing so you can visualize your progress. The illuminated pitch meter displays your pitch, and can even detect two singers simultaneously for two-part harmony training in equal temperament and just intonation. The VT-12 also has onboard vocal guides and backing tracks based on the bundled book from Berklee Press (the publishing division of Berklee College of Music), plus 50 etudes from the world-standard Concone classical vocal lessons.

As you sing, the VT-12 tracks your pitch and displays it in real time in half-step increments with an easy-to-see illuminated pitch meter that responds quickly and accurately. The meter brightens as you approach the correct pitch and darkens as you move further away. If the guide tone is being played, the note name of the guide tone is displayed. You can play the guide tone (over a range of 24 semitones) with a button to listen to the correct pitch. In addition to personal practice, this is also a great tool for vocal teachers to show their students when they’re singing the correct pitch.

You don’t have to use the VT-12 alone! You can practice with a teacher or a fellow singer, and the VT-12 will detect the two voices simultaneously and display the note names. There are three pitch-detection modes onboard: MONO EQUAL (one voice detected using equal temperament); CHORD EQUAL (two voices detected using equal temperament); and CHORD JUST (two voices detected using just intonation/major). Choir members or a cappella groups can use the VT-12 to visually check if their harmonies are correct.

Buy Sibelius 7, get an mBox Mini Free!

While supplies last, when you buy Sibelius 7, you will receive a free mBox Mini!

The mBox Mini normally sells for around $299 and includes Pro Tools Express, so this is a really good deal, especially if you don't qualify for the academic price on Sibelius.  Even if you do quality for Sibelius 7 Academic, you might want to purchase this bundle as it still is a better deal than purchasing the items separately.

This special offer only applies to the regular version of Sibelius 7, and does not apply to Sibelius Upgrades or Sibelius Academic.

iRig Keys

iRig KEYS is the first ultra-slim and highly portable universal MIDI controller keyboard for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Mac/PC. iRig KEYS connects directly to the iOS device 30 pin dock connector or the USB port on your Mac/PC. It features 37 velocity-sensitive mini-keys — 3 full octave range plus one note, taking a minimal space on your desktop and can easily fit in a backpack or a carry-on bag.

iRig KEYS is Core MIDI and USB class compliant for a true plug-and-play experience both with iOS devices or Mac/PC, with no additional app, software or drivers to be installed to have it up and running. For total mobility, iRig KEYS is also an ultra-low power consumption unit.

When hooked up to an iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, it can be powered by the device, and for longer playing sessions it can be powered by the available USB port. When connected to a Mac/PC, the USB port powers it.

iRig KEYS is the ultimate portable keyboard players and producers companion. Use it any time and anywhere inspiration strikes you... simply hook it up to your device or computer and start playing. You can use iRig KEYS for live performance or for songwriting and composition with the included app and software or with a multitude of other MIDI compatible instruments and recorders on any iOS, MacOS or Windows system.

Just need a keyboard that will work with your iPad and not your iPhone? You can save a lot of money by getting the GarageKey Mini 37 instead!

Real Guitar 3

If you are serious about creating truly realistic sounding solo and accompaniment guitar sounds for your songs, the RealGuitar is just what you need. RealGuitar is a sample-based virtual instrument with an innovative approach to guitar sound modeling and guitar part performing on keyboard.

The true power of RealGuitar lies in 3 technologies incorporated in this innovative guitar performance tool:

- Multi-channel layering technology, incorporating a custom library of specially recorded samples taken from every fret of all 6 strings of a real guitar.
- The unique Floating Fret Position technology, which imitates change of fret position of a guitarist's hand on the neck. This gives you the possibility of playing on up to 104 guitar frets using just 43 keys of a standard keyboard!
- Musiclab's original Guitar Touch technology lets you easily imitate basic guitar techniques (strumming, plucking, sliding, bending, muting, etc..), using standard MIDI keyboard and MIDI controllers, such as Pitch Bender, Modulation Wheel, Sustain Pedal, Aftertouch.

RealGuitar allows you to use rhythm patterns from MIDI Pattern Library for easily creating guitar accompaniment tracks. All you have to do is to copy the rhythm pattern to the needed number of measures, start your sequencer and use MIDI keyboard to play chord changes, or alternatively add chords to a MIDI track via sequencer's editor.

Version 3 offers a new "joystick mode" which includes Smart Strum, Smart Strings, and Color Tab modes so you can create guitar accompaniment parts with unbelievable realism and expression using an alternative MIDI controller (standard Guitar Hero game controller by Activision Inc.)

In addition to the update to Real Guitar 3, Real Strat and Real LPC have also been updated with all of the new features.

Lounge Lizard EP-3 on sale - plus, get EP-4 free!

Buy Lounge Lizard EP-3 now at $139 and get Lounge Lizard EP-4 free of charge once it's released (by the end of the year) from AAS!

Lounge Lizard is a software recreation of the classic Rhodes™ and Wurlitzer™ electric pianos. Not only does Lounge Lizard EP-3 come even closer in terms of authenticity but it also preserves the action and feel of the originals. Once you get your hands on Lounge Lizard, that elusive electric piano sound becomes a reality—you'll be propelled into inspirational space.

Sonar X2

Cakewalk has released Sonar X2 with loads of new features and workflow improvements. Not only does it introduce exciting new features, but much time and care went into refining almost every aspect of the program. Cakewalk suggests that with literally hundreds of enhancements and improvements, SONAR X2 delivers the best music production experience on the market today.

For example, with SONAR X2's integrated SoundCloud support, you can distribute your own music and notify your fanbase instantly. In addition, you can export MIDI to your favorite notation software using MusicXML, burn CDs and more.

Another cool feature, exclusively available in SONAR X2 Producer, is R-MIX SONAR. Now you can visualize your mix and use R-MIX SONAR to isolate different parts of your mix for the ultimate creativity. All powered by Roland's powerful V-Remastering technology.

If you already own Sonar, you can find all of the upgrades on our site, or contact us at 1-888-562-8822 or e-mail sales@kellysmusicandcomputers.com and let us know what version you currently own, and what you would like to upgrade to.

If you don't own Sonar, now is a great time to consider purchasing:

• Sonar X2 Essential
• Sonar X2 Studio
• Studio X2 Producer

Free iO Bag when you buy an Alesis iO Dock for your iPad!

Free iO Dock Bag! Purchase an iO Dock between October 1st and December 31st, 2012 and receive a free iODock Bag from Alesus via mail in rebate. See rebate form for details.

Customer Service - does anyone care? (We do!)

It seems like too much of my summer was spent investigating and implementing a new phone system for Kelly's Music. It was an interesting experience, as I realized that not every company values customer service like we do!

You see, a real person answers every phone call and every e-mail. I might be biased, since I answer a lot of the e-mail myself, but we believe that we carefully read every message and answer every question with a knowledgeable, accurate response that is easy to understand.

So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered that many businesses really don't want you to contact them and are more interested in selling you something than answering questions! For example, I e-mailed some questions to one company using their contact form. I never received a response to my questions, but they promptly added me to their marketing list. I received lots of e-mails, but no answers!

I contacted another company, explaining our needs, and although they responded right away, what they offered did not even come close to relating to what we actually needed. In fact, I'm not even sure there was a real person at the other end!

Sure, we offer great prices, but I think it is even more important that you are able to get the answers you need. Yes, our Knowledgebase is really useful and we have some helpful articles on our website, but we also are willing to answer your questions by e-mail or phone. So, if you've got questions about music & computers, we've got answers!

Buy Komplete Audio 6 and get Guitar Rig 5 Pro free from NI!

Purchase Komplete Audio 6 between November 1 - December 31 2012 and receive Guitar Rig Pro software free from Native Instruments! Upon registering KOMPLETE AUDIO 6 you will receive a download link and serial numbers for GUITAR RIG 5 PRO software.

EZ Drummer, EZX & SDX on Sale!

Until the end of December, save big on ToonTrack's popular EZ Drummer software.  Already have EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer?  Get EZX or SDX expansion packs at amazing prices!

Come see us at the OMEA and CMS Conference!

If you will be at the Manitoba, Ontario or Nova Scotia music educator conferences, be sure to stop by our booth at the trade show to say hello. I'll also be making presentations at each of the conferences and I would love to see you there!

I'll also be at the CMS conference in San Diego in November.

Send me an e-mail if you will be there and I can provide the times and locations of the presentations.  If you can't make it to my presentations, be sure to stop by our booth at the trade show!

Alva Nanoface - affordable high quality audio interface

Looking for an audio interface that has great sound and is light with an awesome design? Check out the new Nanoface from Alva.

The Nanoface provides 6 audio I/Os – enough for a small home studio, a DJ- or surround setup. A MIDI input and two MIDI outputs form a perfect combination to connect a keyboard and external synthesizers or samplers.

Four analog inputs – two of them equipped with high-quality mic preamps - allow the simultaneous recording of different sources at the same time, like a microphone, an electric guitar and a synthesizer. Four analog outputs provide a flexible setup for monitoring two stereo signals at the same time, e. g. with main speakers and headphones. The signal from output 1/2 can be routed to output 3/4 and individually adjusted.

Normally, great converters are expensive! With the Nanoface, the game has changed. Thanks to the years of experience of the development team, Alva integrated a very sophisticated circuit design. The result: an extraordinary audiophile sound at an amazing price.

The Nanoface provides two mic preamps with very low noise and distortion specifications. Including switchable 48V phantom power for condenser mics.

Electrical instruments - guitar or bass - need a special instrument input with Hi-Z characteristics for direct recording. The Nanoface provides an instrument input directly on the units right side. Optimal for spontaneous jam sessions with a notebook or as mobile recording station without the need for more equipment – live or with band rehearsals.

The analog gains for the four inputs, all output levels and special features, like phantom power and hardware monitoring will be controlled with the big silver rotary encoder directly on the Nanoface.

FireStudio Price Reductions!

Both the Firestudio Project and the Firestudio Mobile now have new, lower prices.  If you have a firewire connection on your computer and need a high quality audio interface with excellent pre-amps and a great software bundle, these are great options to consider.

KEYTEK SEK2176 USB KEYBOARD

Looking for an inexpensive USB keyboard with built in sounds and speakers? Check out the Keytek SEK2176. With 61 keys, the Keytek is a versatile keyboard that is ideal for practicing away from or at your computer.

Unlike many of the other keyboards we carry, you can use this one without your computer, and you don’t even have to worry about speakers or a keyboard amp.

If you plan on using the keyboard for more than just entering music into your computer, check out our bundle with the stand and bench.

Buy Addictive Drums, get an AdPak Free!

Buy Addictive Drums before the end of October and receive one ADpak free from XLN Audio when you register. (Retro cannot be the free ADpak.)

IK Multimedia "Total Bundles" - amazing price until the end of the month

IK Multimedia's Total Studio 3 Bundle and Total Workstation XL are exceptional values at the regular price.  This month's sale makes them even more amazing!

For only $199, the Total Workstation XL includes a wide range of Virtual Instruments plug-ins with 5 critically acclaimed workstations for 28 GB of samples and over 14,000 sounds covering every instrument and style from orchestral to rock, hip-hop to electronica. 

For $249, the Total Studio 3 Bundle includes: SampleTank 2.5 XL, Miroslav Philharmonik, Sonik Synth 2, SampleMoog, SampleTron + 15Gig Xpnsion Tank Instruments, AmpliTube 3, T-RackS 3 Deluxe, and CSR.
These two bundles will work with virtually and recording software and offer incredible value.

Izotope RX2 on sale until the end of October

The incredibly powerful RX 2 audio restoration software from Izotope is on sale until the end of the month.

Check out the overview video to see how easy it is to fix audio problems with RX 2.

EMEDIA GUITAR METHOD DELUXE

Want to learn to play the guitar, or make practicing more fun? The eMedia Guitar Method Deluxe includes everything you need to learn to play with 355 audio and video enhanced lessons and over 150 songs. Also included are an automatic tuner, metronome, recorder, 1000-chord dictionary, a scale directory and more.

In Guitar Method, Instant Feedback shows you when you play the correct notes on your guitar as you progress through an exercise. With a microphone connected to your computer and a guitar in your hand, play the notes in the exercise (or song) on any screen featuring the “ear” icon in the upper right corner and the computer will highlight the notes for you in green. As you reach your goals of getting all notes to change color in each exercise, you’ll discover that reading tablature and music notation is easier than you ever thought possible!

Guitar Method also features a Note Tracker and Finger Tracker to help you see more easily what note you’re playing by displaying the note as music notation and on an animated fretboard. You’ll be able to correct your playing quickly and learn to read music fast!

Practice should be fun! After you’ve been prepped with exercises designed to teach you to read tablature and notation, try the interactive flash card quizzes to reinforce what you have learned. Flash Quizzes in Guitar Method utilize the Pitch Tracking technology to detect notes played on your acoustic guitar!

Over 350 easy-to-follow lessons start with the basics, such as stringing the guitar, and move to playing simple chords and strumming styles, including modern rock strumming and power chords. They continue on with reading tablature, playing melodies, fingerpicking, and standard music notation. The intermediate volume moves on with additional techniques in exciting solos, barre chords, fingerstyle guitar, scales and improvisation. Your teacher is professional guitarist Kevin Garry, Ph.D., from the University of Colorado at Boulder. The excellent teaching he offers will get you playing quickly!

Aiturn BT-105 with 4 pedals!

The BT-105 from Airturn is one of our more popular bluetooth page turners.  Just in case forward and back isn't enough for you, we now have the 4 pedal model available!  This bundle includes the BT-105 bluetooth module, 4 silent ATFS pedals and a handy pedal board to make sure they don't get tangled up.

So why 4 pedals?  Mac and PC users can get started right away with any app that can work with arrow keys or programmable hotkeys.

Some examples include:
- VLC Media Player, a free, open source audio and video player program for Mac and PC computers 
- ProPresenter, a full featured multimedia presentation program for Mac and PC computers
- EasyWorship, another full featured media presentation program for Windows computers

A popular iPad app that can take advantage of the AT-PB’s 4 pedal control right away is OnSong

Sonar X1 - price drops & free upgrade!

Not only do you receive a free upgrade to Sonar X2 from Cakewalk when it is available, you can also take advantage of special pricing on Sonar X1 until October 30th (or while supplies last.)

Check out the savings on the entire Sonar family:

• Sonar X1 Essentials
• Sonar X1 Studio
• Sonar X1 Producer

IK Multimedia Price Drops!

IK Multimedia's popular software instruments are now an even more amazing value! Check out the new lower prices on the following:

• SampleTank 2.5 XL - great sounds!
• Amplitube 3 - perfect for guitar & bass
• Total Workstation XL - 28 GB of sounds for under $300
• Total Studio 3 Bundle

Nectar Vocal Suite on sale for $199!

From now until October 5th, you can get Izotope’s popular Nectar for only $199.

VORTEX KEYTAR!

Hasn't everyone always wanted a keytar? Check out the new Alesis Vortex and you'l realize that they've come along way since the 80's!

The Vortex eliminates the barrier between you and your audience by giving you the freedom to move around the stage and take the lead. With an extensive layout of touch-sensitive keys and velocity-sensitive pads on its pearlescent white body, and radical pitch and modulation controls on its neck, the Vortex empowers you to rule the stage.

The Vortex is the first keytar to include a MIDI-assignable accelerometer. Now, you can get out from behind your keyboard stand and be just as visual as guitarists and singers with an instrument that will respond to your motion. You’ll be able to create incredible volume swells, amazing pitch bends, vibratos, filter sweeps, and more by tilting the Vortex’s neck in the heat of the moment during live performances.

Perform right away: the Vortex comes with a premium virtual synth from Sonivox, which includes great-sounding pads, basses, leads, and drums. You also get Ableton Live Lite Alesis Edition software for performing, recording, and sequencing music right out of the box.

The Vortex comes ready for instant performance, automapped for today’s most popular software synths and DAWs. Plus, you can customize and create your own mappings for virtually any MIDI software.

Breathe new life into every performance with the most expressive keytar ever produced. The Vortex’s neck controls are laid out ergonomically: your thumb controls a volume slider and pitch-bend wheel while your fingers command nine front-facing controls that include a MIDI-assignable touch strip, and buttons for octave selection and sustain. Large transport and patch-select controls are centrally located on the Vortex’s body for instant access, and synth lovers will be happy to know that the Vortex’s 37 velocity-sensitive keys feature aftertouch to enable instant creative flourishes.

Buy Finale 2012 Academic, get a Free Garritan Library!

Bonus! Until October 30, you will receive a free Garritan Virtual Instrument from MakeMusic when you purchase Finale 2012 Academic from Kelly's Music & Computers.

Just follow the instructions in the Finale 2012 Academic box. (Offer only applies to Finale Academic.)

THE POP! EZX

Need more options for your EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer software drummer? The Pop! MIDI presents an impressive collection of inspiring beats and fills played by Toontrack veteran Per Mikaelsson (Claustrophobic EZX, Nashville EZX, Funkmasters EZX). Covering styles ranging from hip hop to dance, classic pop and uptempo rock. This pack is perfect for anyone looking to spice up their songwriting with some great drumming!

- Categorized in different songs
- Full 8 bar beats
- Fills section in each song
- Swing and/or straight feel

STEINWAY BASIC

Garritan's Steinway Basic is a software piano that is endorsed by and developed in collaboration with Steinway & Sons, maker of the world's finest pianos.

This software instrument accurately captures the distinctive sound of the hallmark and legendary Steinway & Sons Model D concert grand piano - with unprecedented authenticity and musicality.

The Basic version is an amazing bargain and is ideal for students, musicians, and educators. This reduced price version includes the "Under the Lid" listening perspective which is ideal for most situations.

Features:
Advanced programming also makes this a truly "playable" and responsive library. Among its many features:
- Created in partnership with Steinway & Sons
- Overseen by Steinway & Sons' most accomplished master technician
- Sustain/Sostenuto/Soft pedal support
- Proportional sustain pedaling
- Sustain resonance and sympathetic resonance using convolution-based DSP modules
- Adjustable mechanical noises
- Adjustable velocity curves
- Recorded soft pedal samples including releases
- Adjustable polyphony
- A variety of historical tunings and Scala files
- Aria Instrument Engine by Plogue included
- MIDI playback and record in standalone

Video Pro X 4

Magix's audio and video products aren't as well known in North America as they are in Europe, but Samplitude is steadily making headway as more and more people replace their existing recording software with a powerful, but easy to use alternative.
We recently added their video editing software to our line up. MAGIX Video Pro X4 is a video editing solution geared towards the unique requirements of ambitious and professional users.

The multi-award-winning editing suite features an unrivalled range of powerful tools for detailed video and audio editing. Improved layout and performance guarantee an effective workflow. Innovative functions and the accumulation of years of expert experience in the field of software development guarantee professional results in perfect sound and vision.

MAGIX Video Pro X4 is the perfect software solution for intuitive and powerful video production. This multi-award-winning video editing suite, which is geared towards the unique requirements of professional users, offers an unrivalled range of powerful post-production tools.

RME Fireface UCX

Need lots of audio channels and the best recording quality possible? The RME FireFace UCX is the answer.

The Fireface UCX is a highly integrated pro audio solution in an ultra-compact format for studio and live recordings. It continues RME's long tradition of designing compact high-end interfaces, packing into a half-rack size unit what usually would be spread out over two or three 19 inch panels.

In doing this the Fireface UCX marks a new packing record: 300 electronic components more than inside the already well-stocked Fireface UC! In a tremendous effort RME packed once again all the latest technologies, introduced with the award winning flagship UFX, plus a bunch of newly developed ones, into a half 19 inch housing with full mobile usability.

The result is an awesome combination of RME's most successful products: Fireface UFX, Firefaces UC/400 and Babyface. The Fireface UCX is not just a smaller version of the smash hit UFX, with the HFX-core, the preamps and the complete effects engine, the UCX continues the tradition of RME's tremendously successful compact interfaces, and combines it with the great usability of the Babyface through the optional RME remote

Izotope Iris

Unearth a world of sounds you've never heard before! iZotope Iris is a groundbreaking sample-based synthesizer that harnesses the power of both your eyes and your ears. Fuel your creativity with Iris's new spin on sound design: a "visual instrument" that's perfect for musical inspiration and sonic experimentation.
Lots of fun! Load audio into Iris and explore spectral details that a regular waveform locks away. Then highlight what intrigues you and extract and isolate the most interesting sonic components with a full suite of visual selection tools.

Combine the unthinkable by layering completely diverse sound sources into totally unique combinations... what do a tattoo needle and a swamp bird and a slot machine sound like together?

Fortunately, you can stay musical by relying on intelligent root note detection to help shape musical material from noise, ambient textures, soundscapes... even mistakes!

You can use Iris to get amazing sounds immediately. Just spark your imagination with over 500 patches by world-class sound designers, or design your own with Iris's 4 GB library of diverse sound samples.

HOLLYWOOD ORCHESTRAL WOODWINDS GOLD & DIAMOND

From ACADEMY AWARD, C.A.S. (Cinema Audio Society), BAFTA, and EMMY award-winning sound engineer SHAWN MURPHY, who has recorded and mixed the scores for more than 300 feature films, Hollywood Orchestral Woodwinds is the third installment in the Hollywood series, and was designed to be the most detailed collection of orchestral woodwind instruments ever assembled.

Hollywood Orchestral Woodwinds gives you complete control over the players and includes: Alto Flute, Bass Clarinet, Bass Flute, Bassoon, Clarinet, Contra Bass Clarinet, Contra Bassoon, Eb Clarinet, English Horn, Flute, Flute 2, Oboe, Piccolo Flute.

On sale until the end of the month, Hollywood Woodwinds is available in two editions:

• Gold is only 16 bit and includes one mic position
• Diamond includes all mic positions and samples

Free Upgrade to Sonar X2!

Thinking about getting Sonar X1 but don't want to have to pay for a Sonar X2 upgrade later this year?

No worries!  Purchase Sonar X1 now and get a free upgrade to Sonar X2 from Cakewalk when it is released later this fall!

Vocal Express

Vocal Express is a bundle of five essential vocal processing plug-ins designed to make it incredibly easy to create polished, great-sounding vocal tracks.

Combining Auto-Tune pitch correction, stereo doubling, smart compression and limiting, analog tube modeling and extreme voice mangling, the Vocal Express plug-ins take advantage of Antares' ground-breaking Evo Voice Processing Technology to provide professional results with a minimum of hassle. Whether you're using GarageBand, Logic, Live, Cubase, Pro Tools, Sonar or other leading digital recording software, Vocal Express adds Antares' world-class vocal processing tools to your production workflow.

Vocal Express includes:
Auto-Tune EFX 2
Real-time Auto-Tune Vocal Effect and Pitch Correction
Correct pitch and create the iconic Auto-Tune Vocal Effect.

PUNCH Evo
Vocal Impact Enhancer
Make your vocal cut through the mix with power and clarity.

DUO Evo
Stereo Vocal Modeling Auto-Doubler
Create a rich vocal sound with automatic stereo doubling.

WARM Evo
Tube Saturation Generator
Give your vocal the warmth of a classic tube preamp.

MUTATOR Evo
Extreme Vocal Designer
Create a virtually unlimited variety of weird, monstrous or downright wacky voices.

Auto-Tune Live

Whether you're performing on stage or tracking vocals in the studio, Auto-Tune Live features genuine Antares Auto-Tune technology optimized for real-time pitch correction or creatively modifying the intonation of a performance. Like all members of the Auto-Tune family, Auto-Tune Live can correct the pitch of vocals and other solo instruments, in real time, without distortion or artifacts, while preserving all of the expressive nuance of the original performance, as well as create the iconic Auto-Tune Vocal Effect.

Thanks to its ultra-low latency, Auto-Tune Live allows virtually instant response in performance or when tracking in the studio. And with its MIDI control capabilities, you can control all of Auto-Tune Live's key performance parameters in MIDI Control real time, from any MIDI controller or pre-recorded MIDI track, for the ultimate in creative real-time pitch processing.

Sibelius 7 Upgrade On Sale!

If you still haven’t upgraded to Sibelius 7, now is the time to act!

You can take advantage of sale pricing on both the regular Sibelius 7 Upgrade and the site license upgrade!

Here are a few Sibelius purchasing tips that might be useful:

• Sibelius 7 does not include a printed manual, you can add one to your order here.
• Sibelius 7 includes 90 days of free tech support. We recommend that you purchase an Annual Support Contract for $99 so that you can get the help you need from Avid after the initial 90 days.
• Sibelius 7 requires a low latency ASIO or AU compatible audio interface (soundcard) for using the sound library. We recommend theAudioFace II USB, AudioLink II USB or most any of the audio interfaces in our buyer’s guide. Contact us for more information.
• A USB MIDI keyboard makes entering notes into Sibelius much faster. The i2 GarageKey 37 is an ideal USB MIDI keyboard – just plug it in, and it works. For more options, visit our keyboard buyer’s guide.
• Check out our complete list of Sibelius accessories and add-ons

We also have some money saving Sibelius bundles to consider:

• Sibelius Hardware Bundle: Sibelius, Audio Interface, Keyboard:Everything you need to get started!
• Sibelius & Photoscore: scan sheet music into Sibelius and edit, transpose and arrange - including handwritten music!
• Sibelius & AudioScore: record directly into Sibelius or convert MP3s/CDs to Sibelius
• Sibelius, Audioscore & Photoscore Bundle

GarageKey Groove

Looking for a portable controller keyboard that has drum pads, knobs and sliders but don't want to pay too much? Check out the new GarageKey Groove!

Available in mid-October, we are taking pre-orders as we expect it to be very popular, especially at the introductory price of $89! (You can order now and we don't charge your credit card until it ships.)

It is the ideal small control center for any music software, the Garagekey Groove includes a keyboard, faders, knobs and drum pads! Perfect for travel, the GarageKey Mini is compact and perfectly equipped for every requirement. An excellent value, the GarageKey Groove includes the following software: Finale Notepad, Imageline Poizone, Magix Samplitude Silver, Toontrack EZ Drummer Lite, and K Multimedia Amplitube CS.

With 25 velocity sensitive mini keys, the GarageKey Groove offers an easy way to record, play soft synths or trigger loops. The 8 velocity sensitive trigger pads makes it ideal for loops, DJ software, drum machines, and more! The 4 sliders and 4 knobs can easily be assigned to control any parameter in your software.

The GarageKey Groove will also work with your iPad when you power it through a USB powered hub, making it the perfect companion for music apps on your iPad.

Just connect the GarageKey Groove to your Mac, PC or iPad using the included USB cable and you can start using the keyboard right away - no drivers required!

Features:
- 25 velocity-sensitive mini-keyboard with 3 velocity curves
- 8 velocity-sensitive trigger pads
- 4 freely assignable knobs
- 4 freely assignable faders
- 4 banks of memory locations
- Editor software for Windows and Mac OSX
- Function buttons: octave + / -, transpose + / -, pitch + / -, modulation, program change

Garritan Instant Orchestra

Garritan Instant Orchestra is about instantly producing orchestral music very quickly and easily. Garritan's goal is to provide an instantly playable orchestral library with many pre-packaged orchestral sounds.

This library was designed to be an effective shortcut to reach your musical goals. Consider it as a Swiss army knife for musicians - a clean, simple, multi-purpose orchestral tool that will allow you to do many things in an instant.

Instant Orchestra is for those who do not want to spend time building orchestrations with one instrument or section at a time. It provides pre- packaged groups of instruments, combined sections, orchestral effects, and mood-based presets. Instant Orchestra is designed for those who know little about orchestration or do not have the time to build them. The idea is to provide a large variety of lush, playable orchestrations with the least time and effort.

Garritan Personal Orchestra’s focus is on individual solo instruments and some sections of instruments in order to build orchestrations. Usually knowledge of orchestration is required.
Instant Orchestra can be a perfect complement to Garritan Personal Orchestra. 

AKAI products now available from Kelly's Music & Computers

Kelly's Music & Computers now carries Akai!  We are adding Akai to our website and are especially excited about having access to these product lines:

• MPK USB performance keyboards with drum pads
• MPC pad controller series
• The MPC Fly for your iPad is pretty cool!

Don't see an AKAI product you are looking for? Michelle is hard at work getting them set up on our website, but in the meantime, just contact us and we can get the details for you!

Alesis Now Available from Kelly's Music & Computers

Alesis products are now available from Kelly's Music & Computers.  We are working on adding their entire catalogue of products to our website.  We started with some of their most popular products, but if you don't see what you are looking for on our website, please contact us and we can add it right away!

Here are a few examples of some of the products we are really excited about:

• Vortex Keytar: who hasn't always wanted a keytar?  This one includes a free soft synth and is the first keytar to include a MIDI-assignable accelerometer!
• JamDock iPod dock - a dock for musicians!
• AmpDock iPad guitar amp - very cool...
• IMULTIMIX 9R rack mount iPod mixer - a great way to add an iPod to your live sound set-up

Kitara - not a guitar

It's definitely not a guitar.  This is how Misa, the manufacturer, explains the reason they developed the Kitara:

A guitar string is "beautiful" - because the sound generated comes from the very vibration of the string, interfering with a magnetic flux and inducing an electric voltage, which is then amplified. Why would you want to emulate that? It is perfection. It is pure nature. It is in the analog domain. Misa did not intend the Misa digital guitar to replicate a traditional guitar.

Okay, so what is the point of the Kitara?  Electric guitars are great for electric music. Digital music is a different story.

Traditional guitars by their very nature have limitations in the context of digital music. To create sound you need to hit a string, so that the sound at its most intense point is always the beginning of the pluck. The left hand controls what notes to play, and the right hand controls when to play these notes and the intensity of the notes. Effects can be inserted into the signal chain, but they are usually foot pedals which makes the experience of controlling effects disjointed from what your hands are doing. Plus, you can only really control one pedal at a time. 

Electronic music cannot be played effectively with such constraints. In electronic music, the timbre (or colour) of the sound can be morphed in an infinite number of ways. For a guitar to accommodate this, the right hand needs more control than just plucking strings. You need to be able to control elements of the sound, such as sustain, pitch, filter or any other synthesizer parameter, in a way that has no physical constraints. 

The Misa digital guitar is an experimental new instrument, similar to an electric guitar in shape, but with an interface designed to easily and intuitively control digital audio.

The Kitara not only unites traditional guitar playing technique with digital sound, but allows digital guitarists to use playing techniques that are not possible or comfortable on a digital keyboard.

The Misa Kitara consists of three main components: a full fretboard, a multi-touch screen and an onboard polyphonic synthesizer with sounds and effects.

The Kitara’s neck has 24 frets, but instead of strings each fret contains buttons.

You play notes by touching on the screen. The position and movement of your touch determine how the sound is generated and processed.

You can apply a number of digital effects, including distortion, delay and modulation, and you can control these effects through the touch panel interface.

You can save sounds as presets, and you can swap preset files online.

You can assign one sound to all six strings, or assign different sounds to different strings. The kitara can control compatible MIDI devices too. Everything is configurable. It runs Linux and is open source.

Stutter Edit On Sale!

Until the end of August, get Izotope's Stutter Edit for only $149!

EZ Drummer, EZ Drummer Expansion (EZX) and Superior Drummer Expansions (SDX) on sale!

Toontrack's popular EZ Drummer is on sale again this month.  If you already have EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer, the EZX and SDX expansions are on sale as well.  It has been a while since we've seen an SDX sale, so take advantage of the great savings this month.

If you are interested in purchasing two or more SDX or EZX, contact us for special pricing!

Buy Komplete 8, get 3 titles free from NI

Purchase Komplete 8 between from August 1st to September 30th and automatically receive downloads of The Mouth, Razor, and Session Strings from NI. To redeem this offer, simply register Komplete 8 during the special.

VRM-BOX - Virtual Reference Monitoring

We’ve all burned CDs of our mixes so that we can listen to our latest creation on as many different systems as we can: the living room HiFi, the television, our friends’ studio monitors and so on. Then the process of improving the mix based on what we’ve heard begins. We might burn another CD to check the updated mix on the same systems in the hope that it sounds better second time around. We may not realise it but we are now ‘reference mixing’. This is why most studios have multiple pairs of speakers; so the engineer can reference the mix on more than one monitor. For most of us this is tough, due to space or budget constraints. That is until now.

The Solution?
Introducing VRM Box. The high-quality USB headphone interface with a difference. VRM stands for Virtual Reference Monitoring. It gives you the option of listening to your mix on multiple sets of speakers, in different rooms, just using headphones. This helps to overcome the problems associated with creating a mix that translates well on many speakers. Burning CDs to listen to your mix in different environments will become a thing of the past.

Mix anywhere, any time
There’s no substitute for mixing on high-quality monitors in a well treated room, however sometimes this ideal scenario is not possible; we might be on a train, in a plane, in a hotel room, on the tour bus or simply at home late at night not wishing to disturb anyone. VRM allows you to make critical decisions on your mix, knowing for certain that it will translate well in many environments. 

Key Features
Three virtual rooms and 15 virtual speakers!
Monitor in a virtual professional studio, living room or bedroom. With 15 different speaker models, you get multiple perspectives on your mix. From the Genelec 1031A, to the KRK VXT8 and the BBC-designed LS3-5a, each of the speakers have been meticulously measured to bring their characteristics to your headphones. There’s even an LCD television to use for reference!