Enter the HOFA Song Contest 2020

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HOFA has announced that you can now enter the HOFA Song Contest 2020. The contest started on June 1, 2020, and the closing date for entries will be on August 3, 2020. Your song might be a winner!

For the fifth time now, the international online competition for musicians and music producers is opening its doors. Mobilize your fan base for the user voting and convince the HOFA jury of your skills. The participation is free of charge!

The HOFA Song Contest is open to artists from every genre. We will make your talent heard, provide you with a stage for your music – and offer the chance to win attractive cash and non-cash prizes with a total value of over €20,000.

You are allowed to upload one song that is written by you and/or your band, for whose publication you have the agreement of all involved persons, that is not registered at the GEMA or similar collection societies. Lyrics are not mandatory, but mere playbacks or beats without rap parts cannot take part.

Genres include: Pop, Electronic Music, Hip-Hop/Soul/R’n’B, Rock & Heavy, Traditional & Folk, and World and other genres.

Winners are determined out of the Top 20 of in the online voting in the main 6 categories. Depending on the genre, they pay attention to sound selection, songwriting, lyrics, musical performance, mix & mastering, sound quality and distinctive features. In addition, all songs are listened to and evaluated in order to determine the awardees of the special prizes.

The main prize is 500 €. This will be presented to the winner in each of the 6 main categories. There are also prizes from Steinberg, Native Instruments, Ableton, Adam Audio, Focusrite, Novation, Shure, Sommer Cable, Sonarworks, ToonTrack, and Vengeance.

Line 6 has a Summer Software Sale

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Line 6 is having a Summer Software Sale. The sale ends on July 12, 2020, at 11:59pm PST.

Save up to 30% on all plug-ins and model packs during our sun-sational Summer Software Sale – including Helix Native, Echo Farm, Amp Farm, POD Farm and all Model Packs. Now’s the time to supercharge your tones and studio productions with these powerful guitar and effects plug-ins. But don’t delay. Sale ends July 12, 2020.

Use the coupon code SUMMER30 in your shopping cart and save 30% on all software and model packs.

Helix Native offers the authentic vintage and modern amps, cabs, mics, and effects – plus extensive signal routing functionality and an easy-to-use interface. Whether you’re a guitarist, producer, engineer, sound designer, film/TV/game composer, or electronic musician, the Helix Native plug-in is perfect for creating new and exciting sounds.

Echo Farm 3.0 brings a legendary collection of vintage delay and echo effects to your studio with Echo Farm 3.0. Now supporting 64-bit AU and VST plug-in formats in addition to AAX, Echo Farm works with any DAW. Echo Farm 3.0 features models based on vintage hardware units such as the Roland RE-101, Space Echo, Boss DM-2, Electro-Harmonix Memory Man, TC Electronic 2290, and Maestro Echoplexes, plus Line 6 originals.

Amp Farm brings a virtual warehouse of amps and speaker cabs to every session with the Amp Farm 4.0 Native plug-in. Now supporting 64-bit AU, VST, and AAX formats, the Amp Farm plug-in works with any DAW. Featuring models based on classic amplifiers from Marshall, Fender, Vox, Mesa/Boogie, Soldano, and many more.

POD Farm 2.5 is a premium guitar tone plug-in that features vintage and modern amps, cabs, classic stompboxes, colorful preamps, and more.

iZotope Introduces Stutter Edit 2

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iZotope has introduced Stutter Edit 2. It was created in collaboration with award-winning producer and music technologist BT.

Stutter Edit 2 is now available! With hundreds of professionally designed presets, ear-popping new effects, and an innovative new workflow, Stutter Edit 2 offers near-infinite creative possibilities for your music.

Stutter Edit 2 lets you create the famous “stutter” edit effect at the touch of a button and take your productions from good to great with sweeping transitions and effortless movement.

You can get Stutter Edit 2 for only $88 or as part of the upgraded Creative Suite 2 for only $199.


Why Stutter Edit 2?

  • “New” Auto Mode: Use the new Auto mode to instantly fire off your effects with one button. Get great sounds out of the box and get creative quickly, no setup required.
  • “New” Effects Modules: New Reverb, Comb, and Chorus modules join a suite of 11 insane effects that you can move in time with your mix. Combine your stutter edits with aggressive distortion, auto-pan effects, pitch-bent reverb, and more.
  • “New” Curve Editor: Click on any slider in Stutter Edit 2 to edit its unique curve. Control the timing of your pans, stutters, gates, and distortions, and more to create truly mind-bending effects. Every parameter is your playground!

Line 6 has Special Offer on HX Effects

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Line 6 has a special offer on HX Effects. The offer is valid through July 31, 2020. Purchase HX Effects from a participating dealer and save $100 with an Instant Rebate.

HX Effects was created for guitarists and bassists who want our flagship Helix effects for traditional amp and pedalboard setups. Powered by the same audio engine as Helix processors, HX Effects includes the full array of Helix effects plus legacy effects from the M Series of Stompbox Modeler pedals. All in a compact pedal that fits easily on your pedalboard.

As always, there are terms and conditions to be aware of:

  • Promotion period ends on July 31, 2020
  • Eligible Products: HX Effects only
  • Instant Rebate on HX Effects – $100 USD
  • The rebate will be reflected in the final purchase at the time of sale
  • This offer is only available to Line 6 customers with mailing addresses in the United States.
  • Eligible Products must be purchased as new from an authorized dealer. Instant Rebates are not available for remanufactured, demonstration, or non-new products. Purchases from online auctions are not eligible.
  • Available while supplies last. Offer limited to Eligible Products in-stock during the Promotion Period.

Roadie 3 Next-Generation Automatic Instrument Tuner

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Roadie 3 is made by Band Industries. Three years ago, they released the Roadie 2 and Roadie Bass. Those products received massive support from their buyers and triers. Now, they have pushed things to the next level for Roadie 3. It is currently on Kickstarter, is fully funded and has four days left.

Roadie 3 is Band Industries’ new flagship automatic instrument tuner. It helps you find your sound fast with quicker rotation and enhanced accuracy to keep your turning consistently dead-on.

Roadie 3 is built with carefully tooled and proprietary audio algorithms. Its next-generation vibration detection delivers improved tuning accuracy and enhanced noise immunity.

Roadie 3 can tune almost all instruments with geared pegs in just seconds. This includes electric guitars, acoustic guitars, classical guitars with nylon strings, pedal steel guitars, ukuleles, mandolins, and banjos, to name a few. If you play the bass guitar, use Roadie Bass.

Band Industries has completely revamped and sped up how Roadie 3 helps you change strings. Roadie 3 will now very quickly wind your new string to tension with a motor speed of 120 RPM and then tune it up, all in one smooth step.

Key Features include:

  • Explore alternate tunings easily: Quickly switch into any tuning with Roadie 3’s redesigned navigation and favorite buttons. Roadie 3 comes with 100+ built-in tunings and the possibility to create your own custom tunings.
  • Enhanced noise immunity and improved accuracy: Next-generation vibration detection gives Roadie 3 unsurpassed noise immunity and accuracy when tuning, even in loud places.
  • Vibrating metronome mode: Keep a tight rhythm. Turn on vibrating metronome mode, set your tempo, and feel the beat.
  • Restring and tune in one step: String changes are less tedious now. Roadie 3 will wind your new string to tension then tune it up, all in one smooth step.
  • Full color high resolution: See your options clearly and make quick selections on Roadie 3’s RGB LED screen. It has a 135 x 240 pixel matrix.

Leica Introduces the Ettas Camera Bag

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With the new Ettas camera bag, Leica Camera AG presents yet another accessory suitable for numerous Leica models. The universal shoulder bag is available in two color combinations: red-and-black, or khaki-and-black.

A specialist coating on the robust canvas fabric, along with a rubberized zipper, provides optimal splash protection. The compact bag is suitable for the Leica V-Lux, the Leica Q2, or the system camera CL, TL2 and M with a mounted lens of up to 90mm focal length.

An interior pocket with fastener accommodates additional batteries, SD cards or filters. With its broad shoulder strap, the Ettas bag provides utmost comfort while ensuring that the camera is always readily at hand. A special clip on the back of the bag provides the option of attaching your camera straight to your belt.

The new Leica Ettas Bag is available now at Leica retailers and Leica Stores worldwide.

Gibson Announces Frank Hannon ‘Love Dove’ Acoustic Guitar

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By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into an innovative future, Gibson has set the stage for the next era of shaping sound for present and future generations. Gibson is proud to announce a new acoustic collaboration with Frank Hannon, the acclaimed solo artist, guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the multi-platinum band TESLA. The new Frank Hannon ‘Love Dove’ acoustic guitar marks Frank’s first signature guitar in his 35-year music career and is now available worldwide at all authorized Gibson Dealers.

Frank used his 70’s era Gibson Dove to write and record numerous songs, including the TESLA hits “What You Give,” “Stir it Up,” he also recorded the celebrated intro to the ballad “Love Song” for the “Times Makin Changes” video collection. After trying many acoustic guitars, it’s the Gibson Dove model that Frank has faithfully used to record and tour with for the past 30 years. The new “Love Dove” model guitar can be seen and heard on TESLA’s latest release 5 Man London Jam recorded at the world famous Abbey Road studios, and it is filled with love, power and performance like Frank’s lyrical, vocal and musical prowess.

The Frank Hannon “Love Dove” acoustic guitar is highly customized featuring a thermally Aged Sitka spruce top, married to a maple back and sides, allowing for supreme response and resonance. A 70’s era Dove bridge with scalloped wings decorated with mother-of-pearl wing inlays adorn the center, and the highly desirable Dove pick guard features hand-engraved and painted details. Each “Love Dove” comes in Vintage Cherry Sunburst and is commemorated with a signed inside label by Frank Hannon and custom Love engraved truss cover written by Frank himself.

Visit the Gibson blog to watch a video of Frank Hannon playing the ‘Love Dove’ acoustic guitar, and to read an interview with him. More information on the ‘Love Dove’ acoustic guitar can be found here.

HoRNet Plugins has a 2-Day Summer Sale

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HorRNet Plugins announced that they are having a Summer Sale that started on June 18, 2020, and will end on June 21, 2020. The limited-time sale offers 60% off plugins and 30% off bundles. It has become common for companies that make things used by professional music makers to suddenly release short sales during the summer.

We are having a 60% Summer Sale right now!

Starting from June 18th and through June 21st every HoRNet plugin (except the new Total EQ) will be available with 60% discount, all the bundles have a 30% discount.

Have a look at the countdown on our website to not miss the chance to get our plugins for less than half their original price.


The sale includes:

  • HATEFISH RhyGenerator
  • HoRNet SongKey MK3
  • HoRNet VU Meter MK4
  • HoRNet The Normalizer
  • HoRNet ChannelStrip MK3
  • HoRNet ThirtyOne
  • HoRNet Tape
  • HoRNet AutoGain Pro
  • HoRNet Multicomp Plus MK2
  • HoRNet SW34EQ MK2
  • HoRNet AutoGain Pro MK2
  • HoRNet ELM128 MK2
  • HoRNet AnalogStage
  • HoRNet LU Meter MK2
  • HoRNet Magnus MK2
  • HoRNet Spaces
  • HoRNet DynEq
  • HoRNet CLMS
  • HoRNet AutoGain
  • HoRNet WahWah
  • HoRNet TrackUtility MK2
  • Corrosion
  • HoRNet TrackShaper
  • HoRNet DeeLay Plus
  • HoRNet Sybilla Pro
    And much more!

Visit the HoRNet Plugins website for full details. There are a total of four pages worth of products that are included in the Summer Sale.

Roland Introduces VC-100UHD 4K Video Scaler

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Roland announced the debut of the VC-100UHD 4K Video Scaler, a next-generation A/V signal management solution for live events, fixed installations, and streaming applications. Equipped with Roland’s acclaimed Ultra Scaler processing technology, the VC-100UHD allows users to input 4K and 1080p video sources and distribute them to multiple destinations at one time, including 4K LED walls, HD displays, and USB 3.0 livestreams. High frame rates up to 240 Hz are also supported, delivering smooth motion for esports, animated displays, and more.

Built on a reliable hardware platform for mission-critical applications, the powerhouse VC-100UHD combines multiple single-task technologies in a compact and flexible half-rack design. Backed by a lightning-fast processing engine, the VC-100UHD’s Ultra Scaler provides premium quality conversion for perfectly synchronized big-screen IMAG and precise dot-by-dot scaling for LED wall displays.

With an ultra-high definition source signal connected to the 12G-SDI or HDMI 2.0 video inputs, the VC-100UHD will automatically process and convert it to different resolutions, ready for distribution at 12G-SDI, HDMI, and USB 3.0 rear-panel outputs. Thanks to Ultra Scaler technology, system designers can simultaneously deliver 1080p video at rates up to 240 Hz for a gaming monitor, 59.94/50 for an HD video system and LED displays, and 59.94/50 Hz for an HD livestream broadcast.

The VC-100UHD also includes built-in visual effects, allowing users to rotate, flip, trim, and mirror images on each output. And with Frame Synchronizer an Genlock features, video images can be re-clocked and stabilized as needed.

Via a plug-and-play USB 3.0 webcam output, VC-100UHD users can reach a worldwide audience and broadcast uncompressed 1080p video at 59.94/50 Hz on popular streaming platforms. Roland also offers free VR Capture software, which records HD livestream in ProRes 422 (Mac) or Mp4 (Windows) formats for later editing and distribution.

Along with video, the VC-100UHD can process embedded digital audio from its 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 inputs. Analog I/O is provided as well, with balanced audio on a 25-pin D-sub connector for installations and line-level stereo audio on RCA jacks for prosumer video gear. The advanced audio patching system lets users route and embed/de-embed up to 16 input channels and output up to 8 channels. An adjustable delay is also provided on each output to correct lip sync issues.

The VC-100UHD works as a portable processor for grab-and-go productions, or can be installed in a rack for use in larger systems and fixed installations. The unit’s rich integration capabilities include custom EDID on HDMI, 24 video test patterns, an audio test tone generator, system backup via USB memory, and remote control support over LAN.

Cubasis 3 Now for Android

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Steinberg has released its first mobile DAW app for Android: Cubasis 3 is the award-winning DAW for handheld devices, previously only available for the iOS platform. With Cubasis 3 now running on Android, Steinberg’s music production app is accessible to the majority of smartphone and tablet users.

Cubasis 3 offers great new features and enhancements for quick and easy results in recording and producing music. Group Tracks combines multiple tracks so that they can be processed and mixed as though they were a single track. The Cubasis mixer takes advantage of the display’s real estate, including useful zoom modes and an accurate level metering for every track. Users can add up to eight insert and eight send effects in Cubasis.

Many other feature additions and capabilities in Cubasis 3 include:

  • MIDI resolution dramatically improved with 960 pulses per quarter note
  • 75 new effects presets
  • Undo reinvented with History List
  • Redesigned instruments and effects
  • Updated audio, MIDI and automation editors
  • Improved MediaBay for creating folders, moving files and sharing music
  • Presets for scaling interface let Cubasis fit perfectly on any device
  • Plus many other great additions, new in Cubasis 3

Cubasis 3 is purchased as downloadable app through the App Store and Google Play. The price is US $49.99.