PreSonus has announced that Up and Running with Studio One, a two-hour course of video instruction on PreSonus Studio One DAW, featuring producer and remixer Josh Harris, is now available at lynda.com.

“Audio is a segment within our online library of tutorials that is quickly growing in popularity among music professionals,” said David Franz, lynda.com content manager for audio. “Up and Running with Studio One represents a significant addition to our library that gives learners a great introduction to the software.”

In his Studio One course, Harris quickly demonstrates how to work with the powerful, yet easy-to-learn DAW, beginning with the Start page and with setting up your artist profile and audio devices. He then shows how to set up and start recording a new song, including punching in and using track layers.

Next, Harris moves into editing audio and MIDI, explaining such important editing functions as comping, trimming, and time-stretching audio; quantizing MIDI; and editing MIDI velocities. He then covers the main mixing features, including using effects chains and presets and working with automation. He also discusses the unique mastering features of the Studio One Project page. Harris wraps up the course by demonstrating how to share music with the world, including publishing songs to SoundCloud®, promoting songs on Nimbit®, and using PreSonus Exchange.

To promote the new course, lynda.com is offering a 7-day trial membership to all registered Studio One users.

More information: Up and Running with Studio One

Wavesfactory has announced the release of W-Cajon, a sample library for Kontakt and EXS24.

The cajón is a box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru, played by slapping the front face (generally thin plywood) with the hands.

We have recorded 2 cajons with 3 mics: stereo pair in front of the instrument and a mono mic in the back to better get the bass tone. Both played with hand and brushes.

W-Cajon features

• 2 cajons with 10 round robin, 6 velocity layers.
• Left and right samples.
• 1200 samples, WAV files | 44.1 KHz, 24 bits.
• Played by hands and brushes.
• Stroke, bass and snap articulations.
• Real mix mode.
• Volume, pan and tune of each mic.
• Premium mics, preamps and converters.
• 490 MB installed.

The sound library is available to purchase for 9.95 EUR.

More information: Wavesfactory / W-Cajon

Hal Leonard has announced it has published Pitch Correction Software Now!, a guide to the most innovative and popular pitch correction titles today and how to apply them to your music.

Since Auto-Tune was released in 1997, pitch correction has become a standard component to modern audio production, both as an effect and as a discrete processing tool. The technology has matured considerably since then, and pitch correction is now available in many different flavors. Pitch Correction Software Now! offers a practical guide full of tips and tricks designed to quickly get you up to speed with the most popular pitch-correction products available today.

From the popular and slick T-Pain Effect by pitch correction powerhouse iZotope to professional polyphonic pitch correction using Celemony’s Melodyne DNA, this focused tutorial makes it easy to choose the best pitch-correction products for your music creation needs and helps you incorporate them into your music production workflow.

Accomplished music industry writer Max Mobley uses his easy-to-understand writing style and industry expertise to deliver a book that provides clear and concise practical advice in setting up and using several different pitch-correction plug-ins, including Antares’ newest version of Auto-Tune, Auto-Tune Live. From live stages to home studios, whether you want a vocal effect or precise, transparent monophonic or polyphonic pitch processing, Pitch Correction Software Now! puts music producers of all levels on the fast track to mastering the many forms of modern pitch correction.

The book is available to purchase for $14.99 USD.

More information: Hal Leonard / Pitch Correction Software Now!

MassiveSynth has introduced Wavetables Explained, a 2-hour video course on wavetables in Native Instruments Massive by Jonny Strinati.

NI Massive is the industry leader in wavetable synthesizers. There is no faster way to create a stunning variety of sounds. You can rapidly stack sound on top of sound to generate exciting new patches that will set you and your music far ahead of your competitors.

In our new Massive Wavetables Video Course you’ll explore all five categories of wavetables inside Massive: The Basic, Analog/Electric, Digital/Hybrid, FX/Chords, as well as a look at the Virtual/ Analog oscillators available.

The video course is available to purchase for $37 USD.

More information: MassiveSynth

Wave Arts has updated its Power Suite/Master Restoration Suite and Dialog/Tube Saturator effect plug-ins for Windows and Mac.

Changes in Wave Arts plugins

• MAS versions are now 64-bit compatible (will work in Digital Performer 8 ONLY).
• Restored missing HRTF options in Panorama.
• Fixed RTAS pops when starting transport (Tube Saturator).
• Fixed TrackPlug black GUI/crashes in certain circumstances.
• Fixed TrackPlug AU audio problem in Digital Performer.
• Potential crash using Panorama at 88.2K sample rate.
• Fixed minor Dialog rendering glitches.
• Moved some Cocoa GUI code to common framework to clean up warning messages in Console (Mac).
• Master Restoration Windows installer fixes.

More information: Wave Arts

Nucleus SoundLab has announced that it has added Viral Outbreak to the Spring Synthesis ReFill Bundle.

Another Reason ReFill has been added to Nucleus SoundLab’s Spring Synthesis ReFill Bundle. Viral Outbreak ($69 value) is now available for all purchasers who pay $49.99 or more!

Viral Outbreak brings the Virus TI synthesizer to Reason. 2.5Gb of samples and 180+ soundsets of cutting-edge electronica sounds are included. Not only that, a brand-new expansion bank of 32 patches is exclusively available with the bundle! These new patches by Tom Pritchard are highlighted by a focus on new Reason effects, including Alligator, Pulveriser, and The Echo.

The Spring Synthesis now encompasses 9 ReFills with a regular price of over $350 – at a Pay-What-You-Want price. Remember, the sale ends May 28th, 2012.

More information: Spring Synthesis ReFill Bundle