Thursday 30 March 2017

MAGIX MUSIC MAKER FREE SYNAPSE CIRCUIT REVIEW


SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

MAGIX MUSIC MAKER £FREE REVIEW #DAW #Music #MusicMaker #MagixMusicMaker #FreeMagixMusicMaker #FreeMusicMaker This review of the free version of Music Maker is going to whet your appetite for the review of the Premium version that’s coming soon! In the meantime… Read on!

In the Internet download for era, it is always a wonderful thing when you can download a legitimate software. MAGIX, feeling generous, has put out a free version of its brilliant Music Maker software and here’s the review…
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DEEP CUT
As you might have imagined, the free version of Music Maker is heavily cut. There are only 8 tracks, 3 decent synthesizers, 425 sound and loops, and 8 effects. OK… It’s not so severe! The 2 demos sound great and it gives you more than an idea of what can be done with this minimal DAW.
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What I would have loved was to see in this free version is the return of the BeatBox drum machine synth! The BeatBox drum machine is what is known as an “Object Synthesizer” which is no longer present in the latest commercial versions of Music Maker. It’s a little sad, at least for me, because I loved the BeatBox! The BeatBox interface made it very easy to put beats together and I could utilize samples in it! But I do understand why MAGIX have removed the “Object Synthesizers”. It’s time to move on! Still, there is nothing to stop MAGIX from updating the BeatBox drum machine into a more traditional synthesizer in the future. Some people would argue that there is no need for an updated BeatBox as the commercial versions feature the Drum Engine and that there is an instrument that can be bought separately called Urban Drums for £29.99. The BeatBox I have in mind is nuts! Maybe, when I get some free time, I will design the BeatBox upgrade! Anyway, that’s enough about BeatBoxes!

For beats, you can use the Vita synthesizer as well as add drum sample loops.

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Above: From the interface you can access more loops!

LOOPY
I think that this free version of Music Maker is great for composer that uses samples. However, I can’t help but to wish that MAGIX had provided a couple of tracks for VST instruments and effects. Well, that’s the composer in me! As much as I can compose with samples I do like to use my VST synths!

However, in this day and age, many composers make use of a number of loop vendors online. It is so easy to purchase a sample collection in the prefered genre and utilize them in the 8 tracks!

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WHO?
The free Music Maker is for anyone who enjoys computer music composition.

It’s great for those who want to create background and theme music for their YouTube channel projects.

It’s ideal for multimedia producers.

It’s brilliant for ultra-creative composers who likes to push the envelope of what can be done in a minimal set-up!

It’s very welcoming for those who want to get into making music on the PC without taking a risk. I would imagine that these sort of users would want to purchase any one of the commercial versions offering more features.

If the latter is you, I recommend the Premium version. Review coming soon! If you like the free Music Maker interface then you will no doubt appreciate the Premium version!

SCORE
The free version of MAGIX Music Maker scores a Synapse Circuit Gold!
Get music making right now!

Thank you for reading!

Synapse Circuit/Blue Gene

Sunday 26 March 2017

MAGIX MUSIC MAKER IS FREE, SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

FREE YOUR MUSIC MAKER! MAGIX MUSIC MAKER IS FREE!

London, March 2016 2017 - Dreams do come true!
WOW! It’s so funny… I actually dreamt this a few days ago! And there it is! AMAZING! If you didn’t know, MAGIX have acquired Sony multimedia software - namely, ACID! So, I was thinking, “It looks as though MAGIX could give away the basic version of its legendary Music Maker software…” And there it is! Gosh!

A popular tool for musicians for over 20 years, Music Maker is now available for free for the first time.
Berlin, March 26 2017 – MAGIX proudly announces the latest version of Music Maker. Having provided this ideal creative workspace for digital music creation on the PC platform for over 20 years, this new version of Music Maker is now absolutely free for everyone. Perfect for the musician just getting started as well as the professional musician. Music Maker provides all the tools needed to record, produce and share your music. MAGIX makes this fully-functional version completely free and ready for download at magix.com
Record. Produce. Share.
Based on a modular design and an intuitive workflow, Music Maker makes it easy to record, arrange, mix, produce and share your music. Record external instruments and vocals, add and arrange loop-based musical elements, record and playback MIDI information, mix, produce, and then publish the finished product.  The modern user interface with its drag & drop workflow make music creation easy and fun. A complement of professional music creation tools amp up production quality and inspire creativity.
Endless creative possibilities
The new, free, full-featured version of Music Maker comes with 425 sounds and loops, 3 instruments and 8 effects. It’s easy to add more sounds and instruments to the collection with just a few clicks. Integrated sounds, loops and instruments offer unlimited possibilities for creativity and experimentation with complete control over all aspects of production of any genre, from EDM and Trap to Rock bad Pop. Endless possibilities.
Music Maker has always enabled music lovers to get creative and win audiences over by producing their own songs in authentic studio quality. Now, with the free version of Music Maker, anyone and everyone can get started in the world of music production, develop or evolve their skills and make their musical dreams a reality.", Torsten Heise, MAGIX Product Owner and Music Maker.
About MAGIX:
MAGIX AG is an internationally operating provider of software, online services and digital content for use in multimedia products and services. Founded in 1993, MAGIX offers private and professional users a technologically sophisticated and user-friendly range of products for designing, editing, presenting and archiving digital photos, videos, music, documents and websites. MAGIX is the market leader in the field of multimedia software in Germany and in the most important European markets. It is also regarded as one of the most successful players in the US market.

MAGIX see.feel.hear.create

Thank you for reading!

Synapse Circuit/Blue Gene

Auslogics Puts 9 Years of Computer Optimization Experience into Brand-New Mac Cleaner

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

Auslogics Puts 9 Years of Computer Optimization Experience into Brand-New Mac Cleaner

NEWS!

#Auslogics #Apple #Mac #Cleaner #System #Optimization

OPTIMIZE YOUR MAC
Australian maker of popular computer optimization software, Auslogics has released its first product for Macs designed to simplify maintenance and extend computer service life.


Sydney, Australia – March 26 2017 – Auslogics Software, a leading publisher of innovative computer optimization programs, has recently launched a brand-new tool for cleaning cache and junk files from Mac computers. Auslogics Mac Cleaner promises to help resolve one of the main issues causing Mac users to replace their computers.
In its official Environment FAQ document posted on apple.com, Apple states that the company expects OS X devices to have a 4-year life cycle. Although technically OS X computers are capable of lasting significantly longer, surveys show that a large number of Mac users feel that they need to replace their computer even before the 4 years is up. Other users may buy their Macs used and face the same issue soon after purchase. The issue that is quoted by users as one of the main reasons for them to look for a new computer is their old computer’s reduced performance, which is often caused by accumulations of temporary and other unneeded files.
Auslogics Mac Cleaner is released after extensive testing was completed to ensure the program’s effectiveness. The software is capable of freeing up large amounts of disk space, clearing unneeded files from various locations and noticeably improving overall performance. “When we polled Mac users, we were really surprised to discover how many people were actually frustrated with less than great computer performance and had no idea what they could do about it besides purchasing a new machine,” – says Anna Lind, the company’s PR Representative. “We put a lot of research and years of experience into creating Mac Cleaner – a product that will hopefully help thousands of Mac users to extend their computers’ service life, and what’s even more important, help them enjoy their well-running machines.”
A free trial version of Auslogics Mac Cleaner can be downloaded from the publisher’s website at www.auslogics.com. The full version can be currently purchased from the site at a special new release discount.
Company Background:
Founded in 2008 in Sydney, Australia, Auslogics Software publishes a wide range of innovative computer maintenance, optimization and security tools for home and business use.
Software from Auslogics is used by over 15 million people around the globe and is the tool of choice of many IT professionals and computer manufacturing companies. The company is a Microsoft Gold Application Development Partner.
Auslogics Disk Defrag has been praised as the best disk defragmentation tool on CNET and other online resources, as well as included in the 10 best free software programs of the year list by PC Magazine several years in a row. Thanks for reading!~ Synapse Circuit/Blue Gene

Friday 24 March 2017

EDIFIER CINESOUND B3 SOUNDBAR SYNAPSE CIRCUIT REVIEW

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

EDIFIER CINESOUND B3 SOUNDBAR £149.99 CHECK ONLINE FOR PRICE

REVIEW

#Edifier #Soundbar #CineSoundB3 #HomeTheater #HomeTheatre #SpeakerSystem #HiFi

EDIFICATION It looks like Edifier have given a sermon in the purity of audio delivery! Could the Edifier CineSound B3 Soundbar convert you from the more well-known speaker manufacturers? Read on! SAFE AND SOUND In the box you get your standard cables RCA, male/female jack and optical. Plus you get a remote control with 3 presets: Movie, News and 3D. Finally, the CineSound B3 Soundbar is Bluetooth 4.0 compatible and you get a wall mount bracket! Great!


I love the Bluetooth 4.0 aspect as today's gadget obsessed person has a myriad of Bluetooth compatible devices.


There's a 10-minute standby that powers down after inactivity.
DESIGN & BUILD QUALITY
I've got to say that I have become a fan of the Edifier speaker design aesthetic. The CineSound B3 is wonderfully minimal; a sleek black line that should complement any wall.
At the right end of the CineSound B3 is an array of physical buttons arranged in a triangular pattern for your convenience. Nice. It's simplistic.


The build quality is solid and does not feel cheap.


SOUND
I think it's fair to say that Edifier has established itself as a major player in the loudspeaker industry. Over the years I've seen Edifier grow from a computer speaker company to Bluetooth - covering mainly mobile devices and now expanded to TV/Gaming with the CineSound range.


As a computer musician, I would love to see Edifier produce affordable studio monitors.


The sound quality is, as I've come to expect from Edifier, very pleasing. The CineSound B3 has a nice clean quality from the off! The frequencies are well balanced; it's an all-round good sound for general purposes. Music comes across very well and it makes me wonder what could have been if Edifier had a few music modes (in addition to the Movie, News and 3D presets). However, it's a small gripe; if you play music from your smartphone via Bluetooth you can use an equalizer to get the best results.


The 3 presets, Movie News and 3D, do not disappoint. If you've been using the speakers on your TV/PC you'll certainly notice the difference! You might feel an inclination to slap yourself for making do.


I did notice a bit of distortion at full blast but I can't imagine why anyone would want to use the maximum volume setting as the CineSound B3 is plenty loud! There's an input for a subwoofer which is always a good thing, but on its own the bass has a very good presence. The bass isn't muddy like on some soundbars, going back to listening to music, this is why the CineSound B3 makes for a good all-round speaker unit.


The mid and treble frequencies are nice and crisp, hi hats and breaking glass sound realistic.  
CONCLUSION
For the price, I think Edifier has done more than a good job here. As I've stated previously, the CineSound B3 delivers an all-round pleasing sound and presets are perfect in that they enabled me to movies, action movies that benefits from the 3D mode and the News mode levels out the frequencies to avoid distractions.


More expensive soundbars struggles to be this good straight out of the box. I was very happy with the sounds coming out of the CineSound B3.


SCORE
It's pretty much a no brainer, if you're upgrading from the embedded speakers in the TV/PC monitor. If you're a dabbler in gaming the CineSound B3 is good enough.


I fancy myself as an audiophile and I'm satisfied with the CineSound B3 on a price to quality ratio. Yes, there are better soundbars out there but they​ don't come cheap!


If you've already decked out your living room with a huge TV and home theatre system then it could be that you're looking for a decent soundbar for TV in the bedroom, the CineSound B3 is it!
A Synapse Circuit Gold


Thank you for reading!

Synapse Circuit/Blue Gene

Wednesday 22 March 2017

REALLUSION CHARACTER CREATOR 2.0 LAUNCHES WITH NEW PBR VISUALS, MATERIAL GENERATOR & SMART CONTENT PLAYSET

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT 

REALLUSION CHARACTER CREATOR 2.0 LAUNCHES WITH NEW PBR VISUALS, MATERIAL GENERATOR & SMART CONTENT PLAYSET

NEWS!
#Reallusion #CharacterCreator2 #Character #Creator #2 #CrazyTalkAnimator3 #2DAnimation #Cartoons

Those amazing guys at Reallusion never ceases to amaze, that’s why they are amazing! Every time I see a product preview/demonstration, I get blown away! To review Reallusion software is to be dumbfounded, excited and inspired.

San Jose, CA MARCH 22nd 2017 - Reallusion, the leader in real-time development tools launches Character Creator (CC) 2.0 featuring enhanced visual quality for 3D characters with industry standard PBR shaders, Image Based Lighting options, and a new Substance Material Generator  to dynamically design high-quality 3D characters and appearances.
From the beginning, the free Character Creator tool innovated the character design process for 3D fully rigged characters with face and body slider morphs, interchangeable outfits, custom clothing design, facial lip syncing, character animation, content ecosystem and 3rd party export support.
The new Character Creator 2.0 (CC 2) comes with updated visuals for industry standard PBR shaders, allowing users to import PBR textures made with 3D paint tools like; Substance Painter, 3D Coat, or Quixel. Users can now export their Character Creator assets to iClone 7, Unreal, Unity, or Sketchfab with the same PBR visual quality.
VIDEO: Character Creator 2.0 - Brings Ultra-realism to everyday 3D Characters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G_KD0P_QvI
Physically Based Render Shaders
The new Character Creator PBR shading system renders realistic metallic and roughness effects that match the same visuals in mainstream material applications like Allegorithmic's Substance Painter. A variety of material channels that work in sync with image based lighting options result in a more accurate interaction between light and surfaces.
Convert Non-PBR Content
Users can convert their existing library of non-PBR content utilizing traditional shaders to the new PBR shaders easily, or they can manually work with selected objects and materials for single conversions, bringing new life to iClone's legacy content which can all be repurposed and updated using the multiple material channels in Character Creator.
Image Based Lighting (IBL)
The previous version of Character Creator offered a single light source, and the new 2.0 update now allows users to customize their IBL environment in Character Creator, while syncing the sky map to their IBL light with natural DOF effects and color tone. Achieve a more accurate preview of what characters will look like inside a 3D tool or game engine environment.
Appearance Editor & Material Generator
The latest update includes an advanced Substance (Appearance Editor) & Material Generator to create unlimited looks for clothing and objects with multi-layered materials like leather, wood, metals, stone, fabrics, and others. Users can incorporate embedded texture libraries to achieve a new level of realism that takes advantage of the new Physically Based Rendering system while procedurally generating custom variables for edge wear, gashes, paint peel, wrinkles, folds, scratches, grit, rot, rust, abrasions, decals, and patterns.
PBR Playsets - A New Level of Smart Content
Accompanying the new CC 2.0 update are two new Character Creator Content Packs complete with character morphs, clothing, accessories, and updated PBR visuals. These new content playsets offer users the option of designing more than one look with the original assets, thanks to multiple preset options and customization. Now Game designers, and 3D animation teams can use these embedded bases to create thousands of accessories and clothes, while using dynamic texture editing to give new looks to all kinds of equipment.
For further information, please visit Character Creator website: https://www.reallusion.com/iclone/character-creator

About Reallusion: ​Reallusion Inc. is a 2D and 3D animation software and content developer. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, with R&D centers in Taiwan, and offices and training centers in Germany and Japan. Reallusion specializes in the development of real­time 2D and 3D cinematic animation tools for consumers, students and professionals. The company provides users with easy to use avatar animation, facial morphing and voice lip­sync solutions for real-­time 3D filmmaking, and previsualization for professional post ­production. Reallusion's core technologies are widely used by trainers, educators, gamers and filmmakers providing them with stand­alone movie studio packages. http://www.reallusion.com

Thank you for reading! Synapse Circuit/Blue Gene

Friday 10 March 2017

REALLUSION CRAZYTALK ANIMATOR 3 SYNAPSE CIRCUIT REVIEW


SYNAPSE CIRCUIT 

THE RE-ANIMATOR? THAT'S CRAZYTALK!

Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator 3 Pipeline Edition $259 (check prices online) Review!
#Reallusion #CrazyTalkAnimator3 #2DAnimation #Cartoons

Those amazing guys at Reallusion never ceases to amaze, that’s why they are amazing! Every time I see a product preview/demonstration, I get blown away! To review Reallusion software is to be dumbfounded, excited and inspired.

Here’s the Synapse Circuit review of CrazyTalk Animator 3 (Pipeline Edition).

PINCH
CrazyTalk Animator is a 2D animation software that has to be used to be believed! Think about the time it takes to create one episode of your favourite cartoon series. Well, within an incredible short space of time, you will be able to create your very own cartoons! If you are looking for a way to start realizing your cartoon animated ambition, look no further. If you happen to be an experienced artist/illustrator and want to create and animate your own creations, CrazyTalk Animator 3 Pipeline is definitely the software for you! It’s available for the PC and MAC platforms. I reviewed the PC version.  
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You will be pinching yourself using this awe inspiring animation software.

EVOLVE
Me? I have zero talent in creating animation but after doing the tutorial, I feel that I can be creative as there are usable templates that features characters and props. What’s more, is that I can animate just about anything using photos and scanned images.
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I can create a vocal recording and the automatic lip sync makes light of characters appearing to talk in sync with the recorded audio speech. You can also use Text-To-Speech WAV files and CrazyTalk Script. The Facial Animation facility is just nuts! I have used previous incarnations of CrazyTalk and it is truly astounding how the software improves with each version; just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, it does! Reallusion makes creating 2D animation easy and painless!

I would recommend going for the Pipeline version as it packed with features and additional characters and pros. Plus you can download more via the Pipeline!

IN USE
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Bear in mind that I am not yet an illustrator, I am confident that given a bit of time, I will be able to create like the professionals. I mean, just look at how simple the Hello Kitty character is drawn and how iconic she is! I am currently learning to use Affinity Designer by Serif. Affinity Designer has replaced DrawPlus. So, if you have DrawPlus or Affinity Designer and you happen to be talented at illustration and character creation, then Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator 3 (Pipeline) and the aforementioned Serif illustration software is a marriage in Animation Heaven!

That said, if you happen to be Photoshop or equivalent based then you should be able to create brilliant animation with photos. You can create your own style! There is always room for more animation artistry.

CrazyTalk Animator 3 Pipeline edition is so very, very easy to use. If you are, like me, not very good at animation you can just drag and drop predefined animations in the Content Manager.

CONCLUSION
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Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator 3  Pipeline Edition is the pinnacle of 2D animation software, no other animation software is as easy to use and is as cost effective.

There is a strong tutorial resource on the Reallusion website: www.reallusion.com

I strongly recommend that you do the tutorials as they are easy to follow, step by step instructions that will allow you to become familiar with the interface and how make the most of the software! You could be creating fantastic cartoon animation and become a YouTube content creator! WOW!

CrazyTalk Animator 3 is capable of professional results, outputs to HD and 4K. The beauty is that it is within reach of anyone who can find a use for it:-

Professional Animators TV/Film

Presentation Creation Designers

Educational Institutions & Animation/Media Teachers

YouTube Content Creators

If your project could do with some unique 2D animations then this is your one stop solution!

The PC I used is an 5 year old AMD quad core based, just imagine what can be done with a PC of today’s insane specifications! Just add a USB audio recording device and you have a studio in which you can have vocal actors voicing your characters!

This is why PCs are still relevant today. Sure, they aren’t selling as much because most households have access to Social Media and the Internet via their mobile devices. But if you want to do something creative on the PC such as real professional animation, Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator 3 is the way to go! I am looking to get an infinitely better PC soon! I have some ideas… Sssh!
SCORE
Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator 3  Pipeline Edition scores an effortless Synapse Circuit Double Platinum! Get it now! You’ll hate me for about a week because I can guarantee that you will be pinching yourself. You will be pinching yourself at how wonderful the interface is to use and with the results!

Thank you for reading! Synapse Circuit/Blue Gene