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Cakewalk® Announces Plasma !

(Cakewalk | Posted 2001-08-29)


Cakewalk® Announces Plasma !

Includes Plasma FXPad™, the first joystick-controlled DJ FX plug-in for Windows! Cakewalk, developer of the world’s best-selling music and sound software for Windows, today announced Cakewalk Plasma™, the first loop-based music creation and remix software to integrate audio and MIDI composition, DXi software synth plug-ins, and joystick-controlled DJ FX mixing. The estimated retail price for Plasma is $49.

Plasma provides PC users with the tools and content to easily create original music and remixes—right at home. Plasma includes drag-and-drop looping tools, support for ACID™-format audio loops, multitrack audio and MIDI recording, the DreamStation™DXi software synth, DirectX audio effects, and a complete ACID-format audio loop library CD-ROM. Plasma also includes the Plasma FXPad™—the world’s first joystick-controlled DJ effects mixer plug-in for Windows.

Joystick-controlled DJ FX

The Plasma FXPad is the world’s first joystick-controlled multi-effects plug-in for the PC. It’s a revolutionary way to interactively mix sound and create DJ effects. Users simply move a PC joystick or mouse to "morph" audio tracks with dozens of multi-effects presets. Every move of the joystick or mouse generates an effect in real time, and can be recorded as part of the mix. With Plasma and the Plasma FXPad, even non-musicians can now express themselves through music. Instead of just playing music, music fans now can play with it.

SONAR™-based Technology

Plasma is derived from Cakewalk’s award-winning SONAR™ audio and MIDI technology, and brings professional recording and mixing tools out of the professional studio and into the home. Plasma allows non-musicians, music enthusiasts and aspiring DJs alike to easily create original loop-based compositions. With Plasma users can arrange and combine pre-recorded loops with keyboards, vocals, live turntable scratches, CD samples, or any other recorded sound source.

Plasma can quickly load and audition multiple loops, matching the tempo and key of a project while it plays back. Plasma allows for unlimited sonic layering with DXi software synth plug-ins, and includes the popular DreamStationä DXi plug-in to recreate lush analog-style synthesizers sounds.

Plasma Highlights

  • Loop-based song construction tools with on-the-fly beat and pitch matching. Record and play back unlimited tracks of audio & MIDI.
  • Import standard .WAV, ACID-format .WAV, and MP3 files.
  • Includes additional CD of ACID-format audio loops in a wide variety of genres. Includes Fruityloops Express™ loop generator for creating additional ACID-format loops.
  • Supports DXi software synths for adding electronic synth tracks to a project; includes DreamStation DXi soft synth.
  • Automatable Plasma FXPad plug-in for live, joystick-controlled DJ FX mixing.
  • High-quality, real-time DirectX audio effects: Pitch Shifter, Parametric EQ, Stereo Chorus, Delay, Flanger and Reverb; add more DirectX plug-ins as needed.
  • Multitrack Piano Roll view for easy, intuitive editing of MIDI.
  • Burn CDs with the 30-day Pyro trial version.
  • Pyro™ MP3 Encoder & CD Maker trial version. Create MP3s, Windows Media Files and RealMedia G2 files for Internet distribution of your music.
  • Optimized for Windows 98, Me, XP, 2000.
  • Create, edit and dub video soundtracks for any digital video movie; import and sync any Windows AVI movie to a music project.


Pricing and Availability

Cakewalk Plasma has an estimated retail price ("street" price) of $49 U.S., and will begin shipping September 7, 2001. For more information visit Cakewalk at the 2001 International DJ EXPO, Atlantic City Convention Center, DJ Warehouse/X-Mix booth 131 & 230; visit www.cakewalk.com; or call 888-CAKEWALK (617-423-9004 outside U.S.).

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