Cakewalk Announces Guitar Studio 2

Provides Tablature, Session Drummer MIDI Plug-in, More Audio Tracks and Effects

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July 23, 1999 -- Cakewalk, the leading provider of music and sound software, today announced the release of Guitar Studio 2, a major upgrade for the industry's first and only multitrack recording software designed just for guitar players.

Released last year at Summer NAMM '98, Guitar Studio was well received by recording guitarists who, until then, were ignored by music software manufacturers. Building on Guitar Studio's initial success, the company has added major new features including:

Real-time tablature display and editing capabilities;
Improved fretboard editing;
New Session Drummer™ MIDI plug-in;
AmpSim Lite- a vintage amp simulation audio plug- in;
Up to 16 tracks of audio, doubling original capability of eight tracks;
Up to 16 simultaneous real-time audio effects, a four-fold increase from the original version.

"The initial release of Guitar Studio was a solid first step in providing guitar players with software-based multitrack recording and editing tools," said Michael Hoover, product manager, Cakewalk. "Guitar Studio 2 takes the product to the next level, and provides the guitar player with a richer, more comprehensive set of tools for producing multitrack projects. At the same time, we've added features that will appeal to music teachers and students. This is a very robust product offering."

Now with Tablature

Guitar Studio now provides a Tablature display, which allows users to edit and print MIDI tracks as guitar notation. Users can view tablature alongside standard music notation, as well as viewing synchronized fingering on a fretboard window.

Tablature, standard notation and fretboard fingering are all simultaneously displayed in real-time during Record and Playback-making Guitar Studio 2 an ideal tool for teaching and practicing guitar. It also supports customizable tablature algorithms, support for up to eight strings and alternate tunings, all of which can be saved as presets.

The Fretboard view now provides additional display options, such as mirrored display, alternate tunings, and additional fretboard textures.

The built-in chromatic tuner has also been improved, allowing guitar players to tune up their instruments faster and more accurately.

New MIDI and Audio Plug-ins

Guitar Studio's real-time audio and MIDI effects capabilities are enhanced with the new Session Drummer MIDI FX plug-in and AmpSim Lite audio plug-in.

The Session Drummer allows users to quickly select, arrange and play realistic drum tracks to incorporate into original compositions, using a simple point and click method. The MIDI drums can play back on the internal sound card or any external MIDI instrument. The Session Drummer includes one hundred professionally recorded drum patterns that can be auditioned and arranged either in real-time or off-line. All drum patterns are provided by Vamtech, the industry-leading creator of professional MIDI drum performances.

The included AmpSim Lite plug-in is a special edition of Cakewalk's Audio FX™ 2 Amp and Tape effects package, which allows users to add realistic, analog simulation effects to digital audio tracks. Using two vintage amp models, British Overdrive and American Lead, guitarists are able to add vintage amplifier sounds to "dry" recorded audio tracks, without the expense of owning and maintaining expensive vintage gear.

Cakewalk Guitar Studio 2 has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $249 U.S. and is available immediately. Guitar Studio 1 customers are able to upgrade for $59 plus shipping and handling.

For more information, visit Cakewalk's web site at www.cakewalk.com.