Elegaic, engaging and insightful: the new Jones album 'Hopeland' is out, produced by our friend Marcus Cliffe with MR816 and Cubase 5. Amazingly, still a project that is a well-kept secret in the UK and elsewhere, so spread the word.

http://www.myspace.com/joneshopeland

Out now! New VST Sound Instrument Set Synthesizers out now for Cubase, Sequel and Nuendo NEK: over 140 synth patches for HALion ONE and 350 MIDI loops for €29/£26...

More here

The new eLC, which replaces the Syncrosoft License Control Center, is available for download now from elicenser.net. The new software has new features, an improved workflow and an enhanced help system...

Steinberg is excited to announce the release of the brand-new CI2 Advanced Integration USB studio featuring a USB-powered audio interface and controller in one portable unit alongside the Cubase AI 5 music production software.

The CI2 houses two balanced XLR/jack combo connectors with high-quality microphone preamps plus onboard +48V phantom power. A dedicated high-impedance switch on the first channel lets you jack an electric guitar or bass directly into the CI2. And with 24-bit resolution and a sampling rate of 48 kHz, the CI2 provides a professional digital audio recording standard ensuring stunning sound quality. Leaving the best for last is the console’s AI Knob, harnessing Steinberg’s Advanced Integration technology for seamless interaction with the included Cubase AI 5 music production software.

On the software side of things is Cubase AI 5, a lean Cubase version without the bells and whistles yet providing all the tools you are looking for to compose, record, edit and mix your music with ease.

Together, the CI2 hardware and Cubase AI 5 software present a complete plug-and-play solution for live stereo and band recording and producing, ready to be set up wherever you wish.

Shipping of the CI2 Advanced Integration USB studio commences at the end of September.

Find out more

It's all about updates today at steinberg.net: On top of the release of Cubase Essential 5, which completes the move to Generation 5 for the Cubase product family, Steinberg also today announced a Cubase (Studio) 5.1 update as well as updates to the MR816 CSX/X and CC121 drivers, firmware and extensions.

Find out more over at the main Steinberg site...

Producer and long-time Steinberg user Erran Baron Cohen is thriving in today’s music business. Not only a superb trumpet player, keyboardist and consistently in demand DJ within the London circuit, Baron Cohen is also the founding member of ZOHAR, an eclectic band blending various styles like hip-hop, electronica and world music beautifully into a homogeneous whole. Then again, he is probably best known for his scoring of the TV series Da Ali G Show where he worked together with artists the likes of Travis and Supergrass as well as composing the award-winning score to the 2006 sensation Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

Read more here

Veteran Cubase user Michael Fakesch has scored a major success for his scoring and sound design agency DESIGNINGSOUNDS. His work on Carousel, which was commissioned by electronics brand Philips, helped the film clinch the “Oscar” of the world’s advertising industry, the Cannes Lions Grand Prix. Produced using Cubase 5 and HALion Symphonic Orchestra, Fakesch’s haunting, evocative soundtrack underscored the eerie, chaotic yet hard-hitting sense of stasis employed in the film to showcase the capabilities of Philips’ Cinema 21:9 technology and products.

Fakesch, former member of electro act Funkstörung, has been providing world-famous companies and organizations with his unique yet versatile brand of cutting-edge sound design since the demise of Funkstörung in 2005. His credits include multiple campaigns for Toyota, the world premiere launch for Sony’s PSP Go as well as vital contributions to successful campaigns for KIA, Vodafone and Disney, to name but a few. His own musical output has also continued unabated, such as his critically-acclaimed solo album dos as well as remixes for other artists including Herbert, Bomb The Bass and Booka Shade.

For more on Michael Fakesch’s sound design work, see www.designingsounds.com.

See the winning film Carousel here: http://work.canneslions.com/film/

New York-based producer John Morales is acknowledged as being one the early pioneers of remixing as well as being a special Steinberg endorser of the very first hour. Kicking off his musical career as a local disco DJ, John Morales has remixed great names like Jocelyn Brown, Chaka Kahn and Marvin Gaye.

Read more here

After Vienna Symphonic Orchestra Chris Hein has also introduced VST Expression Maps for the Chris Hein Guitars and Chris Hein Bass sample libraries. More Expression Maps will follow when the Chris Hein Horns Vol.3 library is released.

Find out more here...

Just added a list of a few artists using Cubase and other Steinberg hardware and software over at the main site: Steinberg Artist List (selection)