Free Universal Audio | Native Instruments Lives! | Blue Cat Deals | Reviews: Audio-Technica, tech, games, movies
Scott R. Garrigus' DigiFreq and NewTechReview Newsletter
Welcome to the latest newsletter issue. We’ve got some great content for you including news about the Native Instruments acquisition, a few deals from Blue Cat Audio, as well as a number of reviews covering pro audio, tech, games and movies. There’s also news about a great free plug-in bundle from Universal Audio as well as a free Batman videogame. Thanks for reading!
Best regards,
Scott
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DEAL: Get up to 33% off of Blue Cat AcouFiend, Hot Tuna, and Re-Guitar Audio Plug-Ins
With Blue Cat’s Re-Guitar, you can emulate many kinds of guitar tones (electric or acoustic), regardless of the guitar model used for recording.
Blue Cat's AcouFiend is an acoustic feedback simulator plug-in that can make your guitars scream, growl, or sing, even at low volume or through headphones, and it gives you total control over it.
Blue Cat's Hot Tuna is an extremely fast high precision chromatic tuner plug-in that can dim or mute the signal when active.
Download the free trial versions or purchase the full versions using this code at checkout: DIGIFR364
Shop at: https://BlueCatAudio.com/
Pro Audio News: inMusic has acquired Native Instruments!
If you hadn’t heard, Native Instruments entered insolvency earlier this year and things did not look good for the music technology company. Personally, this worried me because I use quite a few Native Instruments applications. However, earlier this month Nick Williams (CEO of Native Instruments) presented the public with the news that inMusic had acquired the company and for the foreseeable future, things will be business as usual with Native Instrument’s products. What does this mean for the future? Only time will tell… but for now, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. To read the full statement from Nick, go to: https://blog.native-instruments.com/an-announcement-from-nick-williams/
Pro Audio Reviews: Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa Open-Back Reference Headphones
There is a particular category of headphone that exists not to impress at first listen, but to reveal truth over time. The open back reference design has long been associated with this philosophy, and it is within this space that Audio-Technica has refined its craft with the ATH-R70x lineage and its updated sibling, the ATH-R70xa. These are not lifestyle headphones, nor are they designed for casual commuting. Instead, they are tools, and very precise ones at that.
At first glance, the ATH-R70xa does not attempt to dazzle with luxury materials or visual flair. Instead, its design is understated and purposeful. This aligns perfectly with its intended use. These are headphones meant to disappear on the head and leave only the sound behind.
Full review at: https://www.digifreq.com/digifreq/reviewdetails.asp?ProdReviewID=48
Tech Reviews: JIMMY Mattress Vacuums
JIMMY Mattress Vacuums Round-Up
Mattress vacuums (or “anti-mite / UV bed vacuums”) have become a go-to for households seeking deeper cleaning of beds, sofas, and upholstery than a standard vacuum can provide. JIMMY’s line of mattress vacuums is especially ambitious: each model combines suction, tapping/oscillation, UV light or heating, and filtration to tackle dust mites, allergens, and embedded debris. Across the BX and JV series, these vacuums offer a gradual level of features and performance, letting buyers pick based on power, weight, budget, or special features.
Full review at: https://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/review.asp?ID=202
Movie Reviews: The Substitute 4K, The Housemaid Blu-ray
The Substitute on 4K Ultra HD
There are certain action films from the 1990s that never pretended to be prestige cinema, yet somehow became endlessly rewatchable because of sheer attitude, momentum, and charisma. The Substitute is one of those movies. Directed by Robert Mandel and starring Tom Berenger in one of his most entertaining leading roles, the film blends military action, urban crime drama, and vigilante thrills into a hard hitting genre picture that still packs a punch decades later.
Full review at: https://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/review.asp?ID=222
The Housemaid on Blu-ray
There are thrillers that rely on loud shocks and frantic pacing, and then there are thrillers that slowly tighten their grip until the tension becomes almost unbearable. The Housemaid belongs firmly in the second category. Watching the Lionsgate Blu-ray release reminded me why psychological thrillers continue to resonate with audiences who enjoy character driven suspense mixed with stylish filmmaking. Directed by Paul Feig, the film takes familiar domestic thriller elements and reshapes them into something sleek, entertaining, and consistently engaging.
Full review at: https://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/review.asp?ID=221
Gaming Reviews: Gaijin Entertainment
Cubic Odyssey
Cubic Odyssey is a visually striking and intellectually stimulating indie puzzle-platformer that marries elegant minimalism with deeply rewarding gameplay. Developed by a small but passionate team, this PC title quickly makes an impression with its crisp cube-based visuals and ambient soundscape—but it's the gameplay mechanics and thoughtful level design that keep you engaged from start to finish.
Full review at: https://www.newtechreview.com/newtechreview/review.asp?ID=191
Freebies: Universal Audio and Batman!
UAD Explore FREE Plug-in Bundle
From iconic compressors to vintage tube preamps, you get eight professional quality Universal Audio plug-ins including: UA 610 Tube Preamp & EQ, UA 1176 Classic FET Compressor, Teletronix LA-2A Tube Compressor, Vibe Analog Machines Essentials, Pure Plate Reverb, UAD Showtime ‘64 Tube Amp, Century Tube Channel Strip and the PolyMAX Synth. I know there are many, many free plug-ins out there, but these are definitely some of the best. I highly recommend you grab this bundle if you haven’t already.
Go to: https://www.uaudio.com/products/uad-explore-free
The Telltale Batman Shadows Edition
Epic Games is giving away one of the coolest Batman games on the market. Step into the shadows and experience the twisted world of Telltale’s Batman in a way that brings the fractured persona of the Dark Knight and the City of Gotham to life in a sinister, new way.
Enhanced with hand recolored game play and remastered textures, the Telltale Batman Shadows Edition brings all ten Telltale Batman episodes across two seasons into one, complete game while staying true to the spirit of the Dark Knight’s rich, visual history.
Go to: https://store.epicgames.com/p/the-telltale-batman