Here at Computer Music we’re rarely scared by plug-ins, but this terrifying Halloween freebie from SSL has had us hiding behind the CM sofa all day. SSL X-Orcism is an eerie effect designed your to turn your voice into something altogether spookier with a combination of pitch modulation, reverb, delay, pitch-shift and a howling wind sound that will chill you to your very bones.


According to SSL coder Craig Grove the spontaneous plug-in give away wasn't planned in advance, and merely "came out of a directors' meeting last week as a way of cheering people up in light of 'ghost' stories of economic gloom". It's nice to know that even SSL, whose cheapest mixing console is the £12,500 (plus VAT) Matrix still have time for the cash strapped paupers amongst us.


If you’d like to put the willies up your friends you can download this frightening freebie from SSL’s website, though you’ll have to register before you can get your hands on the free goodies. While you’re there, make sure you check out the other free SSL downloads including the funky LMC-1 Listen Mic Compressor.

The Internet is abuzz with rumours regarding Apple’s Mac Mini. Our sister site Music Radar suspects it could be on the way out, whereas others think it could be due for a revival, or simply aren’t sure.


Does the Mac Mini really deserve to die? Is it ahead of its time, or do its less then stellar specs mean it’s ready for the scrap heap? Let us know what you think…

Apple have announced their new MacBook range, but aside from the MacBook Pro models (starting at a considerable £1399) they are unnervingly FireWire port free.


As this Music Radar editorial points out, many music-related peripherals are still FireWire only. Does this make the new MacBook a big let-down for computer musicians? Will you be purchasing one of Apple’s aluminium marvels, or perhaps you’d prefer an old-style white MacBook with an 2.1Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and FireWire port for a (relatively) wallet-friendly £719? Let us know your thoughts…

Here’s another offer from those funky French software developers at Ohm Force, creators of the superb OhmBoyz and Ohmicide plug-ins. You can save up to a whopping 50% if you buy enough stuff and sign up within the first week.


The offer starts today to you’ll need to sign up before 20th October to qualify for the “Happy First Week” rates, but if you miss out on that you can sign up until the 9th of November and still get a handsome discount on the Force’s excellent effects.


Click here for more details.