31-Jan-03
Hear Back Personal Monitor Mixing System Shown at NAMM : .
Hear Technologies announced their new personal headphone/monitor mixing product - Hear Back. This system, which consists of a hub and a mixer, is perfect for headphones, wired and wireless in-ear monitors, and/or conventional floor monitors. It is equally at home in studios, on stage, and in auditoriums. Mixers connect to the hub via standard CAT 5 cable, which supplies digital audio and power.
For more information, visit their web site at www.hearback.com.

28-Jan-03
Bomb Factory Updates Plug-Ins for OS X : .
Bomb Factory announced the immediate availability of OS X versions of its plug-ins for Digidesign Pro Tools systems. All products are compatible with Pro Tools 6.0 and are available for immediate download.

"OS X represents a huge step forward for technology, but it's also going to be an unbelievable hassle for artists and musicians," said Bomb Factory President Erik Gavriluk. "We wanted to make sure we were part of the solution, not part of the problem." The OS X upgrade is free for all 3.0 owners. Simply download the latest Bomb Factory version for OS X, insert your iLok, and commence your journey into the relatively unexplored world of Pro Tools on OS X.

For more information, visit their web site at bombfactory.com.

Eventide Enters Plug-In Market with Clockworks Legacy for Pro Tools|HD : .
In a move that makes some of music production's most sought-after audio effects available to a much wider base of musicians and engineers everywhere, Eventide announced the launch of Clockworks Legacy plug-ins for the ProTools HD platform. For the first time, the sounds of Eventide's classic boxes, including the H910, Omnipressor, Instant Phaser, Instant Flanger and H949, can be replicated in a collection of audio effects plug-ins for the desktop environment.

For more information, visit their web site at www.eventide.com.

25-Jan-03
Digital Performer for OS X Demonstrated at NAMM : .
MOTU demonstrated Digital Performer for Mac OS X, an audio production environment that features universal MIDI and audio compatibility via Mac OS X's CoreMIDI and CoreAudio services. MOTU also announced support for Apple's Audio Units plug-in standard and demonstrated new features and program enhancements.

The message about Digital Performer for Mac OS X was clear: universal compatibility. Digital Performer fully supports Mac OS X's CoreMIDI and CoreAudio technology, which supply Digital Performer users with standard audio and MIDI management features, along with plug-and-play compatibility with third-party audio and MIDI hardware, software applications, plug-ins, virtual instruments and other products.

Load Akai Sounds Into Reason with Reload : .
Propellerhead Software today announced the development or Reload. Reload is a utility program for Mac OS X and Windows XP that allows Reason and ReCycle users to load Akai S1000//S3000 sound disks. Reload is also useful for anyone importing WAV files. Utilizing a very simple elegant interface, Reload makes one of the world's largest sound libraries available to Reason and Recycle.
Specific features include:

• Load complete Akai programs and samples, including full keyboard mapping and parameters, into the NNXT.
  
• Load Akai samples into the NN-19 and Redrum, including looping.
  
• Load samples into ReCycle, including looping parameters.
  
• Reload will be a free download for registered Propellerhead users beginning in April 2003 and will be $49 for unregistered users.

For more information, visit their web site at propellerheads.se.

24-Jan-03
New MobilePre USB Preamp from M-Audio : .
M-Audio announced the MobilePre USB at NAMM, a bus-powered USB interface with built-in two-channel mic/instrument preamps. Deriving power from the USB bus eliminates the need for an external power supply, making the product ideal for field recording and other laptop-based mobile recording situations. Inputs include two XLR balanced microphone connectors with switchable +48V phantom power for professional microphones, 1/8" mini stereo microphone jacks for desktop mics, and two 1/4" TRS balanced instrument/line inputs. The latter are high impedance for optimization of input signals such as guitars and basses. Each input channel also features a gain control knob (+40dB maximum), phantom power indicator, and a signal presence/clipping indicator. MobilePre USB output complement includes two 1/4" unbalanced outputs, an 1/8" mini stereo line output, and 1/8" mini stereo headphone output with level knob. MobilePre USB is expected to ship in mid-March with an MSRP of $179.95. For more information, visit their web site at midiman.net.

23-Jan-03
Ilio to distribute ultimate sound bank (usb) products : .
ILIO Entertainments announced at the NAMM Show 2003 that it is the new North American distributor for Ultimate Sound Bank’s entire line of products, including its critically acclaimed Plugsound products, Soundscan, and a new set of virtual instrument releases.

Among USB’s new virtual instruments, announced for the first time at this year’s Winter NAMM show, will be UltraFocus™ Synthesis Anthology. This new instrument unveils new synthesis features of USB’s UVI-Engine and contains a varied arsenal of sounds, created using dozens of classic synths. The included presets can be loaded in one of two available “layers”. Each layer can use every sound-shaping feature of the UVI-Engine: dual multimode filters, two envelopes, 4 LFOs, mono-legato mode, enhanced modulation routing and more. Users will be able to easily access tones from several synthesis methods in a simple virtual instrument: analog, analog modeling, vector, wavetable and digital. Despite the sheer number of presets, sounds are easy to find thanks to USB’s file search feature that can locate sounds by type (bass, leads, etc.), or by synthesis technique. The sounds can also be loaded into MOTU’s new Mach Five software sampler. Features include a large library of “collector’s synths”, a feature-rich interface, mono-legato mode, unlimited polyphony, low latency, real-time MIDI control of every parameter and zone editing. Utrafocus is a plug-in that supports VST, RTAS, MAS and will support Mac OSX in the near future.

Vienna symphonic library demos its first edition at the winter NAMM show 2003 : .
The Vienna Symphonic Library has announced that its First Edition shipped by mid-December. The product was featured at the recent Winter NAMM Show 2003 in Vienna’s “Symphonic Cube.” The initial release, consisting of the Orchestral Cube and the Performance Set, totals 90 gigabytes of samples. Customers who purchase the First Edition are also eligible for the company’s unique VIP program, which allows users to upgrade to forthcoming Vienna Symphonic Library products at a reduced cost. The completed library, which will be released over the coming years, will comprise up to 1.5 million tones and tone sequences, played by world-class musicians (including musicians from Vienna’s renowned orchestras) and captured with state-of-the-art recording technology.

Tassman 3.0 to Support Mac OS X : .
Applied Acoustics Systems today announced the forthcoming availability of the Tassman Sound Synthesis Studio for Mac OS X.2, OS 9.x, and Windows PC.

Combining the most popular synthesis and sound processing techniques of yesteryear with Applied Acoustics Systems' own physical modeling technology, Tassman Sound Synthesis Studio is an entirely modular sound design solution, offering a near infinite range of creative possibilities for realistic emulation of acoustic instruments, analog and FM synthesizers, and powerful sample manipulation and processing, with an intuitive interface based on the familiarity of analog hardware. Offering pristine 32 bit internal sound quality, sample rates up to 96 kHz, and compatibility with the most widely used driver and plug-in standards on both Mac and Windows platforms, the Tassman is sure to be a powerful addition to even the most demanding professional studio environment, and a source of inspiration from project to project. For more information, visit their web site at applied-acoustics.com.

20-Jan-03
DSound NAMM 2003 press release : .
1. The new product GT Player software + Guitar
2. OEM cooperation with M-Audio
3. The RT Player Pro 2.1 released for Mac OSX

With the amazing response from the release of RT Player Pro, comes DSound's second real time player, GT Player, exclusively for guitarists. Once again, DSound defies standard conventions and has taken a bold new step towards realizing live performance of VST Plugins and Instruments. Not only have DSound added individual effect chaining, allowing two guitars to be plugged in simultaneously and having discrete control over all parameters, but also there is included an actual guitar (shown below) option for an unbelievably low price! All 13 Stompn' FX are included as well as support for the award winning C-Mexx MIR remote control (Most Innovative Product of the Year 2003 by Electronic Musician) More @ DSound.

19-Jan-03
MOTU Debuts the MachFive : .
MOTU debuted their long awaited universal software sampler, the MachFive. This was one of my favorite products of the NAMM show. Jim Cooper, Marketing Director at MOTU, gave Nick and I an in-depth demo of the product. According to Jim, the PC version will follow a few months after the Mac version.
The MachFive is a plugin sampler that supports a huge number of formats (list to follow). If you use DAW software that supports any of the major plugin/sampler/audio formats on either the PC or Mac, then you will be able to use this sampler. The MachFive lists at $395. The Mac version will be available around March/April, with the PC version following by a couple months or so. More @ MOTU.

Logic 6 Unveiled at Winter NAMM 2003 : .
Emagic has announced version 6 of the Logic Series. This update provides a new level of processor efficiency and extensive enhancements to the Arrange window that offers more editing and mixing power than ever before. In addition, Logic 6 debuts two new setup and file management solutions -- the Setup Assistant and the Project Manager. Users will also benefit from an improved feature set for film scoring, a newly-developed superior sounding EQ and MP3 import/export functionality. Further optimization of the automation system round out this update.

Logic 6 will be available for Mac OS 9.x and Mac OS X. International delivery will start in the middle of February 2003. For more information, visit their web site at www.emagic.de.

18-Jan-03
TC Bringing Mac OS X and AudioUnit Support to PowerCore : .
PowerCore, the DSP Plug-In platform for Mac and Windows, now embraces OS X with full AudioUnit and VST support. TC Works has launched a Mac OS X driver for the PowerCore DSP card. This update also adds Apple AudioUnit Plug-In support and a further enhanced system performance. All users of Emagic's Logic Audio, Steinberg's Cubase SX or other applications with VST or AudioUnit Plug-In support can take advantage of the new OS X driver. A version for MOTU will follow later this spring.

POWERCORE 1.7 for Mac OS X will be available in March 2003 as a free download from TC WORKS' website. POWERCORE MSRP $ 1.199 US / EUR 1.199 (inc. 16%VAT)
For more information, visit their web site at tcworks.de.

17-Jan-03
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS and STANTON MAGNETICS, Inc. form strategic alliance : .
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS is proud to announce that they have formed a strategic alliance with STANTON MAGNETICS, Inc. to produce an innovative line of products in the growing digital-DJ market.

After establishing itself as one of the leaders in traditional DJ equipment, STANTON MAGNETICS, Inc. has recently expanded into computer-based DJ-ing with their revolutionary Final Scratch system. Final Scratch lets the DJ physically control the playback of digital files such as MP3s and WAVE on a laptop computer using special vinyl records and standard turntables. The DJ can mix, pitch, and even scratch files on the computer the same way as with records: physically and immediately.

More information can be found at http://www.native-instruments.com, and stantonmagnetics.com.

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS presents REAKTOR 4 : .
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS is happy to announce a major update to its flagship product and award winning
modular sound design studio: REAKTOR 4

REAKTOR 4 is the ultimate tool for sound design and music production and lets musicians and engineers design and build their own instruments, samplers, effects, and sound design tools. REAKTOR 4 is also a world-class studio right out of the box - its Library includes dozens of exceptional instruments and effects, while Native Signal Processing technology delivers first
class sound quality with surprising efficiency. Compatibility with all major interface standards and operating systems - Windows, Mac OS 9, and OS X - assures perfect integration into any production.

REAKTOR 4 supports nearly every professional native interface. In addition to standalone operation with ASIO and Core Audio, REAKTOR 4 can also be used as a plug-in with VST 2.0(R) (Windows, Mac OS9, Mac OSX), Audio Units(R) (OS X), and DXi(R) (Windows).

REAKTOR 4 will be released at the end of the first quarter 2003 at a suggested retail price of $ / Euro 499.
More information can be found at http://www.native-instruments.com.

Native Instruments announce Vokator : .
VOKATOR is not only a vocoder, but also a sophisticated synthesizer, a granular sampler, and a virtual sound-fusion laboratory. By offering multiple modes of operation, VOKATOR opens vast new worlds of sound-design possibilities.

VOKATOR's high-resolution FFT spectral engine is a milestone in vocoder development. Previous vocoders used eight, sixteen, twenty, or thirty-two frequency bands at the most-- the more frequency bands, the smoother and creamier the effect. Unlike its predecessors, VOKATOR's advanced engine uses 1024 bands. In addition, VOKATOR's bands can even be grouped together for a convincing vintage-vocoder emulation. To ensure optimal dynamic range across the frequency spectrum, an integrated frequency-domain compressor balances the levels of all bands. VOKATOR will be available in February 2003 at a suggested retail price of 299 $ /  289 . More information can be found at http://www.native-instruments.com.

Native Instruments announce Intakt : .
INTAKT is a sampler specifically designed for rhythmic loop playback, manipulation, and mayhem. INTAKT's convenient one-screen interface features tremendous sound shaping abilities without disrupting the creative flow. Using multiple algorithms, INTAKT automatically syncs to tempo, while a library of loops from Zero-G and East West provides ample source material for nearly any musical style. INTAKT provides a wealth of sound shaping options, including a multimode filter, an envelope follower, two LFOs, effects, and more.

INTAKT will be available in the second quarter of 2003 at a suggested retail price of $ / EUR 199.
More information can be found at http://www.native-instruments.com.

Native Instruments announce Kompakt : .
KOMPAKT is a streamlined sampler, powered by the KONTAKT engine, that ships with a comprehensive library and can import the most common sample formats. The factory library contains a wide range of instruments like pianos, basses, loops, drums, guitars, strings, and more from the East West and Zero-G libraries. KOMPAKT is a quick way to build a production-ready instrument collection, and it can also import KONTAKT, Gigasampler, HALion, EXS, AKAI, and other common formats.
KOMPAKT will be available in the first quarter of 2003 at a suggested retail price of $ /  199.

More information can be found at http://www.native-instruments.com.

15-Jan-03
Cakewalk Project5 to be unveiled @ NAMM : .
Cakewalk, developer of the leading music and sound software for Windows, will announc the Project5 soft synth workstation @ Winter NAMM 2003, offering a complete suite of synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, audio and MIDI effects, and audio looping tools in an integrated studio environment. Project5 also allows musicians to customize and expand their software studio with support for additional soft synths, audio and MIDI effects, sample formats, and any Windows-compatible audio hardware. Project5 has a $429 MSRP U.S. and is scheduled for release in March 2003.
Key features for Project5

Studio quality instruments and effects.
Pattern based sequencers and processors.
ACID compatible audio looping tools.
Real time, seamless performance engine.
Open studio environment (DX, DXi, MFX, VST, VSTi, ReWire client, WDM, ASIO).
Project5 instruments and effects

• PSYN - VA Synthesizer
  PSYN ("sine") models a full-featured subtractive synthesizer. Includes multiple filters, oscillators, envelope generators, and LFOs. Features a modulation matrix for tempo sync; ring modulation and FM synthesis; 64-note polyphony; parameter automation; more.
• 
  DS-864 - Digital Sampler
  A flexible, easy-to-use, multi-format digital sampler with ample manipulation capabilities and pristine audio fidelity. Features 8 layer / 64 voice polyphony; sample editing with effects; multiple resonant filters and envelope generators; 8 audio outputs for effects processing; parameter automation; key mapping; velocity zones; support for Akai S5000/6000, Kurzweil, Sound Fonts 2, WAV, AIF, and proprietary sample formats.

• nPulse - Analog Modular Drum Synthesizer
  Provides tone characteristics of classic TR-series drum machines, combined with the extended properties modern day soft synths. nPulse provides a convenient way to trigger and synthesize vintage-style electronic drum voices. A 12-voice multi-timbral synthesizer with per-voice oscillators; 5 assignable outputs; multiple presets; sync effects; key-mapping; parameter automation; more.

• Velocity - Drum Sampler (LM4, WAV, AIF)
  The multi-timbral drum sampler provides 18 polyphonic voices with up to 32 velocity-layered samples. Offers precise sample editing with effects; 5 stereo outputs; and full parameter automation. Supports WAV, AIF, LM4, and proprietary format sample formats.
  

• Cyclone - Groove Sampler
  A 16-part, ACID compatible groove sampler, composition tool, and loop editor. Trigger loops in real-time following the tempo and pitch changes of a project. Edit individual slices of individual loops, and even combine parts of multiple loops.
  Automatable effects
  Envelope/LFO Filter
  Stereo Delay/Echo with tempo sync
  High Frequency Exciter
  Classic Phaser with feedback
  Studio Reverb
  Stereo Chorus/Flanger with feedback
  Stereo 7-band Graphic EQ
  Stereo 2-band Parametric EQ
  Compressor/Gate
  Pattern & loop-based creation tools:

• P-SEQ - Pattern Sequencer
  A flexible pattern sequencer with "piano roll" style editing that superimposes track automation with note data. Offers step and real-time recording, pattern preview, auto-looping, and easy-to-use editing tools.

• Synchron32 - Step Sequencer
  Accurately models and expands upon analog hardware step-sequencing. Quickly generate patterns and trigger synths, and trigger patterns in real-time from MIDI devices. Provides control over pitch; rhythmic duration with shuffle; tempo sync; per-step flam, legato, bends; polyphonic mode; multiple-banks for pattern presets; more.

• ACID compatible loop integration
  Click and drag to roll out tracks using ACID format loops that match your project tempo and pitch changes. Features automatic beat matching, flexible time stretching/pitch shifting, and support for multiple loops per track.

• Advanced synth layering and keyboard mapping
  Perform and record using multiple MIDI controllers routed to multiple instruments; or use multiple, layered instruments or split synths from one MIDI controller.

• Live-performance audio engine
  Project5’s seamless audio engine provides a continuous musical workflow. Allows changes to be made on the fly and never compromises playback — perfect for live performance.