Week of September 19, 2004 Saturday, September 25 2004 | dmac MHC's Studio Setup updated to version 2.0.3. The AudioUnit versions of MHC's Studio Setup plugins have been updated to version 2.0.3. The plugins reported falsely that they had two output busses. They have one stereo output and not two. It didn't affect the actual performance or functionality of these plugins though. All plugins have been tested using the latest version of Apple's AU Validator. They all pass the test. The Studio Setup contains the Space Synth, Fatsondo, Voxynth, Vox FX, Space Effect and Flex FX plugins. They're available as AudioUnits and VST plugins, on Mac OS X and Windows. 30 day trial versions are available. More @ MHC. Saturday, September 25 2004 | dmac SONICBYTES issues updates to its entire product line ERA, EST, and Gat'R have all received additional features and bug fixes. New bundled pricing is also announced for those interested in purchasing the complete SONICBYTES line. ERA - the Pattern sequencer VSTi/MFX Gat'R - the pattern-based audio multi-effect EST - the sampling-groovebox VSTi There are three new bundled packages: All-Pack, Price is eu 129 (36% off) - ERA - EST - four instrument kits for EST by 7fan (40MB of samples and patterns) - Gat'R Beat-Pack, Price is eu 99 (25% off) - EST - 7fan's four instrument kits - Gat'R Starter-Pack, Price is eu 79 (12% off) - EST - 7fan's four instrument kits Individual prices for the plug-ins are ERA eu 69, EST eu 69, Gat'R eu 44. The complete set of 7fan kits can be purchased for eu 19.98 at 7fan.com. Saturday, September 25 2004 | dmac Sonar 4 released by Cakewalk Cakewalk has begun shipping SONAR 4 Producer Edition and Studio Edition worldwide. SONAR 4 Producer Edition has an MSRP of $959 USD; SONAR 4 Studio Edition is $479 USD. Registered SONAR 3 Producer customers can upgrade to SONAR 4 Producer Edition directly through Cakewalk for $179; SONAR 3 Studio to SONAR 4 Studio Edition for $99. Europe's average suggested retail price for SONAR 4 Producer Edition is €629 EUR; SONAR 4 Studio Edition is €299. More @ cakewalk.com. Saturday, September 25 2004 | dmac E-mu Announces PowerFX Hardware-Accelerated VST Effects Digital Audio System/Emulator X users get DSP Effects fully integrated into VST environments... E-mu Systems has announced its new PowerFX hardware-accelerated VST effects, which allows all E-mu Digital Audio Systems and Emulator X owners to run E-mu's hardware-accelerated E-DSP effects as full-blown VST plug-ins, including automation of effects parameters. The PowerFX software release also adds a new reverb and seven new delay algorithms to E-mu's effects palette. PowerFX is a free software release that allows all E-mu Digital Audio Systems and Emulator X owners to use over 600 hardware-accelerated E-DSP effects as VST plug-ins in Steinberg's Cubase and other VST hosting applications with no load on the CPU. These PowerFX presets are identical to the presets currently found in the PatchMix DSP Effects Palette (including all user presets), offering seamless effects compatibility across both environments. PowerFX works like any other VST plug-in -- effects are instantiated in a VST insert or aux send locations within the application, and the desired effect (or group of effects) is simply dragged from the Effects Palette field to the center Insert Strip. All parameters for the selected effect can be viewed and edited in the Effects Window, and users can automate and save all parameter settings within the VST environment. And as a fully-featured VST plug-in, PowerFX provides automatic compensation for system latencies and proper synchronization of audio throughout the VST chain. The PowerFX software launch also marks the release of E-mu's first expansion plug-in effects, adding a new reverb and seven new delay algorithms to E-mu's Effects Palette. These new algorithms optimize the resources of E-mu's E-DSP effects engine, allowing users to run more reverbs and delays than before. These new effects are also free to all Digital Audio System and Emulator X owners, and will be available for download at www.emu.com in early August 2004. For more information, visit their web site at www.emu.com. Friday, September 24 2004 | dmac Kelly Industries updates Bass Manager and LCRS Matrix Encoder Kelly Industries have updated Bass Manager to v0.9.4 LCRS Matrix Encoder to v0.9. LCRS Encoder The LCRS Encoder VST Plug-in is especially designed for Cubase SX and Nuendo. It is an LCRS 4:2 Matrix Encoder. It encodes 4 channels (Left, Center, Right, Surround) into two channels (stereo) for playback on Dolby Pro Logic Style receivers and decoders. If you playback audio encoded using this encoder on a normal stereo you won't hear the surround channel but instead you will hear the out of phase information that may appear to be coming from inside your head. This plug can be used with the 5.1, 6.0, 6.1 and most other surround formats found in Nuendo and Cubase. It must have a surround channel. It is recommended that you switch to the LCRS format otherwise there will likely be unexpected results. Bass Manager The Bass Manager VST Plug-in is especially designed for Cubase SX and Nuendo. It simulates the bass management systems found on most Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound receivers. This allows surround sound engineers to hear what their 5.1 surround mix sounds like without having to burn a CD-r or DVD-r and then play it through a consumer 5.1 surround receiver. More @ Kellyindustries.com. Friday, September 24 2004 | dmac Version 4.1 of LinPlug's RM IV Includes 2700 MIDI Beats LinPlug has announced version 4.1 of its RM IV drum synth and sample module. This new release includes over 2700 MIDI beats, specially designed for use with the RM IV. Chicago-based Groove Monkee, a developer of professional MIDI products, has licensed parts of his MIDI beats collection to LinPlug. This collection of 2200 beats covers 24 different styles of music including Rock, Blues, Funk, Hip Hop, and R&B. As well as this, UK-based Groove Criminals have added a further 450 House, Techno, Urban and Breakbeat beats. Finally, Kohlekeller Studio from Germany handcrafted a collection of Rock beats specially designed for the Kohlekeller Kits which are included with the RM IV. To make using these MIDI beats easier, the RM IV has been enhanced and now includes a MIDI browser which enables simple and fast previewing of the included beats. The beats are played back by the RM IV in sync with the host software and can easily be moved to the host's MIDI tracks via "drag and drop" Finally, 100 new sample-based Kits will be included with the RM IV. These new Kits have been created primarily for contemporary music styles. This means that the RM IV now comes with more than 270 complete drum kits (including more than 4200 different sounds) and over 2700 MIDI beats. System Requirements: VST2.0 or AU capable host software. Macintosh, Mac OSX 10.2 or higher, 400 MHz or higher CPU, 512 Mb RAM recommended, 1200 Mb free disk space PC, Windows 95 or higher, 400 Mhz or higher CPU, 512 Mb RAM recommended, 1200 Mb free disk space The RM IV will be available worldwide September 15th in music stores as either a boxed product (including a printed manual), or on CD from the LinPlug online shop. Customers who bought RM IV on 1st of August 2004 or later will get a free downloadable update. Suggested Retail Price: 149.00 US$ / Euro 149.00 (in the EU) The Upgrade from the RM IV 4.0 to the RM IV 4.1 is 25.00 US$ / 20.00 (in the EU). All registered customers will be sent Upgrade Coupons on 15 September 2004. For more information, visit their web site at linplug.com. Thursday, September 23 2004 | dmac New Triton Patch Bank from SoundEngine.com SoundEngine.com announced a new collection of patches for the Korg Triton: "101 Keys." This patch bank includes a total of 101 Acoustic Pianos, Electric Pianos, Pads and Organs. The first in a seies of Triton patch libraries, 101 Keys is designed to deliver the bread and butter essentials. Included in the electronic package you receive when you order from SoundEngine.com is the "101 Keys" documentation in PDF form, and a System Exclusive Data File. Programs are also available in SoundDiver, Unisyn, and MIDIQuest formats upon request.  "101 Keys" is available now at SoundEngine.com and has an MSRP of only $29.95.  For more information, visit their web site at soundengine.com. Thursday, September 23 2004 | dmac SoundShuttle Now Available in RTAS Format PowerFX released an RTAS version of their SoundShuttle plug-in, suporting both Mac and PC-based Pro Tools systems. With SoundShuttle, more than 40,000 sounds in the PowerFX database can be previewed, auditioned and downloaded directly to a digital audio sequencer. Users can search for sounds and preview them to hear how they work in their productions before buying. After purchasing and downloading the SoundShuttle plug-in, users are automatically logged in to the PowerFX Sound Shuttle online library for instant access to thousands of sounds and samples. Search capabilities allow the user to search by: genre, types of sounds, instruments, tempo, key and more. SoundShuttle provides users with looping preview files, real-time synchronization with the user's host, the ability to unzip sounds on the fly, and drag-and-drop downloads to the host. Users can store, save and organize SoundShuttle purchases from within the application. SoundShuttle is compatible with Pro Tools 6.4 and above and is available for an introductory price of only $19.95, with ten free sound credits at the PowerFX website. For more information, visit their web site at www.powerfx.com. Wednesday, September 22 2004 | dmac Sony Oxford has announce the launch of Reverb plug-in Sony Oxford has announce the launch of their much awaited Oxford Reverb plug-in. Designed from the ground up The Oxford Reverb plug-in is a highly flexible stereo reverberation generator, designed to complement existing Oxford applications in providing the user with the highest technical and sonic performance coupled with artistic and creative facility. As well as providing stunning presets, the user has full control over all of its many parameters, including a very comprehensive early reflections section, and integrated 5-band EQ. The Oxford Reverb allows the powerful facility to create virtual spaces freely, depending on artistic need, ranging from dry reflection ambiences, room and hall simulations, sound effects, all the way to wide open reverberant spaces with a very large range of possible texture and spatial character. Designed for the Digidesign ProTools platform, Sony announces compatibility of the Oxford Reverb with ProTools HD (and HD Accel systems) and all supported ProTools LE systems. It is both Mac OSX and Windows XP compatible. For further information visit: Sonyoxford.co.uk. As well as being available from your local Sony Plugins Dealer, the Sony Oxford Reverb is also available for purchasing online. 15 Day demos are also available from the following link: (iLok required) sonyplugins.com/demos. Wednesday, September 22 2004 | dmac Analog to Digital Releases Four New Virtual Instruments Supersaw Plus For fans of real analog synthesis who no longer own their beloved synths or prefer the convience of MIDI control, Analog to Digital have created affordable solutions in PC VST format. The Reincarnation series is a set of sample-based synths which allow the user to change the filter level with a keyboard mod wheel and select resonance levels. It can even recreate glitch-free analog filter sweeps. The first releases in the Reincarnation series emulate the Roland TB303, MC202 and Juno 106. Recreations of the Korg MS-10 and Music and More MB-33 are planned. Reincarnation series instruments feature: As many as 99 samples per preset 36 different presets with their own samples ADSR envelope Unison mode (up to 16 voices) with detune Pitch bend, glide with mono mode, vibrato (with adjustable speed), Effects: ring modulator, tempo synced double delay with filter and feedback and a digital filter (has low pass, high pass, band pass and notch modes) with cutoff and resonance controls. Also available from the company is Supersaw Plus, a 16-voice polyphonic analog-modeled VST instrument synthesizer with an effects section (reverb, delay and chorus). It is designed to create fat sounds very much like the classic Roland JP-8000 synth, particularly the supersaw. There are also square, triangle and pwm oscillators. Major knobs on all synths can be controlled from MIDI and all come with PDF manuals. Analog to Digital is offering introductory pricing of $20 ( 11, 16 euros) per synth (normal price $25), or all four synths can be had for $50. For more information, visit their web site at cd303.com. Wednesday, September 22 2004 | dmac Voxengo Updates GlissEQ to Version 2.2 Yet another update for Voxengo's GlissEQ, an analog-style equalizer in PC VST plug-in format, is now available for download. This version improves processing efficiency of the filters when they are working in the Dyn 0 mode. Other updates include two new spectrum update speed options that allow you to have an even faster spectrum display response; bar graph spectrum display modes implemented which transform GlissEQ into 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, etc. octave spectrum analyzer. GlissEQ offers a built-in FFT spectrum analyzer with an internal 'export' functionality which makes interchannel spectrum overlays possible. Using spectrum overlays you can see how instruments on different audio tracks spectrally interact with each other. This can help you to free frequency ranges in one track to allow the instrument in another track occupying these frequencies breathe. Voxengo GlissEQ features: Five filter bands Eight filter types Real-time spectrum analyzer Full/bar spectrum graph modes Interchannel spectrum overlays Extra efficient Dyn 0 mode High quality mode Three dynamic modes "A-to-B" comparisons Factory presets Mono-to-Stereo, Stereo-to-Stereo processing Any sample rate is supported Internal 64-bit processing Native assembler DSP code Voxengo GlissEQ VST is available in several bundles and as a single on-line purchase for USD 79. For more information, visit their web site at voxengo.com. Sunday, September 19 2004 | dmac Keyfax Delivers Drum Loops Collections for DigiTech's GNX4 KEYFAX NewMedia, producers of the Twiddly.Bits MIDI Sample libraries, announced the release of the first drum loop libraries for the Digitech GNX4 Guitar Workstation. Spanning three separate titles, Rock & Metal, Jazz & Latin, and Hip Hop & Groove, each library comprises 100 new beats recorded in MIDI by live drummers and customized for the programmable drum engine that is an integral part of the GNX4. Since they were created by real drummers the beats are full of human feel and yet as MIDI data they can play back using any of the GNX4 drum kits, at any tempo. Like the presets, the beats loop automatically. The GNX4 plays new material direct from Compact Flash card, and, in CF Storage mode, the GNX4 lets you download direct from computer to a connected card via USB making the acquisition and storage of the new libraries a no-brainer. The individual libraries themselves come with full PDF documentation detailing the individual beats and providing some helpful hints and tips on how to use them. The GNX4 MIDI Loop Libraries can be purchased by digital download, or pre-loaded onto a range of Compact Flash cards from Digitech's guitarworkstation.com website, or from keyfax.com for $29.95 per library.