Week of December 21, 2003 Saturday, December 27 2003 | dmac P1 Audio Processor from Safe Sound Audio Safe Sound Audio, a UK company based in West Yorkshire started by Robert Campbell is a former Neve and Calrec designer who holds a degree in physics, has announced its first product, the Model P1 Audio Processor. The P1 sports a mic preamp (featuring Burr Brown's latest INA217 chip) with +70db of clean gain, DI, line level input, an expander, multiple side chained compressor and limiter. The P1 even has a monitoring section which allows the user to blend their signal with a stereo monitor mix, and adjust the volume of the high quality headphone amp. All of this in a half rack space (rack ears are available). The limiter handles audio in a look ahead manner without the use of delay (no latency) according to the company. It predicts overages early and reduces levels without harsh clipping. A white paper is available providing a technical view of the P1's technology. The 115v version of the P1 lists for $699 in the US, Canada and Mexico. The rack ears list for $25. Units will be available end of 2003 / early 2004. The P1 is distributed in North American by Front End Audio. For more information, visit their web site at www.safesoundaudio.com. Friday, December 26 2003 | dmac NATIVE INSTRUMENTS wishes a merry Christmas with METAPHYSICAL FUNCTION For this Christmas NATIVE INSTRUMENTS has prepared a very special present to all customers. METAPHYSICAL FUNCTION is a self-playing instrument based on REAKTOR technology which opens up sonic landscapes of intriguing depth and beauty. The 32 presets of METAPHYSICAL FUNCTION lead into a fascinating world full of crackling micro-grooves, brittle, metallic sound sculptures and organic, wallowing soundscapes. At the same time, the sound is translated into complex visual geometry in a way that is both subtle and spectacular. Prepare to be amazed - METAPHYSICAL FUNCTION is alive! METAPHYSICAL FUNCTION will be made available as a free download for all registered users on the NATIVE INSTRUMENTS website on December 24th. The software is running as a stand-alone application under Mac OS X and Windows XP und demands a computer with at least 800 MHz and 256 MB RAM to unfold its full visual and sonic potential. NATIVE INSTRUMENTS wishes a merry Christmas and a happy new year to everyone of you. Friday, December 26 2003 | dmac NUSofting Releases Atrobelt Mother Ship 1.2 VSTi Mother Ship Astrobelt (which replaces the previously released Fat Machine) version 1.2 is ready, offering virtual analog synthesis for Windows-based VST hosts. Though designed to create sweeping pads, Mother Ship is a flexible synth capable of a wide range of sounds from rich pads and otherworldly percussion, to trancy, morphing arpeggios and chemical bass lines. An interesting audio feature is the "pre DCF" output to the Delay Effect. The delay has its own multi mode filter, and this way it's possible to combine two different filter outputs for many interesting effects. Mother Ship features a full host of MIDI performance functions, such as modwheel, aftertouch, pitchbend and several velocity mod destinations for its three flexible envelopes. With Astrobelt's Random Sound Bank Generation, 128 new and inspiring presets may be obtained with a single mouse click. Features: 2 oscillators with pulse (+PW modulation), triangle (+PW modulation), saw waveforms, alias-free at any sample rate from 22KHz to 96KHz. Calibration of aliasing possible thru menu selection, for extra harmonic effects. Available settings are: Alias free, Some, Lots, Total. Detune for second oscillator : -100..+100 cents, -12..+12 semitones. Sub oscillator triangle waveform. Noise generator with variable bandwidth. Price: $32.90 USD. Sidegrade for registered users of Fat Machine: $9.90 USD. For more information, visit their web site at nusofting.liqihsynth.com. Wednesday, December 24 2003 | dmac Nord Modular G2 Released Unveiled at the MusikMesse show in the Spring of this year, Clavia has now released of the Nord Modular G2 platform. This next generation modular adds a focus on live performance features. You will also find an extensive amount of new, powerful and exciting synthesizer building blocks that may be edited from the Modular G2 Patch Editor software. Live performance musicians want to have tools to tweak. Whether you want to play traditional synth patches or control step sequencers in real-time or make cool sounds with delays, reverb and audio processing, the G2 offers plenty of knobs and controllers to tweak. Tweaking a step sequencer will be a lot of fun and extremely easy thanks to the real-time editing controls and the visual feedback from the LCD's. Nord Modular G2 Engine The Nord Modular G2 will also be available as a 19", 1 unit high, rack mountable synthesizer - the Nord Modular G2 Engine. It comes without the hardware user interface, pedal and mic inputs. Connect the Nord Modular G2 Engine via the USB port to the PC and do all your editing from the PC Patch Editor. Pricing and Availability The Nord Modular G2 virtual modular synthesizer keyboard is available now and lists for $2499 (Euro: 2.199). The Nord Modular G2 Engine is expected to ship in January 2004 and carry a list price of $1199 (Euro: 999). For more information, visit their web site at www.clavia.se. Wednesday, December 24 2003 | dmac Trillium Lane Labs Ships Pro Tools HD Accel, Panther Updates Trillium Lane Labs announced new updates for their plug-ins adding compatibility with Digidesign's new Pro Tools HD Accel hardware and the latest Apple Mac OS X 10.3 Panther operating system. In addition, these updates have been tested for use on Pro Tools 6.2 on Macintosh G5 hardware. The following updates are available from our website free of charge to all customers. Updates available now: TL EveryPhase v1.1 TL Metro v1.3 TL InTune v1.3 TL Fauxlder v1.2 Updates available soon: TL MasterMeter v1.1 For more information, visit their web site at www.tllabs.com. Tuesday, December 23 2003 | dmac SoundToys Releases PhaseMistress Pro Tools Plug-In for Mac SoundToys Inc. (formerly Wave Mechanics) is now shipping thr analog modeled phaser, PhaseMistress, previously announced at the AES show. PhaseMistress combines the warmth of analog phasing with tempo-locked modulation and programmable LFO shapes. Key features of PhaseMistress include: Programmable modulation modes Ability to design sweep shapes for infinite variations of filter sweep effects Adjustable control of the intensity and depth of the phasing effect Analog emulation of input/output overdrive Color control to vary the timbre of the phasing LFO rates lock to MIDI, or entered using tap tempo or numerical BPM Rates adjustable in musically meaningful units (bars, 1/8th notes, triplets, etc.) Custom Rhythm Editor. Lets users write drum machine style mod patterns Selectable models cover classic, modern or unimagined, and users can write their own Triggered Envelope, Random Envelope and ADSR Pricing and Availability PhaseMistress is available now from SoundToys and its network of distributors for $249 MSRP. PhaseMistress works in Digidesign's HTDM, RTAS and AudioSuite plug-in formats and supports Pro-Tools HD, LE and Mix systems running on MacOS. A demo version is available for download. For more information, visit their web site at www.soundtoys.com. Tuesday, December 23 2003 | dmac Melodyne 2.1 Adds DXi Support, Panther/G5 Optimizations Celemony Software has announced version 2.1 of their audio recording software, which now also supports the DXi interface under Windows XP, as well as being optimized for Macintosh OS 10.3 and Apple's new G5 computer. Via the DXi interface, users too can now enjoy Melodyne's breathtaking features: the ability to edit and modify audio data as effortlessly as if it were MIDI, make corrections of pitch, whether subtle or dramatic, derive complex harmonies from simple melodies, modify entire phrases and reshape audio recordings creatively in other ways they would never have thought possible. The quality of the pitch correction has been improved for minor modifications ( 50 cents), while the analysis and melody detection functions now operate at 48 kHz as they do 44.1 kHz. In addition, navigation and operation have been optimized, file I/O expanded through the addition of new formats (including 32-bit AIFF) and both MTC synchronization and the support for AudioUnit, VST and ASIO improved. The Update to Version 2.1 for Windows and Mac is free for registered Melodyne users and will be available for download from www.celemony.com on 29th December.  Melodyne runs under Mac OS X and Windows XP and is currently offered in two versions: the Studio Edition offers an unlimited number of virtual tracks, 32-bit/192kHz support and stereo editing. The smaller cre8 offers the same sound quality, 8 tracks and audio quality up to a maximum of 24 bits and 48 kHz. For more information, visit their web site at www.celemony.com. Monday, December 22 2003 | dmac PHASE 26 USB and PHASE 88 Available Bundled with Steinberg's Studio Case TerraTec has teamed up with Steinberg to offer two end-to-end solutions for mobile and desktop music production. The affordable PHASE 26 USB Producer Pack is available now for 399.00 euros MSRP. Sporting a 449.00 euro MSRP price tag, PHASE 88 Producer Pack is set to follows. Both packages are special editions with availability limited until the end of the year. This combination package features Steinberg Studio Case, a software suite comprising Cubase SE and special edition versions of the VST Instruments HALion, The Grand, Virtual Guitarist Electric Edition, D'cota and Groove Agent. With it, TerraTec offers two solutions, a complete setup for production on the go with the PHASE 26 USB, and a perfect recording system with the PHASE 88. The PHASE 26 USB 24-bit / 96-kHz audio technology to an external studio interface, making it the perfect mobile recording solution for all USB-equipped Windows notebooks and Apple PowerBooks. Providing a modular, easily extendible I/O solution, the PHASE 88 audio system offers all the functions it takes to transform a PC or Mac into a professional recording system -- no outboard mixer required. Eight analog input und output converters process - from the hardware front-end to the software backend - audio signals with resolutions ranging up to 24 bits/ 96 kHz. The PHASE 88 system sports optimized converters and smart circuit designs, affording precision and concurrent recording of up to eight tracks and playback of productions in 5.1 and 7.1 Surround formats. For more information, visit their web site at www.terratec.net. Monday, December 22 2003 | dmac Jeff Lorber Soloist Series for Band-in-a-Box Released PG Music has announced the Artist Soloist Series for use with its popular Band-in-a-Box intelligent music accompaniment software. Grammy nominated keyboard/guitarist and producer Jeff Lorber, voted Keyboard Magazine's "Session Player of the Year," is the featured artist on two of these new Soloist Sets - The Jeff Lorber Fusion Soloist and The Jeff Lorber Screaming Rock Guitar/Synth Soloist. In The Jeff Lorber Fusion Soloist, Jeff has created dynamic Fusion/Swing-16ths grooves to solo over any chord changes in Band-in-a-Box. Included in the set are five soloist databases for medium and fast tempo Swing 16ths soloing, each employing the entire range of the keyboard. Selected instruments for the Jeff Lorber Fusion Soloist include Rhodes electric piano, acoustic piano, and organ, with a specialty Soloist database for Fusion quartet soloing. Also available in the Artist Soloist Series are The Andy LaVerne Mainstream Jazz Soloist and The Andy LaVerne Pentatonics Jazz Soloist. For only $29 per set, customers can download any of the new sets in the Artist Soloist Series immediately from www.pgmusic.com or order via mail, phone, fax or e-mail directly from PG Music Inc. For more information, visit their web site at www.pgmusic.com. Monday, December 22 2003 | dmac VST updates... MHC Studio Setup VST OS X released. Groovecube Exciton v2.0 released. Sunday, December 21 2003 | dmac VST updates Camel Audio Cameleon 5000 v1.0.4 released. Mac OSX VST version of SoundShuttle from PowerFX released. Sunday, December 21 2003 | dmac Traxmusic update... Just added a review of the excellent Rob Papen / Linplug's - Albino. Written by Rudi. "You can have the greatest sounding plugin in the world, but if it is so hard to use that it interferes with your creativity you'll probably relegate it to the "no-good" category." So how does Albino fare? Read on... Enjoy. Sunday, December 21 2003 | dmac ArtMatic Pro Reaches Version 3.5 U & I Software has released ArtMatic Pro 3.5 for MacOS X and MacOS 9, a new generation of the programmable graphics synthesizer capable of creating stunning graphics and animation as well as processing external still images and QuickTime movies, - allowing the creation of digital fine art as well as studio-quality video effects, filters and transitions. The ArtMatic engine underwent significant re-design to enable technologies for its companion, ArtMatic Voyager, which creates 3D worlds from ArtMatic files. Over 60 new and modified components were added to ArtMatic Pro as well as a geographical shader (for use with ArtMatic Voyager), increased color resolution, the ability to use multiple gradients in a single image, and direct sound input selection. The new 3.5 engine makes it possible to design planet surfaces, color textures, and cloudscapes for ArtMatic Voyager (available both as a bundled component or as a separate purchase). ArtMatic Pro also features random path animation and a mutations explorer that allows users to quickly explore the vast parameter space of each newly created system. ArtMatic has a broad range of uses for both professionals and amateurs. The stunning images and textures it creates broaden the palette of any artist, and ArtMatic Pro opens the door to image creation for non-artists. It takes only minutes to learn, and it is fun to use. Pricing and Availability: Electronic delivery $249. CD-ROM $299. $499 bundled with U&I's VTrack video sequencer. $299 as a bundled download with ArtMatic Voyager. For more information, visit their web site at uisoftware.com.