Week of December 28, 2003 Saturday, January 3 2004 | dmac Two New Acoustic Preamps from B-Band New for 2004 are B-Band's A3.2 and A4.2 XOM (Cross Over Mix) acoustic guitar preamps. The A3.2 replaces former A3 and 3Tone preamps. The A3.2 offers a new 4-band "graphic" EQ design using rotary linear potentiometers for greater range. The EQ controls are cut / boost bass, middle, treble and presence controls. The A3.2 is a single input sidemount preamp and works with a choice of either UST or AST. The A4.2 XOM is a dual input / single output, side mount preamp with a 3-band "graphic" equalizer and mix control. This preamp is designed for use only with a UST / AST combination features B-Band's new XOM (Cross Over Mix) Technology which combines the best aspects of each transducer for a more realistic acoustic tone The mono output preamp features the C-O-M process mix control, a 3-band "graphic" EQ and master volume that are all of the rotary type. Input gain controls for both the UST and AST are also at the faceplate for easy adjustment. The preamp is 9-volt battery powered (not included). All hardware for mounting, hold-tight battery clip and a high quality output jack is included. MSRPs: A-3.2: $124.95 A-4.2: $129.95 AS: $59.95 US: $39.95 For more information, visit their web site at www.b-band.com. Saturday, January 3 2004 | dmac SoundShuttle Plug-In Now Available for Mac PowerFX has just released the Mac VST version of their SoundShuttle plug-in (a version for Windows VST hosts is already available). With it, samples and sound effects can be auditioned directly from within any Mac OS X VST sequencer, giving users the ability to preview sounds in their composition before buying them. An Audio Unit version of the plug-in is expected soon as well. SoundShuttle logs you into the entire PowerFX online database for instant access of thousands of quality sounds and samples. Users can buy credits, obtain account information and even access their personal page (storage for purchased sounds) all from within SoundShuttle. The plug-in streams hih quality audio in real time. SoundShuttle is sold on-line for $19, which includes 10 sound credits so you can start downloading sounds right away.  For more information, visit their web site at www.powerfx.com. Friday, January 2 2004 | dmac FXpansion releases VST to RTAS Adapter for Mac OS X and Windows XP FXpansion is pleased to announce the release of their highly-anticipated VST-to-RTAS plug-in adapter for Pro Tools 6.x and Pro Tools LE 6.x users.   The VST-to-RTAS allows users of Pro Tools to incorporate a vast range of VST effects plug-ins and instruments directly in to their sessions. There are now literally hundreds of VST plug-ins on the market, from vendors such as Steinberg, GMedia Music, Bitshift Audio, MDA, reFX,  Waldorf, Muon Software, Image-Line, Synapse Audio, 4Front, Big Tick, Virsyn, RGC Audio and many others – not to mention the vast array of freeware and shareware VST plug-ins available at sites all across the Web.   Once installed, the adapter is invisible to the user - plug-ins load and behave like RTAS plug-ins, integrated in to Digidesign's advanced plug-in architecture. Thanks to its high-efficiency design, CPU overhead from the wrapper is so low as to be practically non-existent – less than 0.1% per instance on a 550MHz processor.   The VST to RTAS Adapter is available now from FXpansion's online store at http://www.fxpansion.com , and is affordably priced at just $99.00 / Eu75.00 / GBP55.00, plus taxes where applicable.   For more information, visit the FXpansion Web site at fxpansion.com. Friday, January 2 2004 | dmac FXpansion ships major free upgrade to DR-008 drum sampler FXpansion is pleased to announce the release of a major free upgrade for users of its DR-008 modular drum sampler / synthesizer software plug-in.   Based on customer feedback, this release, which takes the DR-008 to version 1.19, incorporates a raft of new features, including:- Compatibility with three new platforms - RTAS*, ReWire®* and stand-alone application mode* - as well as VST® and Dxi. Nine new synthesis algorithms, including physical modelling and FM synthesis. Over a dozen major improvements to user interface and workflow. 620MB of all-new, ready-to-use kit content from leading sound designers including Yellow Tools and Sonic Reality. The DR-008’s library of ready-to-use drum kits  has seen major improvement:- sixteen all-new high quality kits are included, covering a wide variety of styles from multisampled acoustic kits based on Fxpansion’s award-winning BFD™ drum library instrument, to ethnic percussion, to synthesized kits suitable for experimental electronic music.   DR-008 is available now from FXpansion's online store at fxpansion.com , and is affordably priced at just $199.00 / Eu149.00 / GBP110.00, plus taxes where applicable. The v1.19 upgrade is free of charge to existing DR-008 owners**.   For more information, visit the FXpansion Web site at fxpansion.com. Friday, January 2 2004 | dmac Traxmusic Updates... Hi folks, we'v many updates on Trax... 1). Competition - Win a copy of SampleTank 2 (L & XL) - After our interview with Enrico Iori from IK Multimedia , Traxmusic have decided to team up with them again to offer you the chance to win a first prize of SampleTank 2 L worth 299$ /299€, which includes 4 CDs of sounds, 2 GB of samples and more than 500 patches. - You also have a chance to win a second prize SampleTank 2 XL worth 499$ /499€ which includes 8 CDs of sounds, 4.5 GB of samples and more than 1.500 patches included. 2). Reviews & Articles section: - Review: Orion Platinum 5 touches down once again, by Derik. - Review: Rob Papen / Linplug's - Albino. by Rudi - Article: Mono, Stereo, and everything in between. again by Derik. 3). Interviews section: - Interview: Richard Hoffman | Synapse-Audio. Hope you all had a class xmas and new year! All the best, Darren. Thursday, January 1 2004 | dmac Bremmers Audio Design releases MultitrackStudio Wheel Organ Bremmers Audio Design is pleased to announce the release of the Wheel Organ add-on to MultitrackStudio, the audio / MIDI multitrack recording program for Windows. The Wheel Organ is a software version of the classic B3 tonewheel drawbar organ. All its typical characteristics have been modeled including the key clicks, the scanner vibrato, the tonewheel crossfeed and the harmonic foldback. It also includes the Rotor effect that simulates a rotating speaker. Price: $39. Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP, 400 MHz CPU, MultitrackStudio 3.0 or higher More information can be found here... Thursday, January 1 2004 | dmac Happy new year!! Guys just wishing you all very prosperous 2004! Thanks for all your support in '03 ;-) Wednesday, December 31 2003 | dmac Two New ACID Loop Collections Released by Sony Two new loop collections for ACID have been released by Sony Pictures Digital Media Software, the ambient/cinematic collection "Numina II" and the "Westside Underground: Hip-Hop Construction Kit." Both collections are compatible with Sony's ACID software and many other music creation and editing platforms. "Numina II" is sound designer Jesse Sola's second contribution to the Loops for ACID loop library catalog, following his ambient/cinematic debut, "Emotional Peak Sounds for Cinema" (2002). "Numina II" features lush, slowly evolving soundscapes, deep rhythms, and sustained, stackable sound elements with varying degrees of tension. The sounds themselves are based on high fidelity source materials and a large soundstage production approach. The sound covers a range of moods and emotions that will appeal to visual media producers as well as creators of trance, tribal, and experimental music forms. The collection includes 162 original, license-free loops totalling 522MB and retails for $59.95. "Westside Underground" features 147 original, license-free loops totalling 546MBand retails for $59.95. For more information, go to sonypictures.com. Wednesday, December 31 2003 | dmac New Virtual Analog VSTi for Windows from Kiesel Software Kiesel Software has released Helga 1.0 for VST hosts on Windows. This analog modeling synth also models the user of control voltages in connecting components together. A Mac version is also under development. Main features: Two externally synchronizable Low Frequency Oscillators (LFO) Two Oscillators (OSC) that can be modified with the LFO and envelope generators Mixer with a white noise source and external input Filter, 24db/oct resonant low pass/high pass, with its own envelope generator Amplifier with ADSR envelope generator, legato, velocity and aftertouch Keyboard processor with up to 32 voice polyphony, unison and portamento Microtuning with 12 preset tone scales Data Display with program bank control and MIDI settings Built-in Delay effect All parameters are MIDI controllable Helga costs $210 and is sold direct. A demo version is also available for download, though it does not save or load program banks and will function for only 15 minutes. For more information, visit their web site at www.kiesel.is. Tuesday, December 30 2003 | dmac Voxengo Releases Version 1.2 Update to Polysquasher VST Plug-In The Polysquasher mastering compressor in PC VST format has been updated to version 1.2. This update includes a built-in side chain high-pass filter which is useful for lowering the influence of the bass frequencies over compression. This update also implements a `Dry Gain' parameter which delivers a so called `parallel compression' (when some part of the input signal is being mixed to the output). Version 1.2 also features a new gain change monitoring mode `Mon In' which displays the average input signal (absolute linear value) and the output signal overlayed. This monitoring mode can help you to visually analyze the gain reduction adjustment made by Polysquasher. Voxengo Polysquasher features: Real-time gain reduction scope Variable knee Three operation modes High-pass side chain "A-to-B" comparisons Factory presets Mono-to-Stereo, Stereo-to-Stereo processing modes Sample rates up to 192 kHz supported Highly optimized DSP code 64-bit internal precision For more information, visit their web site at www.voxengo.com. Tuesday, December 30 2003 | dmac New MIDI Switching System from T-Rex Now available from T-Rex Engineering is a MIDI-controlled audio switching system consisting of a rack-mount switching unit and a general purpose MIDI foot controller. The Mac1 is a fully programmable 19-inch rack mount unit that provides you with total control over effects pedals, MIDI or non-MIDI processors, amp/channel switching and much more. The Mac1 offers 8 serial loops (6 mono/2 stereo), A/B channel switching and a feature not commonly offered on switching systems: VCA (master output volume) which can be controlled via an expression pedal. The audio path contains only passive circuitry. The Mac1 accepts program changes from most MIDI foot controllers and sets the loops, line mixers and control switches to any pre-programmed configuration. The Big Foot MIDI Controller is a rugged and simple to use MIDI board. Although it is compatible with any MIDI device that recognizes controller commands and patch changes, it was designed to interface (via a standard midi cable) with the Mac1. It allows 10 presets in each of its 12 banks, and 6 programmable CTL switches. An additional feature is the CHANGE mode, which allows direct access to each individual loop of the Mac1 for real time on/off switching of effects pedals. For more information: europeanmusical.com.