Week of May 29, 2005 Thursday, June 2 2005 | dmac FabFilter Volcano 1.01 released: important bug fix FabFilter Software release an important bug fix for FabFilter Volcano. A serious flaw caused FabFilter Volcano to load its filter sound characteristics 'Smooth', 'Raw', 'Hollow' and 'Hard' incorrectly. The 1.01 update fixes this issue, so the different beautiful filter sound characteristics that make FabFilter Volcano stand out will now sound as intended. More @ fabfilter.com. Thursday, June 2 2005 | dmac Blocc Releases New loPass VST Plug-In for Windows blocc digital signal processing has released a new VST plug-in for windows, loPass.   A new approach to filter design mathematics makes this low-pass filter a unique tool. Blocc loPass offers a high spectral selectivity while at the same time maintaining an absolutely flat passband response. Features: VST 2.3 plugin for any Win32 platform Filter slope from 6 dB/oct up to 192 db/oct Double precision internal processing (52 bit accuracy} Easy usage Split channel stereo control Configurable overshoot display Comes with a number of presets as starting points loPass can be purchased for Euro 35.00. A demo version is available, offering the full functionality minus the saving of presets and automation support. For more information, visit their web site at blocc.biz. Thursday, June 2 2005 | dmac PowerCore Restoration Suite Update Adds DeThump Plug-In TC Electronic announced the Restoration Suite 2.0 update, which includes the new DeThump plug-in. Restoration Suite for PowerCore offers all of the key-components required to restore vintage or otherwise damaged recordings, from broadband noise reduction to click or scratch removal. With the new 2.0 update, Restoration Suite includes five real-time plug-ins: DeScratch, DeNoise, DeClick, DeCrackle, and now DeThump, which can be used with any VST or AU (or RTAS with the use of the optional VST to RTAS adapter from FXpansion. More info on tcsupport.tc) compatible audio system. The new DeThump plug-in enhances the restorative aspect of Restoration Suite, by resolving impulsive errors up to 12000 samples in length without audible artifacts. DeThump is designed to eliminate low frequency pulses that typically occur with strong impulse disturbances in LP recordings. The aim of the DeThump algorithm is to find the waveform estimate of the thump and eliminate it by subtraction. Together with the four existing plug-ins of the Restoration Suite, DeThump significantly improves the process of removing strong clicks in damaged audio material. Restoration Suite 2.0 will be available in June 2005 at EUR 1495 retail ex. VAT. The upgrade will be free of charge for existing users via the TC web site. For more information, visit their web site at tcelectronic.com. Thursday, June 2 2005 | dmac Version 1.05 of SFX Machine RT Plug-In Released The Sound Guy, Inc., has announced the release of SFX Machine RT 1.05, an audio multi-effects plug-in for Mac and Windows. Version 1.05 increases the available delay time by a factor of four; it also fixes a bug which could cause incorrect delays at higher sample rates. SFX Machine RT's interface is streamlined for fast and easy use in audio production environments. The software is available in VST format for Mac OS 8/9/X and Windows, as well as Audio Unit format for Mac OS X. SFX Machine RT comes with hundreds of presets, including conventional effects like choruses and flangers as well as a wide variety of unique effects and audio utilities. The plug-in allows automated parameter control via a simple "MIDI Learn" interface and provides a Randomize button for quick experimentation. The SFX Machine Simulator, sfxmachine.com/simulator , is an online Flash program which provides an interactive way to try a simulated version of SFX Machine without having to download and install the demo. For more information, visit their web site at sfxmachine.com. Thursday, June 2 2005 | dmac Version 5 of Ableton's Live Announced Ableton has announced Live 5, the team's broadest-ever development effort of their music software solution, Live. Live 5 presents a wealth of new features and enhancements that cater to the musician's entire musical process -- creation, production and performance. "Version 5 adds our users' most sought-after features," says Ableton CEO Gerhard Behles, "along with an abundance of innovative new sound-shaping and organizational tools. Most importantly, Live 5 strengthens every aspect of Live while making the program more fun and easier to use." Live 5 includes advanced and creative DAW features: Clip Freeze serves two purposes: freeing up CPU power and easing the transfer of projects between computers. Unique to Live 5, "frozen" clips retain their real-time launch capabilities, allowing for improvisation, performance or song arrangement. A project with frozen tracks can also be transferred from your main computer and run easily on one with less-than-optimal CPU specs. Plug-In Delay Compensation automatically delays tracks to compensate for latencies caused by effects and plug-ins, including those on the return tracks. In addition, both audio and MIDI tracks have a manual delay setting to compensate for human, acoustic, hardware and other real-world delays. Launchable Arrangement Locators offer arrangement/song-position markers with MIDI mapping and quantized recall. Using the mouse, computer keys or MIDI messages, you can drop locators on the fly during playback or recording. Each locator can be named and assigned to a computer key or MIDI message. Jumping to a locator is subject to real-time quantization, just like launching Session View clips and scenes. Previous/Next buttons allow you to jump from locator to locator. Mackie Control Support enables full implementation of compatible mixer surfaces such as Tascam's FW-1082/1884, Yamaha's 01X and Mackie Control, allowing for mouse-free program operation. Easily navigate arrangements and the Session View grid; launch clips, scenes and locators; and access instruments and effects. Get ready to remix! Live 5 ships with a host of new remix-minded features, assuring instant remix and mash-up gratification: MP3 support makes your entire music library available for use in Live. Automatic Tempo-Matching tracks the tempo of imported songs and sets Warp Markers for you--instantly synchronizing your files to the project tempo. Complex Warp Mode is a frequency-domain warping method specifically designed to accommodate composite signals such as mixed-down music. New Clip Transport allows for performance-enhancing looping, editing and shuffling on the fly for any clip in Live. Click anywhere in a waveform to jump there--in sync and subject to real-time quantization. Live 5 Beta Test Beta testing for Live 5 will begin in June. This is a great opportunity for users to get a firsthand look at what Live 5 has to offer. Please sign up to receive the Ableton newsletter and keep informed of the latest details. For more information, visit their web site at www.ableton.com.