Week of December 7, 2003 Saturday, December 13 2003 | dmac Analog Bass Synth and Multimode Filter Added to SINE Lineup Two new electronic instruments have been born of the alliance between TerraTec Producer and Music and More (MAM): the SINE Warp 9 - a MIDI analog multimode filter - and the SINE MB 33 II, an analog bass synthesizer. SINE Warp 9 is designed to deliver the sound of the '70s with today's technology. TerraTec Producer's multimode filter adds to the circuitry of the 1978-vintage Warp EDP synthesizer the benefits of state-of-the-art MIDI control and program patches. The heart of the 19" device (1 U) is a VCF featuring high-pass, band-pass, low-pass and notch filtering modes, which can be modulated in a variety of ways. It offers an envelope and LFO, as well as MIDI velocity, note value and modulation wheel commands for manipulating filter frequency. The envelope may be triggered via an analog input, and the LFO can be synched up to MIDI clock. All adjustments made on the ten rotary knobs and five buttons are routed out via MIDI and may be stored in up to 32 patches. The Warp SINE 9 is priced at 229.00 USD MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price). SINE WARP 9 Features: MIDI controllable 12-dB filter with resonance Low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch filters VCA-driven volume modulation Switchable distortion effect Analog trigger input Knob settings sent and received via MIDI Combinable LFO, envelope and MIDI filter modulation 32 programmable presets (patches) The sound generator of the SINE MB 33 II analog bass synthesizer is chock full of transistors and resistors. The unit also includes a VCO with selectable sawtooth and square waves and an 18 dB low-pass filter and a VCF input for external signals. The SINE MB 33 II also features full MIDI support, a switchable sub oscillator and a distortion effect. The ten front panel rotary knobs serve to vary the filter's cutoff, resonance and envelope modulation, as well as the square wave's pulse width and the balance of sawtooth / square wave and sub oscillator signals. The SINE MB 33 II is available now in stores for 299.00 USD (MSRP). For more information, visit their web site at www.terratec.net. Friday, December 12 2003 | dmac TerraTec Producer's SINE Product Line Debuts with New Studio Gear Three Stereo Amplifiers Designed Specifically for Studio Monitors, Stereo Headphone Amplifier, DI Boxes, and Rack Tuner Back in November of this year, TerraTec Producer and Music and More (MAM) announced a partnership to produce a new line of products. The SINE series is the result of their efforts, kicking off with a bunch of goodies for the studio. The first range of products born of this joint effort is the SINE PA Series, comprising three stereo amplifiers tailored specifically for use with near-field monitors and a stereo headphones amplifier. These are followed up by three more studio tools - two Direct In boxes and the chromatic tuner SINE CT 1. Housed in an ultra compact chassis, each SINE PA Series 19" device takes up just a single rack space, and is thus easily accommodated even in very small racks. Onboard overheat protection ensures pro reliability, while a switch-on delay circuit altogether eliminates popping noise when monitors are powered up. The three SINE PA models (SINE PA 120, SINE PA 200 and SINE PA 460) boast a signal-to-noise ratio of 97 dB (at 30 watts and 1 ohm). A special feature of the PA 460 model is a cascaded circuit allowing its output power to be switch from 4 x 60 watts to 2 x 120 watts ... For more information, visit their web site at www.terratec.net. Friday, December 12 2003 | dmac New D.Loop Dual Effects Loop Switcher from Lehle In response to numerous requests, Lehle is pleased to announce the introduction of the "D.Loop" - a fully programmable Dual Effects Loop Switcher. The unit allows guitarists to switch in effects loop A, effects loop B, or both effects loops at the same time (all in stereo). The input signal is passed directly to the loops via gold plated relays - no active components will alter the signal or add noise. A buffered input which changes the impedance from high to low can also be switched in, allowing the player to utilize long cable runs or clean effects with maximum effectiveness. In addition, the D.Loop is MIDI capable. The Lehle Dual can use any power supply that provides 8 to 20 V, either AC or DC. The supply voltage is internally rectified and stabilized. List Price: $270. Distributed in North America by European Musical (www.europeanmusical.com). For more information, visit their web site at www.lehle.com. Thursday, December 11 2003 | dmac Pro-53 now available for Mac OS X and RTAS! NATIVE INSTRUMENTS is excited to announce a new update for the Pro-53 which brings the legendary vintage synth to Mac OS X and RTAS. The Pro-53 now fully supports the modern technologies and interfaces of OS X, including AudioUnits, RTAS, VST, and standalone operation with CoreMIDI and CoreAudio. Windows XP-based musicians can also now play the Pro-53 directly in their Pro Tools sessions thanks to the new RTAS compatibility. The Pro-53 update is immediately available to all registered users as a $29 direct download. For users who prefer to receive the update in physical form, NATIVE INSTRUMENTS will offer an update CD for $49. Customers who bought their Pro-53 after August 15th, 2003 can download the update for free or receive an update CD for a discounted price of $19. For more information, please see ni-pro53.com. Thursday, December 11 2003 | dmac Plugin updates discoDSP Vertigo 2 public beta released. FXpansion BFD v1.0.7.2 released. Thursday, December 11 2003 | dmac New Ethnic HipHop Sounds released for Software Samplers ModernBeats.com has expanded its downloadable library of HipHop soundware with a new ethnic percussion collection titled Ethnic HipHop 2 - Tha Percussion. The  collection is sold as a multi-format product for all major software samplers. Native formats include HALion, EXS24, Kontakt, Battery, Reason's NN-XT, SF2, and .Wav. Like all ModernBeats' soundware, the ethnic collection is available for instant download or can be shipped on a ModernBeats multi-format CD-ROM. Ethnic HipHop 2 - Tha Percussion is available for download for $44.95, or can be ordered on CD-ROM. Thursday, December 11 2003 | dmac XARC Mastering Appoint Mojo Working International In Launch Of The World’s First Online Mastering Studio Mojo Working International are delighted to announce their appointment to XARC Mastering as the German based company launch the world’s first online mastering studio. This new and unique Internet based service is available to discerning artists, musicians and anyone else needing high-quality time/cost efficient professional mastering anywhere in the world, with the entire process provided via a secure SSL encrypted connection. Mojo Working International Director Kevin Fetterplace comments: “If the future of our industry is to be Internet orientated and in the hands of innovative young people then XARC Mastering is the future of mastering.  I am delighted to welcome XARC Mastering to the Mojo Working International family” Lorenz Vauck, the founder of XARC Mastering added: "We are delighted that Mojo Working International will be representing our International PR needs.  Their track record and experience in this market speaks for itself and we are looking forward to build a long-time relationship with them." For more information on XARC Mastering please go to www.xarcmastering.com Tuesday, December 9 2003 | dmac Classic Console EQ Ready for Windows XP URS announced that the Windows XP TDM and Native RTAS AS versions of their URS Classic Console EQ Version 1.0 are now shipping. The Windows versions are a free ugrade to all previous customers. Key features of this release include: Windows XP support Pro Tools 6.1 and 6.2 compatability Full Pro Tools TDM support for HD Accel, HD and MIX systems Full Pro Tools RTAS support for MBox, Digi001, Digi002 and HD Accel, HD and MIX systems Full 192k support for TDM, RTAS and AudioSuite versions Full Pro Control, Control 24 and Digi002 support The TDM version lists for $899.99 and includes TDM, RTAS, and AudioSuite for Macintosh OSX and OS9 and Windows XP. The Native version list for $549.99 supports RTAS/AudioSuite for Macintosh OSX and OS9 and Windows XP. Demo Versions available - iLok required. For more information, visit their web site at ursplugins.com. Tuesday, December 9 2003 | dmac Swar Systems Releases New Instruments Swar Systems, a Switzerland-based company specialized in Indian music software, has just released a whole new set of instruments from North India on all their products (standalone software, VST plugins, Akai/Reason patches). They have named this new set as Volume North 2 , while the currently featured instruments are now referred to as Volume North 1 . The instruments included in this new collection are: Dhol, Naal, Duff, Dimdi, Tudd, Gunghroo, Tumbak, Duggis, Chimta, Stick-Tambourines, Israj, Banjo, Tumbi and Harmonium (new patch). A more detailed description of each instrument can be found on their web site. Volume North 2 includes a large array of typical rhythms and melodies from the Indian folk/classical repertoire in MIDI and/or proprietary format that can form a base for creating compositions from scratch. For more information, visit their web site at www.swarsystems.com. Tuesday, December 9 2003 | dmac Plugin updates: Native Instruments Absynth updated to v2.0.4. rgc:audio z3ta+ v1.3 released. Sunday, December 7 2003 | dmac Second Motif/S90 Collection from Kid Nepro Ready Kid Nepro Productions has released their second in a series of new sounds for the Yamaha Motif Series and S90, titled Classic Synths. The sounds are compatible with the Motif-6/7/8, Motif Rack, Motif ES Series and S90. For the Motif Classic Synths soundbank, Kid Nepro has recreated the popular sound of vintage analog and digital synthesizers adding many new real time control features found on the Motif. The 128 programs are made up of synth basses & leads, pads,strings & brass, synth keyboards and "rhythmic grooves" using the Motif arpeggiator. Many grooves have a "Sample & Hold" type of sound that was very common in the style of the 60's and 70's analog synths. The type of sound used by groups like "Emerson, Lake & Palmer " and "Kraftwerk". Other grooves are totally unique to the Motif and have a very 21st century sound. Many of these grooves can be used as the foundation to your rhythm tracks. Sync them to your drum tracks for the maximum effect. Soundlists and MP3 demos are available on-line. Price: $35. For more information, visit their web site at www.kidnepro.com. Sunday, December 7 2003 | dmac Dash Signature A0S for EVE Released "Alpha Zero Synthesizers" is a new FREE additional library for the EVE VST synth, from Dash Signature. A0S includes 20 new Multisampled SoundSets and a 128 presets bank designed purposely for the new samples. A0S library is more electronic oriented than the default vintage EVE library, A0S features sweeps, warm pads, blips and blops with care. You can download the Library as a separate installer, easy to add and remove from your drive as you wish. You can also download EVE Complete Demo, and add A0S to the Demo version to test it out. A0S Direct Download  (no VSTi).