Week of May 8, 2005 Friday, May 13 2005 | dmac CamelPhat 3 and New CamelSpace Plug-Ins from Camel Audio CamelPhat 3 CamelSpace 3 Camel Audio has released PhatSpace, a bundle of two multi-effects designed for musicians rather than engineers. Graphical user interfaces put all the controls at your fingertips, while the X/Y pad controllers allow easy real-time manipulation of the most important parameters. CamelPhat 3 is a "phattening" processor engineered to work wonders on guitar, bass and drums, adding warmth, punch and presence wherever they're required. Four characteristically different distortion effects are included, which can be used separately or blended together to create an endless variety of tones. The 'Magic EQ' enhances the low end. On top of that, you also get an analog-modelled compressor, three resonant filters, two LFOs and an envelope follower. CamelPhat 3 features Phattening multi-effect for punchy drums, bass and more Four distortion module Magic EQ, compressor, three filters, two LFOs, envelope follower Easy-to-use interface with XY pad Intelligent randomize to spark creativity 128 categorized presets CamelSpace is designed to take any sound you throw at it -- be it a pad, a synth line or a drum loop -- and generate an array of dynamically-evolving, gated rhythmic textures. A powerful 128-step 'trance gate' sequencer controls panning, filter cut-off and volume, while independent LFOs provide still more mind-boggling modulation options. A tempo-synced stereo delay and powerful auto-panner ensure that your sounds are always on the move, while an enhancer (with 'Xcita' and soft saturation), a flanger and a reverb all add 'sparkle'. CamelSpace features Rhythmic multi-effect that adds dynamic interest to pads, drums and more 128-step trance gate controlling cutoff, pan and volume Auto-panner, exciter, flanger, multi-mode filter, stereo delay, reverb Stunning, easy-to-use interface with XY pad Intelligent randomize 128 categorized presets The PhatSpace bundle is available for Windows and Mac OS X (VST and AudioUnits) and costs USD 149 / EUR 115 / GBP 79 (or USD 85 / EUR 65 / GBP 45 for each plug-in individually). For more information, visit their web site at camelaudio.com. Friday, May 13 2005 | dmac URS Releases FullTec EQ in AudioUnits/VST Formats URS (Unique Recording Software) has released v1.0 of the URS FullTec 5 Band Program EQ in Audio Units and VST PC/Mac formats, and also announced a new promotion for May. The URS FullTec is a five band Program Equalizer. One band digitally recreates the Pulteq EQP-1's low frequency shelving with simultaneous boost and attenuation. Three bands of peak equalization recreate the midrange boost and attenuation of the Pultec MEQ-5 and the high frequency boost of the Pultec EQP-1a. Each peak EQ band has it's own bandwidth Q control. The fifth band features high frequency shelving with simultaneous boost and attenuation. Pricing: TDM, RTAS, Audio Units, VST - Mac OS X, Mac OS9, Windows XP $499.99 (USD) Native - RTAS, Audio Units, VST - Mac OS X, Mac OS9, Windows XP $249.99 (USD) As part of URS' "I'll EQ you in May" special, BLT Native owners can upgrade to the FullTec Native version for $199.99, and BLT TDM users can upgrade to FullTec TDM for $399. Additional upgrade offers for BLT owners are available as well. For more information, visit their web site at ursplugins.com. Thursday, May 12 2005 | dmac Rayzoon Technologies Releases Version 1.2 Update to Jamstix VSTi Jamstix 1.0 Jamstix 1.0 Rayzoon Technologies has released an update for its virtual drummer PC VSTi Jamstix to version 1.2 and is also now offering 20% off the regular price. This update includes many enhancements and fixes. Most of all, Jamstix 1.2 has much tighter timing and can handle high latency environments. Changes and additions in version 1.2 include: Rebuilt entire synchronization logic to make things tighter as well as compatible with high-latency environments Implemented "bar locking", which allows freezing a bar at its current state regardless of later pattern or mode changes Modified 'Export To MIDI' to use a buffer of the last session play to account for real-time factors Time signature changes are now supported in hosts that do not send proper barStartPos information (Cakewalk VST wrapper, FL Studio and others) Foot hihat now automatically plays on quarters during a fill if no other hihat is present Foot hihat now automatically plays on quarters when ride is active Added checkbox to kick panel to allow for double kick rhythms Added MIDI automation parameter to control shuffle mode Improved kick velocity realism logic Kick and snare eighths are now properly played and aligned in shuffle mode Preview no longer suppresses snare and tom accents When using MIDI-Out Only mode, the DLL location prompt is now suppressed Added label showing the name of the currently loaded mapping to the mapping-tab LiveLoop trigger list now includes triggers already in use but marks them with an * LiveLoops are now limited to 99 bars and cannot extend beyond bar 999 Added hint about 'Big Time' window to bar/beat display Added hint to PLAY button Liveloops are now properly checked for overlap when adding a new loop in front of an existing one Added custom cursors for the arranger All note triggers now have a '--' item in the pick list to reset/disable the trigger Optimized pocket and timing variance logic (note that this requires SPP from the host) Added lock to velocity slider to maintain velocity level manually 'Decided' bar color is now brighter for better distinction 'Play Input' status is now remembered when closing/reopening GUI Bar jumping is now disabled if host is playing Changed arranger mode slider switch due to difficult use with touchpad Snare and tom accents no longer play if the rhythm is empty Jamstix is normally priced at $99, but availble now for $79. For more information, visit their web site at rayzoon.com. Tuesday, May 10 2005 | dmac Robin Holmes releases six new instruments Robin Holmes has released six new VSTi plug-ins for Windows - Ventura, Ventura6, Viperous, Fact2, BassFact2 and DrumFact2. All instruments share the following features: Multi modulation routings. 7 Big Outboard effects. Effects mod matrix. 2 Step Sequencers. Voice modulation matrix. 2 Filters. Wave shaping. Polyphony control. 3 LFOs. 2 Envelopes. Pitch Attack and Decay. The instruments are differentiated by their choice of oscillators which are detailed below: - Ventura is a 1 oscillator (with 70 waves) subtractive synth with many effects and modulation routings. - Ventura6 is a 6 oscillator (each with 70 waves) subtractive synth with many effects and modulation routings. - Viperous is a 2 oscillator FM synth with multiple modulation routings from the second to the first. - Fact2 is a two oscillator subtractive synth. The oscillators implement the General MIDI instrument specification as the choice of waveforms. The demo includes 127 presets. - BassFact2 is a two oscillator subtractive synth created specifically for basses and bass riffs. A broad range of bass specific oscillators is provided. The demo includes 64 presets. - DrumFact2 is a GM drum compatible dance and rap music oriented drum synth. The oscillators allow a choice of single drum sounds or whole kit variations. The demo includes 127 presets. Each plug-in costs $49.99 and demo versions are available. They are all included for free if you purchase Delta SP. More @ Robin Holmes. Tuesday, May 10 2005 | dmac Fireface 800 Driver Updated to Version 2 Front Panel (Artist's Rendering) Rear Panel (Artist's Rendering) The drivers for RME's Fireface 800 FireWire audio interface have now reached version 2.0. Both drivers for Windows and Mac OS X offer identical functions and features. After the introduction of the FireWire Dropout Detection for playback and record with automatic resynchronisation of the sample position after loss of data packets, full Windows 64-bit compatibility, and support of the WDM Speaker Setup for improved compatibility to games and home entertainment software, version 2.0 now adds full MIDI support for TotalMix. With this, the mixer of the Fireface can be controlled from external hardware controllers, including all the special functions like Talkback, Dim or submix monitoring. Main Volume and monitor funtions can be controlled from nearly any keyboard, as these use standard Controller Change Volume and simple note on/off commands. A complete remote control operation requires a hardware controller supporting the Mackie protocol. These are the Mackie Control, the Tascam US-2400 and others, but also lower-priced units like the Behringer BCF2000. For more information, visit their web site at rme-audio.com.