Saturday, December 2 2006 Sunday, February 18 2007 | dmac Pro-Sounds Launches Phoenix for Tone 2's FireBird Vsti Pro-Sounds has announced the release of Phoenix, a new bank of over 130 presets for the Tone 2 FireBird Vsti. Phoenix, designed by Bryan "Xenos" Lee and Marc Hoppe (aka. Teksonik), brings FireBird into unexplored sonic territory.  This new bank combines the sinister stylings of Bryan Lee with the tried and true design skills of Marc Hoppe to provide users with a broad range of sounds for todays electronic music. The bank is available for €17.95 for new customers, while all registered Pro-Sounds customers may take advantage of the 20% loyalty discount received via email. For more information, and to download a free 24-preset demo bank, please visit pro-sounds.net. Friday, February 16 2007 | dmac PreSonus adds Digital Performer support for FaderPort PreSonus is pleased to announce Digital Performer support for the FaderPort USB Automation and Transport Controller. The FaderPort is the first of its kind, a single fader controller that can write single and group channel volume, pan and mute automation. The FaderPort is loaded with an ultra-high quality Alps fader found in professional control surfaces including DigiDesign’s D-Command. The fader in the FaderPort utilizes a dual-servo motorized drive belt system for fast-acting, accurate, and smooth operation. The FaderPort's 100mm long throw fader delivers 1024-step resolution for writing ultra-fine and accurate fades and adjustments. The FaderPort ($229 MSRP) has been shipping since November this year and is currently compatible with Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Logic Pro,Sonar and now Digital Performer. Installation file for Digital Performer support for the FaderPort can be downloaded at: http://www.presonus.com/faderport-downloads.html FaderPort Features: - High-quality Alps fader - Touch sensitive, 100mm long throw motorized fader - Dual-servo drive belt motor design for fast and smooth operation - Write single or group channel volume automation - Write pan and mute automation - 1024 steps of resolution - Complete recording transport control - Pan control, mute, solo, record enable - Quick window selection (edit, mix, transport) - Rugged metal top plate - Rugged military-grade push buttons - Footswitch jack for hands free punch in/out - Compatible with all major recording software including Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, Logic, Sonar and Digital Performer - Mac and Windows compatible Monday, February 12 2007 | dmac Pro-Sounds launches patch collection for Gearbox 3 In support of Line-6 porting the Gearbox software to VST, Pro-Sounds have released PatchBox, a collection of presets for Gearbox v3. PatchBox, designed by Jeff Rhodes of Perimeter Sound Arts, is comprised of 128 original presets in l6t format.  PatchBox brings studio-polished tones to all guitarists using a Line-6 Gearbox compatible device in his or her recordings.  A broad range of sonic territory has been covered, giving users tones to be used in Jazz, Blues, Alternative, Metal, and other genres featuring electric guitars. PatchBox is available for €24.95 to new customers, while all registered Pro-Sounds customers may take advantage of the 20% loyalty discount received via email. For more information, a free 24-preset demo bank, and mp3 demos, please visit pro-sounds.net. Saturday, February 10 2007 | dmac Pro-Sounds Releases Yemski's Arps & Grooves Sound Bank For Albino 3 Pro-Sounds has announced the immediate availability of Yemski's Arps & Grooves for Rob Papen's Albino 3 Vsti synthesizer. This new bank combines the powerful synthesis options of Albino 3 with sound designer Yemski's creative use of layering and modulation to create original, inspiring rhythmic elements. No matter what genre of electronic music you are producing, Yemski's Arps & Grooves is the perfect way to add movement, complex rhythms, and driving grooves to your mixes. The bank is available for $19.95 for new customers, while all registered Pro-Sounds customers may take advantage of the 20% loyalty discount received via email. For more information, visit their web site at pro-sounds.net. Saturday, February 10 2007 | dmac IK Multimedia Announces "Crossgrade For All" Upgrade Program IK Multimedia is proud to announce that their Crossgrade for All policy is now in effect. As of February 1, 2007, IK Multimedia makes it easier and more affordable to expand your computer-based studio with a diverse collection of IK products. If you are a registered owner of at least one IK product, you are now eligible to crossgrade to any other IK product at the discounted crossgrade price and save big. Both retail and special bundled versions of IK products, such as SampleTank 2 SE, AmpliTube LE and T-RackS EQ, qualify you for the extra savings you receive from the crossgrade prices on full versions of IK products. IK's "Crossgrade for All" policy helps the musician afford the tools they need to build the ultimate studio with acclaimed virtual instrument workstations, guitar and bass effects, mastering and mixing effects and more. For more information, visit their web site at ikmultimedia.com. Saturday, February 10 2007 | dmac Line 6 Ships GearBox 3.1 Plug-In For Pro Tools Systems Line 6, Inc. is now shipping the updated GearBox™ Plug-In 3.1. For the computer-based musician who records guitar, bass and vocals, GearBox Plug-In deliver Line 6 studio-standard tone from POD® XT, and classic must-have vintage effects in a flexible software plug-in format. GearBox Plug-In can be used with RTAS, Mac® AU and PC VST recording software. GearBox Plug-In includes an extraordinary collection of professionally programmed presets. Plus, presets created during the recording process can easily be moved into other Line 6 products like POD® XT Live for total portability to the stage. The Silver bundle provides a hand-selected model collection, while the Gold bundle delivers a comprehensive array for the ultimate tone palette. "With GearBox Plug-in 3.1, musicians can now have the convenience and flexibility of award-winning Line 6 tone seamlessly integrated into Pro Tools and other recording apps," explained Mark McCrite, product line manager, Line 6. In addition, GearBox Plug-In is available as a download for owners of POD® XT, GuitarPort®, and TonePort™ products. For just $199, users are able to run all of the models already in their products in a flexible native software plug-in format. GearBox™ Plug-In Silver Bundle - MSRP $419.99 18 guitar amp and 24 cab models from POD® XT 5 bass amp and cab models from Bass POD® XT 6 world-renowned vintage and modern mic preamps 30 studio and stompbox effects GearBox™ Plug-In Gold Bundle - MSRP $699.99 78 guitar amp and 24 cab models from POD® XT/Vetta™ II 28 bass amp and 22 bass cab models from Bass POD® XT 6 world-renowned vintage and modern mic preamps 80 plus studio and stompbox effects For more information, visit their web site at line6.com. Thursday, February 1 2007 | dmac reFuse Software Ships Lowender Plug-In For Mac OS X January 30, 2007 reFuse Software proudly announces the release of a new plug-in for Macintosh OSX, the Lowender. The Lowender is a subharmonic synthesizer, reminiscent of classic analog dual-band bass enhancer circuits. More than a simple EQ, the Lowender creates new bass content from your existing audio material. From post-production houses to disco floors, from high-powered live sound to rock, dub, and metal studio productions, the characteristic rumble of the subharmonic synthesizer has been an engineer's best-kept secret for years. Now, finally, you can get those low lows from within your favorite DAW application. While taking the classic "Boom Box" sound as its core, the Lowender expands on the concept in several ways. First, it offers switchable frequency ranges, so that the low end frequencies generated can be selected to fit the program material. Second, the generated subharmonics pass through a gate tailored for low frequencies, which is useful for cleaning up unwanted bass rumble (e.g. from between kick drum hits in a drum loop). Third, the Lowender passes the bass material through an output section comprised of an overdrive circuit and a lowpass filter. Driving or compressing the newly generated low frequencies is essential for evening out their dynamics, and will allow them to sit well in a mix. The variable lowpass filter is provided to shave off the higher harmonics of the overdrive and create a smooth low end - or you can leave some of them in, for raspier bass sounds. The Lowender is packaged as a Pluggo plug-in, using Cycling '74's Pluggo standard. This allows a single plug-in to interface with VST, RTAS, and AU frameworks, ensuring compatibility with almost any host program. The Lowender will be sold exclusively from the reFuse Software website, for $39. For more information, visit their web site at refusesoftware.com. Thursday, February 1 2007 | dmac KV331 Audio Releases SynthMaster Semi-Modular Soft Synth For Windows KV331 Audio proudly releases the standard version of SynthMaster, their new semi-modular software synthesizer and multi-FX plug-in for Windows. As a software synthesizer, SynthMaster combines many different synthesis methods such as additive synthesis, subtractive synthesis, ring modulation, amplitude modulation, frequency / phase modulation, pulse width modulation, osc sync and waveshaping. As a multi-fx plug-in, it features 8 band parametric EQ/filterbank, 16 band Vocoder, Stereo Tremolo, Stereo Chorus, Stereo Delay and Stereo Reverb. SynthMaster comes with 200 presets covering leads, basses, pads, keys, organs, brasses, sequences and effects. It also features 150 tutorial presets that describe sound programming with SynthMaster in detail. SynthMaster is available for only $99 exclusively at kv331audio website. Users can immediately download and authorize SynthMaster online once they purchase it. For more information, visit their web site at kv331audio.com.