IK Multimedia announces an update to version 2.1 for Sampletank. The new SampleTank 2.1 will include an enhanced Stretch engine (with more control over the pitch, tempo and harmonics), improved sound and performance, stand-alone operation, 16 stereo outputs, enhanced sound set now on 2 DVDs, and much more.

SampleTank 2.1 XL will cost $499/499 Euro and is expected to be shipping in May 2005.

VirSyn announces the future vavailability of Cube 2, the spectral morphing resynthesizer. This new release will feature : improved spectral analysis for harmonic and inharmonic sounds, graphical editor for sine spectrum, residual noise spectrum and stereo panorama, improved morphing characteristic for more realism, manual morphing of the sound sources, 300 new sounds (now a total of 700 sounds comes with the package) and many more...

Cube 2 will be available on April 18th, 2005.

At MusikMesse, Tapco unveils the Link USB and the Link MIDI. The Link USB is a two-channel, USB bus powered audio interface with two Mackie-designed mic preamps, 48v Phantom power, featuring 24-bit 48kHz operation. The Link MIDI is a USB bus powered, 4X4 MIDI input/output interface with a "MIDI Thru" button.

M-audio launches a dedicated controler for GarageBand. USB powered, it packs transport controls, a jog wheel, 8 encoders assignable (control volume, pan, aux bus sends or effects), 7 mode assign buttons, 8 sets of buttons for Mute, Solo, and Record-enable… The icontrol include also a MIDI In for a keyboard and is directly recognized by GarageBand 2.0.1 and higher, all that for $179. Note that we don't know if it can be used with some other software even if it's dedicated to GB…

Digitalmusician.net beta public version was launched at MusikMesse Frankfort. This web site for musicians and audio professionals that works along with a VST plug-in to allow real-time, distributed music production via the Internet. Musicians can team up for joint music projects or simply help each other out. Music projects, capabilities and preferences together with demo songs and photo material can be presented on an individual Artist & Studios homepage.

Digital musician.net will launch in August 2005

Bias just unveils Peak pro 5 XT, a suite including 5 full featured plug-ins, plus SuperFreq, SoundSoap and SoundSoap Pro restoration plug-ins. The complete bundle features :

- Peak Pro 5, audio editing software
- Repli-Q EQ Matching plug-in
- Reveal, a complete set of seven analysis tools
- Sqweez 3- and 5- band linear phase compression plug-ins
- PitchCraft real-time pitch correction plug-in
- GateEx pro-quality gate/expander plug-in
- Optional Extension for DDP file export
- SuperFreq 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-band paragraphic EQ plug-in
- SoundSoap and SoundSoap Pro restoration plug-ins

Peak Pro XT 5 will be available Q2 2005 at $1199.

Edirol has announced the release of two new USB MIDI keyboard controllers, the PC-50 (49-note) and PC-80 (61-note). The PC-50 can be powered via USB as well as battery and the PC-80 is equipped with a built-in USB audio Interface and a speaker system.

The new PC-50 will cost $185, and PC-80 is $495.

From MusikMesse, Bias announces Peak Pro 5. This new version of Bias sound editing software now features :

- brand-new playlist with graphic waveform view and advanced crossfade control
- 100% Redbook Replication-ready CD burning with ISRC, PQ subcodes and more
- VST and Audio Units instrument support in Vbox
- new DSP algorithms for Change Pitch, Change Duration and Sample Rate Conversion
- optional Extension for DDP file export

Peak Pro 5 will be available Q2 2005 at $599. Customers who purchased the full edition of Peak before April 1, 2005 can upgrade to Peak Pro 5 for $179, and customers who purchase the full version of Peak after April 1, 2005 can upgrade to Peak Pro 5 for $39.

Dynaudio Acoustics is launching the BM 5P, a new passive nearfield monitor that delivers transparent sound and high performance at an affordable price. The 2-way passive monitor operates within a frequency response of 50 Hz – 21 kHz, and is equipped with a 170mm (6,9") woofer and 26mm (1") soft dome tweeter.

The BM 5P is expected to ship in May 2005 at 580 euros retail ex. VAT per pair.

At Musikmesse, PreSonus announces that the Firebox is now shipping. The FireBox is a compact yet powerful FireWire recording system with the ability to record and playback six inputs and ten outputs simultaneously at professional-grade 24-bit/96k resolution.

The Firebox ships complete with Steinberg's Cubase LE.

At MusikMesse, the Vienna Symphonic Library team unveiled Opus 2, which comprises basic articulations of instruments taken from other Horizon Series titles, such as Solo Strings, Epic Horns, French Oboe, or Woodwind Ensembles. Opus 2 is available in EXS24, GigaStudio, HALion and Kontakt formats.

Opus 2 includes 9.3 GB of data on 2 DVD-ROMs and retails for $495

Edirol annouces an innovative product - the CG-8 Visual Synthesizer. Just as synthesis in music prompted new waves of musical creativity so the CG-8 is set to do the same for the visual artist. In a musical context, a sampling synthesizer takes audio in or regenerates it from a wave generator and then modulates it with filters and amplifiers before outputting the sound.  In a similar fashion the CG-8 can take in still images, create motion pictures from these and then modulate them with Modifiers and Fade Controllers. Designed to enhance live performance in today's merging world of audio and visual, the CG-8 will allow DJ's, musicians and visual artists to create stunning visual patches.

The dark veil is still down on it (been on nerves for weeks), but we have already some hints of the next clavia instrument. As its feet were betraying it, it's a live oriented keyboard. The Stage will be a piano, organ and mono-oscillator synth with an effect section, reverbs, amplificator simulation, compressor, EQ… Lots of on hands control beside the pitch stick and mod wheel familiar to Clavia users, including a switch to jump to a different panel setting.

The 6 multitimbral voices of the instruments are :
- 2 voices for the piano: Rhodes Mark I, Clavinet D6, Wurli 200A, Electric Grand model G, Yamaha C7 Acoustic Grand and an upright piano for the fun.
- 2 (one for each manual) for the organ : farfisa, vox
- 2 voices for the synth : substractive synthesis, wavetables, filter 12 and 24 dB
Now we don't know the polyphony as price and availability…

[edit: the veil is up now ;)]

After one hint on the mailing list, Elektron confirmed today that they are working on Something Else, giving no details. Daniel has been very clear it'll be shown in London at the forthcoming Sounds Expo of the 14-16 of April.

Don't ask me, I don't know either… But coming from these guys, I expect the unexpectable.

Now what can UW mean… Ûber Wavetables? mhmmm (scratching tod of head)

Guitar Combos by Native Instruments is a series of three charismatic amp emulations that combine studio-grade sound quality with maximum ease of use. The Guitar Combos series consists of the Twang Combo, the AC Box Combo and the Plexi Combo. The Twang Combo is modelled after the Fender Twin Reverb and delivers a wide range of clean and crunch tones suitable for Pop, Jazz, Blues and Country styles. The AC Box Combo is modelled after the Vox AC-30 and delivers a wide range of clean and crunch sounds that lend itself to Pop, Rock, and Alternative styles. The Plexi Combo is modelled after the Marshall JMP50 and delivers a wide range of crunch and overdrive sounds, which makes it the first choice for various flavors of Rock, Metal and Psychedelic.

Guitar Combos will be available in May 2005 for $79 for each combo. Furthermore, a bundle version with all three combos will be available for $199.

Apple has just updated its audio software Logic to version 7.1, which now features : full native plug-in delay compensation and over 70 new key commands. It provides greater facility for creating and managing Apple Loops and a convenient new method for re-ordering Channel Strip plug-in configurations. Logic Pro 7.1 further extends the creative options with 5 new plug-ins including a Bass Amp and two hybrid synthesizers. The update is rounded out by a host of optimizations and refinements that significantly improve the performance and stability of both Logic Pro and the included, updated version of Waveburner, and much more (Follow Tempo Option for Recorded Audio, Support for 9 additional Control Surfaces,...).

Logic Pro 7.1 is available to all Logic Pro users possessing an XSkey authorized for Logic Pro 7.0 and costs $19.95. ps : an update to v7.1 is available for Logic Express too

Synthetic Drums 2 is a huge new collection of drum and percussion sounds, created in cooperation with more than twenty of the world's most innovative electronic music producers and sound designers. The latest addition to the NI soundline range is loaded with 36 drum kits that offer material for all contemporary and upcoming styles of electronic music - including various flavours of techno and house,hiphop, R&B, ambient, two-step, drum&bass, tech funk, IDM, breakbeat, electro, industrial,electronica, big beat, downbeat, experimental and avantgarde.

All drum kits in Synthetic Drums 2 exist in Battery 2 and Kontakt formats, and will be soon available.

Native Instruments has announced that Electronic Instruments 2 XT is now available. Electronic Instruments 2 XT is the extended version of NI second Reaktor instrument collection. Each of the eight instruments in Electronic Instruments 2 XT can be run both standalone as well as in all major plugin formats. The eight instruments included in Electronic Instruments 2 XT are:

- Photone - hybrid master synthesizer
- Limelite - advanced beat composer
- Metaphysical Function - soundscape synthesizer
- Krypt - granular drum machine
- Akkord - sequenced chord generator
- Fast FX - advanced performance effects
- Resochord - programmable polyphonic resonator
- Cyan - extended vintage chorus

Electronic Instruments 2 XT is available now for $169 or €149.

Steinberg today announced the release of a new version of its standard ASIO protocol: ASIO 2.1. The latest version of the Audio Stream Input Output now offers support for the DSD format. Following from an intense technological cooperation with Sony, Steinberg has updated its ASIO protocol to support the Direct Stream Digital standard. ASIO 2.1 allows the transport of DSD format audio between audio applications and hardware that support the standard.

Camel audio announced PhatSpace bundle, made of two multi effects : CamelSpace and CamelPhat. CamelSpace is a dynamic and rhythmic multi-effect with pan, volume, flanger, filter, stereo delay and more. CamelPhat 3 is a colouring dynamic multi effect more four distortion modules with warm and soft to crunchy and fat, added EQ, compressor, three filters, two LFOs and one envelope follower.

This bundle cost 115€ or 65€ each plugin and wiill be avalaible from camel audio web at the end of April.

Native Instruments has announced Reaktor 5. This major new version introduces the new "Reaktor Core Technology". The Reaktor Core layer offers up to 64 bit internal resolution, and now instruments in Reaktor 5 now also come with their own custom user interface, thanks to extensive new panel customizing options. All panel elements in the new version of Reaktor are completely "skinnable", which includes faders, knobs, buttons, and even meters. Reaktor 5 now offers powerful multi-stage envelopes similar to those in Absynth and FM7, and complete with tempo grid, slope control and looping functions; a large number of new modules for extended data storage, voice routing and MIDI functionality.

Reaktor 5 will be available in May 2005 for 499 euros and upgrade for owners of Reaktor 4 will be available for 149 euros.

Steinberg just announced a major update to its The Grand virtual concert grand piano virtual instruments. The Grand 2 features an entirely new added grand piano (users can easily switch between the two models with a single mouse click) news surround capabilities (The Grand 2 can be placed anywhere inside a virtual room, with the position adjustable from directly within the user interface) and a range of features designed to maximize computer resource efficiency.

The Grand 2 will be available for 239 euros (or $239 !!) from May 2005. Existing customers can update to the new The Grand 2 version for 89 euros.

Launching on April 10th 2005, IK Multimedia's SampleTank 2 SE and AmpliTube LE, will be bundled with Mackie's Tracktion software as well as Mackie's audio hardware interfaces. Registered IK users of the bundled versions with Mackie are eligible for discounted upgrades from IK to the full versions of the IK Multimedia software.

Edirol unveils its new audio interface, the UA-101. This USB 2.0 audio interface allows simultaneous recording of 10 channels of audio at 24-bit, 96kHz, or up to 6 channels of audio at 24-bit/192kHz. Two high quality mic pre-amps allow you to record directly into the UA-101 through the XLR/TRS combo jacks. The UA-101 features S/PDIF in and out ports. The USB port is switchable between USB 2 and 1 so that the UA-101 can even be used as a stereo audio interface with computers not equipped with USB 2 ports.

UA-101 will cost $695 and will be available in June.

TC Electronic announces the PowerCore PCI mkII. With a potent combination of 14 state-of-the-art processing plug-ins and 4 x 150 mHz DSPs, the new blue colored PCI card is the obvious choice for any professional sound engineer with a VST, AU or RTAS (supported via the VST to RTAS adapter) compatible audio system. The plug-in bundle that comes with PCI mkII, contains the same 14 plug-ins as the PowerCore FireWire, and the whole package will be shipping in May 2005 at 1140 euros (retail ex. VAT.

IK Multimedia will present CSR-1: Classik Studio Reverb, a new suite of various reverbs modeled after classic high end studio reverb hardware masterpieces. CSR-1 includes a suite of four different reverbs algorithms (Classik Hall / Room, Classik Ambience, Classik Plate, Classik Inverse) and each Reverb has its own interface and parameters. CSR-1 will be available by the 3 rd quarter 2005 for 399 euros (and $) and will support VST, RTAS, and AU.

Note that a TDM version for ProTools systems will be available by the 4 th quarter 2005.

At Musikmesse, Arturia will unveil a new brass virtual instrument. This Brass Live is dedicated to trumpet, trombone and saxophon sounds. Brass Live will allow user to modify all parameters of the sound, such as attack, pressure, pitch, vibrato, noise, timbre and others.

No release date known at this time.

p.s. Arturia has partnered with IRCAM to create Brass, which will be available in June

Beer, sausages, plugins and synthetizers ! All these products - that MacMusic is fond of - deal with Frankfurt. This 600,000-inhabitant charming town, in Hesse, is not only famous for Goethe's birthplace, its Cathedral and its lovely gothic houses, but it also welcomes the Musik Messe that starts today and closes on Saturday. Of course MacMusic is busy keeping you informed, in this report and in the news, with all the gems that will be presented in Frankfurt.

On April 20, Arturia will release version 1.5 of the minimoog V. Version 1.5 includes improvements to the audio engine and strives to be even closer to the original Minimoog's behavior :

- An improved filter (that is even more stable, closer to the original, and more reactive towards the envelopes. It is also improved in the FM mode).
- Improved envelopes, perfectly reproducing the Minimoog original envelopes
- Reshaped Saw-Ramp and Triangle wave forms.

This update will be free to all registered users and will be downloadable from www.arturia.com

Digidesign just announced Pro Tools M-Powered software. This new version of Pro Tools music mastering software is designed to be used with compatible peripherals made by M-Audio. Pro Tools M-Powered uses Pro Tools LE's core technology and ships with more than 30 plug-ins for creative signal processing and effects, according to Digidesign. It works with software plug-ins designed for Pro Tools by third parties, as well. It will also include Ableton Live Lite 4.0, an audio and MIDI sequencing and virtual instrument application. Sessions created using Pro Tools M-Powered can be opened by Digidesign Pro Tools TDM and LE systems.

The new software will run on Mac OS X and is expected to ship in early April for US$349.

SonicBirth is now available as Preview version 4 , which adds the ability to export as a VST plug-in, and features three new elements : XY pad, Audio file, and Audio player. SonicBirth is an Audio Units plugins designing application which allows you to build your own AudioUnit plug-ins.

Chris Randall announces in his portal Analog Industries that Audio Damage we're eginning to port his products to AU. His already known Mayhen FX suite, Ratshack, Digitalis (Deverb and Discord) will be necessary to add its flaming Ronin. This is the good news for the logic's users that they will solve more of a problem of compatibility of these plug with Fx VS TAU configure.

URS Plugins offers an April promotion enabling buyers of any one of the following products (Native or TDM) to get a BLT Program EQ (Native or TDM) free:

-URS Classic Console EQ Bundle
-URS Classic Console Graphic EQ Bundle
-S series MIX EQ
-FullTec Program EQ

More info on URS web site.