Mstislav Rostropovich, cellist and conductor, human rights activist, has died today at 80 in Moscow from a long illness.

Audio-Technica introduces two stereo shotgun microphones aimed at the high-end broadcast and production environment. The new BP4027 and BP4029 Stereo Shotgun models are based on models that A-T originally developed for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Designed for broadcasters, sound recordists and videographers, these phantom-powered models feature independent line-cardioid and figure-of-eight elements configured in an M-S (Mid-Side) arrangement. Each provides a switch-selectable internal matrixing system offering a selection of wide and narrow stereo (L/R) output or M-S output. A switchable low frequency roll-off filter helps minimize the pickup of unwanted low frequency noise. The models differ from one another primarily in length (BP4027 15" long and BP4029 9" long); they both feature a li ...

Today zplane.development announced the availability of vielklang, a plugin instrument for instant audio harmonization. vielklang generates up to four voices from a single voiced audio input. The progression of each individual voice is controlled by sophisticated harmony progression and voice leading models, resulting in musically meaningful harmonization without any configuration efforts.

Main Features :

- instant 4-voice harmonization of any single-voiced audio input
- integrated voice leading and harmony progression models, resulting in entirely natural-sounding automatic harmonization
- one-click modification of key scales and harmonies
- high quality, formant preserving, flexible pitch shifting
- audio-to-MIDI functionality for all voices
- customizable user interface

vielklang is available in AU and VST formats for Mac OSX at an introductory offer of €159 / $199 until May 31st, 2007. After that vielklang retails for €179 / $249.

Solid State Logic has also released version 2.0 of the Duende software.

New Features :

- Time limited trial version of Drumstrip included in installer.
- Mouse Wheel control of all Duende plug-in parameters.
- Duende DSP resources are released following a freeze command in Cubase and Nuendo.
- Multiple Duende GUIs now use shared host memory. This will improve host performance in some cases.
- RTAS installer is now separate from VST/AU/Driver in Mac OS. This simplifies the installation procedure.

Solid State Logic has released Drumstrip, the first optional plug-in for the Duende platform which is basically a drum processing plug-in.

Key features :

- Carefully selected collection of five audio processing tools.
- Transient shaper with Transient Invert to bring the attack phase of your drums to life.
- Transient Shaper Audition enables you to isolate and monitor the effect of the Transient Shaper.
- "Over-Easy" soft ratio compression characteristic for smooth transitions.
- Dedicated drum Gate with range and independent open and close threshold con.
- High Frequency Enhancer to invigorate top end.
- Low Frequency Enhancer to improve bass frequencies.
- The classic SSL Listen Mic Compressor with additional bypass function to alter the legendary band-limited compression to ...

Genelec announces that its Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM ) software with AutoCal for the 8200 and 7200 DSP Series Monitors is now also available for the Intel and Power PC Macintosh® OS X platform (existing users should contact Genelec Inc. directly for update discs). Additionally, AutoCal has been updated to include Symmetrical Placement EQ which allows AutoCal to design one set of filters to be used for both loudspeakers forming a sonically symmetrical pair, for example the Left and Right Front loudspeakers. The latest software revision is version 1.1.0 for both platforms.

Eiosis has updated ELS Vocoder to v1.05.

New features :

- ADSR envelope on the Synthesizer output VCA.
- LFO width added.
- Lo amplitude modulation mode for FM modulation.
- Output volume is now adjusted to the Q factor of the filter bank.
- More options for the modulation wheel assignation.

Bug Fixes :

- DC signals are now removed from input and output.
- Circular assignation of midi notes in polyphonic mode is now fixed.
- Updated Voice/unvoice presets.
- Updated Pitch tracker presets.
- RTAS bug on HD system is now fixed.

Allen & Heath has launched the XD-53 professional monitoring headphones. The XD-53's incorporate a circumaural isolation design, providing high level isolation from ambient noise, making them the ideal product for DJ's requiring immersive listening in loud environments. Comprising 53mm diameter drivers - the largest drivers currently available - with high power neodymium magnet design, 1500 mW of power handling, and high SPL capacity, these headphones deliver excellent sound reproduction. They also have rotating earpieces for easy one-ear monitoring, a coiled cable with convenient one-side exit, and a folding design for compact portability.

The XD-53 headphones will be available from May 2007. For more information, please visit their web site.

Sugar Bytes has just released Unique, a synthesizer specialized in vowel sounds and "mighty analog" keyboard sounds. Featuring an advanced vowel filter mode and internal multi-effects with two chained FX devices, Unique comes with over 160 presets and offers features like LFOs with internal envelopes for fading rate and intensity, polyphonic panning, a powerful internal controllers section and more.

Unique costs €139 and is available in VST and AU formats Mac OS X (UB). For more information, please visit their web site.

ChocolateAudio has released the Bonzo drum kit which is a sampled rendition of a Ludwig VistaLite drum kit with Paiste cymbals. The kit configuration is similar to one of the drum setups used by John Bonham of Led Zeppelin during the '70s.

Bonzo kit drum list :

- Ludwig Vistalite Kit (26" BD, 14", 16" and 18" Tom Toms)
- Ludwig 14"x6.5" Supraphonic Snare drum
- Paiste 15" HH signature
- Paiste 20" Ride signature
- Paiste Splashes 8" and 10"
- Paiste Crashes 14", 16" and 18"
- Paiste China 18"
- 2 LP Cowbells

These drums make up for 711 unique stereo samples of which up to 32 samples are dedicated to each drum technique with 223 samples allocated to snare techniques, 172 to the hi-hat, 64 to the ride cymbals, 32 to the bass drum and 96 to the Toms. ...

Prosoniq has released version 2 of TimeFactory, their stand alone time and pitch manipulation software. TimeFactory 2 comes as native Universal Binary optimized for both PowerPC and Intel Mac models (MacOS X 10.4.9 or better). It supports multiple file formats and sample rates up to 384kHz and contains Prosoniq's legacy TimeFactory I MPEX2 time stretching, as well as the newer MPEX3, ClearScale and DIRAC algorithms which are used in all major high-end audio editing programs on the market.

For more information, please visit their web site.