Mac and Music News

NuGen Audio has updated Monofilter, Stereoizer and Stereoplacer (also available collectively as the Stereo Pack bundle) and the freeware utility Line-up. This free update includes performance optimizations under Mac OS X (AU and VST) and for Windows Vista 64 bit and is recommended for all users.

NuGen Audio has also updated Visualizer, SEQ1 and SEQ2. This free update includes performance optimizations for Windows Vista 64 bit and is recommended for all users using this OS.

Those updates are available on their web site. Note that NuGen Audio products are also available from our partner DontCrac[k].

MHC Synthesizers and Effects has announced updates and new product structure.

The Studio Setup plugins have been split up into separate products, which means that the Space Synthesizer, Fatsondo and Voxynth synthesizers are available separately. The same applies to the effects which were part of the Studio Setup; Vox FX, Space Effect and Flex FX. This doesn't change anything for customers who bought the Studio Setup. They will still be supported.

On Mac OS X these plugins used to be installed by dragging and dropping them into the Audio Unit folder and then the user would have to activate them by running a "registration tool". This procedure has been changed and the plugins are now installed using traditional installers which prompt for the user's name and code before the installer puts the plugin
in the correct folder. On Windows, the installers have been changed and the activation is carried out during the installation phase too, in a similar manner.

Finally, note that the Space Synthesizer manual has been updated.

Sonic Core is going to introduce its newest addition to the SCOPE product line at the upcoming MusikMesse show in Frankfurt (Hall 5.1, Stand D10). The SCOPE XITE-1 device combines DSP-based accelerated audio processors with a high-end audio interface. The external 19inch/1U rackmount unit is connected to a laptop via PCI-Express interface.

Using state-of-the-art SHARC signal processors allows for an increase of processing power by a factor of 10 compared to the older 14DSP SCOPE-Board.

A continuously developed low-latency technology allows the professional user to work with an agreeable, quasi-analog behaving audio platform. The flexible software environment includes a full range of plug-in audio devices: A selection of digital mixers, more than 50 audio effects, samplers and synthesizers in uncompromising sound quality. Additional compatible plug-ins developed by well-known third-party manufacturers continue to be available.

Planned to be released at the same time, the latest SCOPE software (Version 5) is intended to be available for Windows Vista, Windows XP and also Mac OS X. Scheduled release will be May 2008 at a retail price of 2698,- EUR excl. VAT (Introductory Price).

BIAS announces that Peak Pro 6 is now shipping. Peak Pro 6 is a major upgrade to this editing, processing, mastering and delivery software for Mac OS X. It offers many new features such as an enhanced playlist with advanced functionality including new cross-fade options and volume envelopes; new DSP sound design features; editing and delivery enhancements; user interface improvements; and much more.

Peak Pro 6 is available now for $599. Peak Pro XT 6 which includes Peak Pro 6, SoundSoap & SoundSoap Pro, Master Perfection Suite plus DDP 2.0 Export (new), will be
available for $1199. Note that upgrade and cross-grade are also available through BIAS web site.

Native Instruments has just released Kore Player, its free software instrument designed for use with Kore SoundPacks. KORE Player is now available for free directly from NI web site in VST, RTAS, AU and Standalone formats for Mac OSX and Windows. On top of that, four new KORE SoundPacks have also been released.

New libraries include :

- Massive Expansion Vol. 1 : contains 200 production-ready leads, basses and pad sounds based on the powerful Massive wavetable engine.
- Best of Absynth : with 200 soundscapes, pads and keyboard sounds from the library of Native Instruments' semi-modular synthesizer.
- Pop Drums : featuring studio-grade acoustic drum kits specifically engineered for pop productions, and equipped with an extensive collection of MIDI grooves.
- Kontakt Sax & Brass : a library of highly sophisticated trumpet, saxophone and trombone instruments, recorded by renowned sampling specialist Chris Hein and designed for Jazz, Funk, and R'n'B styles.

The new Kore Soundpacks are now available for download purchase on the NI website for a price of $59 / €49, with Pop Drums being priced at $79 / €69. For more information about KORE Player, please visit :

VertexDSP has released version 2.2 of MultiInspector, its FFT and 31-band spectral analyzer designed to be used in a multitrack environment.

Enhancements :

- The controls area on the right side can now be switched to a name panel. Every signal can be given a name to clarify the usage in a mix setup. The names are shared between all instances and are shown with selectors for the signal color.
- The memory switches can now be used in combination with the alt
- key to access a complete row with one mouse click, e.g. for storing all signals at the same time.
- Pause button added.
- Additional zoom buttons for setting the level range.
- The maximum peak hold time has been increased from 5 sec to 20 sec.
- New measurement tool: By clicking into the frequency display area the mouse cursor changes to a crosshair and shows the frequency and the level at the current position.

INFRASONIC, one of brands of SIMS audio (Samick Innovative Music System), releases and starts shipping its 2-in 4-out FireWire Audio Recording Interface, DEUX.

Key features :

- 2-in/4-out FireWire audio interface v
- 2 balanced inputs with 1/4 inch TRS phone jack — A/D converter: SNR 102 dBA @ (44.1 kHz)
- 4 balanced outputs with 1/4 inch TRS phone jack — D/A converter: SNR 106 dBA @ (44.1 kHz)
- Supports fully balanced I/O
- Supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz
- Small footprint with a heavy duty aluminum case
- 1 x FireWire (IEEE 1394a) port
- Bus-powered with 6-pin connector
- External power supply is available
- Supports zero latency direct hardware monitoring
- ASIO2.2, WDM, DirectSound and CoreAudio supports
- Windowsฎ XP/VISTA (32-bit and 64-bit) or later, Mac OS X (10.3 or later)
- Native Instruments ABSYNTH 4 DEMO, MASSIVE DEMO and TRAKTOR 3 DEMO software included

PreSonus has just announced that they will showcase the StudioLive 16.4.2 Digital Performance and Recording Mixer next week in Frankfurt.

Designed for both live performance and studio music production, StudioLive is a powerful and flexible sixteen-channel digital mixer loaded with sixteen high headroom XMAX microphone preamplifiers, built-in 22x18 FireWire recording and playback engine, "Fat Channel" processing with 4-band EQ's, compressors, limiters and gates, DSP effects, six aux buses, four sub-groups, extensive LED metering, talkback and much more.

Key Features :

- 16 inputs, 6 auxiliary mixes, 4 subgroups
- 16 class A XMAX microphone preamplifiers
- Hi-Definition analog to digital converters (118dB dynamic range)
- Unlimited headroom 32-bit floating point digital mixing an ...

Numerical Sound has announced the release of the Hollywood Impulse Responses (HIR), a collection of reverberation impulses inspired by the ambience of 20 major Hollywood blockbuster films released between 1977-2006. This selection of films was recorded in several famous recording studio's sound stages and symphony halls.

The impulses were designed to change the perceived timbre of an individual instrument, ensemble or even the entire orchestra. The user can now adjust the tone of a track by selecting the appropriate Dark, Warm, Flat, Clear or Bright impulse when mixing the wet signal in with the dry.
On top of that, 6 sets of RI's are high pass filtered at points of the frequency spectrum that match the range of acoustic instruments. These points are at the notes C2, G2, C3, G3, C4, and G4. According to Numerical Sound this instrument designed approach offer "much more sonic precision and clarity than any other currently available hardware or software reverberation".

The Hollywood Impulse Responses Package includes 2 CD Rom's, 1.1 Gig's in size, and is priced at $129.95 (MSRP).

Vienna Symphonic Library announces the release of seven Extended Libraries complementing its already existing Vienna Special Edition download products. All Special Edition modules including the PLUS libraries now offer additional instruments, available at Vienna's web shop as of today :

- Special Edition Strings — Extended Library
- Special Edition Strings PLUS — Extended Library
- Special Edition Woodwinds — Extended Library
- Special Edition Woodwinds PLUS — Extended Library
- Special Edition Brass — Extended Library
- Special Edition Brass Plus — Extended Library
- Special Edition Percussion & More — Extended Library