Mac and Music News

Drawmer has also announced the new Kickbox 4x4 which is an 'all terrain' 4 in/16 out mic/line signal splitter.

Inputs :
- 4 studio grade mic/line preamps
- independent input bargraph metering
- 66dB of variable gain
- 48V phantom power
- mic/line switching
- headphone listen facility

Outputs:
- 4 outputs per channel
- optional transformer isolation
- transformer loaded LED status
- isolation transformers In and Out

The Kickbox 4x4 can be configured as following : 1 In/ 16 Out, 2x1 In / 8 Out, 1 In / 12 Out and 1 In / 4 Out as well as 4x4 In / 4 Out.

Avaibility and pricing TBA.

Dynaudio Acoustics has just announced that the Air 12 monitor is now shipping. AIR12 is the latest addition to the AIR family, a wide range of networked studio monitors for stereo, 5.1 and up.

The 1.1" Softdome tweeter offers a 4mm die cast aluminum voice coil. To complement the lowest frequencies, the AIR 12 features an 8" woofer allowing an overall frequency range of 37Hz - 22kHz and up to an impressive 128dB peak SPL.

AIR 12 includes AIR monitor control with central remote control, preset storage and recall, calibrated levels, and integrated bass management.

Other significant features include internal precision EQs and delay lines (accessible from the dedicated Installers PC Package), which allow not only improved sound quality, but also more consistent speaker performance in different acoustic environments.

AIR 12 integrates into any AIR network and provides all the features and system conveniences from the extensive AIR range of networked studio monitors. The AIR 12 Master AD (2 ch. high definition analog inputs + 2 ch. AES/EBU inputs) and the AIR 12 Master D6 (6 ch. AES/EBU inputs) retail for €1750 each. The AIR 12 Slave active monitor with TC link input retails for €1450.

MOTU presents the V4HD, its new cross-platform HD FireWire video capture device. The V4HD provides all the same features as the V3HD along with additional new features, including support for full-raster ProRes workflow with Final Cut Pro.

The V4HD is available now at a retail price of $2750. For more information, please visit the link below :

Drawmer unveils a new unit : the S2 Signature Series Dual Channel Tube Compressor.

Features :

- 2 channel soft-knee tube compressor
- fully balanced internal signal path
- class A design
- isolation transformers In and Out
- 'All Tube' circuit design
- variable attack and release with optional 'Programme Dependent' auto release operation
- BIG : retains bass frequencies and minimizes undesirable 'pumping' by rolling off the detection signal at 75, 125 or 250Hz (user switchable). Afully variable level control allows for the desired amount of Big processing and an in/out switch provides the option to remove from the signal path for A/B comparison.
- BRIGHT : adynamic high frequency enhancer to keep compressed audio sounding fresh and bright with continuously variable frequency control (500Hz to 20kHz) and amount of dynamic enhancement.
- DRY : mixes user defined amount of 'uncompressed' signal with the compressed signal to create 'parallel compression effect' without the need for external mixing devices.
- dual mono or stereo link operation
- switchable 'Peak' or 'Vu' metering to display transients
- switchable +10dB or +20dB meter re-scale modes
- 8 segment gain reduction metering
- balanced XLR inputs/outputs

Avaibility and price TBA.

To celebrate the release of its new product (Tape Drum Machine Vol 1) Goldbaby has created a free sample pack called: TheTapeVeronaDRM.

Contains 142 x 24 bit samples of the Vermona DRM. Recorded on an Otari MX5050 1/4 inch tape machine... plus the original drum hits without any tape love as well.

Each drum sound has also been recorded multiple times for use in Round Robin Layering. This can help recreate the analog feel of the machine.

Today VirSyn releases a new plug-in : Bark - The Multiband Filter.

Bark takes the approach to match the reception characteristic of the final destination of all sound: the ear. The ear behaves as if it contains a bank of filters, each filter passing frequencies within the critical band. Two tones separated by more than a critical bandwidth are received by the ear independently. For this reason Bark contains a filter bank with 27 bandpass filters matching the critical bandwidth.

In fact, the human ear have also its own built in compression system which are based on the critical bands. Consequently Bark incorporates an independent compression algorithm for each of it's 27 bands.

Features :

- 27 Bark band Equalizer/Compressor
- Linear phase precision filters for maximal transparency
- +24 / -48 dB gain change rate per band
- Surround operation with channel link/unlink*
- Minimized latency ( 12 ms )
- Real time pre/post processing spectrum display
- Compression parameters overall and per band.

*only available for AU / RTAS / VST3 version.

Bark is available in VST, AU and RTAS versions for Mac OS X, VST and RTAS for Windows. From now till June 30st, 2008 you can buy Bark for €99.- instead of €169.-

Do you remember those curious things called AudioCubes ? Well, today Propellerhead has launched a new contest for Reason version 4 owner with first prize consisting in one set of Percussa's Audio Cubes + one Reason 15" Laptop Bag.

You're a Reason 4 owner ? Wanna enter this contest ? Please visit the link below :

XLN Audio has just announced the availability of a demo version of its "Complete Drum Production Studio" Addictive Drums.

The good news is that this demo version is a fully functional software which is not time limited ! You can load and save presets, get a taste of the Beats and Fills (Midi Library) and tweak away on the built in insert effects and reverbs etc. It includes some tasty presets that give you a good idea of what AD is capable off.

Limitations :

- Only 1 Kick, 1 snare, 1 Hihat and 1 Crash is provided.
- The real version ships with lots of different drums, cowbells and cymbals.
- A very limited "taste" of the rhythms in the AD Midi Library is provided.
- The real version has over 3000 Midi files.

QuikQuak has released Crowd Chamber, an audio plug-in that layers multiple variations of a signal to create a crowd simulation. Up to almost 2,000,000 layers can be produced enabling simple chorusing effects, small crowds and stadiums, on to impossible situations and effects.

When each voice is mixed, it is altered in varying time and spectral content, making unique versions of itself to create the illusion of different sources. This effect can be fed back onto itself to create many thousands of voices in real-time.

Once the concept had been created it became clear that Crowd Chamber could create far more than simple crowd scenes. Because of the feedback, wave cancellations, and, simply, the thousands of layers, it is the perfect tool for creating strange and twisted effects.
Crowd ...