QuikQuak has just released Pitchwheel v1.0, a real-time pitch changing plug-in.

Features :

- Changes the pitch but not the length of a sound.
- Large and easy to to use, ideal for experiments and live performances.
- Full range adjustments from one semitone to an octave up or down.
- Unique inertia parameters for springy vibrato effects.
- Sample accurate changes prevent stepped pitch changes.
- Phase locked for stereo sounds.
- Buffer size changes, allows quality adjustments for vocal or percussion.
- Great visual feed-back with semitone snap, and actual pitch indicator.
- Extremely low CPU.

Pitchwheel is available now in VST and AU formats for Mac OS X and Windows and it costs £15. Note that demo versions are available.

TC Electronic announces that the LM5 Loudness Radar Meter plug-in for ProTools|HD is now shipping. LM5 derives statistical information from the ITU-R BS.1770 standard to visualize instant loudness and loudness history, thereby helping engineers to realize the dynamic range at their disposal during production, and to predict the dynamic range restriction needed during distribution to various platforms. LM5 is suitable for use in broadcast, post production, film and music alike.

In the radar view, LM5 displays real-time loudness (LU or LFS) and true-peak level along with loudness history. The angular, color-coded display makes it easy for an editor to balance audio visually, and to see when level falls below or exceeds the end-listener's dynamic range tolerance. The true-peak level display even warns the operator when excessive peaks are at the risk of creating distortion in downstream equipment such as data reduction codecs or DA converters. LM5 enables easy and predictable level management across distribution and broadcast platforms with or without the use of metadata. In either case, the meter can help improve speech intelligibility and reduce level jumps on all platforms from MobileTV to HDTV using AAC or Dolby AC3.

LM5 is available now at a suggested retail price of €999.

Nady Systems has announced the introduction of their latest ribbon microphone : the RSM-8A. The new, neoclassic RSM-8A intends to provide the warmth and natural sound of a classic Nady large ribbon mic plus the higher gain of conventional studio microphones and the selectable features offered by proven ultra low-noise FET active circuitry and transformer output.

The RSM-8A has low-tension 50mm long, 2-micron thick aluminum ribbon (velocity) design for characteristic "large, mellow" ribbon audio reproduction with smooth, natural extended low and high ends. Other features include: Over 40db higher gain than most non-active ribbon microphones so easier to use with any mic mixer or preamp; -10dB pad and Low Cut filter selector switches for attenuation and elimination of stage rumble; unmatc ...

Schaack Audio Technologies has just released Transient Shaper v1.0 which is a dynamics plug-in that allows "shaping" of the Attack and Release phases of the sound with 2 knobs only. The effect ranges from gate-like to compressor-like. Transient Shaper is aimed to be used with percussion, but can also be used to process individual channels or loops.

Features :

- Makes your sound louder, gives it more expressiveness and more punch.
- Ideal for individual or summed drums/percussions shaping.
- Unique two-knob manipulation characteristics, not obtainable with any other type of gear.
- Gate replacement (sounds smoother than a gate).
- Processed sound ranges from gate-like to compression-like.
- Resizable GUI (minimized by clicking in top left corner).
- Low CPU Usage (typically less than 1% on half-decent systems).

Transient Shaper is available now as a VST plug-in for Windows and costs €49 (+VAT). Apple OS X AudioUnit version will be available before the end of February. Note that audio samples and a demo version are available at :

Ueberschall has just released Minimal Techno, its new Elastik Player-based sample loop library that accentuates the resourceful minimalist approach to synthetic club productions.

This 1.6 GB library is comprised of compacted/subtracted club grooves which capture the latest spectrum of sound frameworks used in the scene. Other highlights are devious sound anomalies and robust soundscapes. Minimal Techno offers the user 75 construction kits, 250 instrument loops, 75 drum kits and 234 knock-out one-shots.

Minimal Techno is available for Mac OS X and Windows in VST, AU and RTAS formats at a price of $119 / €99.

AZ Audio has announced the release of AZBrowser, a free VST plug-in which provides a .wav file browser directly in your favorite sequencer.

Features :

- Start on a user defined folder (popup menu to define).
- Unlimited favorite folders (popup menu to define).
- Preview while pressing left mouse button.
- Drop file support to sequencer, explorer, VSTi, etc.
- Config stored manually in an inifile.

AZBrowser is available now for Windows as a VST plug-in and it's free so enjoy !