PC and Music News

Fundamental Acoustic Research, aka FAR, will be demonstrating their XM range digitally controlled active monitors for the first time in North America at the AES Convention in San Francisco on Oct. 3-5 (Booth # 839, Moscone Center).

The XM range is a real 3-way active system which incorporates FAR's Center Acoustic Coherence (CAC) medium-tweeter assembly for amazingly stable and accurate sound stage. An LCD display plus a keyboard provides outstanding functionality such as the ability to network the speaker in 7.1 Surround Sound.

SPL will unveil a new monitor and headphone controller at the upcoming AES convention : the 2Control.

The entirely analog 2Control allows for connection and selection of two stereo sources, two stereo speaker sets and two headphones. It also feature a third mono speaker output which can be used to feed a subwoofer. Speaker volume is controlled by a central, massive volume potentiometer. Each headphone output is supplied by a separate amplifier stage and can be controlled individually.

A unique highlight is the analog Crossfeed control circuitry for headphone monitoring: it creates the frequency dependent interaural level differences between the stereo channels to generate a real speaker playback impression on headphones. This feature is derived from SPL's Phonitor. It enables the user the to reliably produce and mix audio on headphones especially when speaker monitoring conditions are suboptimal e.g. on tour or in homerecording environments.

The 2Control is expected for December 2008 at a retail price of €499.

Today Universal Audio has announced v5.1 of the UAD Powered Plug-Ins Software for the UAD DSP Platform which includes the new Moog Multimode Filter plug-in for UAD-1 exclusively endorsed and officially licensed by Moog Music Inc and developed by UA.

Moog Multimode Filter features :

* Classic Moog ladder-type 24dB/Oct (4-pole) & 12dB/Oct (2-pole) LPF/HPF/BPF
* Extreme distortion via 0/+20dB Input Gain, replicating MiniMoog external input
* Stunningly "analog"; Self-Oscillation, Smooth Saturation, Zero Artifacts/Quantization
* Enveloper Follower, Six LFO wave shapes, and DAW tempo synchronization
* Mono & Stereo processing with Spacing/Offset features from Voyager
* Includes Free low-DSP Multimode Filter "SE" version for high instance counts

The Moog Multimode Filter has an introductory price of $199 and is available as a fully functional 14-day demo in the v5.1 download. It will be available for UAD-2 in a future software release. UAD-2 owners who buy the Multimode Filter now for UAD-1 will get the UAD-2 version at no additional cost.

Learn more about the Moog Multimode Filter on 440tv...

Audio Damage has released Rough Rider, a free modern compressor plug-in with a bit of "vintage"-style bite and a uniquely warm sound. Perfect for adding compression effects to your drum buss, it also sounds great with synth bass, clean guitar, and backing vocals. Definitely not an all-purpose compressor, Rough Rider is at its best when used to add pump to rhythmic tracks.

Rough Rider is available now for Windows (VST) and Mac OS X (AU/VST).

Dave Smith Instruments unveils Mopho, a desktop monophonic analog synthesizer module based on the popular Prophet '08.

The voice architecture is identical to a single voice of the Prophet '08, but with a couple of unique twists to distinguish it from its sibling. Two sub-octave generators—one per oscillator— have been added for additional girth and crushing basses. Mopho also has an audio input that lets you process external audio and mix its own audio output back in pre-filter for feedback effects that can range from subtle distortion to extreme skronk. The Push It button is a manual trigger that lets you play a specific note or latch notes and sequences on. It can also step through a sequence to play short melodic lines without a keyboard. Of course, Mopho can also be used with a MIDI controller or external sequencer.

Mopho is fully programmable and all the parameters can be tweaked from the front panel. The four Assignable Parameters controls are assignable per program for optimum performance control. A free editor is available for Mac OS and Windows to facilitate programming. (And, if you already have a Prophet '08, most of Mopho's parameters can be controlled from the Prophet's front panel via MIDI!)

Mopho is shipping now and carries a suggested retail price of $439.00.

Discover Mopho through those 3 videos on 440tv !

Image-Line Software has released its latest synthesizer, Ogun. Named after the god of iron, Ogun is a synthesizer for creating real metallic sounds, although it's not limited to this genre. Its distinctive synthesis engine can generate more than 32,000 harmonics, modulated by 'harmonic mapping' functions, that hand tonal control directly to the user.

Features :

- Massive additive synthesis engine (up to 32,767 harmonics).
- Realistic metallic timbres through harmonic randomization or timbre analysis (resynthesis).
- Fast, precise tonal shaping through multipoint envelopes (of Sytrus fame).
- Advanced Unison engine.
- XY modulation pad for live expressive control.
- Effects: Filter, Chorus, Delay, Reverb and EQ
- Space-saving GUI.

Ogun is availabe now as a VSTi for Windows (XP/Vista) and costs $79. Note that audio examples are also available.