PC and Music News

This year's AES show in San Francisco sees the launch of Focusrite's new multi-channel firewire audio interface, the Saffire PRO 40.

Features :

- Eight High Quality Focusrite Pre-amps
- High Quality 24-bit/96kHz Firewire Interface
- High Quality A-D / D-A Conversion and JetPLL jitter elimination technology
- Total I/O Count of 20 Inputs and 20 Outputs
- Unique Loop-Back facility for routing audio between software applications via Saffire PRO 40 Control.
- Suite of Focusrite VST/AU plug-ins (Compression, Reverb, Gating and EQ VST/AU plug-ins).
- Two separate headphone buses with independent level control available on the front panel.
- Saffire Pro 40 Control Zero-latency DSP Mixer/Router (18 x 16 DSP mixer).
- Unmatched routing flexibility. The user is able to route any input signal or DAW output, or a mix of both, to any of the 20 outputs.

Saffire Pro 40 will be shipping worldwide, October 2008. For pricing details, please contact your local Focusrite distributor.

Primacoustic unveils Machine Room.

Computers need to blow off steam in order to continue to function correctly, but this cathartic action results in lots of noise, fan noise in particular for computers. The Machine Room silences your computer while still allowing for proper convection cooling. Cool air intake at the bottom of the chamber allows heated air to rise to the top, where it is forced out by a variable-speed fan. That fan is sound-abated by a foam-lined manifold, and positioned at the rear of the enclosure for near silent operation.

The Machine Room is designed specifically to fit a Mac Pro Tower, but will fit anything smaller than 30" high, 16" wide and 24" deep. The Machine Room is available at a retail price of $650.

Analogue Tube unveils the AT-101, a faithful recreation of the original Fairchild 670 stereo limiter.

The AT-101 is built using traditional point-to-point wiring methods and standard turret component mounts. The audio path and power supply are completely free from any printed circuit boards. The AT-101 like the original Fairchild 670 has been assembled completely by hand and uses high quality modern components. The tube complement is exactly the same, using a new generation 6386 remote cut-off triode developed to replace the original 50 year old tube types many of which were used in the Fairchild 670.

Whilst most of the AT-101 is the same as the original there have been a few minor changes to the front panel and electronics, the Lateral/Vertical switch has been replaced with a Stereo Link switch, and a power supply alteration made allowing controlled heater voltage switch-on to help maintain the life of critical tubes on power up. A simple electronic traffic light system monitoring temperature has been added.

The AT-101 is available for £11,500 ex VAT ( $20350 / €14700 approx.). All production models come with a choice of front panel colours finished in enamel. Each unit is shipped with a fully protective foamed-out Peli road case with wheels as standard. There is a 6 week lead time.

Arturia has finally announced that their long-awaited first hardware synthesizer, the Origin, is now shipping.

"We are extremely proud to be shipping Origin", says Frédéric Brun, President of Arturia. "The project has taken much longer than we initially thought and, since we had announced the product early, Origin has been eagerly awaited by the market. In the end, taking more time has proven necessary to foster quality and details."

Origin is available now at a retail price of $3200 / €2490.

This year's AES show in San Francisco sees the launch of Focusrite's latest addition to their Liquid range. Liquid Mix HD delivers the power of Liquid Mix exclusively to the Pro Tools HD market.

Providing the same pool of classic EQ and Compressor emulations, Liquid Mix HD combines the sound of priceless and historically significant compressors and EQs with all the benefits of operating directly inside the Pro Tools HD environment. Over 60 instances can be used simultaneously on an HD 3 system, and thanks to Pro Tools HD's low latency environment, they can be used for both recording and mixing.

Liquid Mix HD will be shipping worldwide from October 2008. For pricing details, please contact your local Focusrite distributor.