PC and Music News

SPL of Germany, well-known manufacturer of analog hardware processors, will present their first software plug-ins on the 125th AES Convention in San Francisco. The Transient Designer and a series of EQs mark the start for a new era in SPL's company history.

The Transient Designer and a set of three EQs (Vox Ranger, Bass Ranger and Full Ranger, based on the passive graphic equalizers of the SPL RackPack) will be available as RTAS, VST and AU versions. TDM versions are soon to follow. The new SPL Analog Code plug-ins debut at the Digidesign 3rd party booth POD 1810.

Elysia unveils its third product which will be a fully discrete and 100% class-A mode EQ called Museq. According to Elysia, the prototype already sounds killer... and that's all we know for now, you can only find images on their website.

The Elysia crew expect to be able to show a completely running already during the AES show in San Francisco.

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).