PC and Music News

FabFilter today announces the release of the successor of its famous virtual synth FabFilter Twin. Here is a short introduction to FabFilter Twin 2 by Gijs :

FabFilter Twin 2 is available for both Mac and PC in VST, RTAS and AU formats.

Yes it seems incredible but NVidia did it with the release of a new graphic card : the Quadro NVS 420. This card allows you to hook up to four screens on your favorite computer either for MAO or Film editing. This card features two GPU allowing to control four 30" screens with a resolution of 2560 x 1600.

In theory you can plug 4 cards in your favorite computer, you end up with 16 screens, enough to cover the walls of your bedroom ;o)

Twisted Lemon has released the fourth version of SideKick, its VST compressor with build-in side-chain.

Creating a side-chaining effect in most VST sequencers can be quite a hassle. The purpose of SideKick is to make this process a lot easier. You will be able to make a side-chaining setup just by loading two instances of the VST plug-in and linking them together by selecting one of the thirty-two built-in virtual buses.

Main changes since version 3 :

- 32 stereo virtual buses for side-chain routing.
- The virtual channels are upgraded to virtual buses, making it easier to create side-chain mixes. And thereby supports (virtually) unlimited instances of SideKick4.
- Ratio & gain control, Lifting the effect up from a gate effect to full compressor.
- Optional stereo-linking, by turning stereo-linking off you can create expressive stereo ducking & keying effects.
- Multiple audio input and output meters creating better transparency in the interface for side-chain routing.
- All parameters, including the side-chain routing can be automated and saved by the VST host. This ensures the side-chain routing will stay intact after saving and closing your project.

SideKick4 is available as a VST plug-in for Windows at a price of $18.99 / €14.99 / £12.99.

Rycote unveils the Mini Windjammers which are handheld audio recorder wind-protection. A MiniWindjammer is a lined fur cover designed to fit directly over the microphone or its foam gag, and will provide effective protection against wind noise.

Rycote currently manufacture custom-designed Miniwindjammers for the following recorders : Edirol R09, Marantz PMD620, Nagra Ares M, Zoom H4, Olympus LS10/20/30, Sony PCM D50, Tascam DR1 and Zoom H2.

Those funny little things are custom-designed and some are more complex than others so prices range from £14 to £29 including VAT.

Avlex Corporation, the name audio professionals turn to for world-class wireless technology and microphones, proudly introduces the new Superlux HD681 Semi-Open Professional Headphones.

With excellent frequency response and crystal clear detail, the Superlux HD681 dynamic headphones employ a semi-open design that enables one to monitor the audio source with breathtaking realism without being acoustically isolated. Key to the HD681's exceptional performance attributes are the large, 50mm dome type, neodymium diaphragms. Featuring a 10 Hz / 30 kHz frequency range and total harmonic distortion of less than 0.25%, the highly efficient HD681 headphones deliver wide dynamic range and enable one to listen for extended periods without experiencing ear fatigue.

Designed as classic "cans", the HD681's large, circumaural, padded vinyl earpieces envelope the listener for a remarkably comfortable experience. Further, the self-adjusting headband provides the listener with a great fit and these durable headphones can even be twisted for use in single ear monitoring. At just 8.3 ounces, the Superlux HD681 headphones are lightweight and can easily be worn for extended periods.

Shipped with a protective storage pouch, the Superlux HD681 carries an MSRP of $49.95.

PSP Audioware has just announced the release of PSP sQuad, a new bundle of four equalizer plug-ins inspired by the best features and characteristics of classic analog hardware-musicality and simplicity.

The four processors of PSP sQuad are PSP ClassicQ, a Neve-style EQ ; PSP ConsoleQ, an Amek-style EQ ; PSP preQursor and PSP RetroQ. These EQs are CPU efficient enough to be used at every stage of the creative process, from composition to tracking to final production/mixing/mastering.

The Processors in PSP sQuad have a number of features in common with each other, and with other PSP Audioware plug-ins :

- FAT double sampling. In the PSP sQuad bundle, unlike other PSP Audioware plug-ins, FAT is automatically switched on for low (below 50kHz) sample rates, and off for higher sample rates. This ensures the most accurate processing independent of the sample rate.
- 64-bit double precision floating point computations for ultra low accumulative errors in the filters.
- An optional second generation SAT(uration) option in the output of each plug-in. This both protects against digital clipping in software or hardware following the plug-in, and adds a smooth, overdriven sound to hard-driven signals. The SATuration algorithm is located after output level control in a plug-in's internal chain and its ceiling reference level is setup a fraction of dB below 0dBFS.
- All actual parameters like gain, frequency or Q may differ from displayed values which is a typical feature of analog equalizers.

PSP sQuad is available now in VST and RTAS formats for Windows ; AudioUnit, RTAS and VST for Mac OSX (UB). The introdutory price is $199 until February 14th. Note that a fully operational 14 days demo which doesn't require any hardware dongle is also available.