PC and Music News

SM Pro Audio has exhibited several products at this NAMM show : the new HP6E multi-channel headphone amplifier, the PR8DS remote controllable multi-channel microphone preamplifier and their iNano passive volume control.

The HP6E is a high-quality, powerful, flexible, and reliable six (6) channel headphone amplifier housed in a sturdy 1RU 19" standard rack-mountable metal chassis.

Features :

-10 TRS inputs, 5 stereo channels
- 6 class A headphone amplifiers
- Auto sensing switch mode power supply
- Built in flash memory for last state memory recall
- Mix control for each amplifier output
- Nominal output @ 32Ohm 600mw per channel
- Frequency response @100mw output 20Hz-20kHz +- 0.3 dB
- THD @300mw less then 0.02%


The PR8DS is a professional multi-channel p ...

Sonic Timeworks announces the 4081L Digital Reverberator which is a reverb plug-in describe as "super intuitive".

Features :

- World class reverbs Easy to use, yet extremely powerful
- SMP(symmetric multiprocessor) Optimized Digital Reverberation
- Real-time previews
- Supports VST/Pro Tools Automation
- Silky smooth reverbs
- Equalization controls
- Use it like you would use any hardware unit
- Complete with digital in/out level metering
- 64 bit floating calculations (internal)
- 32 bit in/out (external)
- Supports sample rates over 192kHz

Available at a fee of $149 for PC and Mac users, whether you are using VST, DirectX, or Pro Tools, a demo is available online at the Sonic Timeworks website.

Universal Audio today announced new plug-in partners and forthcoming additions to the UAD DSP Platform for Mac and PC. Valley People, Sound Performance Lab and Empirical Labs (Fatso plug-in mid-late 2008 !) join Roland and Neve as the latest companies to sign licensing deals with UA to develop future plug-ins.

UA also announced improved 2008 world-wide retail pricing on select UAD products. The following UAD bundles now offer even greater per plug-in value:

UAD-1 Ultra PAK (PCI) moves from US$1199 to US$999 street price
UAD-1e Expert PAK (PCIe) moves from US$999 to US$749 street price.

Steinberg has also announced a new lighten version of Cubase 4 called Cubase Essential 4.

Features :

• 64 audio tracks, unlimited MIDI tracks, 44 included VST3 and MIDI plug-ins, 16 VST instrument slots, full latency compensation
• Integrated HALionOne sampling instrument with over 100 playable instruments including waves from the Yamaha Motif synthesizer
• Built-in Amp Simulator for instant guitar recording with 14 amps and 10 speaker simulations with a new, easy-to-use interface
• AudioWarp real-time time stretching and pitch shifting with formant correction for natural-sounding transposition and full tempo matching
• Arranger Track with pattern-based arranging tools stores up to 16 different arrangements for on-the-fly reordering of song sections, expe ...

Steinberg is pleased to announce the release of the Software Development Kit (SDK) for VST3, the latest generation of its VST platform. VST3 offers new capabilities to developers of host applications, audio plug-ins and virtual instruments.

Already implemented in Steinberg's Cubase and Nuendo product ranges, VST3 offers a range of new features and advantages over other standards.

• Enhanced CPU efficiency: unique silence detection feature automatically switches off the plug-in if no audio signal is being received
• Multiple Dynamic I/Os: VST3 plug-ins are fully surround-capable, and can be configured to receive from and output to any I/O configuration, including any surround format
• Dynamic Bus Management: VST3 plug-in output busses can be reassigned at any time, st ...

Pro Tools Music Creation Studio
Digidesign and M-Audio have joined together to create a limited-edition package. The bundle features an Mbox 2 Factory audio/MIDI production system, M-Audio Nova microphone, M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI keyboard controller, M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 monitors, Structure LE advanced sample player plug-in, Velvet vintage electric pianos plug-in, and all required cables.

Pro Tools Personal Studio
For the singer/songwriter or individual musician, Digidesign and M-Audio have also created a special limited-edition studio package that features the ultra-compact Mbox 2 Mini audio system, M-Audio Nova microphone, M-Audio Studiophile AV 40 monitors, Structure LE advanced sample player plug-in, an iLok USB Smart Key, and all required cables.