PC and Music News

Christian Knufinke Software has just released SIR2, a convolution reverb plug-in which is the commercial successor to the freeware SIR1. Offering zero-latency processing with low CPU-consumption and non-destructive audio processing of impulse responses, SIR2 includes high definition impulse responses (HDIR) of "real" places produced by Pinguin, Hamburg. You can also import impulse responses from free or commercial sources.

Features :

- Zero latency processing.
- Includes Pinguin's High Definition Impulse Responses.
- "True Stereo" processing (a stereo convolution takes place for every source channel (left + right)).
- High-quality internal sample rate converting.
- Separate dry/wet control (-60db .. +20dB).
- Auto-gain. ...

FabFilter has just released Pro-C, a new compressor plug-in offering three compressor styles (Clean, Classic and Opto), flexible routing and side-chain options, and various program dependent compression styles with an innovative user interface and animated level display making compression easy to grasp for everyone.

Features :

- Three different compressor styles
- Program dependent attack and release curves
- Super-fast attack times
- Soft- and hard knee option
- Zero latency, click-free 64-bit internal processing
- Auto Gain option
- Auto Release option
- Large input, output, and gain change meters with different scale settings
- Animated compression level display with customizable curves
- Active transfer function display
- External side chain
- 48 dB/oct HP and LP side ...

Zplane.development has announced the impending release of vielklang v1.1, its audio harmonization virtual instrument for easy generation of vocal or instrumental harmonies with up to four voices. It will be available in September for RTAS (Mac OS X, Windows), VST (Mac OS X, Windows) and Audio Units (Mac OS X) at a MSRP of $249.00/€179.00.

Apart from support for the RTAS interface, version 1.1 will include the following new features :

- Two-voice harmonization mode, generating only a second voice in a typical backing vocal style.
- Availability of 7th chords.
- Timing humanization control.
- Single note splitting and muting.
- Export to audio and MIDI for all plugin interfaces.

Blue Cat Audio has just released a new version of Blue Cat's Gain Suite, a freeware gain adjustment plugins package for Windows, including mono, stereo and mid/side DirectX and VST plugins. This new version allows you to link several instances together to achieve complex mixing and gain adjustment tasks, it also brings many new features such as undo/redo, presets import/export, and window opacity management. The plugins can be automated and controlled by MIDI with advanced response curve settings.

New features :

- Link several instances of the same plugin and control several plugins from a single user interface.
- Smooth Bypass: activate/deactivate the plugin with absolutely no noise.
- Undo/Redo.
- Load/Save presets in a host-independant format: you can now share presets between ...

The Musicrow Group has announced the release of PianoBoy, a new virtual piano in VST format. Based on Musicrow "SCS technology", PianoBoy offers a realistic acoustic piano using only 34 Mb of sample data. The SCS technology combines sampling, convolution and synthesis techniques, to provide a dynamic and natural instrument, without the need to use gigabytes of samples.

Features :

- "Realistic and sonically beautiful" piano.
- Extremely dynamic and responsive.
- 22 note polyphony.
- Simple user interface.
- Very modest memory and disk Requirements (loads quickly).

PianoBoy is available now for Windows in VST format and costs $69. Note that a demo version is also available.

Focusrite has unveiled its new ISA 828, an eight channel microphone pre-amplifier. It features eight original ISA transformer based pre amps (same as the original ISA110 module) in a single robust 2U chassis.

The pre-amps are complemented by eight line inputs, four instrument inputs and an optional eight channel 192kHz ADC. Thanks to its convenient 25 pin D-Type connectors, the ISA 828 also integrates quickly and seamlessly with ProTools HD, as well as other popular hard disk recorders and mixing desks. The microphone input stage includes a variable impedance circuit, allowing the user to switch between four carefully selected input impedance settings. The four front panel instrument inputs also feature high and low impedance options to provide a comprehensive and accessible DI solution ...