PC and Music News

The SC800 Instrument Direct Box from Switchcraft converts the outputs of high impedance line level audio devices and musical instruments to low impedance, balanced and isolated mic level signals that can be connected to audio console's, mic pre's, effects processors, and other equipment with 3-Pin XLR inputs. The SC800 was developed with one goal in mind… to provide audio engineers and musicians with the highest quality passive direct box available today. Built by hand in Chicago, USA.

Features :

• Jensen Transformer
• Dual ¼" Thruputs
• All Metal Switchcraft ¼" I/O Jacks
• 20dB Pad
• Pin 1 Ground Lift
• Recessed I/O Panel
• Laser-Etched Product Labeling
• Rugged Extruded Aluminum Enclosure

Avid has unveiled version 6 of its music notation software Sibelius.

New Features :

• Magnetic Layout - designed to cut the writing time between the moment of inspiration and the final printed score -- all individual objects are positioned conventionally on the score where musicians expect to find them. The software automatically spaces and lays out scores to look professional and clear from the very first note. Previously, aligning individual score objects required time-consuming manual adjustments which now occur transparently to the user.

• Versions - enables educators to track student progress, spot plagiarism and promote collaboration. Students can record progress and submit creative commentary with their final coursework. Professionals now have a effective way to ...

Peavey has finally released an official RTAS version of its virtual guitar amp ReValver Mk III. Consumers who have purchased ReValver MKIII can download the RTAS upgrade now at :

NuGen Audio has announced the release of a free 'Stereo Techniques' tutorial video demonstrating methods for widening, enhancing, positioning and defining stereo and mono audio material, using the plug-ins included within their Stereo Pack.

This video is available on the NuGen Audio website at :

IZotope has just updated its audio restoration application / plug-in RX to version 1.20.

New Features :

• Support for markers in WAV and AIFF files in RX application.
• Manually edit noise profiles in Denoiser with envelope.
• Added visualization for Spectral Repair before/after regions in waveform/spectrogram display.
• Added visualization for Declipper thresholds in waveform/spectrogram display.
• Major optimizations to RX Denoiser Algorithms B and C.
• Added support for keyboard shortcuts which select a module's preset and apply that module. Useful for quickly switching between module settings (for example when using Spectral Repair repeatedly on large files).
• Declipper threshold can now extend below -8 dB by zooming the histogram window.
• Many performance improvements throughout all of RX's processing modules, especially when using RX plug-ins with small buffer sizes.

This update is free for all registered users.

Expert Sleepers has just released Little Spacey, a new delay plug-in for both Mac OS X and Windows.

Little Spacey is delay effect, inspired by classic analogue 'bucket brigade' delays but with refinements only possible in the digital arena - not to mention a maximum delay time that would cost a small fortune to realise in hardware. Great care has been taken to give Little Spacey the smooth, creamy sound which makes analogue delays still popular today.

In common with the best analogue delays Little Spacey allows you to modulate the delay time for chorus or vibrato effects. Unlike most analogue delays, Little Spacey is not restricted to mono operation, and works well in stereo or multi-channel (AU only) settings, offering variation of the effect between the channels for particularly rich and involving sounds.

Little Spacey is available now in VST and AU effect plug-in formats at a price of $29. For a limited time Expert Sleepers are running a special offer, giving customers the chance to get Little Spacey for just $5.