May 1, 2001 12:00 PM

WALDORF ATTACK

Steinberg (www.steinberg.de) announced Attack, a VST percussion synth by Waldorf. Attack generates sounds in real time, with direct control over all parameters. Each percussion set allows 24 sounds, spread across two octaves. Two oscillators, each with nine waveforms, represent the sources. Other features include ring modulation, frequency modulation and a Crack module that reproduces analog handclaps. The filter section features six filter types, resonance of up to self-oscillation and an overdrive of up to +52 dB. Attack is integrated into the VST 2.0 interface, so all parameters can be addressed via MIDI controller. Retail: $149.
Circle 339 on Product Info Card

AUDIOCUBE 5

Spectral (distributed by Sascom Marketing, www.sascom.com) introduces Version 5 of its AudioCube multichannel mastering and audio restoration solution. The base system includes a 24-channel audio card and eight channels of AES/EBU I/O, expandable to 16 or 24 channels with optional rackmount I/O modules. AudioCube 5 provides Native, Pentium-optimized software, running on dual 1GHz Pentium III processors, with 256 MB of RAM. The system, based on Windows 2000, includes Wavelab and Nuendo, both of which are fully integrated into the AudioCube 5 architecture. The system also features 29 24-bit/96kHz, 64/32-bit floating-point mastering, restoration and analytical tools. Surround software, such as Dolby AC3, can be added for DVD-A or other multichannel work.
Circle 340 on Product Info Card

KORG D1600 DIGITAL RECORDING STUDIO

Building on its previous 24-bit, 16-track workstations, the D1600 from Korg (www.korg.com) adds numerous updates for a portable, pro recording package. Features include 128 tracks (16 tracks with eight virtual tracks for each), a removeable media using standard IDE hard drives, a 20GB internal drive (31 hours at 24-bit/44.1 kHz), control of standard Copy/Paste/Erase edit functions via a TouchView waveform display, optional CD-R drive, 24-bit S/PDIF optical I/O, audio scrubbing, and built-in autochromatic tuner and PCM drum machine. Its 24-channel/8-bus mixer includes XLR balanced preamps (with phantom power), 3-band EQ with sweep mids, 192 onboard DSP effects and 100 scene memories for storing fader/panning and effects settings.
Circle 341 on Product Info Card

KOL SMARTCODE PRO ENCODERS

Kind of Loud (www.kindofloud.com) is now shipping its SmartCode Pro Dolby and DTS encoders. Both versions of SmartCode Pro are AudioSuite plug-ins that allow Pro Tools users to preview their 5.1 surround mixes in real-time 5.1, then encode and de-code the mix to create a 6-channel surround master. DTS-CD ($495) allows you to encode and burn a Red Book CD (using most desktop CD drives) for playback on most DTS-equipped home theater systems. The full version of SmartCode Pro DTS-DVD ($1,495) is intended for DVD authoring, which requires additional bit rates and includes SmartCode Pro/DTS-CD. SmartCode Pro Dolby is $795.
Circle 342 on Product Info Card

T-RACKS 24 VERSION 2.0

IK Multimedia announces Version 2.0 of T-RackS 24 (www.t-racks.com), a stand-alone software mastering suite for Mac and Windows that is physically modeled after analog gear. With Version 2.0, T-RackS is now 24-bit, reading and writing 24-bit .AIFF, .WAV and SD2 files. An enhanced multiband peak limiter algorithm and an output stage with soft-clipping shaper with pre and post levels allows for more loudness without using compression or limiting. The saturation shape is continuously variable from hard digital clipping to ultra-smooth, tape-like saturation. A new compressor ratio control makes the unit more flexible and musical, and T-RackS 24 now lets you adjust such “internal” settings such as the multiband limiter's single-band levels, thresholds or attack times; compressor sidechain low-frequency cutoff; and global internal patch routing and more. T-RackS 24 users will also be able to share these settings online through a new T-RackS pro-mastering Web forum. Other new features include eight new “vintage” skins, more than 50 presets and dongle-free operation. List $299: registered users can upgrade for free.
Circle 343 on Product Info Card

DIGIDESIGN CONTROL | 24

Now shipping, Control | 24 from Digidesign (www.digidesign.com) is an analog front-end and control surface for controlling Pro Tools. The system features 24 touch-sensitive moving faders, 16 Class-A Focusrite mic preamps, full 5.1 control room monitoring control and dedicated controls for accessing transport/editing and DSP functions. Retail: $7,995.
Circle 344 on Product Info Card

UPGRADES AND UPDATES

SADiE announced the immediate release of the AES31 standard for network and file transfer of digital audio. AES31 defines the source material alongside edited audio (including crossfades) that is text-based in the manner of a traditional EDL. The format is sample-accurate and supports multichannel files in excess of 99 channels, as well as interchange between PAL and NTSC formats. The format is also open and non-proprietary. Visit www.sadie.com… Access Music (www.access-music.de) released a new version of its Virus A software, supporting owners of this discontinued product. The release has bug fixes and new features such as analog boost, an enhanced arpeggiator, random pitch generator and Sound Categories, which scan Virus' memory for like sounds… Midiman is the new U.S. and UK distributor for Propellerheads. For more information, visit www.midiman.com… Spin-Audio introduces 3D Panner Studio, a plug-in for VST and DirectX that allows you to place your audio tracks in a 3-D space around your head and arrange them in a single window. Go to www.spinaudio.com for details… Emagic has licensed the POW-R algorithm for digital wordlength reduction. POW-R, short for Psychoacoustically Optimized Wordlength Reduction, converts longer wordlengths (up to 32 bits) to 16-bit format, while maintaining perceived dynamic efficiency and low noise… CD Cyclone Duplication (www.cdcyclone.com) announced its newest CD-RW product, the CDRevo FireWire drive with 16x burn capability. Retail price: $399… Cakewalk is now the distributor of Image-Line's FruityLoops 3.0. New features include a photo-realistic interface, support for DXI soft synths, DirectX audio effects and support for Windows 2000… Digigram (www.digigram.com) signed an agreement with AT&T to license AT&T's implementation of MPEG-2 AAC, for use in its multichannel audio codecs… PSP (www.pspaudioware.com) introduced the MixTreble, the fourth plug-in in the PSP MixPack: MixTreble offers four processing algorithms for removing hiss, processing transients, enhancing stereo and harmonics and switchable soft clipping.