STUDIO

Legendary Audio releases The Masterpiece!

Legendary Audio releases The Masterpiece!

Legendary Audio announces the worldwide launch of its aptly-named Masterpiece analog mastering system. Conceived by veteran mastering engineer Billy Stull, with all circuitry designed by audio legend Rupert Neve, the Masterpiece is simply the most comprehensive and unique analog mastering processor available today.


Nearly three years in the making, the product is a 6U frame equipped with eight vertically-oriented filter modules that are reminiscent of vintage Neve designs. In the Masterpiece’s standard configuration, these modules are comprised of four stereo pairs collectively offering a wide palette of sonic amenities, including precision peak and shelving equalizers, a full-featured dynamics section, highly authentic tape texture (thanks to a real tape drive circuit), incremental phase rotation and various classic audio functions.


Although many of the modules’ topologies are based upon older designs, every circuit was meticulously updated to attain the highest modern specifications. “By reworking the ICs, transformers and such we’ve really coaxed a lovely sound out of this box,” says Neve. “In many respects, the Masterpiece reminds me of the famous consoles I made for George Martin in the late ’70s and I’m very pleased with the pristine audio quality we’ve managed to achieve with it.”

Wizoo announces Wizooverb W2

Wizoo announces Wizooverb W2

Wizoo announced Wizooverb W2, a brand new reverb plug-in, and they will be showing it for the first time at Musikmesse in Frankfurt next week. Also planned for release later this year is Wizooverb W5 which features 5.1 Surround, an FX section and 25 HDIR models. Both will be available for Windows and MacOS X in VST, AU, RTAS and Standalone versions.


The Wizooverb W2 “High-End True Stereo Room Emulator” includes 15 HDIR (High Definition Impulse Response) models providing acoustic fingerprints of excellent sounding rooms with a precision and clarity apparently only possible with this “ground breaking” technology. Wizoo claims that HDIR is the difference between ‘adding an effect’ and ‘putting your track into a real room’.

Tascam Forum song contest – win Tascam gear!

Sponsored by the TASCAM Forums (not affiliated with TASCAM or TEAC America), the Song Contest is a call to all amateur songwriters to submit their best material for a chance to win one of several prizes:

– A 2488 Digital Portastudio plus a VL-S21 Studio Monitor System or

– A DP-01FX Digital Portastudio

All prizes contributed by TASCAM.

Hercules DJ Console now powered by NI’s TRAKTOR

Hercules DJ Console now powered by NI’s TRAKTOR

The Hercules DJ Console combined with the specially optimized version of the TRAKTOR mixing software will transform any music lover into an aspiring DJ. Your computer and CDs or MP3s are all that is needed. The handy hardware console affords complete control of the tracks: spinning, scratching, cueing, looping or mixing – all the software’s functions are controlled directly from the mixer. And it even has an integrated USB audio interface.


Native Instruments has developed an optimized version of TRAKTOR DJ Studio especially for the Hercules console. This combination of hard and software, with dozens of professional features, offers a complete solution that is bound to rock the house.

Kjearhus Audio releases GAC-1

Kjearhus Audio releases GAC-1

The Golden Audio Channel has been launched by Kjearhus Audio. This plugin offers all the essential tracking effects in one. The GAC-1 includes all you need to make top-notch audio tracks and mixes. It features two equalizers, two compressors, a noise-gate and a de-esser.

M-Audio releases new Virtual Instruments

M-Audio releases new Virtual Instruments

M-Audio has released the first in its own brand of software as announced at the Winter NAMM. Key Rig, a virtual keyboard rack, and Drum and Bass Rig, a virtual bass and drums rack, are the first products of this own brand of software. Both products work in Mac and PC environments in either stand-alone mode or with most popular sequencing hosts.

Filterscape has now arrived on the PC!

Filterscape has now arrived on the PC!

Urs Heckmann: “I’m happy to announce that Filterscape has now arrived on the PC!
Well, it’s not fully perfect, but the beta team has given it a nod for stability and usability. Thus I have decided to make the latest beta version of Filterscape VST Win available for public download. This preview comes with the same features as the Mac version and runs in demo mode. But it will be further developed until the final release, i.e. in case of yet unknown bugs and in order to enhance the user experience even more.”

NI announces details of the KONTAKT 2 library

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS is excited to announce details on the library of the upcoming KONTAKT 2 software sampler. The factory library will set new standards in terms of sound quality and versatility, weighing in at more than 15 GByte and making extensive use of the new “Kontakt Script Processor” (KSP) for a wide range of advanced performance effects. A special version of the world-renowned VSL orchestra, a studio-quality Steinway Grand Piano, the innovative “Elektrik Guitar”, and a church organ sampled in 5.1 surround are
only some of the highlights of what will be the most powerful factory library of any sampler on the market.


The KONTAKT 2 library will include:

– a special version of the Vienna Symphonic Library (VSL) specifically made for KONTAKT 2, offering a full symphonic orchestra with supreme audio quality and playability. The VSL orchestra in KONTAKT 2 includes 30 instruments and takes advantage of the KSP engine for sophisticated performance effects including “Monophonic Legato” and “Repetition”

– a meticulously multi-sampled Steinway D Grand Piano that uses both the KSP engine and the integrated convolution engine to recreate the soundboard and sympathetic resonance of the sustain pedal samples

– an August Foerster Concert Piano with 10 velocity layers and a dedicated KSP module for control of release volume and sympathetic resonance

– the “Elektrik Guitar”, an extensively sampled electric guitar which goes beyond the limitations of conventionally sampled instruments by utilizing the KSP engine for realistic playing behaviour, including various strumming styles as well as authentic handling of ghost notes, harmonics and flageolets

– the “Akkord Guitar”, a KSP-based instrument that draws on a library of more than 3.500 acoustic guitar chord samples and allows for convenient creation of rhythmic guitar tracks due to an intelligent chord recognition mechanism

– a selection of church organs, including a massive cathedral organ sampled in full 5.1 surround for a truly overwhelming sonic experience

– a selection of electric pianos, including the Rhodes MK II from NIs acclaimed ELEKTRIK PIANO

– the “Automatic Harp”, a concert harp with unparalleled acoustic detail that enables extremely realistic glissandi and bisbigliandi thanks to a special KSP module

– a large assortment of tempo-synchronized loops from a huge variety of musical styles, taken in part from the Zero-G libraries “Altered States”, “Sound of the 70s” and “Total Drum & Bass”, all making extensive use of the KONTAKT 2 Time Machine and Beat Machine modes

– a library of high-quality surround effects, recorded with the SPL-Brauner Atmos 5.1 microphone system

– a wide selection of synthesizer sounds sampled from classic vintage analog and digital synthesizers, including a special modular synth bank designed by Kevin Lamb

– an extensive assortment of both electronic and acoustic drum kits and percussion sounds, taken in part from the BATTERY 2 library

– a selection of over 300 impulse responses, providing a wide variety of reverbs, filter, special effects and instrument resonances for the integrated convolution effect module.


For more information on the KONTAKT 2 library, please see ww.native-instruments.com/kontakt2lib.info

Ableton Live Lite 4 with every Pro Tools TDM and LE system

Ableton Live Lite 4 with every Pro Tools TDM and LE system

Digidesign is pleased to announce that Ableton Live Lite 4 Digidesign Edition will soon ship with every Digidesign® Pro Tools® TDM and LE system as part of the Music Production Enhancement Suite. Registered owners of the previous version of Ableton Live Digidesign Edition can download a free update to the new software version for a limited time from Ableton’s website at www.ableton.com/free-digidesign-update.


Live Lite 4 Digidesign Edition features some of the latest enhancements included in Ableton Live 4 software. Compared to the previously bundled Ableton Live Digidesign Edition, Live Lite 4 Digidesign Edition features new MIDI functionality, more precise control of volume, pitch and timing for audio, and offers a variety of audio and MIDI effects as well.

The plug-in formerly known as Finalis

The plug-in formerly known as Finalis

Elemental Audio Systems today announced a name change for its new peak limiter and the availability of updates for all of its commercial audio plug-ins. Formerly known as Finalis, Elemental Audio Systems’ limiting plug-in and newest product has been renamed Finis. The plug-in updates, released for Firium, Eqium, Neodynium, and Finis, address several issues and offer improved user experience and audio quality. All supported plug-in formats, including Digidesign RTAS, Steinberg VST, and Apple Audio Unit (AU), are affected by the updates. The new versions are free to all current, registered customers.

New Tannoy Reveal range announced

New Tannoy Reveal range announced

The new Tannoy Reveal range of near field monitoring speakers builds upon the success and recording industry reputation of the famous original Tannoy Reveal. When launched in the mid nineties, the Reveal was widely recognised as the product that defined the category, and has been the monitor of choice for thousands of amateur and professional recording facilities worldwide.