Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

Looks Like iZotope is starting to develop and release TDM versions of their plugin lines.  I’m not sure how many of our readers are using Pro Tools HD systems, but as a big fan of iZotope software in general I figured I’d post.  The IRC Loudness Maximizer sounds like a Loudness Wars A-bomb, but it’s actually a decent sounding limiter … if you’re not using it to cut your audience’s head off with harshness.

AES – New York, Booth #427 (October 9, 2009) – iZotope, Inc. has announced plans to release a new line of
Digidesign® Pro Tools® TDM plug-ins starting with their highly regarded IRC™ Limiter in early 2010. These
products are another addition to iZotope’s growing Pro Audio retail product line.

Full Press Release after the Break:

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Harrison – maker of fantastic analog and digital consoles – has released it’s own take on the DAW, which begs the question Who cares?

But what makes this particular workstation unique is it’s design philosophy.  Mixbus was built as a customized version of Ardour, and re-introduces engineers to something simultaneously frustrating and inspiring: Limitations.

Harrison gives us a DAW that mimics an analog console.  They call it a “knob per function” design, which basically means each knob does one thing and only one thing. There’s also only four stereo mix buses for grouping and effects, which seems like a pain, but it’s a blessing in disguise.  How many times have you been asked to put 20 different kinds of verb on a single track? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to honestly say “I can’t do that?”

The other and perhaps most important benefit of having a limited DAW is the way limitations force you to get creative and thoughtful with your mixing. Choosing a reverb becomes an important decision when you’ve only got space for one.

Here’s a list of details from the Harrison Site:

Mixbus Features:

• Straightforward “knob per function” mixer layout based on Harrison’s renowned 32-series and MR-series music consoles.
• Precision DSP algorithms for EQ, Filter, Compression, Analog Tape Saturation, and Summing based on Harrison’s world-renowned large format analog and digital mixing consoles.
• Unlimited stereo or mono input channels (based on available CPU power) featuring High-pass Filter, EQ, Compression, and 4 Mix Bus sends on every channel.
• 4 Stereo Mix Buses (can be used for groups or auxes) featuring Tone controls, Compression, Sidechaining, and Analog Tape Saturation.
• Stereo Master Bus that features Tone controls, Analog Tape Saturation, K-meter, and Limiting to help you make polished mixes.
• Plugin delay compensation to support effects such as parallel compression.
• Comprehensive “at-a-glance” metering with peak, peak hold, and compressor gain reduction visible on every track and bus.
• Extensive DAW features via the Ardour Digital Audio Workstation.
• Supports AudioUnit plugins and any CoreAudio interface.
  

This Daw looks awesome, and for $80 – it’s worth a shot if you’re trying to make the jump from analog console to DAW.

iZotope has has released a new plugin for your toolbox – Alloy.  I haven’t gotten any hands-on time with it yet, but it appears to be a unique and versatile channel strip plugin – giving you EQ, Compression, Transient Shaping, De-Essing and Spectral Exciting all in one plug. Each function is laid out in different panes you can access by selecting a different function tab at the bottom.

Full Press Release after the Break.

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Nomad Factory which makes a bunch of decent sounding plugins and emulations of tube gear has announced the new Pulse-Tec EQ.  It’s basically  two rack emulations plus a stereo pre-amp with on/off limiter.  The two EQ’s are emulations of the Pultec Mid-range Equalizer MEQ-5 and the Stereo Program Equalizer EQP-1A.  It’s definitely a beautifully rendered plugin, and if they can achieve the sound of Pultec EQ’s they just might be worth the money.

Available in AU, RTAS and VST via DontCrac[k]

Press Release after the break if you’re interested.

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So Ben and I got our emails for beta testing of Melodyne Editor. We can’t say much about it, but so far everything seems great.  We’re excited to be able to tell you more about it, whenever Celemony allows us to.

Oh Yeah and 3-Part Video Intro!

From Press Release:

Celemony begins beta testing Melodyne editor
Haste makes waste, some say, so it took a while – but from today, Sept 17th, 2009, all registered Melodyne users are welcome to participate in the beta testing of Melodyne editor

Celemony Software GmbH/Munich, Sept. 17th, 2009 (ictw) – Celemony Software GmbH today is pleased to invite all registered Melodyne users to participate in the beta testing of Melodyne editor, the first Melodyne product featuring the Melodyne DNA technology. The sales launch is scheduled for the beginning of November and the price will be USD 349 or Euro 349.

It’s been a long wait but finally all registered Melodyne customers are able to try out Melodyne editor as part of a public beta test. The beta installer is up on the Celemony server waiting to be downloaded and used to change music recordings in a way that has never been possible before.

Melodyne editor represents, in terms both of functionality and technology the latest Melodyne generation and features all the fully mature and proven editing functions which are familiar already from previous editions of Melodyne. Through the integration of DNA, however, even the harmonies in an audio file can be made visible, accessible and malleable – note by note. Users can literally intervene in the chords of their recordings and alter individual notes with them. The implications for the correction and refashioning of audio are simply sensational.

Melodyne editor is designed for the editing of recordings of individual instruments, for example vocals, guitar, saxophone or piano, but good results can be obtained even with complex material such as string quartets. Users can alter the pitch, position and duration of the detected notes, make them louder or softer, copy or cut them and paste them into new locations, and so on. In addition, characteristics such as the formant spectra, vibrato and pitch drift of notes can be modified, as can the pitch, amplitude and formant transitions between notes.

Furthermore, special copying functions make it possible to impress selected attributes of one note upon another.
Whilst Melodyne editor, in terms of intuitive access, musicality and sound quality, stands squarely in the great Melodyne tradition, its technical foundations are completely new. The new software basis offers among things optimized multi-threading of which modern multi-core processors can take full advantage. It also allows many improvements in plug-in operation including a freely definable window size, auditioning during pitch editing, scrubbing and “Edit Play” – playback uncoupled from the host.

The beta test is aimed at all registered Melodyne customers. The sales launch in music dealers and the Celemony Web Shop is planned for the beginning of November; the price will be 349 US$ or 349 €.
For more information, visit www.celemony.com