EQ

Harrison, a manufacturer of analog and digital consoles, has announced Mixbus, a Digital Audio Workstation for Mac OS X.

Mixbus is a virtual “analog console” integrated into a full-featured Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). It retails for $79.99.

Details below.

If you’ve used Harrison Mixbus, leave a comment! Read more…

In episode 3 of the Get To Know Your Gear series, the guys from Blorp Corp get to know/pimp the Universal Audio LA-610 Mk II Vacuum Tube Microphone/Instrument/Line Preamp.

NAMM Show News: iZotope announced Ozone 4. iZotope has updated and expanded Ozone’s processing algorithms, optimizing them for low-latency DAW environments.

Ozone 4 features a new Intelligent Loudness Maximizer mode, mid/side processing for superior control over the sound stage, hybrid crossovers, a re- designed interface and a completely updated preset manager featuring innovative MacroPresets. In addition, numerous interface improvements and ease-of-use additions make Ozone even more accessible to musicians who want to quickly finalize their projects, while also offering precise tools for professional engineers.

Ozone 4 ships January 30th, 2009 for $249 MSRP. Ozone 4 is distributed worldwide by M-Audio, and will also be available by direct download only. Customers who bought Ozone 3 after October 1, 2008 are eligible for a free upgrade to Ozone 4 when it is released. Existing Ozone 3 customers will be able to upgrade for only $79 USD. Read more…

2009 NAMM Show Update: Focusrite introduced its first collection of VST/AU plug-ins, the awesomely titled Focusrite Plug-in Suite.

The Focusrite Plug-in Suite offers a high-end collection of EQ, compression, reverb and gating VST/AU plug-ins for tracking and mixing:

• The Compressor and Gate have been modeled on Focusrite’s hardware devices, using the measurement of Focusrite’s custom optos to achieve a vintage optical sound. (Focusrite optos are tuned by ear, just like in the old days of analogue design, ensuring a faithful recreation of those classic vintage 1960s optical compressors.) The Gate also features multiple modes. It operates as a stereo gate and, in dual mono modes, one signal can be used to trigger the gate of another; ideal for a number of creative gating techniques, such as tightening up a bass line.
• The EQ module delivers a similar signature to the original Focusrite ISA EQ curves. Focusrite’s R&D team worked to create an authentic response across the entire audible frequency spectrum. The control layout also mirrors that of the original ISA EQ section; a classic six band EQ, with shelving high and low bands, parametric low mid and high mid bands, and low and high pass filters.
• The Reverb is based on classic algorithmic studio reverb designs. Simple controls let you edit room size, Pre-filter and ‘Air’.

The Focusrite Plug-in Suite will be available worldwide in January 2009.

Winter NAMM Show: McDSP has announced the new vintage Retro Pack plug-in line, featureing the 4020 Retro EQ, the 4030 Retro Compressor and the 4040 Retro Limiter:

• The 4020 Retro EQ is a four-band EQ and complimentary filter set. The HF and LF bands are shelving EQ, with two additional parametric EQs at the HMF and LMF bands.
• The 4030 Retro Compressor is a new dynamic range control topology coupled with a wet/dry mix control to balance compressed and uncompressed signals. An active attack and release design allows aggressive compression settings with minimal artifact generation.
• The 4040 Retro Limiter combines a look-ahead brick wall limiter function with several subjective treatments to make the limiting action subtle, and yet vintage.

Shipping in Spring 2009, the Retro Pack HD Bundle will be available for $995, and the Native Bundle will be available for $495. The McDSP HD line supports TDM, RTAS and Audiosuite formats and the Native line supports RTAS and Audiosuite formats.