Waldorf has just announced the release of Largo, a virtual instrument offering the same powerful synthesizer engine as found in the Waldorf Q-, MicroQ- and Blofeld-synthesizers.

Largo offers three fat oscillators, two of them with sub oscillators. These oscillators include models of classic analog waveforms as well as a selection of waves from the PPG and Waldorf Wave stored in two Wavetables. All these run through two Waldorf multimode filters with steep cutoff, resonance up to self-oscillation and a drive stage to add even more punch and grainyness to the sound. Ultra-fast envelope generators and flexible LFOs as well as an easy to understand, yet extremely versatile modulation matrix make for a sound designer's dream.

Largo contains a flexible arpeggiator with 16 freely programm ...

Waves introduces the Grand Masters Collection, an all-inclusive set of mastering tools. Featuring the complete original Masters bundle (L2 Ultramaximizer, Linear Phase Equalizer, Linear Phase Multiband Compressor), the Grand Masters Collection adds ten new plug-ins :

• MaxxVolume
• PuigTec EQP-1A
• PuigTec MEQ-5
• Waves Dorrough Meters
• Stereo Edition
• Waves Center
• L3-16 Multimaximizer
• L3 Ultramaximizer
• L3 Multimaximizer
• L3-LL Ultramaximizer
• L3-LL Multimaximizer

Waves Grand Masters Collection is available for both Mac OS X and Windows in Native (VST/AU/RTAS) ($2,200) and TDM ($4,200) formats, it requires iLok authorization. Upgrades are available. All purchases and upgrades include one full year of Waves Update Plan coverage.

The Edirol R-44 is a compact and lightweight recorder that offers quiet and reliable SD/SDHC recordings. It has up to four channels of uncompressed audio available at selectable 16- or 24-bit depths and between 44.1kHz and 192kHz (stereo mode only). Broadcast wave is also supported and two R-44s can be synced together to offer up to 8-channel recording for surround sound applications.

The latest update takes the R-44's software to v1.05 and enables users to add effects in Pre Record mode, and also includes updates for the BWF (Broadcast Wave File) marker format, notable with previously recorded data. Other improvements include quicker shutdown times in some modes with SD cards, and a smoother overall workflow helped by minor bug fixes.

AM Music Technology has just released the Mac OS X version of Pro SoloVst, a virtual instrument that reproduces the monophonic analog synthesizer from the early 1970s, the ARP Pro Soloist.

The sound engine of the Pro SoloVst is a software emulation of the real analog algorithms implemented inside the original instrument : VCO, resonators, filters, VCF, VCA and analog effects. So you can hear and feel analog-like warm sounds coming out from a set of 30 voices corresponding to the presets of the synthesizer.

Pro SoloVst is available for Windows (VST) and now also for Mac OS X (AU) at a price of €24.99.

Yesterday at the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple has revamped nearly its entire laptop line. The 13-inch MacBook has turned into a MacBook Pro, and Apple pushed out revised versions of the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models. Besides the classic faster CPU and bigger hard drive, here are the details that caught our attention :

• a FireWire 800 port is now available for all models
• no more separate input on the 13" MacBook Pro
• a 7-hour non-removable battery for the entire range
• ExpressCard slot only available on the 17" MacBook Pro
• SD slot for the entire range (except on the 17")
• price drop up to $300 depending on the model

For more information, please visit :
New MacBook Pro