Steinberg has just updated Cubase 5 to version 5.0.1. Here are just a few of the feature enhancements Cubase 5.0.1 has to offer.

Plug-in scanning at program start-up has been optimized. In the Plug-in Information window, a button "Update Plug-in Information" has been added which enables scans through all installed plug-ins and adds additional information about plug-in properties to the list.

In the Setup window of VST Expression, it is now possible to define up to two individual MIDI Control Change messages for a Sound Slot in the Output Mapping area. Each sound slot can be associated with a color. When working in the MIDI editors, such as the Key Editor, you can use the Color Scheme Selector in the Toolbar to colorize note events by Sound Slots.

In LoopMash, saving or deleting a scene can be aborted by clicking the empty space next to the Scene Pads. An "Empty" preset has been added to easily clear an entire LoopMash instance. LoopMash now also supports the AI Knob of the Steinberg CC121 controller.

Supports for the AI Knob of the Steinberg CC121 controller has also been added to Groove Agent ONE. The pads C1 – B4 also include additional automation parameters. The central display on the Play page now displays a polyphony counter.

The ASIO load of REVerence has been drastically decreased and the plug-in latency has been reduced from 2,048 to 256 samples. Please note that CPU performance depends on the length of the impulse response and the number of channels used, which should be considered when setting the ASIO buffer size.

Klark Teknik has launched the DN530 Creative Quad Gate, one of two new products in a brand new series. The DN530 provides four easy to use gates in a compact 1U format.

The DN530 boasts "Transient Accenting", a new creative feature providing an easy way to enhance the attack envelope beyond merely opening the gate. This can provide up to 12dB of additional transient energy and its primary application is to provide additional impact on drums and percussion instruments, although it can be used to enhance the impact of acoustic stringed instruments such as guitar and piano as well as other instruments. Uniquely, Transient Accenting allows the operator to control precisely the amount of enhancement added to each channel, and can be applied independently of the gating function.

Features :

- Quad channel gate
- Unique progressively controllable accent level that emphasises the initial transient of a signal to increase dynamic power
- Exponential gate attack to reduce signal loss at the start of sounds while remaining sonically transparent – no clicks
- Reverse exponential gate release to blend seamlessly with the natural decay of the programme
- Extremely low noise and distortion levels
- Advanced band pass side chain filter to increase trigger source discrimination
- Rotary controls for all envelope characteristics and variable range
- External key inputs and ducking facilities
- Easily identifiable bypass, solo and other major switches
- Roadworthy 1U chassis
- Balanced inputs and outputs
- Auto switching power supply

Pricing and availability TBA.

Eowave unveils the Persephone markII. The major improvement with the second version of this ribbon analogue synth is definitely the ribbon duophony. With this new Eowave ribbon and a new synthesis architecture, this is possible to play different sounds simulteaneously, to modulate one sound source with another while playing !

The Persephone markII will be available in June 2009 with price TBA.

Shure today announced the acquisition of Crowley and Tripp Ribbon Microphones from Soundwave Research Laboratories of Ashland, Massachusetts. Under a definitive agreement, Shure now owns all intellectual property, microphone process equipment, product designs, and other important assets related to the Crowley and Tripp line. Shure will manufacture ribbon microphones in its Wheeling, Illinois, facility using the revolutionary, patented Roswellite shape-memory acoustic ribbon material developed by Soundwave Research.

"Ribbon microphones have always been prized for their warm sound quality, but older designs are delicate, which has limited their applications," said Scott Sullivan, Shure's Senior Director of Global Product Management. "With the acquisition of the Crowley and Tripp product l ...

RNDigital Labs has just released Uniquel-izer 2. The new version of this EQ plug-in features a completely redesigned GUI and two new integrated audio spectrum analyzers : a FFT Spectrum Analyzer and a Spectrogram, borrowed from RNDigital Labs Inspector XL analysis plug-in.

Uniquel-izer 2 is available now for Mac OS X and Windows in VST, Audio Unit and RTAS plug-in formats for $249 and in TDM format for $299. Current owners of Uniquel-izer will be able to download Uniquel-izer 2 at no additional charge.