Universal Audio today announced the release of UAD V 5.3. This new firmware for the UAD DSP cards includes three new plug-ins : the UAD 4K Channel Strip, the UAD 4K Buss Compressor and the Cooper Time Cube MkII.

The UAD 4K Channel Strip is an exacting circuit emulation of the SSL 4000 G+, complete with the Type E "black knob" four-band EQ widely held to be the favorite in SSL's console lineage. The companion UAD 4K Buss Compressor, with its simple control set and transparent compression characteristics, faithfully models the 4000 G+ buss compressor. The UAD 4K Channel Strip sells for $249, while the UAD 4K Buss Compressor is available for $199. Each of the UAD 4K plug-ins includes a 14-day fully functional demo and is now available for purchase to UAD-1 and UAD-2 owners.

The original Cooper Time Cube was a Duane Cooper and Bill Putnam collaborative design that brought a garden hose-based mechanical delay to the world in 1971. Since then the Cooper Time Cube has achieved cult status as one of the most unique delay lines ever made. The Cooper Time Cube is famous for its spectacular short delay and doubling effects and its renowned ability to sit perfectly in the mix. Over the years this quirky device has grown a strong following and finds a home in the most prestigious studios in the world, such as Blackbird and Sunset Sound. The Cooper Time Cube MkII is a feature-enhanced evolution on the original delay system design. While the plug-in retains the all-important mechanical delay sound of the original hardware, it goes much further by offering all the necessary features expected from a modern delay device: Delay, Decay, Pan and Volume controls plus Tempo Sync and Automation for each of the two independent delay lines. The Cooper Time Cube Mk II includes a 14-day fully functional demo and is now available for purchase to UAD-2 owners for $149.

Discover those new plug-ins on 440tv !

At this year's Winter Namm show, Spectrasonics announced and previewed their brand new virtual instrument 'Trilian', the long awaited successor to their Trilogy bass module.

The recording for Trilian is now complete and, according to Spectrasonics' Creative Director, Eric Persing, the quality and expression of the new sounds they've captured is even better than they had originally planned !

Spectrasonics have also added some new features to the software, which will make a big difference for the end users and, as such, a little more editing and testing time than originally expected is needed to complete the release.

We can therefore confirm that the official release date for Trilian will now be 29th June 2009.

In the meantime, don't forget there will be a special free upgrade offer for Trilogy customers on the Intel-Mac platform and for customers who purchase Trilogy in 2009.

Devine Machine has updated its Frame Synthesis based instrument Krishna Synth to version 1.5.

Frame Synthesis is and exclusive technology from Devine Machine that let you analyse a sound sample to obtain a special « movie » file that Krishna Synth will use as an oscillator. This process, the tools provided and the modulation possibilities can create sonic textures that you won't get from any other synthesis.

A full set of graphic tools let you edit that file frame per frame. Classical analogue oscillators and filters as well as a complete FX chain are also provided to enhance possibilities.

Krishna Synth 1.5 audio engine has been completely rebuilt from scratch to improve reliability and cpu usage, and some new features have been implemented :

- LFO and ADSR destinations extended to all parameters (including LFO to LFO)
- 'Snap to harmonics' option for the filter : each note will instantiate a filter to resonate to its own harmonic.
- Faster preset loading
- VST, RTAS, AU and Standalone availability for both MAC and PC

Krishna Synth costs 199€, the update is free for all registered customers. A fully functional demo is also available.

Learn more...

Doepfer is about to introduce a new monophonic stand-alone Synthesizer with USB and Midi interface : Dark Energy. 100% analog, only the USB and Midi interface contains digital components.

Dark Energy is built into a black metal case with wooden side plates. Potentiometers with metal shafts are used and each potentiometers is fixed to the case (no wobbly shafts and knobs). The distance between the controls is a bit wider compared to A-100 modules and knobs with vintage look are used.

Dark Energy is also available as module A-111-5 for usage within the the modular system A-100. The only differences are the missing power supply and USB/Midi interface and the module uses the standard distances between the controls. The VCO frequency CV input (1V/octave) and the Gate input are normalled to the corresponding signals of the A-100 bus via jumpers. The jumpers can be used to interrupt the internal bus connections.

Dark Energy will be available on June 2009 at a price of €400.

EarMaster ApS releases a lighter version of its ear training software EarMaster 5.

EarMaster Essential 5 offers the core features of EarMaster Pro and represents a valuable alternative for musicians and music students on a tight budget, yet not willing to give in to low-end instructional material. Like its bigger brothers EarMaster Pro and EarMaster School, EarMaster Essential is available in 21 languages for both Mac OS X and Windows. The official introduction of the program will take place at the 2009 Frankfurt Musik Messe on the booth of EarMaster's German distributor Klemm Music Technology.

Central features :

· 139 progressive lessons from classical music to rock, including a set of Jazz lessons.
· 4 exercise areas to learn how to identify transcribe and play intervals, chords, and rhythms.
· User-defined on-screen interfaces: staff, multiple-choice, piano, guitar, bass, violin, cello, and more.
· Interactive answering methods: MIDI instrument, microphone, plugged-in instrument, or the computer keyboard and the mouse.
· Detailed statistics.
· A customized mode to target specific elements of practice, etc.

Suggested retail price: US$/€ 29.95