PSP Audioware has just announced the release of the successor to the PSP MixPack bundle. PSP MixPack2 not only updates both the usability and the processing algorithms of the original PSP MixPack plug-ins, but adds a new processor: PSP MixGate2.

PSP MixPack2 is a collection of five high-resolution, high quality audio processors designed to improve the quality of your digital audio tracks and mixes. It consists of: PSP MixBass2, PSP MixTreble2, PSP MixSaturator2, PSP MixPressor2 and PSP MixGate2.

The new PSP MixGate2 is described as an high precision noise gate. The gate is fully configurable and can operate fast enough for special effects (such as "stuttering audio") and smoothly enough to gate unwanted noise without sounding artificial. It includes both high and low pass filters so as to tailor the control signal. By filtering out unwanted frequencies, you can ensure that only the desired frequency can trigger the gate.

PSP MixPack2 is available for both Mac OSX and Windows at $199 in VST, AU and RTAS formats. Owners of the PSP MixPack can get the new plug-in at discounted price of $49.00 until May 1st, 2008. After this date the upgrade price will be increased up to $79.00. All users who bought PSP MixPack bundle on August 1st 2007 or later get the new PSP MixPack2 for free. Note that a full-featured 2 week demo version is also available.

After the beautiful Olga, Schwa has just released Oligarc, a collection of four virtual analog FX, tied together by a modulation nerve center that converts the input audio into control signals that can be routed to most of the effect knobs. Oligarc can be an LFO-driven filter, an envelope-controlled phaser, a gate-triggered saturation effect, or anything else you can think up, including mad combinations of linked modulation of multiple effects at once.

In addition, the Oligarc package contains standalone versions of the Drive, Phaser, and Chorus effects, for more traditional usage - although there's nothing traditional about these effects.

Oligarc is available in for Windows (VST) and Mac OS X (AU) and costs $60 (All hosts, commercial use license) / $40 (Reaper-only, non-commercial use license).

Mixosaurus has just announced the release of Kit A v1.1 which brings a huge usability improvements and significantly expands its range of possible applications:

"ECO" Instrument Patches:
These have lower RAM requirements and faster loading times (down to 1/7 of the full patches). They will work even on "average" computers, and all programming you do with them will be 100% compatible with the full patches.

MIDI Translations:
Built-in ability to understand and play MIDI tracks of all major MIDI drum formats: Addictive Drums, BFD, DFH, EZ Drummer, General MIDI. Also included are dedicated Translations for Roland's TD-3, TD-10 and TD-20, and for Ya ...

Today at NAB in Las Vegas, iZotope unveils the ANR-B Adaptive Realtime Noise Reduction Unit, bringing the company's renowned audio algorithm for adaptive noise reduction to a dedicated hardware unit for use in real-time broadcast applications.

ANR-B uses iZotope's advanced noise reduction technology to intelligently identify and suppress environmental broadband noise, hum, phone line artifacts and more. Unlike other noise reduction solutions, this unit actually detects noise in real-time and adapts to changing noise over time, allowing for automatic operation with little to no input required from the user.

Key Features:

- Automatically removes noise from audio in real-time
- Two channels can work independently or as a stereo pair
- Includes presets for specific scenarios
- Residual Noise switch lets user quickly preview the noise being removed
- Single knob controls noise suppression on each channel for fast operation
- Learn button allows for manual operation by capturing a noise profile
- PC/Mac interface for managing presets and designing advanced programs
- Remote control capability

ANR-B will be available in Summer of 2008 at a retail price of $4995.

Sonnox has just released the Mac OS X version of its new plug-in - Oxford SuprEsser.

The Oxford SuprEsser is both a very highly-featured professional De-Esser and a Dynamic EQ. There is a simple mode for quick fixes, but also an advanced mode for increased functionality and fine-tuning. The combination of an intuitive FFT display and three listen modes enables the user to easily see and hear exactly where the problem frequencies are, allowing the rapid reduction or removal of the offending audio. As well as being able to trigger the full band compression, only the offending frequencies can be carefully carved out. Since the SuprEsser can operate at all frequencies, 'plosives' and other annoyances can also be removed effortlessly, making it more than a simple De-Esser. Additional features include Automatic Level Tracking, Linear Phase Filtering and a Wet/Dry blend control for final balancing.

The Oxford SuprEsser is available for Mac OS X in VST, AU and RTAS formats at a retail price of £180 but if you purchase it before June 30th 2008 you will receive a 10% discount (£162). A 15-day demo version is available. Note that Windows version will follow in a few weeks.