PreSonus has just announced that they are now shipping their brand new Studio Channel, a channnel strip which combines a tube-based, Class A mic/instrument preamplifier, a VCA-based compressor and a three-band parametric equalizer.

Features :

- Class A vacuum tube microphone / instrument preamplifier
- Tube gain and tube drive
- Variable VCA compressor (threshold, ratio, attack, release, make up gain, auto, soft)
- Three-band parametric EQ
- Precision analog VU meter for gain reduction and output
- EQ Pre/Post compressor switch
- 80Hz high pass filter
- 20dB pad
- Phase invert
- Rugged metal chassis
- High headroom
- Ultra low noise design

The Studio Channel is available now and is priced at MSRP $359 (street price $299).

Expert Sleepers has just released Augustus Loop v2.0 which is a major update to the tape echo/looping plug-in.

Features :

- Augustus Loop's GUI is now fully skinnable and scriptable.
- MIDI behaviour is now scriptable.
- VST version now receives MIDI.
- Added Record Offset feature.
- Added waveform display.
- The 'Max Delay Time' parameter now has a smaller minimum value (1.0 seconds) and is not rounded to the nearest 10 seconds.
- Added Tape Read Mode parameter.
- The Freeze Loop function is much improved.
- A small crossfade is now applied when activating Clear Loop, and when Clear Loop ends.
- The Input Level parameter is now protected against sudden changes, which previously could result in audio artefacts. In particular this makes the Punch In/Out features more usable.
- A small crossfade is now applied when activating Tap Record.
- Added a new mode for the Freeze Loop function, "Freeze Current".
- Added OSC support.
- Added 'Sync Group' feature.
- Added new 'Tape Sim' section.
- Added factory presets.
- Fixed a bug that could cause Digital Mode to not engage correctly.

Augustus Loop v2.0 is available now for Mac (AU/VST) and PC (VST). It costs $49 and a registration allows you to install the plug-in on up to three computers at once. v2.0 is a $20 upgrade from v1.5 or higher; it is a $29 upgrade from previous versions.

Schoeps unveils the MK 22 microphone capsule which features a new kind of directional pattern: "Open Cardioid".

The MK 22 has been developed for use as a spot microphone. It unites the strengths of the MK 4 and MK 21 capsules. Its directionality is only slightly less than that of the MK 4 cardioid, while its sonic character is reminiscent of the MK 21 wide cardioid. Its directivity is essentially constant throughout the frequency range. Its inherent low-frequency response is somewhat more pronounced than that of the cardioid, while proximity effect is somewhat less.

The "Open Cardioid" directional pattern, occupying a point on the spectrum between the wide cardioid and classic cardioid patterns, was developed by SCHOEPSin 2008. The response is -5 dB at 90° and there is 16 dB suppression of rear-incident sound. It is in essence a variant cardioid which balances a very natural sound quality with a good degree of directionality.

Black Lion Audio has released the Auteur Mic Preamp, a new 2 channel microphone preamp. What makes this preamp so special ? In their own words :

"For one, it's a design that's somewhat unique in its approach. Being admirers of the fully balanced transformer-less circuits found in many of the great recording consoles, we chose to use a similar topology. We began with a high speed input stage that would pick up lots of detail and nuance, and then followed it with a high current output stage. Circuit headroom is plentiful, and the input stage is very difficult to clip. Because of its fully balanced design, it can handle input signals as large as +15dB with ease.

We also like classic transformer-based designs because of the characteristic they lend to the audio signal. Because of this, ...

SM Pro Audio announces the V-Machine, a compact VST/VSTi hardware playback module built for performance keyboard players and DJ's. It is one little beast that cannot be underestimated once loaded up with your favorite VST instrument and effect plug-ins.

Take your plug-ins on the road or into the studio and access them live without a computer. Multiple plug-ins can be pre-loaded into bank/preset memories for immediate access. Combine VST and VSTi plug-ins into chains, splits, and layers to create extremely rich and unique sounds. Full external MIDI controller support allows users access to available loaded plug-in parameter controls such as virtual dials, switches, and faders.

Features :

- External hardware host for Windows plugins (VST instruments and effects)
- Banks, presets (incl. chaining, layering, splitting) can be edited with the V-Machine or the host software
- Create synth layers and chain them with effects
- Connect nearly every MIDI-Controller to the V-Machine
- Multiple VSTi's can be combined
- MIDI learn functions included
- All effect and synth chains can be switched latency free
- USB-Ports for copy protection dongles
- Use software samplers and stream its content from any USB drive
- sensor to adjust the display's contrast automatically
- control configuration software compatible with Windows, Mac OS X and Linux (future support)

Pricing and availability TBA.