Sonalksis has announced the release of the SV-315 stereo Compressor/Limiter, an analogue-modelled dynamics processor developed for professional audio applications. This plugin is available in Audio Unit and in VST format for mac OS 9 and Mac OS X. The RTAS support si coming soon. The Sonalksis SV-315 Compressor/Limiter is available on line for EUR 209.99.

Ed: That's US$239 each, $399 for the bundle, EUR349. The plugin uses all physical modeling for the analog processing. -PK

Interesting Freeware on Mac OS 9 for recording and copying audio and tempo-synced loops. A lot of interesting features: record, edit, and apply VST to loops. It's a useful application dedicated to exporting audio files to other apps.

Ed: Great software if you're on a budget, perfect for loading up on that OS 9 machine. And we can hope for an OS X version -- looks like the software was developed in Max/MSP. Product page is French-only, Anglophones. -PK

At the NAMM 04, Tascam announced the release (expected April) of the US2400, a 24 track DAW controler. The US2400 should allow 192 channels and will be equipped with 25 touch-sensitive moving channel faders, 24 encoders (control pan, aux level or channel strip functions like EQ & Aux) and a joystick for the surround control.

The US2400 is compatible with Mac OS X and should list for about US$2000.

Universal Audio has announced that the new UAD-1 Studio Pak is now available. The pack now includes the UAD-1 PCI DSP card and a collection of 20 Universal Audio plug-ins including: the 1176LN/SE and Teletronix LA-2A vintage compressors, the Pultec EQP-1A, RealVerb Pro, Cambridge EQ, Dreamverb, Nigel guitar processor, Fairchild 670 compressor and the CS-1 Channel Strip. The CS-1 itself includes a collection of plug-ins developed specifically for the UAD-1, including EQ, compression, delay modulation, and reflection engine modules.

The UAD-1 Studio Pak supports VST, AU & MAS plug-in formats and is now available for a MSRP of US$1199.

Apple left out standard MIDI file import from Garage Band, but a new app, Dent du MIDI, fills the gap. Current version is 0.1, and lets you drag-and-drop files to convert. Let us know if it's working for you -- hit the comments link.