BIAS announces that Peak 4.1, the newest version of its flagship stereo audio editing tool, is now available for download. Back at NAMM in January, BIAS announced that the new release of Peak would bundle extra software: professional CD burning software Roxio Jam and SFX Machine LT, a limited edition of the popular multi-effects sound design plug-in. The update also fixes somes minor bugs and enhances Mac OS 10.3 Panther compatibility.

The Peak 4.1 update is a free download for registered users. clouvel also contributed to this story

Ever since AudioFinder added Normalize and other DSP utilities, users have been hammering us for a batch mode. Well, here it is: simply select as many files as you like with the Browser, choose your DSP utilities, and let it rip!

Ed: Brilliant. A major feature for "3.1.4"; sounds like 3.5 to me, but whatever you call it, sounds good to me. -PK

Almost all JK's pluggos are now OS X compatible. Install the free Pluggo runtime and plug it into any host (AU/RTAS/VST), and you can enjoy free limiters, meters, a drum machine, a loop slicer, tuner, pitch shifter, graphic EQ and auto wah. Ed: Let there be pluggos: go grab it! More of the glory of Cycling `74's superb Max/MSP development environment. -PK

A new updated version of the REX Shared Library for Mac OS X is available from developer Propellerheads. If you don't already own ReCycle 2.1, you'll need the updated Shared Library to use files created in ReCycle 2.1 files with Reason 2.5 and other DAWs (like Emagic Logic and MOTU Digital Performer, both of which support REX). This enables, of course, use of REX files from the Web and new sample libraries based on ReCycle 2.1. REX remains the most sophisticated major format for sharing loops for time-chopping, reordering, and independent pitch- and tempo-shifting.
The new version is free for download on the Propellerheads site.

MacMusic has been watching Rayverb since it was announced at NAMM. The standalone demo version became available February 17; now the full VST plugin version is shipping. Rayverb uses raytracing -- a process known for 3D graphical rendering -- to calculate the path of audio signal through a space. reverberation process. The software features settings for setting up this virtual space, by changing the location of the sound source, altering textures of the wall, or applying different acoustic settings, all in realtime.