Blue Cat Audio has released a new version of Digital Peak Meter Pro, a unique plug-in able to transform the audio signal to various types of controls. A special introductory price lets you get the Digital Peak Meter Pro for 27.3 EUR (USD $32.76) instead of 39 EUR (USD 46.8). Upgrade from version 1.x is 12 EUR only (USD 14,4).

New in V2.0:

- The plug-in is now 100% real time thanks to the MIDI output capability: generated envelopes can be used to control any MIDI hardware or software plug-in.
- Advanced MIDI control with customizable parameters curve response and MIDI learn.
- Skinnable user interface with Blue Cat's Skinning language V1.2.1 support.
- RMS envelope support.
- new parameters for total control of the peak envelope detection.
- Real time envelopes display.
- All parameters can now be fine tuned thanks to a text-edit popup window that appears when double clicking on user interface widgets.

Here's a newcomer in the R-Series microphone line designed by Royer Labs, the R-122V, which is the first commercially produced vacuum tube ribbon microphone available.

This compact, monaural and bi-directional microphone has a flat frequency response and just like its predecessors his ability to withstand high SPL levels makes it well suited for applications that were previously considered off limits to ribbon microphones.
By incorporating vacuum tube electronics into the same transducer system used in the R-121 and R-122 ribbon microphones, the R-122V provides an output of -37dB, which is approximately 13dB hotter than an R-121.

The new R-122V Vacuum Tube Ribbon Microphone carries a suggested retail price of $2,995.00 and is available now.

Surge is now available as 1.2 Universal Binary version, in Audio Units and VST formats, and adds support for new Intel-based Macs. Surge is an hypbrid synth, which combines wavetable and analog-style oscillators with a highly innovative filter array and an abundance of effects.

Allen & Heath has released a new software suite comprising new firmware and Mac configuration utility software for its mixer/controller, the Xone:3D. The updates include an improved interface for Mac users and greater MIDI functionality. Key to the firmware release is the inclusion of a MIDI merge facility, which enables MIDI data from external devices to be combined with the MIDI data from the Xone:3D control surface and passed via USB to the software.

This new version - v1.10 - also includes :
- Full duplex MIDI
- MIDI Pass-Through
- Internal MIDI clock can now be switched OFF to allow external sync to pass through
- Improved tolerance to out-of-spec computer generated USB audio clocks
- Additional smoothing of auto BPM to MIDI clock generation
- Improved resolution on encoders and jog wheels

v1.10 is available as a free download but you will need to have your Xone:3D serial number to complete the process.

Access announces a software update for the Virus TI synthesizer. This new version is a Universal Binary build supporting PowerPC and Intel based Macintosh computers. It also improves the startup behaviour of the Virus Control plug-in, feels much snappier, fixes a couple of bugs which caused crackling with certain patches and lowers the CPU consumption when the plug-in window is open.

The free update requires Windows XP SP2 or MacOS 10.4 and is available now.