Altiverb version 5 is now available ! The famous convolution reverb plug-in is available in RTAS, MAS, Audio Units and VST formats. Altiverb uses top quality samples of real spaces to create reverb, ranging from Sydney Opera House to the cabin of a fire truck and offers an extensive set of parameters. Altiverb v5 now features :

- iLok authorization, or challenge/response
- New Stage Positioning control allows you to place your source sound anywhere on stage.
- four band EQ, taylored for reverb.
- Internal level meters
- I/O controlls for front, rear, center bleed and lfe channels.
- Separate Gains and Delays for Direct, Early Ref and Tail
- Extensive CPU load control
- Room Size shifts room modes and resonances.
- Reverse reverb mode.
- Internal test samples can be triggered from the Mac's keyboard.
- VR movies, pictures, statistics, mic layouts etc, in the info screen.
- Automatable preset switching.
- Built in presets, user presets.
- Impulse Responses in unlimited levels.
- Three band damping.

Altiverb v5 for Pro Tools HTDM costs $895. Altiverb v5 (MAS-VST-RTAS-Audio Units) costs $595. Update from Altiverb v2/v3 to v5 costs $269, and upgrade from Altiverb v4 to v5 costs $169. You can also upgrade your MAS-VST-RTAS to the HTDM RTAS VST MAS bundle for $300. Note that a demo version is also available.

Muse Research announces the Version 1.2 software upgrade for Receptor, the hardware VST plug-in player. This software update for Receptor allows you to route each Receptor channel to a specific output - route any of Receptor's 19 channels (16 instrument channels, 2 effects busses, and the master output) to any Receptor output (Analog, S/PDIF, or ADAT pairs). Also new in version 1.2 is Z-Load which dramatically reduces the amount of time required to load a plug-in, as well as new MIDI mapping features with full support for keyboard zones and layers, improving Receptor's functionality as a synth, sampler, and sound module.

Receptor software 1.2 is available as a VST beta version.

Wizoo will soon be releasing Wizooverb W2, a new reverb plug-in, available in VST, AU, RTAS and Standalone versions. Wizzo will also announce Wizooverb W5, another new reverb plugin, which features 5.1 Surround.

Wizzo will unveil these two plugins at Musikmesse in Frankfurt next week.

We were expecting it for ages, the cauldron was on the fire for a long time, it'll be alive and kicking at the Frankfurt Musikmesse next week: Macbeth Systems unveils the final, production stage of the M5. The M5 is a massive (steel chassis, ooch!) analogue modular, 3 VCO, 2 LFO, 2 VCF, 2 ADSR, 4 VCA, a ring modulator, a noise generator, a spring reverb, VC panning, not one but two S&H, 2 lag processors, glide, audio mixer, CV mixer. It's big, it's heavy, it's modular, it's analogue, it's 1995£ excluding VAT and we know for a year now that it's MEAN.

And I forgot, it's packed with 70 mm/2,75" slider pots!
It'll be a limited run, so enjoy the introductory price before it's too late.

M-Audio has announced its first two virtual instruments. Key Rig is a virtual keyboard rack with stage piano, MS-2 polyphonic synthesizer, MB-3 electromagnetic organ, and a GM-4 General MIDI Module. Drum & Bass Rig is a virtual bass and drums rack which contains real drums, electric bass, LC-5 loop creator, and BL 6 bass synthesizer and step sequencer.

Key Rig and Drum & Bass Rig are available as stand-alone, VST, Audio Units and RTAS version for $129,95 each.