Lexicon Pro has announced the MX400 & MX400XL Dual Stereo / Surround Reverb Processors. These new single rack-space, 4-in, 4-out units combine an intuitive front-panel design with Lexicon's Hardware Plug-In technology, a unique USB connection and VST/AU interface for use with software recording platforms. Featuring a wide array of reverb algorithms, delays, effects and dbx dynamics, the MX400 series is equally suited for the home studio or live use. The USB "Hardware Plug-In" format allows users to have complete plug-in control over their MX400 within any VST or Audio Units software environment, enabling users to control all automation and recall parameters exactly as they would with any software plug-in. While MX400 provides TRS balanced I/O and MX400XL XLR I/O, both products offer 4 channel surround algorithms.
The MX400 will be available at an estimated street price of $499.95 and the MX400XL will have an estimated street price $549.95.
More details on Lexicon's website.

U-he has released the long-awaited version 2.0 of Zebra. Zebra 2 offers many different types of synthesis (subtractive, additive, FM) and sound manipulation options, and you can mix them up in any way you choose. For instance, you can easily combine additive synthesis with phase distortion and frequency modulation. Or you can recreate the structure of your favourite analogue synthesizer. All this is done in an intuitive drag-and-drop fashion, without cluttering the user interface with cables.

Features:

* Modular architecture with up to: 4 oscillators, 4 dedicated FM oscillators, 4 filters (19 types), 4 VCA/pan, comb filters, wave-shapers, ring-modulators, noise-generators for each voice -- 24 audio modules, 28 modulation sources, thousands of parameters to tweak; accessible via an i ...

As you have probably noticed, there are lots of things going on at Sonalksis these days. Today Sonalksis released the Universal Binary versions of their plug-in range SV-315/SV-517 and Multiband Dynamics CQ1/DQ1. So now all your favourite Sonalksis plug-ins including the great filters TBK1 and TBK2 are available for Intel based Macs. With this latest release some technical improvements have been made as well; the VST versions now support double-precision floating point I/O on PC and Mac.

All existing Sonalksis customers can upgrade their plugins to "IntelMac Universal Binary" FREE of charge by simply logging in to the Sonalksis user area. The new Universal Binary evaluations can be downloaded from :

Built on its KM series of miniature microphones Neumann has announced the introduction of three new digital models with integrated DSP. The modular KM 183 D, KM 184 D and KM 185 D combine omnidirectional, cardioid and supercardioid capsules with the KM D output stage to offer three different directional characteristics. The integrated DSP functions - including gain, a compressor/limiter with de-esser and a peak limiter - can be configured and controlled remotely via the DMI-2 digital microphone interface and the RCS remote control software. The fully digital system permits the peak limiter to operate across the entire available dynamic range even in stressful recording situations.
For more information see Neumann's website.

Rupert Neve Designs has announced the 5088 console which incorporates custom-designed input and output transformers and is expandable in 16-channel sections (allowing for 32, 48, 64 or more channels). All input channels offer bus/line/tape input selections, transformer-coupled direct outputs, eight mix busses and eight auxiliary sends, and 100mm faders. The monitor/master section includes four stereo effects returns, switchable selection of three control room monitor outputs, six monitor sources, AFL/PFL solo modes, as well as talkback and oscillator functions, and 100mm stereo master faders.
For more information see the Rupert Neve Designs website.