Mixosaurus has just announced the release of Kit A v1.1 which brings a huge usability improvements and significantly expands its range of possible applications:

"ECO" Instrument Patches:
These have lower RAM requirements and faster loading times (down to 1/7 of the full patches). They will work even on "average" computers, and all programming you do with them will be 100% compatible with the full patches.

MIDI Translations:
Built-in ability to understand and play MIDI tracks of all major MIDI drum formats: Addictive Drums, BFD, DFH, EZ Drummer, General MIDI. Also included are dedicated Translations for Roland's TD-3, TD-10 and TD-20, and for Ya ...

Today at NAB in Las Vegas, iZotope unveils the ANR-B Adaptive Realtime Noise Reduction Unit, bringing the company's renowned audio algorithm for adaptive noise reduction to a dedicated hardware unit for use in real-time broadcast applications.

ANR-B uses iZotope's advanced noise reduction technology to intelligently identify and suppress environmental broadband noise, hum, phone line artifacts and more. Unlike other noise reduction solutions, this unit actually detects noise in real-time and adapts to changing noise over time, allowing for automatic operation with little to no input required from the user.

Key Features:

- Automatically removes noise from audio in real-time
- Two channels can work independently or as a stereo pair
- Includes presets for specific scenarios
- Residual Noise switch lets user quickly preview the noise being removed
- Single knob controls noise suppression on each channel for fast operation
- Learn button allows for manual operation by capturing a noise profile
- PC/Mac interface for managing presets and designing advanced programs
- Remote control capability

ANR-B will be available in Summer of 2008 at a retail price of $4995.

Sonnox has just released the Mac OS X version of its new plug-in - Oxford SuprEsser.

The Oxford SuprEsser is both a very highly-featured professional De-Esser and a Dynamic EQ. There is a simple mode for quick fixes, but also an advanced mode for increased functionality and fine-tuning. The combination of an intuitive FFT display and three listen modes enables the user to easily see and hear exactly where the problem frequencies are, allowing the rapid reduction or removal of the offending audio. As well as being able to trigger the full band compression, only the offending frequencies can be carefully carved out. Since the SuprEsser can operate at all frequencies, 'plosives' and other annoyances can also be removed effortlessly, making it more than a simple De-Esser. Additional features include Automatic Level Tracking, Linear Phase Filtering and a Wet/Dry blend control for final balancing.

The Oxford SuprEsser is available for Mac OS X in VST, AU and RTAS formats at a retail price of £180 but if you purchase it before June 30th 2008 you will receive a 10% discount (£162). A 15-day demo version is available. Note that Windows version will follow in a few weeks.

Synesthesia has released the second version of Mandala which is now an USB Drum trigger pad packed with a Virtual Brain software control module. The Mandala Drum pad is able to detect where and how hard you hit it and translates that information into sound and sound controllers.

Features :

- Every hit gives you a Note with Velocity AND a Strike Position for HD sound control
- Surface detects 128 strike positions from center to edge
- 128 strike velocities from soft to hard with no false triggers
- Multizone configuration allows mapping of up to 7 zones per pad
- USB interface with easy, yet powerful 'Virtual Brain' software for Mac or PC.
- Includes original sound library with scores of instruments, or load your own samples
- Tons of out-of-the-box presets to get you playing right away
- Connect multiple Mandalas to your computer to form a kit
- Also works seamlessly with Logic, Battery, BFD, Live, Reason, GarageBand, etc.

Each Mandala is hand-crafted and thoroughly tested before it is shipped. The Mandala 2.0 retails for $349, and is available online.

AMS - Neve also presents the 4081 Quad Mic Preamp.

Build on the success of the 1081 and 1081R modules, the 4081 is a four independent Mic/Pre or Line input channels in a 3U high robust desktop mounting design with external PSU. 2 x 4081 units can be fastened together, to give 8-channels of Mic/Pre or Line inputs in a 19" wide unit.

Features :

- Gain control per channel (+20dBu to +70dBu in 5dBu steps)
- Signal Presence and Clip LED indication
- XLR Mic input can be switched between Mic and electronically balanced Line
- Line level up to 20dB gain in 5dB steps
- Phantom Power source for microphones
- 20dB pad, Phase and Low Z functions per channel
- Optional Digital output/Sync card (available Q2 2008), with selectable sample rate and Sync Source

Unit can be controlled from front panel or all functions controlled remotely by Mac or PC computers, using a USB connection and the dedicated Neve Remote Control software – or remote control via midi from ProTools. Up to 16 boxes can be connected together off one daisy-chained control cable.