Shure today announced the acquisition of Crowley and Tripp Ribbon Microphones from Soundwave Research Laboratories of Ashland, Massachusetts. Under a definitive agreement, Shure now owns all intellectual property, microphone process equipment, product designs, and other important assets related to the Crowley and Tripp line. Shure will manufacture ribbon microphones in its Wheeling, Illinois, facility using the revolutionary, patented Roswellite shape-memory acoustic ribbon material developed by Soundwave Research.

"Ribbon microphones have always been prized for their warm sound quality, but older designs are delicate, which has limited their applications," said Scott Sullivan, Shure's Senior Director of Global Product Management. "With the acquisition of the Crowley and Tripp product l ...

RNDigital Labs has just released Uniquel-izer 2. The new version of this EQ plug-in features a completely redesigned GUI and two new integrated audio spectrum analyzers : a FFT Spectrum Analyzer and a Spectrogram, borrowed from RNDigital Labs Inspector XL analysis plug-in.

Uniquel-izer 2 is available now for Mac OS X and Windows in VST, Audio Unit and RTAS plug-in formats for $249 and in TDM format for $299. Current owners of Uniquel-izer will be able to download Uniquel-izer 2 at no additional charge.

AKG unveils the Rhythm Pack, a new Live/Tour Sound Package of microphones for drums. The Rhythm Pack contains 1x D 112, 2x C 430 for overheads and 3x D 40 for toms and snare, all in a protective aluminium carrying case.

Pricing and availability TBA.

Wave Rider is a virtual fader controller plug-in for Digidesign Pro Tools. It's a unique RTAS plug-in that detects audio signal level on the inserted channel, and controls the fader movements with the following features :

- RIDE
In this default mode, Wave Rider's level detecting algorithm automatically raises or lowers the fader level to maintain a user selectable output level by writing volume automation on the timeline. User can then alter the volume automation as needed. Makes maintaining dialnorm levels a breeze!

- DUCK
This function will lower the signal of a target track by a user selectable amount if there's signal present on the inserted track. Narration and announcements over music as heard on radio channels rely on keyed compressors with poor results, now cooler with Wave Rider.

- PARK
This is a function you'll find in Automatic Mixer boxes. The faders are parked at a user defined low level when there's little signal, and they jump up to full output when there's strong signal present, maintaining a steady output level. Particularly useful in situations where there's a lot of mics open and you want to have the cleanest signal without much background noise.

Wave Rider is available now for Mac OS X at an introductory price of $75.

Soundcraft has announced the upgrade of its MPM and MFX Series of mixers.

"The new Soundcraft mixers, known as the MFXi and MPMi Series (emphasizing the high input count on each), build on the strength of the original range by using vertically mounted PCBs with the control pots being nutted to the front panel. This not only increases the rigidity of the mixer and gives a firm operating feel, but also aids servicing should it ever be required. As part of this review all aspects of new the layouts were reviewed taking into account customer feedback over the past 18 months and this has yielded many other subtle but significant improvements to the layout, graphics & operation when compared to the original consoles

The MFXi has integral Lexicon effects, something which only Soundcraft are able to offer. Using the same AudioDNA® processor featured in many of the Digitech® and Lexicon® outboard products including the highly respected Lexicon MX400, which provides the finest quality effects ever found in a console at this price level, the mixers boast 32 effects presets, a user settings store function, 3 parameter controls, and a tap tempo mode. These effects have been optmised for integration within the console to provide