Blue Cat Audio has updated all its free and commercial VST plugins for Mac to fix compatibility issues with Cubase 5. The upgrade is free for existing customers and concerns 26 plugins.

QuikQuak has announced the release of version 2.0 of its freebie UpStereo plug-in.

Changes :

• Completely 3D user-interface
• Retains usability of traditional 2D design
• Movable camera and light - alter the mood of the plug-in
• New metallic GUI.
• Overdrive option for saturated distortion effects.

UpStereo v2.0 is available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST and AU plug-in formats.

Waves has just released a collection of free presets for the SSL E-Channel plug-in. All these presets were made by Chris Lord-Alge, the well-known mixing engineer who has worked with famous artists such as Green Day, U2, Ray LaMontagne, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, or James Brown to name a few.

The Chris Lord-Alge presets are available for free at :

Metric Halo unveils the ULN-8, an industry-changing audio processing converter and interface. Featuring archival-grade converters, enhanced digitally controlled ULN (ultra low-noise, high-headroom) preamps, dedicated analog-domain sends and returns, analog domain 7.1 monitor controller, AES interfacing, extensive front panel control with excellent front panel metering all built atop Metric Halo's renowned fifth generation 2d Processing, mixing and FireWire interfacing platform, the ULN-8 establishes a new competitive standard for professional audio.

Features :

• Eight channels of archival quality, zero-phase distortion DC-coupled, calibrated 192k A/D
• Ten channels of archival quality, zero-phase distortion DC-coupled, calibrated 192k D/A
• Eight channels of Metric Halo digitally remote-controlled, high-headroom ULN-R preamps 
(-130dBu EIN)
• Two channels of exceptional ultra high-Z direct input for instruments
• 8in/8out 192k AES interface
• Full-featured front panel tactile control surface for standalone and connected operation
• All inputs switchable between line and mic
• Eight channels of analog domain send (for analog S/R before conversion and analog preamp output)
• Metric Halo's exclusive per-channel selectable Character
• Word clock in and out
• Digitally-controlled analog domain monitor control
• Full-featured fifteen segment precision metering
• SMPTE I/O channels
• MIDI I/O for direct connect of Mackie control protocol control surface
• Integrated mixing and deep instantiable DSP processing (includes full +DSP license)
• Rock-solid stability - mature, real-world-tested firmware, & time-tested fifth-generation Mac OS software and drivers
• FireWire interfacing with ultra-stable, ultra low-latency drivers (FW400 & FW800 supported)
• Exceptional power performance (only 32 watts - DC powerable)
• Low mass (9 lbs. / 4.1 kg.)
• Extremely compact (everything in 1 RU)
• Rack-mountable

The ULN-8 has an MSRP of US $5.995.

Beilfuss unveils the worlds first step synthesizer.

Unlike any analog or digital synthesizer's controls, the patented tone control consists of sixteen steps simply outlining the waveform as set by the Signal Controls you see at the left of the control panel. Similarly, the envelope and filter contour transients and their time intervals are also set by the Signal Controls for rhythms or extended notes. You may easily add prompted, parallel voicings, combining settings of both sides for complex notes.There are 32 controls and 142 pushbuttons for direct programming. Dedicated LED pushbuttons always read out their side of the full eight octave, split keyboard. Five octaves of transposition are possible.

Price and availability TBA.