Ring by 9 Soundware is a collection of presets for the RingShifter ring modulator/frequency shifter within Apple Logic Pro. These settings explore the audio morphing capabilities of the unique plug-in, which combines the two effects.

The sound set consists of 35 presets in Frequency Shifter mode and 15 in Ring Modulator mode. Examples include settings which add delay-based rhythmic layers to drum grooves (e.g., Drum Ricochet 1.pst), generate tempo synced modulations (e.g., Automation Surprise.pst and Space Cake.pst), radically reshape harmonic structures (e.g., Anti-Tune.pst and Fiend.pst), as well as those which maintain tonality of the input signal (e.g., Daguerreotype.pst and Sun Dance.pst).

The 0.2 MB download includes 50 .pst files.

Ring is available now for $14.99.

This year at AES in New York Avenson Audio introduces two new half rack space processors, the Mid-Side and the Blend.

The Mid-Side allows conversion of stereo Left-Right into M-S and back. There is a width control to balance the M vs S as well as a dedicated variable high pass filter for the Side channel.

Blend is a stereo two channel mixer designed for stem mixing or parallel processing. It features a 100mm fader for fine blend control and stereo sixteen segment LED metering.

Pricing and availability TBA.

Akai Professional announces that its MPD18 portable padcontroller is now shipping to retailers.

The MPD18 is the smallest-sized model in Akai's line of MPD MIDI-over-USB pad controllers. The heart of the MPD18 is its bank of 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive genuine MPC pads, an Akai Professional exclusive. Users can access three different banks of sounds from the pads for a total of 48 sounds at once. The MPD18 also borrows the MPC series' assignable Q-Link controllers, enabling users to control nearly any parameters in their software in real time on an assignable Q-Link fader and an assignable Q-Link button.

Users will find the MPD18 to be convenient, sending MIDI information over its plug-and-play USB interface for use with Mac or PC without installing any drivers. The USB connection also powers the MPD18 so musicians can use the controller with no power supply. The MPD18 can control nearly any MIDI software, as well as MIDI hardware, such as synths, sound modules, samplers, sequencers, drum machines and more.

The MPD18 is available from musical instrument and professional audio retailers and has a U.S. Retail Price of $199.00 with an estimated street price of $99.00.

SM Pro Audio unveils the Nano Patch+, a new passive volume controller.

One of the benefits of passive volume attenuation is that you no longer have to control volumes with your software's master volume fader. Reducing levels from your software only reduces the audio bit depth. It is much more appropriate to keep your software masters at unity and attenuate the audio to your active monitors with a passive controller like the Nano Patch Plus. This way you can maintain maximum audio resolution and attenuate your monitoring volume with the confidence that the sonic integrity of your audio is not compromised.

No active circuitry, buffers, transistors, batteries, or power supply of any kind can interfere with the main passive output of the Nano Patch+.

Features :

• Super compact ...

XLN Audio announces the release of the free Addictive Drums 1.5 Adrenaline Update featuring full E-Drums Support, Beat Transformer, GM Support, New Beats, New Presets and more.

• E-Drums Support
The Addictive Drums 1.5 Adrenaline Update offers full support for your E-Drums enabling you to simply plug and play. With ready made settings for all the major E-Drum models on the market Adrenaline lets you hook up and go in a matter of minutes. All the functionality for the E-Drums Support is located in the new Map Window where you can tweak the settings to your liking. For example you can edit the velocity control, variable hihat, positional sensing, etc.

• Beat Transformer
Edit the velocity, tempo and length of the MIDI beats and grooves inside Addictive Drums with the new Bea ...