Blue Cat Audio has released Blue Cat's Protector 1.1, a new version of its stereo brickwall limiter plug-in. The plug-in is now available for Mac in VST and Audio Unit formats and includes several improvements and fixes to the PC VST and DirectX versions. It offers simple controls and yet provides a wide range of sounding capabilities, from very transparent limiting to heavy distortion, with no latency.

What's new in Blue Cat's Protector 1.1 :

- Mac Audio Unit and VST support.
- New Windows installers (much faster install, improved upgrades).
- Automation output can now be disabled for hosts that do not propose automated parameters choice.
- (Bug Fix): fixed MIDI learn issues.
- (Bug Fix): window opacity is now properly reset when selecting factory presets.

Blue Cat's Protector can be purchased alone or within the Blue Cat's Master Pack plug-ins bundle. A demo version is available for download and the product can currently be purchased at a special introductory price of €53.10 (instead of €59) / $71.10 (instead of $79).

QuikQuak has released version 2.0 of its real-time pitch changing plug-in : Pitchwheel.

Changes :

- High quality, sample accurate pitch changing.
- 8 note chords, with low additional CPU resources.
- MIDI input.
- New user-interface.
- Zero offset phase bug fix from 1.1.

Pitchwheel v2.0 is available now in VST and AU formats for Mac OS X and Windows and it costs Ł15. Note that demo versions are available.

112dB has announced the release of Redline Monitor, a high-quality near-field monitor simulation for headphones.

Redline Monitor is a listening, mixing, and mastering tool. It replaces the extreme stereo separation characteristic for headphones with the detailed stereo image of near-field monitor speakers, turning headphones into a portable uniform listening environment. Whether in the studio or on the road, on a full-blown studio rig or your notebook, even in home studios and untreated rooms, with Redline Monitor mixes sound identical where ever you go.

Features :

- True stereo soundstage with adjustable left/right speaker position from 30° to 90°.
- Transparent sound with flat frequency response (ą0.1dB for the entire 10Hz–22kHz range).
- Separately adjustable phantom-center level from 0dB to -3dB for optimal speaker matching.
- Distance control from 0m to 2m to simulate placement of near-field monitors in room.
- Auxiliary left/right solo and phase invert controls for critical listening.
- Output switchable to mono for mono-compatibility checking.
- Support for samplerates up to 384kHz.
- Flexible MIDI learn system.

Redline Monitor is available now in RTAS/VST/AU formats for Windows XP/Vista and Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) and up at an introductory price of €69 / $69 until April 21, after which the regular price becomes €99/$99. Note that an unrestricted 60-day evaluation version is available.

URS has released Saturation v2.5. This update features a new Transformer Core Saturation algorithm called the Transformer British.

The Transformer Core Saturation algorithms add non linear transformer core saturation as found on vintage consoles, tape machines and outboard gear. The Transformer British algorithm digitally recreates Vintage British transformer saturation found in high end early 1970s recording consoles. Try the Transformer British algorithm as a track warmer. The Transformer British algorithm can be a great tool to fix brittle digitally recorded audio.

PreSonus proudly announced that after two years of intense R&D, it is shipping its new StudioLive 16.4.2 digital recording and performance mixer.

Designed for both live performance and studio music production, StudioLive is a powerful and flexible sixteen-channel digital mixer loaded with sixteen high headroom XMAX microphone preamplifiers, built-in 22x18 FireWire recording and playback engine, "Fat Channel" processing with 4-band EQ's, compressors, limiters and gates, DSP effects, six aux buses, four sub-groups, extensive LED metering, talkback and much more.

Key Features :

- 16 inputs, 6 auxiliary mixes, 4 subgroups
- 16 class A XMAX microphone preamplifiers
- Hi-Definition analog to digital converters (118dB dynamic range)
- Unlimited headroom 32-bit floating point digital mixing and effects processing
- 22x18 FireWire digital recording interface
- Compact 19" rack-mountable rugged steel chassis
- Fat Channel Select :

o High Pass Filter
o Compressor
o Limiter
o Gate
o 4-band semi parametric EQ
o Pan
o Load/Save/Copy/Paste

- 2 Master DSP Effects (reverbs, delays, time-based effect, with load/save)
- Load/Save Mixer "Scenes" - all settings
- 100mm long throw faders
- Military grade quick touch push buttons
- Fast-acting LED meters
- Talkback communication system
- StudioLive multi-track recording software

The StudioLive carries an MSRP of $1,999.