Keith McMillen Instruments announces SoftStep V 1.1. This update offers some new features:

- Standalone version for and PC
- 6 factory programs with Program Changes, Notes, Toggle, Pressure, Avid Eleven Rack and Line6 POD
- Save All function
- Revert button (back to previous settings)
- GarageBand et HUI Host modes
- Select I/O manualy
- LED "SoftStep Connected"

Apogee Electronics R&D is moving toward a new paradigm of digital audio interconnection based upon Thunderbolt.
Symphony I/O's modular, user definable system was the first step. AD/DA conversion modules (our primary technology) were designed to be independent of the Symphony I/O Chassis. This allows Apogee to address interfacing from the Chassis level without impacting I/O module implementation.

Powered by Thunderbolt, the Symphony I/O platform is the foundation of future digital audio production systems. Any Mac equipped with Thunderbolt technology and paired with Symphony I/O will deliver incredible, high-performance recording from the Hollywood soundstage to the hotel room nightstand.

The goal of ValhallaRoom is to be a useful "workhorse" reverb, for subtle drum rooms that can be felt more than heard, lush halls, dense plates, and big ambient decays. The algorithm designs have been influenced by some of the "classic" room simulation boxes, as well as state of the art modern theory.

Some Features:
- ValhallaRoom features several original reverberation algorithms, designed to produce tight and subtle room sounds, as well as larger hall sounds and huge ambiances.
- Unique Early reverb section allows user to dial in subtle and short bursts of early reverberation energy, as well as gated reverbs up to 1 second in length.
- The Late section produces natural reverb decays ranging from 0.1 seconds to 100 seconds. The decay can be controlled in 3 adjustable frequency bands.
- Both Early and Late reverb sections have adjustable modulation, to produce sounds ranging from lush chorusing, to subtle and natural long decays.
- ValhallaRoom is true stereo. The Early and Late reverb sections are both stereo-in, stereo-out.

Ear Machine today unveiled iQ, an equalizer plug-in designed to learn the user's preference. iQ recommends equalizer settings by analyzing user ratings of examples. The result is displayed in a traditional equalizer window where users can fine-tune the recommendation.

iQ uses a model of auditory perception to gradually hone in on the user's preference. A meter at the bottom of the window indicates when iQ thinks it has learned what the user wants. The user then clicks "Create EQ" and iQ's recommendation is displayed in a traditional equalizer window. Users can also double click any dot to display it in the equalizer window.

iQ is the first audio plug-in that is designed to learn a user's preference. Ear Machine recently launched a related free web app (myMicSound) that is designed to learn a user's preferred microphone characteristics.
iQ is compatible with AU hosts or VST hosts on the Mac or PC, and is compatible with RTAS wrappers.