Sweetwater, the third-largest music instrument and pro audio retailer in the world, has been awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum is the USGBC's highest rating for designing and constructing the world's greenest, most energy-efficient, and healthiest buildings.

The award was presented to Sweetwater Founder and President Chuck Surack by Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, and Liz Ellis, representative of the Indiana Chapter of the USGBC at a special ceremony preceding the company's 30th anniversary celebration.

Sweetwater's $35 million, 150,000 square foot corporate headquarters was completed in January of 2008. It was designed by Fort Wayne architectural firm MSKTD to achieve LEED certif ...

Dave Smith Instruments announces the release of Tetra, its next-generation analog polyphonic synthesizer. Tetra's four voices feature a 100% analog signal path and four-part multitimbral operation with individual outputs per voice.

Tetra is fully programmable via the front panel or with a free downloadable editor for Mac OS and Windows. Tetra is basically four Mophos in a very compact (7.9"L x 5"W) enclosure, a sort of mini Prophet with a couple of extra tricks up its sleeve: specifically, a sub-octave generator for each oscillator and feedback. With a street price of approximately $799, that's like four Mophos for the price of two. And it's expandable. Tetra can be poly-chained with additional Tetras or a Prophet '08 for up to sixteen-voice polyphony.

Other features include Combo Mode, used to combine four programs into unison or poly "super patches." Combos can also play four 16 x 4 step sequences — one per voice/program-simultaneously. In Multi Mode, each of Tetra's voices responds to a different MIDI channel, making it ideal for complex arrangements and sequencing analog drum sounds. Tetra is the first DSI product to feature USB. "USB is one of the most requested features across our entire product line," said DSI's Tracy Wadley, "so it's great to be able to offer it."

Tetra is available now with an MSRP of $879.00.

Apple has released Mac OS X 10.5.8. This update addresses general system fixes, stability, and security :

• Upgrades Safari to version 4.0.2.
• Improves the accuracy of full history search in Safari 4.
• Resolves an issue in which certain resolutions might not appear in the Display pane in System Preferences.
• Dragging an Aperture image into Automator now invokes an Aperture action instead of incorrectly invoking an iPhoto action.
• Resolves an issue that could prevent importing of large photo and movie files from digital cameras.
• Improves overall Bluetooth reliability with external devices, USB webcams and printers.
• Addresses an issue that could cause extended startup times.
• Improves iCal reliability with MobileMe Sync and CalDav.
...

For the month of August, McDSP offers a great special, allowing all customers to purchase or upgrade to Chrome Tone HD/Native and Synthesizer One HD/Native at a discounted price.

Purchase Chrome Tone HD or Synthesizer One HD for $129 each, or purchase both for only $179. Purchase Chrome Tone Native or Synthesizer One Native for $79 each, or purchase both for only $129. All LE customers may upgrade Chrome Tone LE and Synthesizer One LE to Native for $49 each.

The McDSP HD product line supports TDM, RTAS and AudioSuite formats, and operates on Pro Tools HD, LE and M-Powered, and the McDSP Native product line supports RTAS and Audiosuite formats, and operate on Pro Tools HD, LE and M-Powered. Special available only via electronic delivery.

Antares has updated Auto-Tune Evo for Mac OS X to v6.0.8 and Windows to v6.0.9. These updates provide improved pitch detection accuracy of higher-pitched notes, as well as resolve a variety of issues in the various versions.

Changes :

• Improved pitch detection of higher-pitched notes.
• New installers and PACE software (version 5.8.10.3223) to fix installation and authorization issues, particularly in 64-bit Vista.
• Fixed a problem where Nudge Up or Down would sometimes result in horizontal movement as well.
• Fixed a problem with incorrect zoom range after tracking pitch in a long song.
• Fixed crashing bug occasionally seen when using drawing tools.
• Fixed crashing bug occasionally seen when using Undo button.
• Fixed problem of selection highlights vanishing when using the Scissor tool close to a line or curve endpoint.
• Added hours field to the clock display (when time passes the one-hour mark).
• Fixed a memory leak in the Scissor tool.