Mackie HRmk2 Series

Mackie (www.mackie.com) has upgraded its HR series of biamplified reference monitors by releasing the HR624mk2 ($579) and HR824mk2 ($779). HR stands for high resolution, and the new models boast even dispersion over a greater frequency range than their predecessors, without distortion, according to the manufacturer. Each one features a cast-aluminum baffle that minimizes diffraction, an optimized waveguide that widens the sweet spot, and a passive radiator that extends bass response and enhances depth of field. The HRmk2 monitors are THX pm3 certified for use in surround applications.

The HR624mk2 has a 6.7-inch low-frequency speaker and a 1-inch titanium-dome tweeter powered by two FR (Fast Recovery) Series amps delivering 100W and 40W, respectively. The larger HR824mk2 has an 8.75-inch low-frequency speaker driven by 150W and a 1-inch titanium-dome tweeter driven by 100W. In addition to switches for low-frequency rolloff and high-frequency shelving, the monitors have an integrated Acoustic Space Control that lets you adjust bass response to the room environment. HRmk2 monitors have balanced XLR and TRS inputs and unbalanced RCA inputs.

Roland V-Synth GT

Roland (www.rolandus.com) continues to build on the V-Synth platform with its new synthesizer, the V-Synth GT ($3,299). This top-of-the-line keyboard instrument has a dual-core sound engine that offers multiple synthesis techniques that you can use simultaneously. It blends features from the V-Synth XT module, such as Vocal Designer and VariPhrase-based Elastic Audio, with a new sound engine called Articulative Phrase (AP) synthesis. AP synthesis emulates the real-time timbral changes that musical sounds undergo as they're being played. The GT also introduces Sound Shaper II, an enhancement of the XT's feature for programming new timbres quickly and intuitively.

The GT has 61 Velocity- and Aftertouch-sensitive keys and a fixed-position color touch screen with an icon-driven user interface. Like previous V-Synths, the instrument sports a Time Trip Pad and twin D Beam controllers. Four oscillators deliver analog modeling and PCM waveforms, and 16 types of COSM processing range from multimode filtering and multi-effects to complex waveshaping. The V-Synth GT also has a user-programmable arpeggiator, a modulation sequencer, and the ability to function as a USB 2.0 audio interface.

ART TubeFire8

Applied Research and Technology (www.artproaudio.com) has announced the TubeFire8 ($649), a FireWire audio interface with eight Class A vacuum-tube microphone preamps. The single-rackspace unit furnishes balanced XLR and balanced TRS inputs with 70 dB of gain. With eight balanced TRS outputs as well, you can use the TubeFire8 as either a standalone multichannel preamp or an A/D/A converter for your Mac or PC. The outputs are summed to a front-panel stereo headphone jack for low-latency monitoring of the inputs, monitoring of the mix streaming from your computer, or a combination of both.

Each input has a discrete highpass filter, a -10 dB pad, a low-cut filter, a phase-inversion switch, a clip indicator, and an LED meter that monitors the preamp's output level. Variable output-level controls allow you to dial in each channel's tube warmth as desired. Two of the channels provide high-impedance inputs for guitar or bass on the front panel. In addition, you can enable 48V phantom power for two groups of four inputs. A copy of Steinberg Cubase LE (Mac/Win) is bundled with the TubeFire8.

Universal Audio DCS Remote Preamp

Universal Audio (www.uaudio.com) is now shipping the DCS Remote Preamp ($1,199), a modular hardware system developed with the founders of Euphonix. The DCS (Desktop Console System) was designed to bring big-studio performance to the project studio. By combining two console-grade preamp channels, talkback functionality, and sophisticated monitoring, the DCS expands and enhances computer-based recording.

Two separate modules — the Remote Pre and the Monitor Mixer — are connected by a Cat-5 cable to give you hands-on, digital control of the preamp's analog circuitry from as far away as 300 feet. The two preamp channels can be linked in stereo or configured for dual-mono operation. A built-in mid-side encoder lets you create stereo recordings using two mics in a coincident pair. Each channel accommodates balanced mic and line inputs, as well as high-impedance instrument inputs. The DCS Remote Preamp's headphone amp lets you monitor performances through onboard EQ and reverb. In addition, VU meters allow you to keep an eye on preamp output and cue levels.

Fender VG Stratocaster

Joining forces with Roland, Fender (www.fender.com) has developed the VG Stratocaster ($2,428.56), an American Series Strat that harnesses DSP technology to sound like many different guitars. The instrument is completely self-contained, with no outboard hardware and no connections other than to an amplifier. Except for its Roland GK bridge pickup, LED, and two additional knobs, the VG Stratocaster looks and plays just like a standard Strat, and you can bypass the battery-powered VG circuit for that classic Fender electric sound.

One knob lets you select from five primary modes: single-coil Strat, humbucking Strat, Telecaster, acoustic, and normal (DSP bypass). Another knob lets you select from five alternate tunings — normal, D modal, drop D, open G, and baritone — without changing the string tension. The single-coil Strat model not only lets you change tunings instantly, but there's no 60-cycle hum. Use the 5-position pickup-selector switch to choose variations on the primary modes, such as 12-string, dreadnought, and resonator guitar. The VG Stratocaster has a synchronized tremolo bridge and is available with a maple or rosewood fingerboard and a 3-color sunburst ($50 extra) or black finish.

Digidesign Structure

Nearly six months after beginning a public beta program, Digidesign (www.digidesign.com) has begun shipping Structure (Mac/Win, $499), an RTAS sampler plug-in specifically for Pro Tools. Structure integrates directly with Pro Tools' sound engine and supports 24-bit audio at rates as high as 192 kHz. You can drag-and-drop audio regions directly into Structure and then create patches with unlimited nesting levels. A resizable window facilitates graphic-waveform editing and keymapping, and a built-in file browser makes it easy to locate samples. Structure is 128-part multitimbral and supports interleaved samples with as many as eight channels for 7.1 surround applications.

Structure comes with a nearly 20 GB sample library, including instruments from Quantum Leap Orchestral Elements, as well as a 30-day trial of EastWest's Goliath. The plug-in can import EXS24, SampleCell, and Kontakt 1 and 2 files, and features an integrated REX player. Its multi-effects section provides more than 20 effects types, including stereo and surround convolution reverb, and hundreds of effects presets. In addition, Digidesign is offering previous owners of Soft SampleCell an upgrade to Structure for $199.

XLN Audio Addictive Drums

The virtual drummer Addictive Drums (Mac/Win, $249) is now available from Swedish software developer XLN Audio (distributed by Big Fish Audio, www.bigfishaudio.com). Created by a team headed by Magnus Lidström, the programmer behind Sonic Charge MicroTonic and Propellerhead Malström, the AU-, RTAS-, and VST-compatible plug-in combines almost 2 GB of first-rate samples, an onscreen mixer with effects, and MIDI files of live performances by real drummers. Addictive Drums starts with an assortment of world-class, multimiked kits sampled in multiple layers and with alternate hits, and allows you to extensively tweak their playback parameters. You also get more than 3,000 beats and fills and a drag-and-drop groove browser that sorts instruments by name, category, tempo, or length.

For each of the 12 mixer channels in Addictive Drums, you can adjust the level, pan, effects, and routing, as well as mute, solo, and invert phase. Shape and process individual sounds using pitch and volume envelopes, multiband EQ, highpass and lowpass filtering, reverb, compression, and more. Although the emphasis in Addictive Drums is on rock 'n' roll, more than 100 presets cover an assortment of musical genres and production styles in 4/4, 3/4, and 6/8 time. If you want to check it out, you can download a fully functional demo that never expires.

MakeMusic Finale 2008

MakeMusic (www.finalemusic.com) has announced the release of Finale 2008 (Mac/Win, $600), its flagship music-notation program. The updated edition boasts new playback options, productivity enhancements, and greater control over printed musical scores. Finale 2008 lets you quickly transcribe your musical ideas in standard notation and immediately hear the results played by more than 250 instrument sounds from Garritan Libraries. Now you can combine all of the included sounds, add any Native Instruments-supported sound library, and save the results as an audio file.

The most significant new feature in Finale 2008 is its ability to record or import a mono or stereo audio track. You can record a vocal track, import a stereo drum performance, or add a live trumpet solo to a jazz arrangement. After you import a recording, you can match its playback using TempoTap, line up the bar lines, and then add orchestration. Improved notation features include an enhanced setup wizard, colored note heads, new copy-and-paste options, and ScoreMerger, which combines multiple parts and scores into a single document. Finale 2008 also features a streamlined user interface with greater tool consolidation, Windows Vista compatibility, searchable help files, and expanded support for MusicXML. Upgrade pricing starts at $99.95; the academic edition is $350.

Sound Advice

The EBow is a handheld device that allows you to precisely control a guitar using an electromagnetic feedback loop, resulting in infinite sustain without ever touching the strings. Introduced in the mid-'70s, the EBow (short for energy bow) produces a signature sound that's immediately recognizable, rich in harmonics, and used by guitarists ranging from David Gilmour and Frank Zappa to Peter Buck and U2's the Edge. Soniccouture (www.soniccouture.com) captures that sound in a new sample library called eBow Guitar ($90.47 download, $94.49 on disc). You get 1.2 GB of content comprising 950 individual 24-bit samples formatted for Kontakt 2 and EXS24. Two guitars were sampled, a Santa Cruz dreadnought acoustic in stereo and a Gibson SG electric in mono. You can crossfade between high and low EBow settings using your modulation wheel, and use keyswitching to select samples with or without vibrato. eBow Guitar also gives you alternating round-robin samples and a selection of note releases you can mix to taste.

In addition to being a prolific composer with literally dozens of CD releases, synthesist Ian Boddy has produced a number of unique sample libraries. One of the latest is Transmission-X ($99.95), a 3-CD collection of loops from Sample Magic (distributed by Big Fish Audio, www.bigfishaudio.com). Transmission-X contains twisted percussion, atmospheric textures, analog arpeggios, bit-glitched squeals, heavily processed vocals, and other alien effects. The collection divides sounds into five categories and three tempos in Acidized WAV, REX, Apple Loops, EXS24, HALion, Kontakt, NNXT, and audio formats.