MARK OF THE UNICORN

MOTU's Digital Performer 3.1 (Mac, $795; crossgrade, $395; upgrade from Performer, $295; upgrade from 3.0, free) adds support for FireWire video along with a new collection of audio and MIDI features. You can use the LCD of a standard FireWire video camera or an external monitor to view your video file if the device outputs NTSC or composite video (for a review of version 3.01, see p. 120).

In version 3.1, a new window lets you globally specify that the display shows one of four time formats (measures, SMPTE, absolute time, or samples) with a single mouse-click. The update also provides an unlimited undo and redo history with a timeline and gives you random access to any edit. All edits are time stamped, and subsequent actions create a separate branch of undo events.

Digital Performer's Sequence Editor window now lets you grab and trim edges of multiple audio regions and perform destructive edits to surround audio using the Waveform Editor. You can also have imported audio files automatically conform to a sequence's tempo.

New MIDI enhancements include the ability to quantize a wider variety of MIDI events; for instance, you can quantize Pitch Bend, Program Change messages, or Modulation. The program's new Tap Tempo Entry feature lets you continuously alter tempo by tapping your controller or ASCII keyboard.

Version 3.1 adds support for Propellerhead's REX 2.0 sample-file format. You can now audition and drag and drop files created with ReCycle 2.0 directly into Digital Performer 3.1. Other enhancements include a rectified audio waveform display, transposition of Polyphonic Aftertouch events, and the ability to reassign continuous controller data in real time.

Minimum system requirements for Digital Performer 3.1 are any Power Macintosh with at least 128 MB of RAM and OS 8.5.1. Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. (MOTU); tel. (617) 576-2760; e-mail info@motu.com; Web www.motu.com.

CAKEWALK

Version 1.3 of Sonar (Win, $479; upgrade, free) adds new editing and mixing tools. Editing enhancements include improvements for MIDI and audio features.

Audio Scaling enables you to create detailed edits on quiet audio passages without changing the size of the track display. A new Extract Timing interprets audio data to create tempo maps. The Scissors tool lets you split MIDI and audio tracks on the fly.

New dual-mode controls let you adjust gain and pan settings. You can now make changes in audio envelopes without disrupting audio output. Version 1.3 also provides a wider assortment of curves and crossfade types for the Fade Tool.

The program requires a Pentium II/400 MHz computer, 64 MB of RAM, and Windows 98, ME, or 2000. Cakewalk; tel. (888) CAKEWALK or (617) 423-9004; e-mail sales@cakewalk.com; Web www.cakewalk.com.

IK MULTIMEDIA

Optimized for Apple's Velocity Engine, SampleTank 1.1 (Mac/Win, $499; upgrade from version 1.0, free) supports dual processors for Mac and Windows hosts. SampleTank 1.1 for MAS easily integrates with Mark of the Unicorn's Digital Performer.

Among the synth's new features is a resampling and pitch-shifting engine. SampleTank now provides two performance modes. High Performance mode gives you 128 notes of polyphony (CPU dependent). High Quality mode reduces polyphony to 90 notes but improves the sound quality of the playback engine. IK Multimedia claims that SampleTank 1.1 has a markedly flat frequency response at the high end and virtually immeasurable aliasing noise. The program's Akai format converter offers assignable parameter controls for attack, release, filter-frequency cutoff, and tuning for imported Akai files.

A bug that created hanging notes in an earlier version of SampleTank has been repaired. IK Multimedia has also eliminated problems related to the simultaneous use of delay, autopan, and lo-fi effects. IK Multimedia; tel. (866) 243-1718 or (561) 466-9763; e-mail info@sampletank.com; Web www.sampletank.com.

E-MU PROTEUS 2500

The Proteus 2500 ($1,695) is a sample-playback synthesizer module from E-mu. The 4U synthesizer offers robust real-time editing, an extensive built-in sequencer, and direct connection to USB-equipped host computers.

The Proteus 2500's ROM has a 32 MB sound set of 16-bit, 44.1 kHz samples. You can expand the unit's ROM to as much as 128 MB with E-mu's Proteus 2000 expansion ROM kits or Flash memory boards imported from E-mu Ultra samplers. Programmable knobs on the Proteus 2500's front panel let you tweak voice parameters and control Pan and Volume of as many as 32 MIDI channels in real time. For tempo-based modulation, you can sync more than 100 synthesis parameters to MIDI Clock. Sound-shaping tools include 50 filter types; 3, 12-stage envelope generators per oscillator; and 17 LFO waveforms.

The Proteus 2500 boasts improved MIDI response with a new processor that E-mu claims offers three times the power of the Proteus 2000. Audio output is also improved with 24-bit digital-to-analog converters.

A built-in 16-track MIDI sequencer offers 16 MIDI channels per track, and you can use linear or pattern-based recording. The sequencer has real-time, step, and analog-style grid recording modes, with a generous 384 ppqn recording resolution. Additionally, you can export or import Standard MIDI Files, and the sequencer section is able to hold as many as 300,000 MIDI events. The Proteus 2500 ships with a large variety of MIDI sequences that are intended for user modification.

The Proteus 2500 has six unbalanced ¼-inch analog outputs, two of which are Sub outs that double as inserts. A coaxial S/PDIF jack is used for digital output. E-mu/ensoniq; tel. (831) 438-1921; E-mail info@emu.com; Web www.emu.com.

AKAI Z4 AND Z8

Akai's Z4 and Z8 ($1,499 and $1,999, respectively) offer 24-bit, 96 kHz sampling with a 4-channel effects processor. Both have 20 GB hard drives, and you can expand sample RAM to 512 MB. The Z8 provides a removable front panel and eight real-time control knobs; the Z4 has four control knobs.

The samplers have 192 filter types, 26 of which offer resonance parameters. The filter's 6-pole design lets you set up various configurations, such as three independent 2-pole filter blocks. As many as three filters can simultaneously process a single oscillator.

Akai's Intellisample feature automatically provides keymaps for incoming audio data. A user-definable threshold triggers the sampling process; sampling ceases when the incoming signal drops below the threshold. Both samplers automatically name and assign keymaps to the sample and then repeat the process when the next piece of audio crosses the threshold.

The Z4 and Z8's built-in 4-channel, 24-bit, 96 kHz effects processor allows you to resample and process sounds. Other sample-processing features include Insert Sample, Delete Section, and BPM Match. Rescale is similar to the unit's normalizing feature, but it allows the user to define the amount of amplitude change.

The Z4 and Z8 have 248-by-60-pixel graphic LCDS and offer a built-in USB-to-host port. Akai's ak.Sys software lets you network and manage sampler files. Both units offer two balanced ¼-inch analog inputs and two balanced ¼-inch analog outputs. Akai musical instrument corporation; tel. (800) 433-5627 Or (817) 831-9203; e-mail info@akaipro.com; Web www.akaipro.com.

MIDIMAN SURFACE ONE

Incorporating touch-sensitive fiber-optic Smart Fabric from Tactex Controls, MIDIMan's Surface One ($799) offers an ergonomic, user-programmable desktop control surface for just about any MIDI-compatible device. The Smart Fabric material can track movement in three dimensions simultaneously — front to back, left to right, and pressure — at a high resolution. That ability lets you control multiple modulation parameters at the same time.

You can connect Surface One to a computer using the MIDI ports or the USB connector, or it can be used as a standalone control device. Surface One includes 8 fader pads, which you can subdivide into 5 triggers; 16, 360-degree rotary encoders; and 8 virtual buttons. The thumb pad is assignable as three triggers or as a single control area.

Surface one ships with presets for a variety of sequencers, software and hardware synthesizers, and lighting systems. Flash memory allows you to upgrade the unit's software. Interface connections are two MIDI In and Out ports and a USB jack. MIDIMan; tel. (626) 445-2842 or (800) 969-6434; e-mail info@midiman.net; Web www.midiman.net.

CAKEWALK GUITAR TRACKS PRO

Cakewalk designed the user interface of Guitar Tracks Pro (Win, $139; upgrade from Guitar Tracks, $49; upgrade from Guitar Studio, $29) to resemble a portable digital studio. The software offers as many as 32 tracks and supports 24-bit, 96 kHz audio. The software does not provide MIDI sequencing.

You can use 16 simultaneous DirectX effects, with as many as four effects per track. Effects include pitch shift, parametric EQ, stereo chorus, and reverb. The program includes Alien Connections' ReValver SE, a guitar-amp simulator plug-in, and Audio FX 1, a dynamics processor. Another amenity for guitarists is Guitar Tracks' built-in chromatic tuner. Each of two auxiliary buses provides pre- or postfader settings.

A Master section gives you access to common global track operations such as Fast Forward, Rewind, and Record. The Track Bounce command lets you bounce any or all of the tracks to free up disk space. Multitrack editing functions include cut, copy, and paste. Additionally, you can create volume and pan envelopes.

The software ships with a large number WAV-format loops compatible with Sonic Foundry's Acid, and you can import them into the program with automatic tempo matching. You also receive Fruityloops Express for creating your own drum loops.

In order to run Guitar Tracks Pro, you will need to have at least a Pentium II/300 MHz computer with 64 MB of RAM and Windows 98, 2000, ME, or XP. Cakewalk; tel. (888) CAKEWALK or (617) 423-9004; e-mail sales@cakewalk.com; Web www.cakewalk.com.

UNIVERSAL AUDIO NIGEL

Universal Audio has released Nigel, a guitar-amp modeling plug-in for its Powered Plug-In digital signal processing system. The software emulates a range of revered amplifiers, delivering everything from clean, warm tube sounds to replicas of saturated British amps. Nigel also allows you to create nontraditional amplifier tones.

The plug-in lets you morph between any two amplifier presets and features a bevy of stompbox emulations. Effects include phase shifters modeled after the Mutron Bi-Phase, the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, and MXR phasers; wah effects patterned after the Mutron III; a gate and a compressor; and fade-in, tremolo, and delay effects.

Nigel is free to all Powered Plug-In owners, and the software will be included in an upcoming Powered Plug-Ins 2.0 update. Perhaps the update will include knobs that go to 11. Universal Audio; tel. (831) 466-3737; e-mail info@uaudio.com; Web www.uaudio.com.

BLACET MINI-WAVE

The Mini-Wave (assembled, $239; kit, $180) is a hybrid analog and digital synthesizer module from Blacet. Grant Richter of the Wiard Synthesizer Company designed the module, and Blacet retooled it to accommodate the Paia FracRak mounting format. The Mini-Wave stores a 512 KB digital wavetable with 256, 8-bit sampled waveforms arranged in 16 banks. The module can be used as a sound source or function generator.

You can select any bank of waves with the Bank Select knob and scan or select waves manually with the Wave Select knob. Other possibilities include scanning the wavetable and banks using control voltages (CVs) or a joystick. A row of LED indicators illustrates the bank and waveform selection in binary. The Mini-Wave includes an Input Select switch for changing the CV to 0V through 10V, or ±5V.

All inputs and outputs are on ⅛-inch minijacks. Besides audio I/O, there are CV inputs for Wave Select and Bank Select. Power supply and rack housing are sold separately. Blacet Research; tel. (707) 869-9164; e-mail blacet@blacet.com; Web www.blacet.com.