PSP VINTAGEWARMER
PSP VintageWarmer (Mac/Win; $149) is a plug-in for VST, DirectX, and MAS host applications that models an analog multiband compressor, a single-band compressor, and a brickwall limiter. In Single-Band mode, you get a shelf filter for bass and treble frequencies. Multiband mode provides independent control of bass and treble components.
VintageWarmer adds tape-saturation characteristics to your source material. You can monitor the results with the VU and PPM meters. VintageWarmer requires a G3/300 MHZ Power Mac, 16 MB of RAM, and OS 8.6. Windows users need a Pentium II/300 MHZ, 128 MB of RAM, and Windows 95. PSP; tel. 48-60-196-3173; e-mail contact@psp-audioware.com; Web www.psp-audioware.com.
ELEKTRON SPS-1 MACHINEDRUM
Four percussion synthesizers gather under the hood of Elektron's SPS-1 Machinedrum ($1,100). The Machinedrum dynamically allocates a total polyphony of 16 notes among four synthesizer engines. Sixteen tracks can be assigned for sequencing any percussion source. Each track holds a single sound element, such as kick drum or snare.
The unit's TRX synthesis engine emulates Roland's TR-series drums but provides additional real-time control over the instruments. EFM creates percussion sounds using digital FM synthesis. The E12 synth is a sample-playback component featuring sounds derived from E-mu's SP1200 and Simmons electronic drums. PI gives you physical models of acoustic drums, but you can create sounds that go beyond realistic instruments. A pair of analog inputs allows you to gate and process external audio. Sixteen dual-waveform LFOs let you synchronize the modulation of parameters.
Each track offers a dedicated effects section. Effects include amplitude modulation, EQ, a resonant multimode filter, sampling-rate reduction, and distortion. If that's not enough, the unit's Master Effects section provides echo, delay, reverb, dynamics processing, and additional EQ.
In addition to trigger pads, the unit features eight data-entry knobs used for editing and recording synthesis and effects parameters internally or transmitting MIDI data to an external sequencer. Every pattern offers step editing of Accent, Swing, and Slide settings.
Rear-panel connections include MIDI in, Out, and Thru; six unbalanced ¼-inch analog outputs; a pair of unbalanced ¼-inch analog inputs; and a ¼-inch stereo headphone jack. Elektron; e-mail info@elektron.se; Web www.machinedrum.com.
JOEMEEK MQ1
Joemeek's MQ1 (Mac/Win; $249.99) is a PCI card and breakout box that acts as a front end for a computer's sound card. The breakout box can be seated in an available drive bay.
The MQ1 uses Joemeek's compressor and EQ technology by including a 3-band Meequalizer and an optical compressor. The box offers a breakout XLR connector and provides 48V phantom power for use with condenser mics. You also get a stereo pair of balanced ¼-inch inputs and outputs and a ¼-inch instrument-level input on the front panel. Peninsula Marketing, Inc.; tel. (310) 373-9129; e-mail themeekman@joemeek.com; Web www.joemeek.com.