Febreuary 2012 News
► iZotope, Inc. announced the release of Ozone 5 and Ozone 5
Advanced. Ozone 5 is an update to iZotope’s software mastering
suite. Ozone 5 Advanced is a professional mastering suite that
expands Ozone’s feature set with individual component plug-ins,
extended features, and the brand-new Ozone Meter Bridge.
“Whether you’re a musician, engineer, or mastering pro, Ozone 5
lets you master music and other audio simply and efficiently,”
says Nick Dika, iZotope Senior Product Manager. “Ozone 5 is the
biggest update we’ve ever offered, with improvements that will
appeal to Ozone experts and new users alike.” What’s New in
Ozone 5? Pristine Sound and Enhanced DSP - Each module has been
updated with refined signal processing algorithms to bring you a
new level of mastering quality. Optimized Workflow and Updated
Interface - iZotope has redesigned Ozone’s user interface to
allow for finer control while placing important features right
at your fingertips. New users can jump in without a steep
learning curve while experienced Ozone fans will feel right at
home. Visual Feedback - Every module features updated metering
to help guide you to the perfect-sounding master. Introducing
Ozone 5 Advanced: Each module in Ozone 5 Advanced is equipped
with extended features made specifically for mixing and
mastering professionals. For added flexibility, Ozone 5 Advanced
allows customers to use each of the mastering modules as
individual plug-ins. Combining essential visualization from
Ozone’s modules with new metering tools, the all-new Meter
Bridge provides a suite of audio analysis tools that help you
visualize changes made during the mastering process,
troubleshoot problematic mixes, and compare reference tracks.
www.izotope.com.
► Nomad Factory announces the launch of “MAGNETIC II”, a
realistic “Real to Real” audio tape warming effect plug-in that
gives your audio tracks the vintage tape sound. This effect can
inject sterile audio with the warmth and character of classic
tube circuitry and analog tape saturation. The plug-in features
pure analog reel-to-reel tape speeds, tape/tube saturation and
tape color effects, as well as a dedicated vintage style EQ and
a built in Boost mastering section. The result is a creamy, warm
sound. MAGNETIC II features 9 new tape models that offers the
authentic sound of famous vintage tape machines such as Otari
MX-80 / MTR-90, Studer A80MkII and many more. MAGNETIC can be
used in many different musical ways. Try using it on individual
tracks to add subtle warmth and tape color to your drums or use
it to create a filtered cassette AM-radio effect on a vocal.
When used on the master bus, MAGNETIC can warm your entire mix
and “boost” it up to broadcast level. (MSRP $149).
www.nomadfactory.com.
► Mixed In Key announced the release of Mixed In Key 5, the
latest version of its harmonic-mixing software that’s used by
mix DJs. Mixed In Key 5 quickly and accurately identifies the
keys and tempos of digital music files, making it easy for DJs
to create mashups and play perfect DJ sets. Version 5 offers new
features and functions, as well as a powerful new key-detection
algorithm. Mixed In Key 5 offers multi-processor support for
both Mac and Windows machines, allowing the software to take
full advantage of the blazing speeds possible on multicore CPUs.
Another highlight is the new Audio Player, which lets users
audition the key-detected songs and samples from within the
software. In addition to existing support for MP3 and WAV file
formats, Mixed In Key 5 adds M4A and MP4 (video file) support.
The new key-detection algorithm provides enhanced levels of
accuracy and sophistication, and can detect key changes within
songs. Key changes are clearly shown in the waveform display of
the Audio Player, allowing users to see, at a glance, where in
the song the change occurs. Whereas the key detection in
previous versions looked at a song-file as a single entity, the
new algorithm analyzes it as a series of beat-aligned segments.
This ability to analyze short audio files means that remixers
and producers can use Mixed In Key when working with sample and
loop libraries, making it easier to find files in the same key.
As with previous versions, Mixed In Key 5 uses the “Camelot
Wheel” system, which displays key names on a circular chart that
is numbered and color-coded. This approach makes harmonic mixing
easier by graphically showing which songs are compatible with
each other. In version 5, a clickable Camelot Wheel offers an
elegant new way to see key-detected material. Once the software
has analyzed a collection of songs (for example, an iTunes
library), clicking on a key name on the Camelot Wheel instantly
brings up a list of all the files in that key, making song
selection a snap. Mixed In Key 5 for Windows and Mac OS X is
available from www.mixedinkey.com for $58. The upgrade from
previous versions costs $29.99.
► TASCAM introduced a pocket sized iXZ Mic/Instrument Input
for iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch. This little gadget turns an
iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch into an instant recording studio. Plug in
a microphone, guitar or bass to interact with the latest guitar
amp, sampling, recording and DJ apps. The iXZ supplies phantom
power for condenser microphones and input setting sets the gain.
There is also a headphone output to monitor from your iOS
device. Features include: Switchable mic/line input, 1/8”
headphone output, XLR mic input, high-impedence guitar input,
mic input powered by two AA batteries, non-powered guitar input.
www.tascam.com.
► Voxengo SPAN version 2.4.1 update is now available for
download. SPAN is a free real-time “fast Fourier transform”
audio spectrum analyzer plugin for professional music and audio
production applications. For the most part it was derived from
Voxengo GlissEQ dynamic parametric equalizer and reproduces its
spectrum analysis functionality. SPAN is available in AudioUnit
and VST plug-in formats (including native 64-bit support), for
Mac OS X (v10.5 and later), and Windows computers. Note that on
Mac, SPAN now supports Mac OS X v10.5 and higher only, running
on Intel processors. Mac PowerPC support is not available. SPAN
features include: Output signal power statistics, spectrum
smoothing, user interface window resizing, clipping statistics,
correlation meter, K-metering, stereo and multi-channel
analysis, mid/side analysis and more.
www.voxengo.com.
► Propellerhead Software released Reason 6, a major update to
their music software: Reason Essentials, the successor to
Record, that packs all the recording, editing, effects,
instruments, mixing and mastering in a streamlined package; and
Balance with Reason Essentials, an audio interface for Mac and
Windows integrated with Reason Essentials software. Combining
all the features from Record, Reason version 6 adds audio
recording and editing, along with Propellerhead’s mixing console
with EQ and dynamics on every channel, multiple parallel racks,
Line 6 amp models, new effect devices, seamless time/tempo
stretch plus additional features. New creative effects designed
for using directly with instruments or inserting into tracks
include: Pulveriser, sound crushing effect with crunchy
compression, dirty distortion and flexible modulation; The Echo,
advanced stereo echo with modern delay and analog tape echo
emulation; and Alligator, a three band pattern gate for complex
rhythmic texturing. Interface enhancements, high definition
audio transpose and true 64-bit compatibility highlight other
new feature improvements. www.propellerheads.se. ►
► Sound Ideas, the world’s largest publisher of professional
sound effects, has released a new hi-def sound effects library -
The General HD “for the next generation studio”. Sound Ideas new
General HD Sound Effects Library has more than 26,000 sounds all
originally recorded at 24 bit/96 kHz. The General HD is
published on hard drive as broadcast wav files. Each file
contains complete metadata to allow accurate searches with
popular content management software; and each hard drive
contains not only the original 24 bit/96 kHz files but also
copies of the complete collection in 24 bit/48 kHz, 16 bit/48
kHz, and 16 bit/44.1 kHz. “There have been a lot of changes in
the audio industry since I started the company 32 years ago.
Over the last 3 decades we have released over 1,000 CDs of sound
effects, but nothing like the New General HD. I personally feel
it is our best work ever.” said Brian Nimens - the founder,
President and CEO of Sound Ideas. www.sound-ideas.com.
► AdsWizz carved out its share in the U.S. online audio
market with the announcement of over sixty new customers.
AdsWizz provides the digital audio industry’s CDNs, Ad Networks,
Advertisers and Online Audio Publishers with an open platform to
serve targeted, multi-format advertisements to end-listeners and
increase revenue by monetizing the streamed digital content.
Within six months, AdsWizz garnered these customers
independently, as well as through its strategic alliance with
Liquid Compass, a premier audio streaming delivery network
currently serving over 1,000 radio stations across the U.S.
market. The company recently opened up a second office in
Denver, CO in addition to its American-based headquarters in San
Mateo, CA. “In the past, many elements of online audio
advertising services were provided by a patchwork of companies,
only supplying part of the complete service. Through our
recently launched LC Pro 2.0 streaming audio platform,
advertisers and radio stations now have a one-stop shop for all
of their digital advertising needs,” said Zackary Lewis, founder
and CEO of Liquid Compass. “Thanks to our partnership with
AdsWizz, we can now provide our customers with ad insertion and
ad measurement that they need in order to compete and stay alive
in this economic environment.” Joint customers AdsWizz and
Liquid Compass provide services to include: Cromwell Radio,
Merlin Media, Crawford Broadcasting, Leighton Broadcasting and
Rich Broadcasting. AdsWizz offers customers four key digital
audio advertising solutions including: Ad Serving, Ad Insertion,
Audience Measurement and its Global Ad Exchange. Since AdsWizz
strongly believes in the importance of offering choice and
flexibility to Broadcasters and Pure Players, customers can mix
and match encoding/streaming technologies or partner AdNetworks
to suit their individual needs. These sixty customers greatly
value AdsWizz’s exceptional flexibility and particularly its
flagship product, the AdsWizz Audio Injector for Streamers
(AIS), an application that enables CDNs, Ad Networks and Online
Audio Publishers to insert advertisements directly into audio
streams being delivered to end-listeners.
www.adswizz.com.
► Entercom San Francisco (KBWF-FM, KDFC-FM and KOIT-FM) has
officially gone paperless with their commercial production
continuity thanks to vCreative’s PPO system. The ‘Paperless
Production Order’ (PPO) system is web-based and maximizes
efficiency and accuracy through greater organization and
accountability. The adoption of PPO in San Francisco also gives
the full staff the ability to submit, check in on and listen to
spots from virtually any location. When asked how the transition
to vCreative PPO was going, Continuity Director Giselle Mendoza
said, “I love it! Set up was really simple. My AE’s find the
system very user-friendly. I like how the system holds everyone
accountable with the History feature. Our workflow has been much
more efficient now that the production team doesn’t have to wait
for me to physically walk the production orders back to the
studio.” Currently, over 1,400 radio stations use the vCreative
PPO system. More information is available at
www.vcreativeinc.com. ▲
Steve Stone, Stone Creative Productions,
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
John Morris/WSWI, University Of Southern Indiana, Evansville,
Indiana
Dave Stewart, Creative Broadcast Audio, Inc., Jersey City, New
Jersey
Chuck "Archer" Miller, B101.5 - Newstalk 1230, Fredericksburg,
Virginia
Ron Tarrant, Rogers Broadcasting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Floris Van Den Broek, Rotterdam, Netherlands
RTV Slovenija Vlozisce Tisk, Slovenija
Ramzi Cassim, MBC Networks, Pannipitiya, Columbo, Sri Lanka
Trent Rentsch, Raleigh, North Carolina
Joe Davis, WKZL-FM, Greensboro, North Carolina
Dave Cruickshank, Rogers Broadcasting, Medicine Hat, Alberta,
Canada
Larry Blakeney, WBBN-FM, Laurel, Mississippi
Jim Cook, Clear Channel CSG, Atlanta, Georgia
Rod West, Tunedge Music, Encino, California