MOTU
Ships Digital Performer(TM) 2.3 Upgrade with Tube Preamp Simulator Plug-In
January
29, 1998
Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. (MOTU) announced that it is now shipping Digital Performer
2.3, the latest upgrade to its flagship MIDI sequencing and digital audio recording
software. New features include a search engine, "Clippings" windows, stereo tracks,
crossfades, window sets, the world's first open-architecture MIDI plug-in format,
and a new real-time audio plug-in, called PreAmp-1(TM), that simulates tube pre-amp
warmth and distortion effects. The upgrade also ships with over 200 Mb of free
audio samples from Universal Sound Bank(TM) and Numericalsounds(TM). PreAmp
1 Tube Simulator Plug-in The latest addition to Digital Performer's growing
set of real-time, 32-bit audio effects plug-ins, PreAmp-1 acoustically models
vacuum tube preamp circuitry. "What makes - PreAmp-1 unique," says Jim Cooper,
MOTU's Director of Marketing, "is the wide range of effects it can produce, from
smooth, high-fidelity tube preamp warmth to extreme, mind-numbing distortion effects."
Flexible controls allow users to match just about any fuzz or distortion box effect.
Presets include "Warm Acoustic Edge", "Squonk Fuzz", "Nose Ring" and "Hades Gain".
Users can apply the effect to audio tracks in real-time while playing back the
audio from their Power Macintosh's built-in audio output with no extra hardware,
or they can achieve higher I/O fidelity via a Digidesign Audiomedia III or KORG
1212I/O PCI audio card. Stereo Recording, Editing, Mixing and PureDSP(TM)
Processing
Digital Performer 2.3 introduces stereo tracks, along with several
additional features aimed at supporting stereo recording, editing, mixing and
processing. Stereo tracks provide users with sample-accurate phase-lock between
stereo audio regions, regardless of how the audio is edited. In addition, Digital
Performer's PureDSP(TM) audio processing can now be applied in stereo, maintaining
stereo phase when users time-stretch, pitch-shift or sample rate convert stereo
audio material. Fades and Crossfades.
Digital Performer 2.3's new Fades command
allows users to apply fades and crossfades to the transitions between audio regions.
Users can apply fades or crossfades of any length to eliminate clicks and pops,
as well as to create smooth transitions between audio regions. Many fade curve
presets are provided, including equal-gain and equal-power curves to prevent volume
drops and clipping. Users can also create custom curves graphically. Digital Performer
calculates fades and crossfades with its background processing features so that
users can apply dozens - or even hundreds - of fades and crossfades in one operation
and then continue recording and editing while the fades are calculated in the
background. The World's First open MIDI Plug-in Format Digital
Performer 2.3 includes all of the new features recently introduced in MOTU's major
upgrade of Performer. Among them is the world's first open-architecture MIDI plug-in
format, which allows MOTU and third-party developers to write MIDI processing
plug-ins that Digital Performer users can apply to their MIDI tracks. Digital
Performer users can apply plug-ins non-destructively in real-time, or destructively
as a normal region editing operation. Search Engine Digital Performer
also includes a powerful new search engine, which helps users find and select
MIDI and audio data according to any criteria they wish. For example, users can
search for data based on its exact or approximate beat location within a measure
of music. Clippings Windows Digital Performer 2.3's new Clippings
windows, another sequencing first, let users stash anything they need at their
fingertips: audio data, MIDI data, phrases, sequences or even aliases to any MacOS
folder or document. Clippings windows display these items with icons in a list,
and users can drag and drop them into their projects where desired, or double-click
them to audition them - or launch other documents or applications. Window
Sets Digital Performer 2.3 also includes a feature called Window Sets,
which allow users to save and recall their favorite window arrangements on screen.
For example, users might create a window set for recording that includes the Tracks
window, Audio Input Monitor window, and the large counter display. They might
then create another window set for audio editing. Users can create, name and save
as many window sets as they like and assign them to keystrokes for instant recall.
Many other Addition Enhancements Digital Performer 2.3 includes
numerous additional enhancements. Users can now store and recall Unisyn "performances"
- a 'snapshot' of settings in their entire MIDI rig - in their Digital Performer
projects for convenient storage and recall later on. An Event list view filter
is now provided to hide different types of controller data in event list while
displaying them in other windows. A new "Shift To" option allows users to immediately
shift any material directly to the desired location. Digital Performer now supports
frame-click tempo settings for film composers, allowing them to type in frame
click tempos (like a "12-6" click). The upgrade also ships with over 200 Mb of
free audio samples, including percussion, bass, guitar, effects loops, and custom
programmed 'drone' files. All samples are arranged in Digital Performer files
so that users can easily preview them and drag-and-drop them into their projects.
Digital Performer 2.3 is now shipping. It is available as an upgrade for existing
Performer and Digital Performer users. For
more information, visit their web site at www.motu.com. |
