SM DUAL CHANNEL NOISE GATE

New from Studio Magnetics is the SG260 dual noise gate. The unit offers two channels with variable control of threshold, hold and release times, and it features a fast minimum attack time of 10μs. Each channel has signal in/out, key in (switchable), and side chain in/out connections.

Studio Magnetics, (Contact Details).

FOSTEX INTRODUCE COMPACT 24:12 CONSOLE

The Fostex 2412, a new compact 24 into 12 production console, will be seen for the first time at the APRS. The desk features assignable 4-band EQ, and MIDI muting with snapshot scene recall and preview. Other Fostex products on show will include the new IEC timecode software update for the D20, and there will be demonstrations of the G24S's ability to work in conjunction with other hardware that uses the 9-pin RS422 control interface, as fitted to Fostex's new 24-track Dolby S machine.

Fostex UK, (Contact Details).

PROBLEMS WITH YOUR MEMORY?

Now available from Multi Point Media is the answer to many an ST owner's prayers — cheap memory expansion. With leading programs such as Notator and Cubase increasing in size, the 520 simply doesn't have enough memory for many applications, and even the 1040 can be hard pushed at times to leave much space for song data. If you don't want to run only older versions of programs, and buying a Mega ST is out of the question, then memory expansion offers a way out.

Frontier Xtra-RAM is a simple RAM expansion board sold in 0.5 and 2MB formats. The boards are easily installed — no soldering is required, you just plug in and go — and you can upgrade your computer's memory to a maximum of 2.5MB on older 520s or a full 4MB on the new STE range. Xtra-RAM starts at £69 for a 0.5MB board.

Multi Point Media, (Contact Details).

NEWS FROM THE MUSE

The Digital Muse have announced Version 2.0 of both Virtuoso, their professional sequencer package, and the entry-level Prodigy. Virtuoso now includes the Scoresheet scoring/editing module as standard; the module is an option on Prodigy. Version 2.0 of Virtuoso will also run with Plasmec's ADAS hard disk recorder. Both programs use VMOS, Digital Muse's own multi-tasking operating system, which allows them to run concurrently with any other GEM programs, and both allow you to specify which parts of the program are to be loaded, thereby saving memory.

The Digital Muse. (Contact Details).

MIDI BY HAND

The FT3 (£39) is a compact hand-held MIDI patch controller and lead tester from Forefront Technology. The unit will transmit patch changes on any or all MIDI channels, and will merge an input signal with its own output. Patch numbers can be keyed and transmitted directly, or stored in one of eight user memories and recalled with a single key press. The FT3 also operates as a MIDI cable tester, a data filter, and a basic MIDI activity monitor (an LED flashes when data is received).

Also coming soon from Forefront is the 1U rack FT2 MIDI processor. The 2-In/2-Thru/2-Out unit will feature routing, merging, channelising, data remapping, data analysis, and display of incoming MIDI Time Code.

Forefront Technology, (Contact Details).

MUSIC TRAINING DOUBLE

The Advanced Guitar Tabulator and the Advanced Keyboard Tabulator (both £99) are two new music training and composition programs for the ST. The Advanced Guitar Tabulator (available immediately) can display any of around 3,000 chords on screen, and play them on the computer monitor's speaker and via MIDI. Chords can be assembled into a playlist, which can be replayed in sync with a MIDI sequencer. The playlist can also be printed, and stored as a MIDI file for loading into other music programs.

The forthcoming Advanced Keyboard Tabulator is essentially the same, but for keyboards.

Zone Distribution, (Contact Details).

PANASONIC PRO DAT DUO

Panasonic have introduced two new professional DAT machines, the SV3900 and SV3700. The SV3900 is designed specifically for remote control operation, via either the optional fully-featured SH-MK390 remote bus controller or the machine's RS422 port. Both P2 and ES-BUS protocols are supported; P2 allows a VCR controller to control a VCR and a DAT player simultaneously, and ES-BUS allows control of 32 separate DAT machines. The SV3700 is designed for more conventional operation, reflected by the greater number of front panel controls (including a jog wheel), although an infra red remote and parallel remote socket are standard.

Both machines feature a 4-DAC 18-bit D-to-A section and 1-bit 64-times oversampling A-to-D convertors, and both have rear panel switches to set SCMS copy status: free digital copying; total prohibition of copy; or one copy only allowed.

Panasonic UK, (Contact Details).

SAMPLING FOR SUCCESS

A new sample library aimed specifically at the dance music market is on the way from Time & Space. Zero-G Datafile One, the first of three volumes in the series, is available now on CD, with two more to follow.

The collection has been assembled by writer/producer Ed Stratton (aka Man Machine, and one half of Jack'n'Chill), whose track record of five recent Top 20 Dance Chart singles suggests that he should know a thing or two about what samples the library should incorporate. These include the essential 808/909/727 sounds, over 60 breakbeats, vocal hooks, and "completely mental but very usable vocal fx/sci fi and techno fx, ambient noise and instruments". A 20-page booklet helps you find your way around the 1,000 or so samples, all of which are recorded at the same level so that once you've set your sampler's input level correctly, you can leave it set.

Time & Space, (Contact Details).

MAC CUBASE V1.8

Steinberg's Mac version of Cubase has now been upgraded to Version 1.8. New facilities include: a MIDI mixer, enabling you to create 'control panels' using on-screen knobs and sliders which can be used to control any MIDI device/parameter in real time (a set of preset templates for many popular instruments is provided); the Interactive Phrase Synthesizer, which generates variations on your music; enhanced score edit; MIDI Manager compatibility; MOTU MIDI Timepiece support. The new version of the program will run on any Mac, although a machine with at least 2MB is recommended.

Evenlode Soundworks, (Contact Details).

MAKING CONNECTIONS THE PEAVEY WAY

The new 1:1 Interface from Peavey may not be the most hi-tech offering in their product range, but it's a useful one nonetheless. The unit is a line level transformer, offering high to low and low to high impedance conversion, via both male and female XLR connectors (low) and unbalanced jacks (high impedance).

Peavey Electronics UK, (Contact Details).

EPS16+ GOES TURBO!

Ensoniq have announced a new version of the EPS16 sampler. The EPS16+ Turbo (£2395) includes as standard the 1 MB of previously optional nonvolatile Flashbank user programmable sample memory. Other specs remain the same: 16-bit sampling; 24-bit effects processing; 16-track sequencer; 2MB of RAM; SCSI port.

Sound Technology plc, (Contact Details).

FOUR MINUTE UPGRADES

Four Minute Warning have announced upgrades to two of their programs. Filemaster 2.0 (£46) allows users to back up samples from a range of samplers on to their ST.

It will read samples directly from any 12-bit 3.5" Roland disks (eg. from S50/550/330 or W30 disks), and can pull in via MIDI samples from the Akai S612, X7000/S700, S900/9S0, S1000/1100, and Roland S10/S220/MKS100, and any samplers that support the MIDI sample dump standard. Each series of samplers is supported by a particular version of Filemaster. The program can also read and convert Avalon and Sound Designer samples.

If you run the program on an STE, sample auditioning is possible via the computer's DMA audio jacks. Filemaster runs as a regular program within a multi-program shell (such as Softlink), or as a desk accessory.

Also now on Version 2.0 is Unison 220, the U20/220 Editor/Librarian/Drumkit management program. The updated program features improved support for the U20 keyboard, and new hardware protection that allows backup of the program disk, but still leaves the cartridge port free for other dongles.

Four Minute Warning, Northern Sales Office, (Contact Details).

BOSS OF THE BULK DUMPS

Boss have introduced a compact MIDI bulk librarian, the BL1. The unit stores data in internal memory and RAM card, and can be powered either by batteries or a separate PSU. The combination of battery power and small size (170x140x65mm) could make it a very handy tool for MIDI giggers.

Roland UK, (Contact Details).

SYMETRIX QUAD EXPANDER/GATE

Symetrix have announced the imminent launch of the 564E Quad Expander/Gate (£549) . The unit comprises four independent gate/expander channels in a single rack space.

Features include electronically balanced XLR inputs and outputs. The Control Loop Send/Receive allows the insertion of external graphic equalisers or other effects, or keying from any signal in the control loop. A Key Listen switch allows Main Channel or Control Loop monitoring, and continuously variable High and Low Pass filters, placed in the side chain loop, allow rolloff frequencies to be monitored.

Sound Technology plc, (Contact Details).

THE CASE FOR PROTECTION

SKB, the US carrying case manufacturer of ATA-standard freight containers, have introduced a mic case constructed from the same materials as their larger products. The AD1B (£14.95) is suitable for most makes of mic.

John Hornby Skewes & Co, (Contact Details).

PORTABLE DX7

No, not the synth — this DX7 is a new portable DAT machine from Trio Kenwood; also new is the full size KX7030 (£699.95). The KX7030 features dual 1-bit pulse digital-to-analogue convertors, and a 1-bit 64-times oversampling analogue-to-digital convertor. Frequency response is quoted as 2Hz-22kHz, and S/N as 93dB.

The portable DX7 (£499.95) uses a single 1-bit pulse digital-to-analogue convertor, recording digital signals via a coaxial i/o, and analogue signals via the optional BPA7 convertor/rechargeable battery pack.

Trio-Kenwood UK, (Contact Details)

FROHLICH FREESTYLE

Frohlich is hardly a well-known name in the UK, but their new Freestyle arranger for the ST (£ 149) might change that. The program works in a similar way to Band In A Box, in that it extrapolates from a few user-defined chords and styles to create a full arrangement, on five MIDI channels in this case (drums, piano, guitar, bass, brass).

You can use up to eight styles in any song, and use eight types, of song 'section': Intro; Original; Fill Into Variation; Variation; Fill Into Original; Break; Fade Out; Ending.

Arrangements created by Freestyle can be saved as MIDI files, and therefore used on other sequencers. Chords can be entered either via the computer, or via MIDI with the program's intelligent chord recognition feature. 13 different types of chord are recognised, and there are 32 styles as standard; more can be loaded from disk.

Zone Distribution, (Contact Details).