Products of Interest

LinPlug Albino 2 Virtual Synthesizer

LinPlug has announced Albino 2, a virtual synthesizer running as VST 2.0 and/or Audio Unit plug-ins on both Windows and Macintosh computer platforms. Albino 2 is the collaborative outcome of LinPlug and sound designer Rob Papen, who has designed presets for Emu Orbit-3 and Access Virus, among other synthesizers.

The plug-in comes with an enormous number of presets (1,250), designed by Mr. Papen. The synthesizer model runs on three oscillator modules, two filter modules, two envelope modules, and eight effects modules (see Figure 1). The synthesizer is capable of 32-note polyphony (this feature is CPU-dependent). It allows amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, and pulse width modulation for all waveforms, and features two filters and eight envelopes per voice. The plug-in includes four independent low frequency oscillators (LFOs), and houses a programmable 32-step arpeggiator. In addition, it offers micro-tuning for the creation of custom scales. The package comes with two chorus effects, one each of flanger, phaser, and filter/distortion effects, two delays, and a reverberation effect. The program boasts sample-accurate timing.

Figure 1.

Screenshot of LinPlug Albino 2 Virtual Synthesizer.

Albino 2 runs on both Windows (Windows 95 or higher, 500 MHz or higher CPU) and Macintosh (Mac OS X v10.2.6 or later, 500 MHz or higher CPU) platforms, and requires at least 1024 × 768 (SVGA) monitor resolution. The software comes with a CD-ROM and a full manual (or it can be downloaded from the LinPlug Web site along with a PDF manual).

The list price for LinPlug is € 199. Contact: LinPlug Virtual Instruments GmbH, Postfach 440330, 12003 Berlin, Germany; electronic mail pete@linplug.com; Web www.linplug.com/.

Figure 2.

M-Audio Audiophile FireWire Audio/MIDI Interface.

M-Audio Audiophile FireWire Audio/MIDI Interface

M-Audio has produced the follow-on interface to their Audiophile USB Audio/MIDI Interface in the form of an expanded FireWire version (see Figure 2). The FireWire Audiophile provides a four-input/six-output audio interface with a one-in/one-out MIDI interface. It includes many features that aid mixing and recording in a variety of mobile settings.

The FireWire Audiophile makes possible 24-bit resolution/96-kHz sampling rate audio input and output. A pair of stereo analog RCA inputs is provided, along with two pairs of stereo outputs. A digital S/ PDIF coaxial input and output is also featured and this digital output supports Dolby AC-3 (Audio Coding 3) and DTS (Digital Theatre Sound) surround formats. The MIDI input/output ports allow connection with MIDI-enabled devices. Two FireWire ports allow connection with computers and other hardware devices and the unit can be powered by a 6-pin FireWire bus or by the included DC power supply. A headphone output with dedicated level control allows direct audio monitoring. The output has A/B switching to allow monitoring to change between assignable sources. Software-controlled mixing can be used to manipulate both the hardware and software input/output.

There is no latency when monitoring audio directly from the interface; there is a low latency with ASIO software-based monitoring. Auxiliary send is available on all channels. The user can assign output, input, software return, and auxiliary sends to a level control on the front panel of the Audiophile.

The frequency response of the interface is 20 Hz to 40 kHz, ± 0.4dB. A dynamic range of 108 dB (A-weighted) is possible, and the signal-to-noise ratio is 106 dB (A-weighted).

The PC system requirements for the FireWire Audiophile interface are: Pentium III, 500 MHz, 128 MB RAM, running Windows 2000 or XP with DirectX 8.1 or higher. The Macintosh requirements are: G3 500 MHz or higher, running Mac OS 9.2.2 with 128 MB RAM or OS X v10.2.6 or higher with 256 MB RAM.

The M-Audio FireWire Audiophile is listed for US$ 349.95. Contact: M-Audio USA, 5795 Martin Road, Irwindale, California 91706, USA; telephone (+1) 626-633-9050; fax (+1) 626...