New Gear Alert: “Hermes” Mastering Router by SPL, Steinberg’s Cubasis 2.7, Pro-Q 3 by FabFilter & More
SPL ships Hermes mastering insert router.
With Hermes, SPL offers a robust routing solution to A/B your complex mastering chains.
SPL’s latest addition to their expanding range of unique mastering devices is Hermes, a mastering insert router with dual parallel mix channels.
As a mastering router, Hermes provides connections of up to 8 dual-channel processors, through which audio signal can be routed in any order. User definable presets allow the comparison of complex processing chains with just a flip of a button.
In addition, Hermes has two integrated parallel mix stages that work with any of the 8 processors, allowing for example, the comparison of two compressors with different parallel mix settings; the parallel mix stages are stored with the processing chains.
Check out an overview video of Hermes here.
Hermes is available now via Audio Plus Services, priced at $6,499.
Steinberg launches Cubasis 2.7.
Derived from user feedback, Steinberg’s Cubasis 2.7 update sees improvements to MIDI functionality and much more.
Steinberg’s Cubasis 2.7 update boasts many user-requested additions and improvements. The brand new Micrologue ARP, which is available as an in-app purchase, extends the included Micrologue analog synth with a powerful arpeggiator that includes 79 presets.
Little additions like introducing the option to load up to 3 AU MIDI plugins per track, or the 95 studio-grade effects presets deliver more tools for artistic expression than ever before.
Also new is the refined support for MIDI Thru, now providing a smooth integration and operation of external MIDI keyboards and Core MIDI apps. Many small enhancements were made throughout the development of Cubasis 2.7, rounding out the overall musical experience from inception to completion.
Cubasis 2.7 is available as download through the App Store, priced at $49.99. Existing Cubasis 2 customers are eligible for a free update to 2.7.
FabFilter’s celebrated Pro-Q is back with version 3, implementing scores of crucial improvements across the board.
FabFilter Pro-Q 3 marks a major update to the acclaimed Pro-Q equalizer plugin. Pro-Q 3 improves on its predecessor in every area, introducing dynamic EQ, surround support, per-band mid/side processing, and much more.
Pro-Q 3 adds the ability to switch any of its 24 bands to Dynamic EQ mode, and an intelligent algorithm automatically chooses program-dependent attack, release, and knee settings, while the Threshold can be set automatically, according to the input signal level or manually.
Pro-Q 3 works with all major surround formats, up to Dolby Atmos 7.1.2. The plugin automatically configures itself to the multichannel format of the hosting surround track, and an intuitive selection panel enables EQ adjustment of multiple channels together. Each individual band can now be set to process only the mid, side, left, right, or stereo channels, so you can get truly surgical with your stereo frequency-shaping on a band-by-band basis.
Pro-Q 3 adds to Pro-Q 2’s multitude of filter types with the all-new Flat Tilt shape, applying a flat tilting correction curve to the entire audible spectrum. And for those occasions when even the super-steep 96dB/octave roll-off slope isn’t precise enough, the low and high cut filter types can now be set to Brickwall mode for the ultimate in top/bottom attenuation.
FabFilter Pro-Q 3 is now available for $179, supporting both Windows and macOS in VST and VST 3, Audio Units, AAX, and AudioSuite plugin formats.
Forward Audio releases the faGuitarAlign phase alignment plugin.
Forward Audio offers a streamlined solution for phase alignment with faGuitarAlign.
faGuitarAlign will radically reduce your workload when recording electric guitars, basses, and basically everything with strings attached to it. The plugin’s X/Y pad lets you quickly find the right sweet spot between the correct phase and the mix of your different tracks, resulting in a perfect blend of both.
faGuitarAlign has an automatic alignment feature which accurately finds the right phase offset for you. Either if you want to make your phase alignment by ear or automatically, the integrated Phase Density Scope gives you reliable visual feedback in every possible situation.
faGuitarAlign is designed to be used on a stereo bus with the source tracks routed and panned correctly to it, or optionally routed through the sidechain input. It will then phase align and blend both together, and output it either in mono (standard) or with a stereo width of your choice. You can even enhance the original stereo width up to 200% to get a wider image of the instrument.
faGuitarAlign is on sale now for $39.
Electro Harmonix releases the Flatiron Fuzz distortion pedal.
Electro Harmonix notes that the Flatiron Fuzz is their own take on Act Audio’s popular RAT2 pedal.
The new Flatiron Fuzz is a classic op-amp powered fuzz/distortion, featuring a late ’70s style circuit and symmetrical hard clipping.
At lower drive settings, Flatiron Fuzz remains fairly clean and adds a sweet mild distortion. As the drive is turned up, it transports you to a world of arena rock with a spectacular thick and meaty sound. The Flatiron Fuzz’s distinctive Filter control is a low pass filter with a movable cut-off frequency, letting you dial in just the right amount of high-end, from dark to raunchy.
Flatiron Fuzz is available now, priced at $72.70.
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