REV UP

Oct 1, 2001 12:00 PM, By Marty Cutler

CODA MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

New features in Coda's Finale 2002 (Mac/Win; $545; academic version, $245; upgrade from Finale 2001, $79; upgrade from earlier versions, $129) notation software include an Auto-Harmonizer plug-in ported from PG Music's Band-in-a-Box. Finale 2002 creates two- to six-part harmonies in a number of styles. SmartFind and Paint let you select a range of notes and designate it as a style. You can use the style in any region and apply the same slurs, expressions, and articulations.

Finale 2002's Exercise Wizard creates music drills for anything from one instrument to an ensemble. More than 56,000 exercises are included.

The improved Engraver Slurs will not interfere with stems, beaming, or accidentals, even after transposition or part-extraction. The new Simple Entry palette greatly simplifies the drag-and-drop entry of notes and rests.

You can generate musical ideas with the Composer's Assistant functions: the Rhythm Generator can create as many as six staves of percussion, Melodic Morphing provides transitions between melodies, and Chord Reordering rearranges chord placement. Mac users will need a Power Mac, 16 MB RAM, and OS 7.6.1. PC users will need a Pentium processor, 16 MB RAM, and Windows 95. Coda Music Technology; tel. (800) 843-2066 or (952) 937-9611; e-mail finalesales@codamusic.com; Web www.codamusic.com.

YAMAHA

Version 2.0 software upgrade for Yamaha's AW4416 boosts the unit's MIDI implementation considerably; you can completely automate mixer moves and parameter changes as well as send and receive bulk dumps. With assignable Control Change messages, the unit can act as a front end for external MIDI devices, including soft synths.

Other feature improvements include enhanced control of the Waves Y56K digital signal processing card and a simplified Quick Record screen. Frequently used functions can now be assigned user-programmable control keys. Yamaha will send a CD-ROM with the free upgrade to registered users, who can register on the Web at www.yamaha.com/proaudio.

PROPELLERHEAD

Propellerhead Software's ReCycle 2 (Mac/Win; $199; upgrade, $49) adds support for stereo files, lets you preview settings before committing destructive edits, and allows you to move and delete slices from a loop. New real-time processing includes an Envelope Transient shaper and an equalizer. The software's new REX 2 file format lets you save files with lossless compression for size reduction as much as 50 percent.

ReCycle 2 supports ASIO, and the Akai S5000 and S6000 are now on the list of supported samplers. ReCycle 2 requires a Power Mac 604/166 MHz, 64 MB RAM, and Mac OS 8.6. Windows users will need a Pentium II/200 MHz; 64 MB RAM; and Windows 98, ME, NT 4.0, or 2000. Midiman/M Audio (distributor); e-mail maingate@propellerheads.se; Web www.propellerheads.se.

ROLAND

Roland has added a free software update for V-series portable digital studios. The update supports AKG's C 3000 B condenser microphone in conjunction with COSM Mic Modeling effects for the following units: VS-890, VS880EX, VSR-880, VS-1680, and the VS-1880. You can download the updates from the support section of Roland's Web site, www.rolandus.com.

BITHEADZ

Phrazer 1.02 (Mac; $399; upgrade free) has new tools for managing loops, including a built-in sample editor. You can now fine-tune loop and sample split points. The new Phrazer engine adds Acid 2 import capabilities and improved beat detection. The new version updates factory-supplied third-party loops to work correctly with the program, and you can now sample audio into Phrazer to create content.

Version 1.02 supports QuickTime movies; you can sync a track's tempo to a movie with a single slider and merge new audio into the soundtrack. Phrazer requires a G3/300 MHz, 64 MB RAM, and OS 8.6. BitHeadz; tel. (401) 886-7045; e-mail info@bitheadz.com; Web www.bitheadz.com.

AKAI MFC42

Although it is optimized for use with Akai's MPC-series sampling drum machines, the MFC42 analog filter controller ($579) can process any audio signal. The MFC42 accepts a mono input and a stereo input simultaneously. Both inputs can be processed independently, or they can be linked so that changes made on one channel affect the other. In addition, you can invert the modulation of the linked channel.

You get a 2- or 4-pole filter on the stereo channel, and a 2-, 4-, or 8-pole filter on the mono channel. Filter types include lowpass, highpass, bandpass, and notch. The unit has a built-in phase shifter, distortion, and a 2-band EQ at the output stage.

The MFC42 provides real-time controls for cutoff and resonance. The Groove Modulator function combines Tap Tempo or MIDI Clock sync capabilities with the LFO and envelope generator to alter filter cutoff, resonance, or both. Most of the controls generate MIDI Control Change data. The Send Scene function can transmit all settings at once.

Analog inputs include an unbalanced ¼-inch jack for the mono input and a pair of unbalanced ¼-inch jacks for the stereo input. Two RCA inputs and a grounding screw are incorporated for using the MFC42 with a turntable. Outputs are on two unbalanced ¼-inch jacks. It has MIDI In, Out, and Thru jacks. Akai Musical Instrument Corporation; tel. (800) 433-5627 or (817) 831-9203; e-mail info@akaipro.com; Web www.akaipro.com.

PEAVEY KOSMOS

Peavey's Kosmos ($299.99) combines a subharmonic generator and stereo-image enhancer in a 1U box. Under the front-panel heading Seismic Activity, you can select one of two speaker settings using the Subterranean-Shift button and choose whether the processed signal goes through the main outputs or through the subwoofer.

The Quake knob adjusts the intensity of synthesized suboctave harmonics, which are added to the lower frequency ranges of the original signal. Thud is a bass-boost circuit tuned an octave higher than the subharmonic tone. The Xpanse control lets you increase perceived separation in the stereo field.

The Sub Woofer control sums the output of the Quake and Thud signals when the Cut Sub Bass from Mains button is on. The front panel also includes a Global Bypass button and an input-level control.

The rear panel includes XLR and balanced ¼-inch jacks for both channels of I/O and a balanced ¼-inch jack for the subwoofer output. Peavey Electronics Corp.; tel. (800) 821-2279 or (601) 483-5365; e-mail peavey@peavey.com; Web www.peavey.com.

ROLAND FANTOM

Roland's Fantom workstation has a 76-note keyboard and a 16-part multitimbral synth engine, and offers 64 notes of polyphony. The sound set includes stereo-sampled waveforms controlled by an extensive modulation matrix. The Fantom's memory holds 1,024 patches divided into 640 presets, 256 General MIDI programs, and 128 User slots. You also get 16 rhythm kits. The Fantom has enough room for one SR-JV80 ($295) and two SRX-series ($395 each) expansion boards.

The Fantom's sound set is expandable: the unit's waveform collection can hold more than 200 MB of sounds. The Fantom's multi-effects processor can dish up three simultaneous multi-effects in addition to chorus, reverb, and EQ. Effects can be configured as insert effects for individual parts.

Fantom has a 120,000-event sequencer with Realtime Phrase Sequencing, which can record and trigger phrases and MIDI continuous controller messages.

You can control arpeggiator performances and patch parameters in real time using the onboard D-Beam, four control knobs, and four switches. The Rhythm Generator helps you produce grooves, and the Variable Arpeggiator lets you create rhythmic variations using the controller knobs. Grooves and variations can be recorded into the sequencer, and the Fantom's sequencer is always active. You can store sequence and patch data using the built-in 3.25-inch floppy drive.

The Fantom has coaxial and optical S/PDIF outputs. The rear panel has two balanced ¼-inch mix outputs and a pair of unbalanced ¼-inch output jacks. Other connectors include MIDI In, Out, and Thru; a ¼-inch hold-pedal jack; and two ¼-inch inputs for assignable control pedals. Roland Corporation U.S.; tel. (323) 890-3700; Web www.rolandus.com.