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Zynaptiq has announced the immediate availability of the World Cup Horn Suppressor plug-in for the VST, AAX and AU formats on macOS and Windows.

The multi-channel plugin allows suppressing the droning sound of compressor horns, popular at the Russian soccer (football) games, in real-time, leaving individual "honks" and other stadium ambience as well as commentary virtually untouched.

This is made possible using a technology known as source (signal) separation, a.k.a. de-mixing, where state-of-the-art artificial intelligence techniques are combined with precision filtering to "unbake the cake", providing after-the-fact access to the different sounds that make up a mix. Zynaptiq is a leading developer and pioneer in this field.

Already in use at Denmark's TV2 for their World Cup game transmissions, World Cup Horn Suppressor is available now to broadcasters that apply for a free 3-month license.

"We were getting complaints about the compressor horns being too dominant in the audio of our World Cup transmissions, and there really wasn't a lot that could be done about that with traditional tools." said Jens Lyd, sound engineer at TV2, Denmark. "So we contacted Zynaptiq – and within days, they provided an easy-to-use solution that quite simply completely fixed the issue for us."

World Cup Horn Suppressor supports all common sampling rates from 44.1kHz to 192kHz depending on available CPU resources, mono, stereo, LCR, quad, 5.0, 5.1, 7.1 and multi-mono operation, as AAX native, AU, RTAS, VST 2.4 and VST 3, on Mac & Windows....

Faber Acoustical has announced that SignalScope X version 10.3 is now available for download from the App Store. In the new version, all tool tabs are visible, regardless of the current subscription status.

Changes:

• The FFT Analyzer, Octave Analyzer, and Dual FFT Analyzer tools can now be used as free readers for data files created by these same tools when no subscription is active. This allows for sharing of data files with other users who can then view the data for free, without the need for a subscription. It also allows for users who generated the data files to continue to view them if their subscription ends.
• All tool tabs are visible, regardless of the current subscription status.
• The current subscription level is identified in the Help screen, as well as in the Tool Sets tab.
• Minor bug fixes and cosmetic improvements....

UVI has released String Machines 2, a massive update to their string synthesizer instrument, now including sounds from 62 machines across 355 patches. New features include a revamped dual-layer architecture, redesigned interface, powerful new built-in modulations, and an expanded master effects section in which the new authentic ensemble effect modeled after the Roland RS-505 can be found.

String Machines 2 adds 51 new machines to the 11 originals, making it both a deep archive, as well as an expansive and powerful modern instrument. Explore classic string synths like the Solina, Freeman String Symphonizer and Rhapsody as well as extremely rare models including the SK50D, Logan Vocalist, Jen SM2007 and more. Take full control of your sound with amp ADSR, multi-mode filter, voicing, stereo, LFO and step modulators and arpeggiator for each layer. Version 2 sees the addition of powerful new built-in modulations and an expanded master effects section, including EQ, Drive, Thorus, Phasor, Delay, Sparkverb and the new Roland RS-505 modeled ensemble effect.

355 professionally-designed patches are included in String Machines 2, providing a wealth of vintage and modern-influenced arpeggios, bells, brass, bass, chords, keys, leads, pads, plucks strings and sweeps with distinct, warm analog tones. Patches and machines can be quickly browsed, edited and layered together in the updated voice architecture to create a near-limitless variety of sound design potential. Everything from subtle mix-based adjustments to creating completely new patches can be done quickly and easily through a straightforward and intuitive unified interface. String Machines 2 is a rich sonic archive of warm analog sounds from an exceedingly rare breed of synthesizer, offering a huge range of character from vintage to modern and beyond.

String Machines 2 offers native 64-bit standalone operation by way of Falcon or the free UVI Workstation, providing comprehensive support for all modern DAWs and simultaneous authorization on up to 3 computers or iLok keys.

Pricing

String Machines 2 is available immediately at an introductory price of $74 / 74€ through July 11th, 2018 (regularly $99 / 99€). Owners of the original String Machines, Vintage Vault or Vintage Vault 2 may upgrade at the special price of $39 / 39€ through July 11th, 2018.

Discover String Machines 2: YouTube.com/watch?v=2Qhsc8o2Vbs

Watch String Machines 2 in action: YouTube.com/watch?v=rX7uLH4s4OE

Listen to String Machines 2: SoundCloud.com/uvi-official/sets/string-machines-2...

Hidenori Matsuoka has released Chord NOTE v7.0 for iOS. This is a major update with new features, including:

• Progression View supports Cut, Copy and Paste functions. User can copy any chord of its View. And chord on Chord Progression of Chord NOTE compatibles with chord forms on Sheet View of Piano Kit. User can paste copied chord to both apps.
• Name Menu of Progression View and Customize Chord View shows similar chords now.
• Refined Match View is useful to search chords for the scale.
• Automatically all chord names change accidental and show them adding space after Root and before & after / (Bass mark). In addition, you don't need to add space for registration chord names.

This update enhances usability and internal processing in various situations.

Also, Piano Kit has been updated to v4.1 for iOS. The Similar Note section of Name Menu is divided into Add, Remove and Move. And it supports paste a chord from Chord NOTE as a chord form.

Chord NOTE Changes:

• Completely refined Match View (it shows chords matching Scale).
• Completely refined chords list of Customize Chord View.
• Now Name Menu of Progression View shows similar chords (add 1 note, remove 1 note, move 1 note).
• Added Cut, Copy and Paste functions for Progression View. And now user can paste as chord form on Sheet View of Piano Kit too.
• Now Chords of Progression View change automatically accidental according to Chord Tab setting.
• Now each menu of Progression View shows always even if app size is changed.
• Now Chord Names show space after Root and before & after / automatically. In addition, user don't need to add space for registration chord names.
• Supported non ASCII characters on all text fields.
• Added clear button on all text fields.
• Now Chord Progression don't stop playing chords in almost situations.
• Enhanced Score images on Key Tab for iPhone.
• Renamed Direct Edit Menu to Direct Menu.
• Implemented new memory management system.
• Improved a number of UI elements.
• Optimized many processing.

Piano Kit Changes:

• Divided "By Similar Note" section of Name Menu into "Add", "Remove" and "Move". And corrected calculation of "Remove" part.
• Now user can paste a chord of Progression View on Chord NOTE as chord form of Sheet View.
• Now user can paste even if there is no selection on Sheet View.
• Improved some UI elements.
• Optimized some processing....

Plogue has updated chipspeech, the vintage speech synthesizer, to v1.700 featuring a new character called Voder.

Here's what they say:

Originally conceived as an AI-augmented prototype exosuit for military operations in humanoid-hostile environments, Voder was hailed by the Galactic government as the weapon that would finally end the war. Unfortunately, development was rushed, the vocal apparatus was rudimentary (requiring a humanoid manual operator), and the AI was unchecked and erratic. Consequently, Voder developed its own agenda, turning against the government that created it and "employing" any persons it found convenient to as operators in its service, like cogs in the metaphorical machine.

Voder:

• Inventor: Homer W. Dudley.
• Famous for: Being the first electro-mechanic voice synthesizer.
• Device: Rigorously trained human operator.
• Synthesis type: Filter bank synthesis.
• Wikipedia: link
• Tone: Strange resonances with unexpected surprises and weird noise, can be very muted....

zenAud.io has released an update to its looper DAW, zenAud.io ALK2 and ALK2 Solo.

v2.0.99 has several bug-fixes and improvements, most notably an important overhaul of ALK's MIDI handling.

New Features:

• Silence MIDI notes button (kills all MIDI and stops transport).
• Retrigger overlapping notes MIDI loop menu option.

Bugs Fixed:

• Numerous MIDI issues with...