Today's Top Stories:

  "As if we didn't have enough to worry about...."
First there was Nuclear Winter, then Acid Rain and most recently, Global Warming. And now...your synth might be trying to kill you? According to a report in the Brockville Recorder and Times, a lady was awakened by her smoke detector. The local fire chief said that the detector saved her life because "...a synthesizer-type instrument with a low voltage transformer appears to have overheated, causing the fire." It took 18 firefighters more than 30 minutes to get the fire under control, which caused $30 to $40 thousand in damages. Makes you wonder which synth-type instrument did the dirty work!

  New Fusion OS Available
Alesis is keeping its promise to continue adding new sounds and features to their Fusion Series (8HD and 6HD). Firmware version 1.20 is now available, along with an updated, much improved Sound ROM. Here are just a few of the latest features:

• Insert effects can now be chained
• Sample algorithm programs now contain four oscillators
• New filters have been added: RP Low Pass and three "Vocal Formants"
• New sample process functions have been added (Bit Quantize Region and Reverse Region)
• Envelopes can now have their curve set per stage
• Sample loop points can now be edited while a voice is playing
• Increased polyphony for all algorithm types

• WAVE files (.wav)
• AIFF files (.aif and .aiff)
• Akai S-1000/3000
• SoundFonts (.sf2)
• Akai S-5000/Z-Series Programs

  Precision Mastering Plug-In
Universal Audio has a reputation for quality that dates back to the days of its old analog processors. Many of those great sounds are available again via today's plug-in technology. Most recently, the company announced the UAD Precision Multiband Mastering Compressor plug-in, which will be available in VST, AudioUnits and RTAS formats. This is a specialized tool used during mastering that allows users to access and process five spectral bands via dynamic range control. You can choose Compression, Expansion or Gate separately for each of the bands. The flexible, user friendly GUI (Graphic User Interface) makes this a great tool for musicians, engineers and producers at all levels from novice to seasoned pro. Look for it soon.

  New In Stock At Sweetwater

• Antelope Audio Isochrone OCX-V -- Designed by the people who developed the hugely popular Aardvark line of synchronizers, the Isochrone OCX-V is a video-optimized master clock with a built-in video generator, atomic clock input (atomic? See item one in our news section) and "jitter" management. This is a strictly "for serious pros only" master clock that is specifically designed for those who work with both audio and video and it clearly has its eye on the future of this increasingly important marriage of two technologies.
• Cycling '74 Hipno - This is a surprisingly affordable plug-in bundle with 40 presets in Mac or PC formats (Audio Units/VST/RTAS). The collection, which was designed by Electrotap, offers up a boatload of virtual instruments and audio processors. It includes granular, spectral, and filter/delay-based plug-ins that range from lush to insane and feature the very addictive Hipnoscope morphing interface. If you ever wanted sophisticated modulated delays (which can even be video-controlled) or granular sequencing effects, this is clearly the bundle for you.

  Guitar Of The Day
Many of today's players only recognize the name Chet Atkins (1924-2001) from the old Gretsch and new Gibson product lines which he helped design. But back in the 1950s and '60s, Chet was one of the hottest guitarists, with a large collection of popular albums to his credit, as well as being a top producer and an A-list session player who appeared on countless albums. This earned the him the nickname, "Mr. Guitar." In his honor. The CE was the ultimate realization of his vision for a modern nylon-string guitar that could be played at concert hall levels without feedback. The Chet Atkins Series actually began at Gibson in 1982 with the original CE and CEC, which were then referred to as the Chet Atkins Standards. This newest, and we think, best version of the Chet Atkins CEC Studio has a special chambered body that faithfully produces the most accurate reproduction of a mylon-string guitar, but without the need to spend hours fiddling with mic positioning. It has a mahogany body with a cedar or spruce top with multi-ply brown and cream binding, a comfortable mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and the Gibson Hex piezo bridge transducer with onboard active EQ. Comes with a plush-lined hardshell case.