Innovative Dynamic Equalizer Plug–in Commences Shipment

Boulder, CO - July 3, 2008 — Wholegrain Digital Systems LLC, manufacturer of speciality audio software, has announced the availability of Quartet DynPEQ™, a signal processing plug–in for the soundBlade digital audio workstation. Quartet is the first product that applies Wholegrain’s proprietary DynPEQ™ technology.

Audio professionals and enthusiasts alike are familiar with dynamics processors and parametric equalizers. Dynamic parametric equalization, or DynPEQ, is an integrated alliance of these two signal processing blocks. DynPEQ can perform as either a broadband dynamics processor or as a standalone equalizer, but can also apply the functionality of one to the other. Quartet’s multi–band dynamics processor settings can be configured to operate on a particular parametric band instead of the entire audio spectrum.

Quartet DynPEQ is designed especially for the task of digital audio mastering. Quartet contains four individually configurable DynPEQ bands, and a special gain stage. Wholegrain has designed the dynamics processing element of Quartet to minimize audible artifacts, which allows Quartet to render its dynamics with a high degree of transparency. To assist in fine-tuning the sound, each DynPEQ band can be individually bypassed. An adjustable, low frequency blocking filter operates on the input to avoid headroom–robbing DC offset. A limiter processes the combined output of the four DynPEQ bands, which employs extrapolation of analog peaks from the digital signal. The maximum peak is registered in real-time to assist in the detailed management of peak levels.

Few audio geeks are as busy or accomplished as George Massenburg. As the inventor of parametric EQ, his engineering, standards setting and product development efforts all garner high praise from the community. With its ability to sculpt the timbre and dynamics of a song, Massenburg values Quartet. “The Quartet DynPEQ is one on a very short list of truly advanced, useful digital processors. I trust Duane (Wise, owner and CTO at Wholegrain) with the most difficult, detailed DSP programming. I don’t know of a better filter guy in the business.”

Quartet’s intuitive and powerful user interface sets it apart from other multi–band dynamics packages. To assist in project workflow and management, Quartet offers a factory library of presets, such as de-ess, de-hum, brightness, and warmth, which can be dragged and dropped onto any band. In addition to A and B registers for quick comparison, Quartet maintains an unlimited set of patch registers for saving and retrieving project settings.

Engineers are often saddled with less than ideal tracks and anemic mixes. Though sometimes “attitude adjustment” is needed to provide more excitement, it’s equally often that the material needs subtle persuasion. Quartet can do both. Multi–award winning mastering engineer David Glasser says of Quartet DynPEQ: “I’ve been beta testing Quartet for over a year. I don’t spend a year on anything unless I think it’s good, and Quartet is very good — a totally unique combination of the highest quality digital EQ with dynamics. I’m not a big plug–in user, but this is one that has brought happy grins to my clients’ faces on several important projects. If you only have one plug-in for soundBlade, it should be this one.”

Quartet DynPEQ is sold through Sonic Studio LLC, the manufacturer of soundBlade. Information on soundBlade and ordering Quartet DynPEQ can be found at www.sonicstudio.com. Prospective users can take full advantage of a temporary trial license of Quartet DynPEQ prior to purchase. For more information on the technology that drives Quartet, please visit www.wholegrain-ds.com.

About Wholegrain Digital Systems LLC

Wholegrain Digital Systems develops new and unusual signal processors for audio applications. Its initial processor is DynPEQ, a complete and intuitive integration of parametric equalization and traditional dynamics processing. Its initial application is Quartet DynPEQ, geared specifically for audio mastering.

DynPEQ, Quartet DynPEQ, and the binary spike device are trademarks of Wholegrain Digital Systems LLC. soundBlade is a trademark of Sonic Studio, LLC.

OSSINING, NEW YORK, JULY 3, 2008—BiCoastal Studios has been on a roll lately, employing Aviom Personal Mixers for recent recording sessions with some of the music industry’s brightest stars, including the Yellowjackets Jazz Quartet, Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, and progressive rocker Danny Brill. more

ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, JULY 3, 2008—Clear-Com® Communication Systems, a brand of The Vitec Group, announces that its first software-based intercom system, Clear-Com Concert™, is now available through its worldwide network of dealers and distributors. This new multi-user conferencing and intercom product provides organizations of all sizes with a reliable and cost-effective way to easily intercommunicate. more

Extra Music Production Power for Yamaha Customers

Buena Park, CA (July 3, 2008)—Yamaha Corporation of America announces a promotional package of cutting-edge technology and content for registered customers of Music Production Products.

The X Factor Content DVD contains over 4GB of VST instruments from IK Multimedia including Sample Tank Yamaha Edition and Amplitube Duo Amp Modeling, 2.3 GB of Sonic Reality’s best sounds in HALion One and .wav format, BFD Yamaha edition from FXpansion, Arturia’s Analog Factory SE, plus the Yamaha S90ES piano sample in HALion One VSTi format. It’s available to all owners of current Yamaha Music Production products who receive the X Factor content DVD by registering at www.MPSN.com and paying a $4.95 shipping and handling fee.

After registering their products and signing up to receive the X Factor DVD, customers can get even more valued added materials. The Cubase AI Tutorial DVD is a complete guide to using Cubase AI from Ask Video Interactive Media, an industry leader in DVD Video Tutorials. Customers can receive both the AI tutorial DVD production and X Factor DVD for $9.95 including shipping and handling.

For Motif XS owners there is a special promotion which is also fulfilled on the same www.MPSN.com site. The Motif Loyalty Content DVD features 64 new Voices taken from four of the most popular DCP Voice Libraries, a new bank of 128 XS Voices and extra Performances specially created by the Yamaha voicing team, and the S90ES piano sample in Motif XS multi sample format.

The World of Motif XS Tutorial DVD, the official Yamaha Motif XS DVD, is a complete tour of the features, functionality, and just plain fun of the Motif XS workstation.

Motif XS customers can receive all 4 Music Production Power Pack DVDs for $19.95 including shipping and handling.

For more information write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Music Production, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com.

About Yamaha

Yamaha Corporation of America is the largest subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation, Japan and offers a full line of musical instruments and sound reinforcement products to the U.S. market. Products include: acoustic and digital pianos, portable keyboards, guitars, acoustic and electronic drums, band and orchestral instruments, marching percussion products, synthesizers, professional digital and analog audio products, and innovative technology products targeted to the hobbyist, education, worship, professional music, and installation markets.

MEDFORD, OR, JULY 3, 2008—The stage is rarely dark at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, a historic performing arts center in Medford, OR. The venue hosts up to 100 performances and other events per season, keeping staff members busy. All of this comes together through use of intercom solutions from Clear-Com® Communication Systems, a brand of The Vitec Group, which the facility has used for more than a decade. Recently, staffers there beta-tested the latest version of Clear-Com’s CellCom10® digital wireless unit, CellCom10 Version 1.5.7, giving it a huge round of applause. more