Santa Cruz, Calif., Mar. 14, 2001 -- The long awaited SmartCode Pro DTS encoders are shipping! Available in two versions, these tools are an essential part of any Pro Tools surround sound mix. DTS-CD ($495 SRP) allows you to encode and burn a red-book CD (using most desktop CD drives) for playback on most DTS-equipped home theater systems. This is a great way to audition your surround mix outside the studio.

The full version of SmartCode Pro DTS-DVD ($1495 SRP) is intended for DVD authoring, which requires additional bit rates. This version also includes SmartCode Pro/ DTS-CD as described above.

Note that these are AudioSuite plug-ins, which means that they can be used with Digi001 systems (Mac) as well. Creating a dedicated "encoding station " with a Digi001 is a very cost-effective solution.

SmartCode Pro Dolby ($795 SRP) is in final testing, and will ship by March 15, 2001. www.kindofloud.com/products/smartcode_pro

2-610 MIC PRE ON THE HORIZON
The 2-610 Dual Channel Tube Mic Pre will ship in March. We're already sold out for a few months to come. The initial reaction by those who have heard the 2-610 is "when can I get one?"

Based on the legendary 610 console designed by Bill Putnam, we've taken the best sonic qualities and added modern conveniences such as variable input impedance, phantom power and a more flexible EQ.

Bruce Swedien has been tracking/mixing Michael Jackson's new CD and is using a 2-610 prototype (along with an 1176LN). We sent it to them for a 2 -week evaluation. That was 12 weeks ago! Obviously, they love the product and you will too.

At $2295 SRP for a dual-channel tube pre, this unit is the best value on the market. When you hear it, you'll agree it's a great preamp at any price. www.uaudio.com/products/2-610

POWERED PLUG-INS UPDATE
If you're a native DAW user, the announcement of our new Powered Plug-Ins is truly exciting news. The native DAW user has never experienced the power that this new product delivers.

Powered Plug-Ins are a family of plug-ins which are "powered" by the revolutionary UAD-1 card. This PCI card brings ultra-high computational DSP horsepower to host-based DAW systems, exceeding the capability of high-end proprietary-hardware systems. The UAD-1 card relieves the host processor of DSP tasks, yielding more power for mixing, automation and system overhead. The end result is a huge increase in performance for minimal investment. With Powered Plug-Ins, the native DAW becomes a realistic alternative to more costly dedicated systems.

The Powered Plug-Ins Pro Bundle includes our award winning RealVerb Pro Stereo Reverb plug-in, the industry standard professional quality software reverb, 1176LN and LA-2A compressor emulation plug-ins, as well as EQ -Compressor, Modulated Delay (chorus, flange etc.), and Room Simulation plug-ins and the UAD-1 card.

Imagine a 32 track VST/Nuendo project with 32 EQ's, 16 compressors and 3 RealVerb Pro effects, all open simultaneously. And this scenario still leaves additional capacity on the UAD-1 processor! Remember, Powered Plug -Ins - even with a project of this size - do not put a burden on the DAW's host processor, making it available for other third-party plug-ins and system functions. In addition, offering "self-powered" plug-ins allows us to create products of nearly unlimited complexity. What that means is you will get plug-ins of a quality never seen before on any platform. Initially available for VST/Windows followed by VST/Mac and other platforms, the Powered Plug-Ins Pro Bundle will have an SRP of $995. Dealers will have demo system in place by the end of April 2001. We will be updating our web site on a weekly basis, so visit the site regularly for the latest on this very exciting product.

• The 1176LN and LA-2A continue their popular re-birth and are now being accepted by "new school" producers who typically use DAW's. This combination of vintage compressors and digital technologies is an incredibly satisfying combination. http://www.uaudio.com/products/index.html
• The 1176SA Stereo Adapter is now shipping. The 1176SA enables two 1176s (current UA or vintage models) to be used in a stereo configuration. UA has designed this device in a metal enclosure for improved shielding (the original was plastic). $99 SRP. www.uaudio.com/products/powered_plugins

Source: Universal Audio
Web: www.uaudio.com