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SSL will be at RSPE in Universal City, CA on March 9th as a part of their Logic Studio Expo.

The seminar will focus on the SSL Matrix and its ability to work with different types of workflows inside Logic Studio. SSL will also be demonstrating their Pro Convert software. The focus of the Pro Convert demos will be translating different sessions from Logic Pro and other DAWs into working with popular video editing software like Final Cut Pro.

If you’re in the area and want to check this out, RSVP at www.rspe.com/Events

The IMSTA has launched the “Let’s Talk Piracy” survey, active until December 31, 2009. The non-profit group aims its campaigns at increasing awareness of piracy issues pertaining to professional audio software while also attempting to decrease demand for pirated software.

From the press release:

IMSTA’s goal is to collect information from software users on an annual basis, in order to identify specific trends in attitude towards the use of pirated software. The 2008 survey prompted over 3700 responses from 83 countries, with IMSTA member companies playing an active role in promoting the survey on websites, in newsletters and via e-blasts to registered users. The 2009 survey uses the same questions, enabling IMSTA to compare data year on year.

The annual survey is one of IMSTA’s most valuable pieces of research. Since survey participants can choose to remain anonymous, it is believed that the responses will give an accurate picture of their views. IMSTA is hoping that the 2009 survey will attract a large number of new participants, but we’d also strongly encourage 2008 participants to come back and re-visit the questions. It may be that their views on certain issues have changed over the course of a year and this is just the kind of information IMSTA would like to have.

This is a good orginization. They’re not like the RIAA or MPAA. They’re not out for blood. Instead, they’re opening a dialog with all of those who use professional-grade audio software in order to ensure that the industry has a future.

This is my opinion, but if you make money editing, recording, mixing, or mastering, you really should be purchasing any software you use. Respect your craft and realize that while you’re trying to make a living as an engineer, there are people trying to make a living from releasing the software you love so much.

To take the survey, visit http://www.imsta.org/

Coleman Audio VU Pumpkin

If you’re at AES in New York this weekend, make sure you check out Booth #162 to see the fantastic VU Pumpkin!  It has LED backlights and was probably the coolest and geekiest thing we saw all day.

Also, you won’t find cleaner, more solid monitoring and metering solutions made by a nicer Man with a nicer wife anywhere.  So if you’re heading over to check out the pumpkin, make sure to say hi to the Coleman’s and see the fantastic monitoring solutions.

Big New! Pro Tools Users can finally upgrade to Snow Leopard.  We can now take part in all the 64-bit goodness that Logic Users have had since the OSX 10.6 update was released!

Rejoice.

One last note – This is a pre-release meaning… well.. I’m not entirely sure.  I suppose this is like a Beta… Well anyway, not EVERYTHING works perfectly yet with this version of pro tools (8.0.3r) and some hardware is no longer supported past this version.

Important Information
Please note that the following items have not been fully qualified with Pro Tools 8.0.3pr:

• Certain AIR instrument plug-ins
• Avid video peripherals

The following items are no longer supported with Pro Tools 8.0.3pr:

• PowerPC-based Macs
• Mbox (original version)
• Expansion|HD Chassis
• The following legacy audio interfaces: [link to End of Support page]
  • 888|24 I/O
  • 882|20 I/O
  • 1622 I/O
  • 24-bit ADAT Bridge I/O

Additional Information

Q: The last Pro Tools software update was version 8.0.1 but the prerelease is labeled 8.0.3. What happened to version 8.0.2?
A: Pro Tools M-Powered Essential 8.0.2 is a new software version specifically made for bundles with certain M-Audio hardware [ more info ]. Like Pro Tools 8.0.1, Pro Tools M-Powered Essential 8.0.2 has not been qualified with OS X 10.6.

Q: Will this prerelease run on Leopard OS?
A: While we have not yet qualified Leopard with Pro Tools 8.0.3pr, we intend to release the final version with support for both OS X 10.5.x Leopard and OS X 10.6.x Snow Leopard. At this time we recommend not using Pro Tools 8.0.3pr with OS X 10.5.x Leopard.

Q: Will the final Pro Tools 8.0.3 release be free or a paid upgrade?
A: Pro Tools 8.0.3 will be a free update for all registered Pro Tools 8.0 HD, LE, M-Powered, and M-Powered Essential users.

Q: Do Avid video peripherals work in this prerelease version?
A: Avid video peripherals have not been qualified yet. We intend to support Avid video peripherals with the final release of Pro Tools 8.0.3.

Q: Will all plug-ins work on Snow Leopard, or should I expect a lengthy compatibility transition?
A: At the time of this writing we have found most plug-ins to work without problems except the following AIR instruments which exhibit a yellow user interface:

• Hybrid
• Strike
• Structure
• Transfuser
• Velvet

If you encounter additional issues please let us know by providing your feedback here:

• Snow Leopard Prerelease Forum

Q: Does Pro Tools 8.0.3pr take advantage of new OS technologies such as GrandCentral or OpenCL?
A: While both technology developments are exciting on many levels, Pro Tools 8.0.3 software will not directly take advantage of either one.

GrandCentral allows new software developers to take advantage of many-core processing without requiring complicated and lengthy development work. Pro Tools already employs a modern multi-threaded processing engine that is fully compatible with many-core CPUs.

OpenCL affords additional processing power by taking advantage of the computer’s graphics processing unit (GPU) in addition to the CPU. While extremely powerful, GPUs will work best with only certain kinds of calculations and are not well suited for low-latency audio environments. Additionally OpenCL support is only available with certain computers and display cards.

As always, we are in close contact with Apple and will evaluate this and other new developments for future use in Pro Tools.

Q: Snow Leopard provides a 64 bit kernel mode. Will Pro Tools 8.0.3 work in 64 bit kernel mode?
A: We do not intend to qualify 64 bit kernel mode at this time as it does not offer significant performance advantages and may cause compatibility issues with other devices and software.

Q: Is Pro Tools 8.0.3 a 64 bit application?
A: Pro Tools 8.0.3 is a 32 bit application. We are investigating 64 bit support and have no release plans to share at this time.

Sounds like there’s some cool stuff happening in Spain in early October. So if you’re in Spain and don’t plan on attending AES in New York, perhaps you should check out Kyma. Sounds like it’ll be a real good time.

Press release after the jump.

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