Brian Lawler

Just a heads up on QNAP- I am very happy with mine, but they have had a checkered history of vulnerabilities that bit many of their users. I am pretty security conscious, so I always kept mine behind a firewall, and the rare times that I want access remotely, I manually set up a VPN that lives in my router. They have made great improvements in their software packages, and update them regularly. Whatever you get (I hear good things about Synology), do make sure to keep it up to date and check-out any notices they post.

My QNAP NAS has been spinning 4 WD drives for 3303 days so far. Lot of use too- most of that time it was providing DVR for three streams before I dropped cable (TV). I don't back up the video because I don't really care about it, but keep on site and off site HD backups and use Amazon S3, which is really cheap for long term infrequently changed data.

I am still on Reason 11, and I had to quit using it (the rack) when I went HiDPI, so there is a bit more in the update for me. Best Service update price is $164.71 plus $8.95 Bestcoin. I do think RS will offer a discount before the end of the year though.

Oh well. Will wait for another sale. I can't even try the demo because Horizen authenticator chokes on my password (which displays in clear-text BTW). They may code VST's but know jack **** about security.

I also discovered updates for East Asia 1.1.2 Sequis 1.0.3 and Session Bass Prime 1.0.2 But I only check NA every week or so.

"AI Synth Dreams" is the first pre-set pack from Arctic Fox Studios. $21 Intro, then $30 This really shows off what Hyperion can do. Works with either full Hyperion or the Theia player versions. https://www.tracktion.com/products/sound-packs (scroll down to Hyperion section) 9 Minute intro by Arctic Fox with tweaking tips: 24 Minute pre-set preview:

Riffer $25 Chordjam $29

From KVR: A little bonus: any Plugin that costs less than $15 is now free when you buy $29.99 or more. Just add it to the cart | Can use multiple times | No prices altered prior! | Offer can change | Free plugins, hence no bundles, libs etc. www.everyPlugin.com

I've watched a few of Skippy's Saturday YT chats and he has mentioned that Shane Dunne, the fellow who coded Unify, only get's a piece of Unify sales- nothing from the libraries. I would think he regrets not making a better deal, but I suspect that is a big reason that they don't discount Unify (often). Hopefully Shane can swing a better agreement for version 2.

Version 3 of their MPS Sequencer. Free update from 2 or 30 day $35 sale price https://www.pluginboutique.com/products/7930 5 YT videos of 1-2 minutes:

If you own Studio One you might already own Movement- Presonus gave it away at some point. Not sure for how long, but mine is dated 2021. If you have it it will be in your https://my.presonus.com/products/all

Looks interesting, but my cats are not too keen.

Noisy synthetic drums fusing white noise, FM synthesis and distortion twisted through bitcrushers. Perfect for snappy synthetic and chiptune rhythms. https://audiomodern.com/expansions/ Requires Playbeat from AudioModern

I've not seen this yet, but looking forward to it. Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution Just released on PBS.

I picked up a United Plugins $5 deal expiring tomorrow. If anyone needs a UAD Verve Essentials or Softube VCA for personal use, PM me.

Agree it is well worth it. I will point out that a criticism on their forum is that the presenter is a fast-talker. I actually appreciate that, but if English is your second language, it might be frustrating.

Well- They must have briefly jumped the gun, because I just got the $99 sale email from Kilohearts. https://kilohearts.com/products/phase_plant

Updated for July 24 Here is the schedule of libraries (Unify bold) that will have a 24 hour Sale this coming week JULY 24+: TODAY / Wednesday - Kolours for Keyscape/Omnisphere 2 Thursday - Serene Worlds for Unify Friday - POWER TOOLZ for Serum Saturday - MegaMagic Guitars V3: Bliss Sunday - Tetrasonics for Omnisphere 2 Monday - TOXIC Omnisphere for Omnisphere 2 Tuesday - ESC Personal Flavours V2 Wednesday - Del Norte EDM/Chill for Omnisphere 2 also Del Norte EDM/Chill for Unify on sale as well. https://www.pluginguru.com/

Bundle at Best Service $45.09 plus 3% Bestcoin. Not seeing any UJAM on JRR today- they used to allow coupons sometimes for them. Agree that $29 is too steep- Guess they are expecting the faithful to buy the bundle. https://www.bestservice.com/en/usynth_new_titles_bundle.html

Under here: https://www.ujam.com/special-offers/ you will find:

iLOK still dead for me but my plugs are working, even the UAD stuff (so far). UA Connect just shows an empty window and a "circle of doom" though. Edit- UA Connect eventually issued a "failed to launch, try again" error.

Thanks for the additional info- Yes the newsletter code can only be used once. I burned mine getting the full version of Cube some time ago. Beam looks interesting, even though the only YT content I could find is sponsored. Also just a bit leery that any additional FX will be paid add-ons. So.... I am just judging Beam by what it can do now.

1.1 Update released https://lunacy.audio/beam-version-1-1-released/ Also- sale price back and running into June (40% off all Lunacy Audio) EDIT - Crossgrade price (own Lunacy Cube) $49 at PB: https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/2-Effects/53-Multi-Effect-/12371-BEAM-Crossgrade-from-CUBE

Studio One 6.6.1 is now available for download in MyPreSonus (or click “Check for Updates” in Studio One). The complete release notes and version history can be found in your account. Thanks and have a good time! New Features and Improvements: * Support for new PreSonus Quantum ES and HD Series * Web-based MyPreSonus login * Improved modifier behavior for moving effects from Console to Arrangement * [Dolby Atmos] Support for reading, writing and rendering 5.1.4 trims * [Linux] System requirements updated to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS The following issues have been fixed: * [Chord Track] Selecting diminished triad chord not possible after minor triad * [Chord Track] Diminished chord becomes minor chord when dragged to instrument track * [macOS] Audio device commands not working * [macOS] Akai MPC 2 software not instantiating * [Scenes] Post fader inserts not saved with song * [Project Page] Track height not restored when switching to other pages * [Score Editor] Layout broken in measures with many rhythmic divisions * [Show Page] First section of Setlist item not skipped reliably * "Export Mixdown" with "Import to Track" engaged causes out-of-sync playback * “Go to Next / Previous Section” commands always start playback * "Lock Pan to Channel" setting on sends is not saved as default * Loading “White Grand” Sound Set displays wrong error messages * Misleading tooltip when hovering over Mute * Missing analysis results for certain chords * Object Panner crashes when certain 3rd party panners were used before * Object Panner disappears when Console is closed and reopened * Pan slider grayed-out on duplicated audio track * Playback of long audio files broken with small buffer settings * Potential crash when switching Spatial Audio mode from Surround to Dolby Atmos * Resizing certain plug-ins GUI creates graphical glitches * Some FX/Instrument thumbnails in Browser are tiny * Splitter routing lost when switching Track from mono to stereo * [Linux] Freezes and crashes when switching from JACK to ALSA with Pipewire enabled * [Linux] Some dialogs have the wrong size

Looks great if you are an audio guy. Jump to about minute 28 ("cons") to see that if you are a MIDI/VI person, it's not a contender.