Amek Systems and Controls Ltd. has announced the latest outboard module in the System 9098 range of its “by Rupert Neve, the Designer” product line.

The 9098 Dual Compressor/Limiter features a signal path designed throughout by Rupert Neve. It uses the same circuit techniques employed in the 9098 Production Console and other System 9098 devices such as the RNEQ Mic Pre/EQ and RCMA remote-controlled mic amp. However this versatile Compressor/Limiter also retains the character of his classic designs of the late 60’s and early 70’s, notably the 2254.

Digital processing is used in the System 9098 Dual Compressor/Limiter control circuitry, but the audio signal path is a “Virtual Class A” analog design throughout. Very accurate control of the envelope parameters is ensured by the use of a precision RMS converter allied to digital control of the sidechain.

Other key principles of the new unit include extended frequency response and careful attention to the design of the transformer-coupled input and output stages to virtually eliminate RFI and grounding problems.

The System 9098 Compressor/Limiter is a 2U rack-mounting unit designed to complement other units in the System 9098 range. It offers two identical channels of signal processing. The sidechains may be linked for stereo operation. Each channel provides independent control of Compressor and Limiter functions, and they may be used together to create a dual-slope device.

The Compressor section offers adjustment of threshold (-30 to +12dBu), Ratio (1.5:1 to 20:1), attack (0.3mS to 150mS) and release (100mS to 5S). Switches are provided for selection of hard or soft knee and auto-release modes. The Limiter section provides for independent adjustment of threshold (0dBu to +20dBu) and release (50mS to 1S), with two switched attack times.

In accordance with Mr Neve’s traditional designs, each channel incorporates a large illuminated moving-coil VU meter which can be switched to display gain reduction, input or output signal levels or sidechain signal, in external mode. Operation of the Limiter section is indicated by an LED.

All inputs and outputs of the unit, including the sidechain access points, are balanced on rear-panel XLR connectors. The main inputs and outputs use transformers, while the sidechain send and return use Mr. Neve’s well-known TLA (Transformer-Like Amplifier) design.

A unique capability offered by the System 9098 Dual Compressor/Limiter is its Ambience Mode. This innovative feature permits the effective reduction or removal of unwanted background noise or excessive ambience and reverberant fields, during recording, or even afterwards.

Ambience Mode is not simple gating. It actually puts the unit into a different internal configuration and reduces or even removes unwanted signals below the Threshold. Careful adjustment of attack and release controls optimizes the effect. This feature may be used to remove unwanted background noise on field recordings, or to make reverberant recordings sound as if close-mic’d in a dead area.

Woodinville, WA. Mackie Designs Inc. today announced the appointment of Stephen J. Ripp as Chief Operating Officer.

Ripp has over 22 years of experience in manufacturing and consumer electronics-related businesses, most recently as President and CEO of Major Paint Co., a subsidiary of Corimon Inc. Prior to his position at Corimon, Ripp was with Sunbeam Corp. as V-P of Operations and Logistics, and before that he was Director of Operations with Black and Decker.

His challenge at Mackie is to steer the operations of the fast-growing audio manufacturer as it expands its product line, and enters new global markets. International growth is one of Mackie’s major corporate goals. Earlier this year, the company appointed Tami Periera to the new position of V-P, International Sales and Marketing.

“Stephen has both the international and domestic manufacturing and distribution expertise that will benefit our company as we grow our business and begin to implement our long-term plans for diversification,” said CEO and President Greg Mackie. “His financial acumen and strategic marketing skills will be instrumental in achieving our company goal of being a global leader in the professional audio products industry. He has exhibited excellence and respected leadership qualities at growing companies, and we feel he will add experience and depth to our management team.”

Nashville, TN. Nagra U.S.A. has announced availability of v2 software for the Nagra-D portable digital recorder. The key feature among numerous changes and added features in the new software is the option of three new high-frequency sample rate selections.

The Nagra-D can now record at 96 kHz, 88.2 kHz, and 64 kHz, in addition to the machine’s original sample rates at 48 kHz, 32 kHz, and 44.1 kHz.

Other new capabilities include mirror copy, sample-accurate sync between machines, absolute time display, time-code assemble recording, tape write protection, enhancements to the search mode, and an increase in the reel-numbering scheme from 9 to 999, with auto-incrementing of reel numbers during formatting.

The Nagra-D’s new high frequency sample rates can only function with external A/D convertors, and in 2-channel mode. The digital data density required by the high sample rate is achieved by combining digital tape tracks 1 and 2 as “left” and tracks 3 and 4 as “right.” When high sample rate is selected, the inputs automatically switch to AES digital (24-bit), and the unit’s four analog inputs are disabled. As well, the high sample rate modes can only be activated by connecting the Nagra-D to a PC running its optional NADCAM software and entering a special password from the PC.

In spite of these inconveniences, the high bandwidth upgrade appears to be a ground-breaking innovation that will delight many Nagra-D users, especially with the imminent arrival of the DVD disc format with its matching high bandwidth capabilities (the various proposals on the table for DVD-Audio format include 96 kHz and 88.2 kHz sample rates at 24-bit resolution).

The Nagra-D’s new sample sync capability allows two or more machines to be linked together in both record and playback modes for sample-accurate synchronization of the digital outputs. Machines to by synced are linked by a special cable, and time code from the master machine is sent to the slave machine for chase-lock synchronization in the usual manner.

The time-code assemble record mode is also a major new feature. When this mode is selected, the machine makes a precise time-code assemble at the record-in point. The machine accomplishes this by reading time code from tape during the pre-roll, then jamming the internal generator from tape code. The result is seamless, continuous time code on tape.

The v2 software’s mirror copy function allows an exact copy of a tape to be made on a second Nagra-D. The copy includes directory data as well as audio. Absolute time display allows the machine to show running time in hours, minutes and seconds from the start of the current reel, instead of the running time in the current take.

The Nagra-D’s search function has been improved with the new software. It can now search forward and backward at both 4-times and 8-times play speed, with audible cueing from the headphones outputs. Another new convenience feature is the ability to store a default power-up state that can be recalled from non-volatile memory after a loss of power or a memory reset.

The software update is supplied on three EPROM’s, though only the master CPU chip is required for machines without the time code option. The CPU is copy- protected and requires a password for activation. Depending on the options required, the cost of the upgrade to v2 ranges from $210.00 (US) to $600.00 (US). The higher price includes time code options and the high sample rate option.

Novato, CA. Sonic Solutions today announced that its DVD premastering system, Sonic DVD Creator, has been enhanced to create DVD discs conforming to the DVD 1.0 specification. The 1.0 spec was eleased earlier in the week by the DVD Consortium, the industry body responsible for standards.

Sonic DVD Creator becomes the first DVD premastering tool to support the new specification, enabling Sonic users to create DVD 1.0 discs in time for this fall’s consumer launch of DVD.

“The DVD format is upon us,” said Ken Jones, marketing director for DVD for Toshiba Corp., founding member of the DVD Consortium. “Sonic’s DVD Creator system is paving the way for studios to create the content that will drive the burgeoning DVD market. Sonic’s compliance with the final DVD specification ensures that the titles will be ready to go when the players are introduced.”

The DVD Creator system is designed to enable content developers, movie studios, post production, and disc replication facilities to put interactive movie content on the new DVD medium. It includes modules for MPEG-2 video encoding, audio editing and encoding, and DVD disc authoring and formatting.

Johannesburg, South Africa. According to Reuters, South Africa’s government-run Independent Broadcasting Corp. yesterday approved the sale of two state-owned radio stations to the private sector. The stations were sold to Newshelf, which is partly owned by Primedia, owner of the private Johannesburg talk-station Radio 702.

The stations involved in the sale are Radio Jakaranda, Pretoria, sold for $14 million (US); and the highly profitable Radio Highveld station, which serves the Johannesburg commercial center, sold for $65 million (US).