If you want a quick round-up of some of the hottest new software releases for use in music and post-production then at Production Expert we've created this summary. We tell you what the brand says and what we think, we also include links to help you find out more.

This week we take a look at:

The Slate Digital VRS8 Thunderbolt Audio Interface

What Does Slate Digital Say About The VRS8

The result of nearly three years of development, the new VRS8 Virtual Analog interface unifies Slate Digital’s software and hardware into a robust audio ecosystem that we call The Virtual Recording Studio. We used a “no compromise” design approach, the result of which is a fantastic-sounding eight-channel audio interface that leads the industry when it comes to components, specs, price and performance.

The Slate Digital Virtual Recording Studio Ships With A Year License Of The Everything Bundle. The Everything Bundle includes all of the award-winning Slate plugins, worth thousands of dollars. Using the VRS8 and VMS Microphones, you’ll be able to track through world-class microphones, preamps, equalizers, and more in real time.

What Do We Think About The VRS8 By Slate Digital?

I have seen and heard a couple of demos of the VRS8 system at trade shows and events and it looks very solid and sounds great. These were not what you could call critical listening situations but I'm sure under scrutiny the VRS8 will stand up as a very worthy contender for your hard earned cash in the already crowded audio interface marketplace.  However, this is not the first time we have been introduced to the VRS8 concept or hardware, in fact, the unit was first launched nearly 2 years ago at the winter NAMM show. I'm sure the Slate team have taken their time to get the VRS8 right to the finest detail but I'll reserve my final verdict until I have a unit installed in the studio working on a session. What is very interesting is that some o-line resellers are quoting 1-2 weeks for delivery of the VRS8.

Pros:

• The specs and features look great on paper.

• The team at Slate Digital have taken their time to get the VRS8 right.

• Under £2000 UK pounds for a quality Thunderbolt audio interface with 8 mic pres sounds like a great deal.

Cons:

• Not the first time this unit has been launched. With a bit of luck, we might get a unit to review very soon.

Learn more about the VRS8 by Slate Digital at their website.

ANIMATE By Mastering The Mix

What Does Mastering The Mix Say About ANIMATE?

ANIMATE helps you inject life into your mixes in a precise, versatile and colourful way.
With four different movement modes, each with individual frequency assignments and
mid/side functionality you’ll get your music jumping out of the speakers precisely how you
want.

Main ANIMATE Modes

• Expand mode allows you to dial in a pristinely clean sounding upward expansion.

• Punch mode enhances the transients of your audio to help them bite through the mix.

• Ignite mode allows you to dial in rich harmonic distortion in a dynamic way based on the input signal. Ignite can increase the perceived loudness, power and presence of a channel without the pumping effects of a compressor.

• Grow mode lets you increase the width of the selected frequencies surpassing the threshold using a psychoacoustic precedence effect.

Other ANIMATE Features

• The filter allows you to isolate which frequencies are processed. The frequencies of the signal will glow giving you a better idea of where to set the bands. The filters have a 24dB/octave slope and are combined with an innovative solution to dramatically

• The effects in ANIMATE will most likely increase the volume of your audio. The output slider has a level matching pointer to help you adjust the output gain to match the original perceived loudness of your audio before it passed through ANIMATE’s effects. So, when you bypass ANIMATE you can confidently determine whether your settings have a positive or negative impact on your sound.

• Mid / Side, Left & Right functionality

What Do We Think About ANIMATE By Mastering The Mix?

I'm a big fan of Master The Mix plug-ins, I particularly like their easy to use metering plug-in LEVELS. Mastering the Mix is best known for their metering tools such as REFERENCE, LEVELS & EXPOSE. ANIMATE is their first ever attempt at developing a "processing" plug-in and I can happily report that they have done a fantastic job. What I like most about ANIMATE is that it adds colour and depth to tracks in really expressive and musical ways whereas other plug-ins of this type can often touch the sound too much. ANIMATE, if used sparingly, lifts and energise tracks in a mix in ways that I have not experienced before. 

Pros:

• Output level compensated automatically to level changes

• Excellent UI design, modes are simple to use

Cons:

• Missing a Magnificence mode

Learn More About ANIMATE By Mastering The Mix?

We'll produce a video showing you how to use ANIMATE in the coming weeks, in the meantime check out the Mastering The Mix website for more information.

Product Loopcloud 3.0 By Loopmasters

What Does Loopmasters Say About Loopcloud 3.0?

Here is what Loopmasters say about Loopcloud 3.0: With

Loopcloud 3.0, we’re supercharging your sample library. This update combines the power of Loopcloud’s tagging, previewing, audio warping and DAW integration with your own local sample collection. Now any sound you own can be auditioned in time and in key with your project, no matter which DAW you use.

• Import your own sample folders and have them appear in Loopcloud

• Loopcloud automatically tags new samples with Key, BPM, Instrument and Type

• Time-stretch and pitch-shift your own samples to match your project

• Experiment with patterns to audition one-shot samples

• Changes made in your system folders are reflected in Loopcloud – scan on start- up or manually

• Specify the CPU usage used to analyze your samples when required, or simply pause

• Redesignate wrongly tagged samples for analysis by re-tagging

• Add more detailed tags of your own using Loopcloud’s existing tag editor

What Do We Think About Loopcloud 3.0 By Loopmasters?

If you use loops heavily in your music production workflow then you should really take note of Loopcloud, there isn't anything else like it on the market today for loop management. If you are not much of a loop-based music producer then you should also check this out as it may just be something you are missing from your creative toolkit.

Pros:

• Being able to import our own sample libraries is massive news.

• Did we mention Loopcloud is not only just a free update, it's also a free application?

Cons:

• None whatsoever. It's great seeing those moments when a brand responds to their user base by introducing highly requested features so quickly.

Learn More About Loopcloud 3.0 By Loopmasters?

Download your free copy of Loopcloud 3.0 from the Loopmasters website.