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‘Step inside the studio that made history’ – Universal Audio today introduced Ocean Way Studios Deluxe, a “complete reimagining” of the Ocean Way Studios plugin.

Launched in 2013, Universal Audio’s Ocean Way Studios plugin introduced the concept of ‘Dynamic Room Modelling’ and studio emulation.

The technology seeks to bottle the sound of a studio – a combination of the acoustics of its rooms and the sonic character of its mics and mixing console – in software, giving music-makers working at home the opportunity to record as if they were working in a hallowed studio space; in this case, the historic Ocean Way Studios.

Often referred to as America’s Abbey Road, Ocean Way was based on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard, playing host to a dazzling list of iconic artists throughout its multi-decade history, first as United Western Recorders and then as Ocean Way Recording: Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra to Radiohead and Whitney Houston, and Beck to name a few.

Twelve years later since the launch of that plugin, and UA has seen fit to give Ocean Way Studios a lick of paint, releasing a refreshed and reimagined version today titled Ocean Way Studios Deluxe.

As with its predecessor, Ocean Way Studios Deluxe features two main modes: Reverb and Re-Mic. The Re-Mic mode processes your recordings as if they were re-amplified and re-recorded in Ocean Way’s Studio A or Studio B, emulating the source and its distinct radiation patterns, the acoustics of the studio itself, and the sonic fingerprint of the speakers and microphones involved.

There’s a broad choice of microphone types on offer, along with fine-grained control over set-up and placement. Ocean Way Studios Deluxe is equipped with two new re-mic setups based on emulations of the UREI 813 15″ studio monitors and Altec A-2, enormous folded-horn cabinets used at Ocean Way for decades. The plugin offers a selection of 13 mic emulations that features everything from a U47 to an SM57, all of which can be repositioned in virtual space via the newly redesigned interface.

The plugin’s Reverb Mode allows you to blend existing recordings with a meticulously modelled emulation of Ocean Way’s natural ambience. The Deluxe version now features emulations of three of Ocean Way Studios’ reverb chambers, originally designed by influential engineer and Universal Audio founder Bill Putnam Sr, the father of UA’s current CEO.

Alongside this, you’ll find a varied arsenal of modelled analogue gear from Ocean Way’s extensive collection, including classic dynamics processors such as the Fairchild 670, 1176LN, LA-2A and dbx 160, alongside Studio A’s Focusrite 110 EQ and Studio B’s custom-built Dalcon console, complete with its API 550A EQ.

“With Ocean Way Studios Deluxe, we wanted to bring creators even closer to the sound of these historic rooms,” says Lev Perrey, VP of Product at Universal Audio. “It’s a complete re-imagining of one of our most beloved plugins—now featuring the chambers, analogue consoles, and re-miking setups—rebuilt from the ground up for modern music producers on any system.”

Ocean Way Studios Deluxe Complete Tutorial & Walkthrough:

Ocean Way Studios Deluxe is available as a perpetual license for $249 or as part of UA’s Spark subscription platform. Existing owners of the Ocean Way Studios plugin can upgrade for $49.

Find out more on UA website.

Bugbrand has introduced the Touch Control Sequencer (TCS), a new Euro format module described as “a powerful-but-compact control and sequencing hub”.

It’s designed for CV sequencing and control.

The TCS can be thought of as two main parts – Touch and Sequencing – which can be linked or independent.

Here are the details:

Touch:

• 8 capacitive touch pads generate 0 to +10V CVs from their Pressure outputs, along with a Global Pressure summation – these can also be used as gate sources, as all module inputs pass through comparators
• The keys are generally considered monophonic (one at a time), though pressing more is possible & the pressure outputs will respond accordingly
• There is 3-bit binary output (Key Adr) which represents the highest note pressed at any time (outputs 0 to +10V)
• The Key Response switch allows the touch pads to select (Jump or Hold) a sequence step, or have the sections independent (middle X position)
• There is a Sensitivity trimmer on the module rear if fine adjustment of the response is required

Sequencer:

• 2 rows of voltage knobs with ranges each of 2V or 10V along with 2 Gate buses on the center-off switch row (0 to +10V output)
• The sequence can be clocked via a rear bus connection or via an external signal (as always, via a comparator and capable of running at audio rates – tested to 20kHz!)
• Stepping direction can be forwards or backwards or externally controlled (try a clock divider or use Global Pressure) – low input = forwards stepping, high input = backwards
• Reset returns the step to stage 1 – this can be activated from an external source or patch back one of the Gate outputs
• With the Key Response switch you can use the touch pads to select a stage – Jump moves the sequence to that stage & clocking continues, whereas Hold will stay on that step until the key is released

The TCS is available for £470.00 (Incl. VAT: £564.00).

Today, Behringer has announced the release of SDS-3, a knockoff of the Simmons SDS-3 Drum Synthesizer from 1978 that the company promises is going to “blow your mind”.

Simmons developed the SDS-3 while working for the St. Albans-based company Musicaid, a four-voice analogue drum synth played via a custom set of four Premier pads that paved the way for his later innovations.

The Behringer SDS-3 can be used as a standard analog drum module, but also features Mic inputs that let you trigger the drum channels using drum mics. The module also supports basic MIDI control for sequencing.

Like its predecessor, the Behringer SDS-3 offers four identical mono voices of analogue drum synthesis alongside a fifth channel reserved for modulation. Each voice is equipped with a self-oscillating diode ladder filter and a noise generator that can be blended together, between them covering all the familiar percussive territory – kicks, snares, toms, cymbals and hi-hats – along with hybrid sounds and experimental tones.

Each voice is equipped with controls for adjusting pitch – a dual-purpose control that adjusts the pitch for the tone generator and acts as a low-pass filter for the noise generator – and introducing impact click, along with pitch bend and decay. These are joined by level sliders along the bottom and a microphone sensitivity control up top. Finally, on each channel you have both on/off switches and an amount knob for SDS-3’s LFO and Run Time effect.

Assigned to the pitch of each voice, the LFO offers both square and sine waves and can also do audio-rate modulation. When engaged, the Run Time effect also introduces pitch modulation, but this continues over time rather than retriggering with each hit – you get a rate control for this also.

Each voice can be triggered via audio on 3.5mm TS jacks, so you’re able to use real drums to play the SDS-3, just like the original. You can also sequence the synth via its 5-pin MIDI In port and USB-B connection, if you’re no Buddy Rich behind the kit. Each voice has a trigger output and its own audio output, and a 3.5mm master output on the mixer panel too is complemented by a 1/4″ output on the rear.

Features:

• “Authentic reproduction” of Simmons SDS-3 circuitry from the ’70s
• Percussion sound capabilities including Toms, Bass Drums, Cymbals, Bells, Gongs, Vibes, Thunder, Jumbo Jets, etc.
• Special effects channel for sound modulation effects
• 4 drum channels with separate controls for clock, decay, bend, pitch, noise and assignable decay kill
• Sounds can be triggered via analog control input, MIDI and USB
• 4 independent analog outputs for external processing and recording
• 57 controls give you direct and real-time access to important parameters
• Compatible with standard Eurorack cases
• MIDI implementation with MIDI channel, Velocity and Voice Priority selection

The Behringer SDS-3 analog drum synthesizer is available to pre-order now and priced at $249 outside the US.

Find out more on Behringer website.