BitHeadz Now Shipping Phrazer 1.0.2 for MacOS

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BitHeadz, Inc has released Phrazer 1.0.2, the digital audio loop sequencer for the Macintosh. Phrazer is designed for multitrack loop arranging, and now features QuickTime movie support along with the ability to simultaneously adjust the tempo and pitch of multiple audio loops in real time.

"This new version of Phrazer blends audio and video like no other product has," says BitHeadz Marketing Director Andre Rocke. "Macintosh users can now merge their own professional sounding loop-based soundtracks into QuickTime movies," says Rocke. "and with one slider, adjust the musics tempo to synchronize it with the QuickTime movie."

Phrazer also provides new, more powerful tools for working with loops. A built-in sample editor is included for fine tuning audio files, loop points, and sample split points. Samples can be individually transposed, and/or processed with EQ, Normalize, Gain, Reverse, or other DSP functions. Multiple time-stretching algorithms allow users to select the best method for processing each sample.

Phrazer 1.0.2 adds hundreds of new loops and will now import Sonic Foundry's popular ACID 1 and 2 file format. Phrazer also imports CD-Audio, AIFF, .WAV, Sound Designer II files at 16- or 24-bit resolution, and samples contained within the BitHeadz Unity DS-1 Digital Sampler file format. Users can also record audio into Phrazer from an external source.

Unlimited tracks are available in Phrazer, depending on system RAM and CPU. Users with slower computers can conserve track count by sequencing different loops together on the same track. Each track in Phrazer includes controls for volume, pan, effects, and MIDI trigger. Volume and panning can be automated in the Tracks window, or adjusted from Phrazer's optional Mix window. Two send effects are available per track including Phase, Flange, Chorus, Degrade, Distortion, Filter, Dynamic filter, Compressor, Shelf/Parametric EQ, Delay with MIDI sync, and Reverb. Phrazer also includes one insert effect per track and two global effects for the main stereo output. Once a mix has been perfected, Phrazer can high-speed render its audio output to a disk file.

Many of the features in Phrazer were designed to facilitate the creative process and simplify music production. Loops can be previewed from the built-in File Browser with a single mouse click, or added to a new track with a double click. A snap-to-grid preference allows the user to quantize loop placement according to bars and beats. Phrazer is also designed to integrate into music production setups. The program will sync to MIDI beat clock and is capable of streaming it's audio output to other digital audio applications and plug-in standards such as MOTU's Digital Performer and MAS 2.0, Digidesign Pro Tools and DirectConnect, and Propellerhead's ReWire for Steinberg Cubase VST and the Emagic Logic Audio series.

Phrazer ships with over 500 MB of royalty-free loops designed by BitHeadz and many 3rd-party sound developers such as BigFish Audio, Digital Davey, MassMedia, mH20, Q-Up Arts, Sonomic, and SoundWerx. Additional loop libraries are planned for the future.

Phrazer ($399 MSRP) requires a 200MHz or faster PowerPC processor, G3 or higher recommended. The software is optimized for Apple's G4 processor and supports OMS, FreeMIDI, ASIO, Direct I/O, DirectConnect, MAS 2.0, ReWire, and Sound Manager. A demo version is available for download.