Opcode's Vision DSP Now Shipping

Opcode Systems of Palo Alto, CA, an independent subsidiary of Gibson Musical Instruments, announces the newest addition to their line of award-winning computer-based audio and MIDI sequencers, Vision DSP . This new release includes support of the industry-standard VST audio plug-in architecture, bringing extensive real-time effects to the Opcode product line. Vision DSP is also the first application to feature Opcode's new studio-quality parametric EQs, which simply have no equal in any competing product. To make sure that the power these features provide can be quickly and easily accessed, Opcode has added a vast array of user-interface enhancements to make Vision DSP the most highly intuitive, visually responsive music production environment available.

In addition, support for a wide range of inexpensive audio cards is also included through compatibility with ASIO software drivers. Among the cards currently supported are Korg's 1212I/O, Lucid's PCI 24, the Sonorus STUDI/O, Digidesign's Audiomedia III and numerous others. ASIO support now makes it possible for users to create a professional-level audio production system with real-time effects, multiple audio in and outs and Vision's famous power, depth, and ease of use at a highly affordable price point.

To help get users up and running in the world of audio processing, a wide variety of high-quality effects comes bundled with Vision DSP. These include Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Phaser, Flange and unique effects such as Ring Modulation.

Providing even more control over tone and timbre are four bands of extremely highly-quality equalization on each of Vision DSP's audio mixing channels. Users can choose from five different EQ types to fill the four "slots" on each channel. Available EQ types include; fully parametric "peaking" EQ, high pass and low pass filtering-type, as well as high- and low- shelving varieties. A graphic representation of each band's frequency, bandwidth and level of boost or cut makes finding the perfect settings an intuitive process. All EQ and effects settings can also be stored and recalled for later use.

Four audio insert points are also provided on each audio channel and can be filled with whatever effects the user desires. Adding to this power are an additional four effects sends per channel which can be used for routing signals from numerous tracks to stereo busses for further effects processing or even sent back to Vision DSP's recording inputs. This flexible structure makes it an effortless process to record internal audio mixdowns for hard disk archiving or recording CDs.

Adding even more to the ease of use and intuitive nature of Vision, Opcode has now added the ability for users to place visible names on each mixer channel including Busses, Inputs and Outputs. This makes it a simple task to quickly find one's bearings in even the most complex mixer configurations.

Many of the DSP processing functions which have made Opcode's flagship sequencing package Studio Vision Pro a world-wide professional standard have also been added to Vision DSP. These include TruTone pitch shifting, Adjust Audio Tempo , Time Scale compression/expansion, Formant shifting for tone manipulation, and customizable Audio Crossfades for seamless edits.

All of Studio Vision Pro 4.0's recent interface and editing enhancements have also been included. Among these are the Pulse Edit window for the quick creation of rhythmic parts, groove quantizing on playback and record, built-in Arpeggiator window with sequence-lock and full quantize options, programmable key commands for nearly all sequencer functions and menu items and appearance control for altering the overall the look of the sequencer.

Vision DSP comes with a lite version of Bias' Peak sample editing software, a drum groove CD from EastWest, MacThuga visual audio interpreter and more, all at no extra cost. The US suggested retail price of Vision DSP will be $495 (street price about $299) and the upgrade from any version of Vision will be $99.95. Release is expected in July, 1998.