Cakewalk Announces DirectX Effects Plug-Ins

New Cakewalk Audio FX 1 first in Family of 32-Bit, Real-Time Audio Plug-Ins

January 29, 1998 -- Cakewalk has announced Cakewalk Audio FX 1, the initial offering in a new family of full-stereo, 32-bit, real-time audio effects priced low enough for adoption by mass-markets.

Audio FX 1 is a set of the four most widely demanded dynamic processing effects, including Cakewalk Compressor/Gate, Cakewalk Expander/Gate, Cakewalk Limiter and Cakewalk Dynamics Processor. All Cakewalk Audio FX products are Microsoft DirectX-compatible, the open standard that offers buyers the flexibility, and cost efficiencies, of using effects with any Windows 95/NT-compatible software.

"Previously, musicians and sound engineers had the choice of purchasing expensive hardware-based effects, or proprietary software effects," said Greg Hendershott, chairman and chief technology officer, Cakewalk. "Cakewalk’s Audio FX products are priced affordably and are compatible with all Windows sound authoring software, making them accessible to a wide range of users."

Cakewalk Audio FX products are compatible with Cakewalk authoring tools for sound and music including the new Cakewalk Home Studio 7, Professional 7, and Pro Audio 7. This marks the first time that buyers can purchase low-price authoring tools that support real-time effects, plus similarly affordable effects available separately.

The Cakewalk Compressor/Gate

The Cakewalk Compressor/Gate keeps audio signals from getting too loud or soft. It acts like an automatic volume control that keeps the volume from getting above or below a level defined by the user. The result is that soft sounds seem louder, and the dynamic extremes are smoothed out.

Compressors add punch to drum tracks and smooth out performances that have a wide dynamic range, like those of vocals, bass and guitar. After recording, producers use compressors to tighten up a final mix.

The Gate portion allows you to keep the Compressor from "pumping the noise floor," or bringing unwanted low-level sounds into the audible range.

The Cakewalk Expander/Gate

The Cakewalk Expander/Gate makes loud parts of audio louder and quiet parts quieter by increasing the dynamic range of the recording. The Cakewalk Expander has the opposite effect from the Cakewalk Compressor.

The Cakewalk Limiter

The Cakewalk Limiter prevents audio signals from exceeding a threshold defined by the user. A common use for a limiter is to avoid distortion in the final mix. The Cakewalk Limiter has a high "ratio" or gain reduction level.

The Cakewalk Dynamics Processor

The Cakewalk Dynamics Processor is a multi-purpose tool for controlling signal levels. It combines all the functionality of the Cakewalk Limiter, Expander/Gate, and Compressor/Gate in one integrated plug-in, and is intended for advanced users who prefer having all of the Cakewalk Audio FX 1 dynamic processing capabilities accessible from a single editing window.

Pricing and Availability

Cakewalk FX 1 has an estimated street price of $149 (U.S.) and will begin shipping in February of 1998. Cakewalk FX 1 is the first in a series of planned audio effects products for availability in 1998. Cakewalk FX 1 is available in computer and consumer-electronic superstores, music-equipment stores, as well as printed and online catalogs.

For more information on Cakewalk Audio FX 1, call 888-CAKEWALK or visit Cakewalk on the World Wide Web at www.cakewalk.com.