TC Works Unveils TC PowerCore
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TC PowerCore DSP card
(Click for a close-up) |
January 19, 2001Anaheim, CA--TC Works has announced TC PowerCore, an open DSP hardware platform
for any VST recording application. TC PowerCore is a PCI card that acts as a DSP
Turbo, finally enabling native users to run extremely intensive hi-end effects
that previously taxed the host computer to the utmost. Using some of the latest
Motorola 56K DSPs specifically designed for audio, the TC PowerCore provides significant
performance advantages over sole native processing, adding roughly the equivalent
power of four Mac G4 processors on a single card - also featuring an additional
PowerPC chip. TC PowerCore delivers professional signal processing performance
seamlessly integrated into any VST-compatible sequencer or audio application such
as Cubase, Nuendo, Spark, Peak or Logic.
The TC PowerCore card introduces a new Plug-In format, "VST PowerCore"
which is implemented to run as an extension to VST: The user interface code runs
on the host and acts like a VST Plug-In, while all the CPU intensive DSP code
runs on the card, freeing up precious performance resources on the host computer
for other native processes like VST instruments. VST PowerCore plug-ins have to
be specifically written for TC Powercore, though they are handled like any other
VST Plug-In, and may be used in conjunction with common native VST Plug-Ins without
any restriction. No special versions of the recording software are required!
"VST is an open platform - that's what made the concept so successful",
says Ralf Schluenzen, CEO of TC WORKS, "so it's just natural, that we have
opened up our new platform to 3rd parties as well. PowerCore gives users the best
of both worlds and allows for a truly hybrid system, using the predictability
of a DSP-based platform and the openness of VST thus elevating the platform to
a higher end sector of the market", comments Schluenzen. A 3rd party developer
program is currently being implemented and Power Core Partners will be announced
by the time of the release in April 2001.
PowerCore includes the industry standard FX-package TC TOOLS - featuring MegaReverb,
TC EQSat and TC Chorus/Delay. All TC hi-end Plug-Ins currently available for TDM
only, will be ported over to support the platform by the time of market introduction.
PowerCore works in conjunction with any audio hardware supported by the hosting
audio application, from ASIO to Direct I/O and even SoundManager. The TC PowerCore's
performance provides the user with enough power to run 8 serious Hi-End reverbs
or mastering processors, in addition to any native VST Plug-Ins running on the
host at the same time. 24/96 is supported, of course requiring twice the amount
of processing resources per Plug-In. Multiple cards are also supported by the
design, allowing for expansion as the needs grow. Hardware I/O is supplied by
the user's existing I/O solution.
PowerCore will be available for MacOS, from April 2001. Target retail price:
Under $1,599 US
Specifications
- ull length PCI card o 24/96
- 4 x Motorola DSP 56362 / 100 MHz
- 1 x Power PC 8240 / 200 MHz
- DRAM expandable to 128 MB (not required for any of the FX-Plug-Ins)
- TC TOOLS 96K included (MegaReverb, TC EQ-Sat, TC Chorus/Delay)
- Supports VST 1.0 spec: any sequencer with VST Plug-In support automatically
supported
- Works with all I/O cards supported by the hosting application: ASIO, Direct
I/O, SoundManager,...
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: PowerMac G3 233 (beige), Mac OS 8.6 or higher, 128 MB RAM, VST 1.0 compatible audio application such as Cubase, Logic or Spark
For more information, visit their web site at www.tcworks.de. |
