M-Audio announced a Version 2 firmware update for its Black Box guitar processor and USB audio interface. The update increases the total number of guitar and bass amp emulations from 12 to 40. Additionally, the effects section has been significantly revamped and now includes five different reverbs, compression and new modulation options, as well as a host of new beat-synched effects. The unit now includes 121 total effects.
The new Link Drumbeat feature allows users to save specific drumbeats with individual presets. There are also two new tempo modes: Global and Drumbeat. Global mode locks the unit’s tempo to whatever value the user has entered—regardless of which preset has been selected—while Drumbeat sets the tempo based on the optimal playback speed of the selected drumbeat.
The Black Box can now work as a Pro Tools M-Powered audio interface. One USB connection sends the output to a Mac or PC and syncs the unit’s drums and effects to the current project tempo.
M-Audio Black Box owners can download the free firmware update from www.m-audio.com. The Black Box units that are currently available at M-Audio retailers can also be updated via this download. Future shipments of the M-Audio Black Box will include the Version 2 firmware.
