Spark XL, TC Works’ flagship audio processing application, has been updated to version 2.8. The update is Mac OS X only; support for Mac OS 9 has been dropped.
Spark offers multi-FX processing capabilities, audio editing and mastering via a one-window-approach. It combines all aspects of audio editing from file database to audio editor and play list to browser view.
Version 2.8 offers support for Audio Units, the Mac OS X exclusive plug-in format. In addition to providing Audio Units compatibility for all included VST FX plug-ins such as Spark’s FXmachine processing matrix, Spark will also host Audio Units plug-ins. And a new Loop Window provides crossfade looping, loop edit tools, a Set-tempo feature and key mapping information for samplers.
The Spark XL workflow has been enhanced by a new Overview File management and improved database handling in the Browser View, according to Ralf Schluenzen, CEO of TC Works. The Batch Converter is now better suited to processing complex libraries with nested folders by maintaining the original folder structure for the target files, he added.
Finally, the software now offers user assignable key commands and support for long file names. Spark XL 2.8 for Mac OS X, available before the end of May, costs US$599. Users of version 2.7 can upgrade to version 2.8 for free. Users of versions 2.0 to 2.6 can update to Spark XL 2.8 for $99.