Nice news for DIY recorders. Steinberg launches a new ntry level version of its acclaimed Cubase Personal Music Production Software: Cubase Essential 4. Tailored to musicians, home studios and anyone on a tight budget, Cubase Essential 4 is a streamlined version of Steinberg’s Cubase 4. Including a powerful yet compact set of audio recording and mixing tools, comprehensive MIDI features and a full set of next-generation VST3 plug-ins including a fantastic-sounding guitar amp plug-in, Cubase Essential 4 is shipping now to resellers worldwide.

Interesting developments from Alesis. Their new M1 Active 320 USB speaker system, combines USB audio playback with a USB audio interface for recording.

M1 Active 320 USB speakers bring Alesis speaker performance and easy USB connectivity to the computer desktop; the speakers enable users to play audio from and record audio to a computer by simply plugging the included USB cable into a computer. No special drivers are required.

For everything related to live sound, audio recording and broadcasting check live audio, a fresh new website for audio enthusiasts. It starts with a short introduction to streaming audio, still an important topic for many musicians that want to use the web to its full extent. Some basic technologies are covered, and there is a short tutorial on how to set up "http pseudo-streaming" of mp3 files. Check it out!

iZotope has released major updates for Ozone 3, Spectron, and Trash. The updates include usability enhancements and support for the latest operating systems and host applications.

Updates for the three plug-ins:
- Universal Binary versions for Intel-based Macs
- Support for 64-bit Windows applications
- Improved authorization system
- Improved delay compensation support with delay freeze function
- “Alt-Solo” bandwidth can be changed with the mouse wheel

Ozone 3 updates:
- Improved EQ snapshot import under Mac OS X
- Smooth crossover changes in multiband modules

Trash updates:

The new Tube MP Project Series is a professional quality audio interface that lets you connect microphone, instrument, and line level signals to audio inputs to digital audio workstations as well as standard analog devices.

ART took there legendary Tube MP series and updated every aspect of the design, inside and out, while still maintaining a compact, reliable, cost effective product, and added a USB output. From the new all-aluminum stackable chassis to the precision LED level metering circuitry, virtually every aspect of the already successful Tube MP series was improved.

The new ultra low noise discrete microphone preamp front end has an extremely flat and wide frequency response and handles a wide range of input signal levels with a minimum of coloration. This gives you a very clean and neutral sound with a wide variety of signal sources. The high impedance 1/4” instrument inputs optimized for guitar pickups allowing every nuance to be heard. A high quality 12AX7A tube was used inside to add warmth to musical dynamics and the power supply is external to keep AC line noise and hum back at the wall.

They call it the world’s smallest pro studio. It is only slightly larger than an iPod. The Micro BR Digital Recorder offers the ability to load and play back MP3 files, time-stretch MP3s in real time without affecting pitch, has an onboard guitar multi-effects processor, built-in rhythm patterns, and offers 32 recording tracks (V-tracks) with four simultaneous playback tracks. It measures approximately 5"x3"x1", so you can easily put it in your pocket, and at the same time it packs an entire studio worth of features into its tiny case.

At its core, the Micro BR is a 4-track studio with four simultaneous playback tracks and two simultaneous record/input tracks. Each of the four main playback tracks also has eight companion V-Tracks (for a total of 32) which allows musicians to record take after take and then choose the best material for mixdown.

Westside Studios has released the Monster Bass Line Loops Volume 1 sound library.

Monster Bass Line Loops was developed to give producers and arrangers the most professional Bassline Loops, programmed from Chart-Hit Producers with over 10 years of experience in producing Top 10 Hits.

The Library is divided on 2 DVDs with over 8 GB of sampling stuff in EXS24 / WAV format.

Each Bassline-Figure is 4 to 8 Bars long, is present in all the 12 Halftones (C - B) in realtime (NO Timestretch), and it's also present in 7 different BPM recorded in realtime (NO Pitch) (e.g. a loop that is played originally with 120 BPM, depending from style, is present also in 90 - 100 - 110 - 120 - 130 - 140 - 150 BPM).

Whether establishing a mix, judging microphones or evaluating recording results, some feeling with the range of frequencies is always useful. Equalizing is a powerful tool to adjust the sound volume at certain frequencies. Equalizing can lead to more brightness or fatness, can compensate for certain weaknesses in a sound and nowadays serves as one of the most powerful - and easily abused - tools in audio production.

The frequency range of music is often divided in six subranges:

- Sub-bass - 16-60Hz : this is the range you can feel more than hearing it.
- Bass - 60-250Hz - determines how fat the music sounds and contains essential rythm elements

Digidesign announces the availability of the new Pro Tools® Custom Keyboards. Designed for Windows and Mac-based Pro Tools systems, these affordable Digidesign® Pro Tools Custom Keyboards let users work faster by providing direct access to primary Pro Tools transport and editing functions.

Pro Tools Custom Keyboards use the same symbols and color coding system as the keyboards on the ICON D-Controlâ„¢ worksurface surfaces while retaining all the conventional alphanumeric labels that appear on standard computer keyboards. Both the Windows and Mac keyboards provide plug-and-play USB connectivity and offer a fresh new look at a lower price. The Windows keyboard also supports a PS-2 connection for maximum compatibility.

A fantastic new desktop controller with the screen and automapping technology from the award-winning SL range of Novation keyboards…

Any producer who already owns a controller keyboard or two knows that the appearance of another one on the market isn’t always a welcome treat. However, Novation’s ReMOTE (25/37/61) SL keyboards boast some of the most revolutionary and downright irresistible features in MIDI controlling to date, namely the giant LCD screens and the revolutionary Automap™ technology. As such, those individuals have certainly considered purchasing an additional set of keys, just to get “the jump on the future” of MIDI controlling.