BUENA PARK, Calif. — Following the success of the Pocketrak 2G Pocket Recorder, Yamaha Corporation of America is now shipping their new Pocketrak CX. While the Pocketrak 2G fills the niche an ultra-slim recorder with an omni-directional mic for recording lectures, meetings and rehearsals, the Pocketrak CX adds an upgraded stereo microphone system and expandability, [...]

TORONTO, Canada — iPod touch 2G owners now have their choices of fun, fashion and function to guard their beloved touch: the iSkin touch Vibes and iSkin touch Duo. The iSkin touch Vibes delivers the complete protective benefits of a durable soft case, adds an ultra-clear screen film and protective docking port insert, and wraps [...]

LOS ANGELES and BERLIN — Native Instruments has just launched a special KONTAKT 3 crossgrade offer for owners of GigaStudio. From now until December 31st 2008, owners of any version of Tascam GigaStudio can get the industry-leading KONTAKT 3 software sampler for a reduced price of $279 / EUR 249, a saving of nearly 40% [...]

CHOCTAW, Miss. — This winter Pearl River Resort will host an exciting music lineup at The Silver Star Convention Center with something for everyone’s taste. Featured artists include KC & The Sunshine Band, Roberta Flack, Lorrie Morgan and Ronnie Milsap, George Jones, and the legendary Brenda Lee. Following is a sampling of performances. All shows [...]

AUSTIN, Texas — The Alex Jones Show announced today that Willie Nelson, Jimmie Vaughan, Jesse Ventura, and Alex Jones will all appear live at the Backyard Live Oak Amphitheater in Austin, TX, this Sunday October 26th, for the Peaceful Solution, Peace Revolution, Take Back America event, which will be streamed live on the Internet at [...]

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Native Instruments just released MASSIVE EXPANSION Vol. 2, a new KORE SOUNDPACK based on the powerful MASSIVE engine. The library features 200 cutting-edge synthesizer sounds for use in KORE 2 and the free KORE PLAYER as well as the individual MASSIVE synthesizer, providing producers with a practical creative resource for a [...]

BUENA PARK, Calif. — Yamaha Corporation of America is now shipping their new AUDIOGRAM 6 and AUDIOGRAM 3 Computer Recording Systems. Recently named Best in Show at the annual NAMM music trade show, these powerful yet affordable audio interfaces are designed to turn a computer into an intuitive tool for recording from virtually any microphone, [...]

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Halloween is just around the corner, and parents are looking for ways to make the season festive, without all the usual horrific images. “Beowulf” (recently released on audio CD) composer Sam Sorensen suggests another fun way to help get the family in the mood for Halloween. Audio books. “Liven up that [...]

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Native Instruments has just announced TRAKTOR PRO and TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO, the next versions of its groundbreaking digital DJ solutions with MIDI and time-code control. Based on years of software evolution, the latest TRAKTOR generation offers superior creative workflow, an extremely functional user interface, powerful sound shaping features, advanced syncing and [...]

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. — In conjunction with the first annual Blues at The Moon Music Festival at Golden Moon Hotel & Casino, a Blues Symposium and Jam Session will take place this evening at the Old Ellis Theatre in Philadelphia. The free event is open to the public. Led by Dr. Alfonso Sanders, head of the [...]

MADISON, Wisc. — Sony Creative Software, a leading provider of professional video and audio production applications, today announced ACID Pro 7 digital audio workstation software, available in early November. Unlike any other software offering in its class, ACID Pro 7 software offers powerful and intuitive DAW functionality for today’s media professional including multitrack recording, 5.1 [...]

ATLANTA, Ga. — MusicWorks Interactive, publisher of The Guide to MIDI Orchestration has released The Finale 2008-2009 Tutorial DVD-Level 1, a video tutorial for Finale 2008 and 2009 notation software. The title is the first release in its new Educational DVD Series developed for music professionals. This ambitious DVD includes more than 8 hours of [...]

ST. HELENA, Calif. — Dave Smith Instruments has announced a custom keyboard case for their Prophet ‘08 and Evolver keyboards. This rugged, ATA-style case is a great way to protect your Dave Smith instruments. Custom made to fit the Prophet ‘08, the case is also a perfect fit for the Evolver Keyboard when used with [...]

Umea, Sweden — Toontrack Music announced that as of October 6, 2008, they will join Waves’ pioneering Virtual Stock Software Distribution (VSSD) fulfillment program, as an alternative means of product distribution. Now, end-users will always have access to the complete range of Toontrack products from their favorite authorized Toontrack music retailer, and they will never [...]

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The new song from country duo Scott Joss and Doug Colosio is “Darlin’,” a deeply-felt ballad that celebrates many aspects of love. Released by Golosio Publishing (golosio.com), “Darlin’” is quietly exciting in a very peaceful and intimate style. “If ever a song could be said to wear its heart on its [...]

Los Angeles, Calif. — AES: Meet the new Pro Tools® 8 — the most advanced audio creation and production software, featuring a gorgeous new interface; dozens of new plug-ins; five new virtual instruments; exciting new scoring, MIDI, editing, and mixing capabilities; deeper controller integration; improved ease of installation and use; and enhanced performance. With Pro [...]

San Francisco, Calif. — AES: Digidesign today unveiled the third and newest member of its acclaimed Digidesign® 003® family — 003® Rack+ Factory. Featuring eight high-quality microphone preamps, 003 Rack+ Factory is a powerful option for those needing additional mic inputs to handle more complex recording projects. “Today, Pro Tools LE users are taking on [...]

San Francisco, Calif. — AES: Cakewalk, the world’s leading developer of powerful and easy to use products for music creation and recording, announces SONAR V-Studio 700, the ultimate solution for music production. SONAR V-Studio 700 represents the first and flagship product in the next generation V-Studio line of Cakewalk branded hardware and software solutions. With [...]

Los Angeles, Calif. — Roland is excited to announce the very first national Roland Atelier Organ Fest, to be held in Los Angeles in February 2009. If you’d like to compete, contact your Atelier dealer. Local festivals will be held at dealer locations throughout the U.S. From there, you may advance to the regional competition. [...]

Los Angeles, Calif. — In conjunction with the second International Roland V-Accordion Festival, Roland Corporation U.S. held the first ever U.S. V-Accordion Festival in Los Angeles on September 20, 2008. Contestants hailed from all over the country, and played in styles ranging from Jazz to Celtic. Each contestant was given an FR-7 V-Accordion to play [...]

MEYLAN, France — Origin is the most powerful synthesizer on the market. As a matter of fact, it goes beyond the traditional definition of synthesizers. It is a hardware DSP system that houses several synthesizers in one machine. Some of these synths come from the past, such as the Minimoog, some are totally new and [...]

High Wycombe, UK — As of October 1st 2008, Focusrite will assume worldwide distribution of their finest Pro Tools®-exclusive EQ and Compression plug-in, formerly distributed worldwide by Digidesign. The Focusrite Forte Suite is a channel strip plug-in based on the now-legendary Focusrite Forte recording console of the mid 1980s. Utilizing virtual vintage modules, Forte Suite [...]

San Francisco, Calif — AES: iZotope, Inc., a leading innovator in audio signal processing technology, announces iZotope Ozone 4, an update to its critically-acclaimed software mastering suite. Ozone 4 builds on the program’s reputation for superior sound quality and industry-standard mastering tools with new innovations. iZotope has updated and expanded Ozone’s processing algorithms, optimizing them [...]

San Francisco, Calif. - AES: Blue Microphones, a leading innovator in microphone technology and design, today announce the latest additions to their award-winning line of products; the BottleRocket Stage One Solid-State Microphone System and the Bottle Rocket Stage Two Tube Microphone System. The Stage One BottleRocket is a transformerless solid state microphone system with the [...]

High Wycombe, UK — This year’s AES show in San Francisco sees the launch of Focusrite’s latest addition to the award-winning Liquid range. Liquid Mix HD delivers the power of Liquid Mix exclusively to the Pro Tools HD market. Providing the same pool of classic EQ and Compressor emulations, Liquid Mix HD combines the sound [...]

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Quality Assurance industry leaders Intellikey Labs and Direct QC have merged their operations to create the testing group, inc., a leading-edge testing facility serving the digital content and commerce marketplace. This merger is the first of several strategic initiatives that the testing group plans to take to accelerate mass acceptance of [...]

High Wycombe, UK — This year’s AES show in San Francisco sees the launch of Focusrite’s new multi-channel firewire audio interface, the Focusrite Saffire PRO 40. It is the best sounding interface in its class, attentively designed with today’s project studio in mind. Focusrite’s unparalleled pre-amp legacy forms the foundation of this new interface, with [...]

LONDON, England — FXpansion Audio UK Ltd. has announced an updat to BFD 2, their highly regarded drum sample system. Version 2.0.5.10 is now available, and is “strongly recommended” by the company for all users of BFD2. Improvements include long sample tails choking, out of memory warning dialog popping up x-number of times, and some [...]

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Communications expert John Scott G (recording artist The G-Man) leads a collective of artists, musicians and videographers known as FookMovie (www.fookmovie.com) in the creation of wildly colorful music videos. Since opening in April, the company has completed 30 productions. “FookMovie was developed as a division of Golosio Publishing with the goal [...]

LOS ANGELES and Berlin — Native Instruments has just released REAKTOR ANIMATED CIRCUITS, a new KORE SOUNDPACK that explores the world of complex self-generating soundscapes, textures and rhythms. Powered by several highly advanced REAKTOR-based sound generators including the innovative “Spiral” sequencer, REAKTOR ANIMATED CIRCUITS provides a literally endless resource of unique atmospheric sound material for [...]

LOS ANGELES and Berlin — Native Instruments’ worldwide GUITAR RIG HERO video contest has just entered the public voting phase. Over 100 entries have been submitted to the dedicated YouTube channel by musicians from all over the world, reflecting the acclaimed versatility of GUITAR RIG with a wide range of musical styles, and showcasing astonishing [...]

Bordeaux, France — With the groundbreaking Lemur controller Jazzmutant have revolutionised the way in which performers can now interact with light, video and sound. The Lemur offers an unrivalled package of intuitive features beneath a futuristic multitouch-sensitive surface, and these have won it fans across the globe including the groundbreaking musicians Richie Hawtin, Björk and [...]

SPOKANE, Wash. — When audiences close their eyes during a Jim Curry concert, they may find the similarities between him and John Denver uncanny and when they open their eyes, they just might do a double-take. Curry doesn’t do an impersonation of Denver, his performance is a true tribute, but he shares many of the [...]

Ontario, Canada — ASK Video Interactive Media, a leading creator of software tutorials on DVD, is now shipping Level 2 in a 4-part tutorial DVD series for Logic Pro 8 music production software. In Level 2, musician and Apple expert Tony Wallace continues along the path laid out in Level 1, progressing from the basics [...]