Universal Audio today announced the UAD-Xpander, an ExpressCard DSP system for laptops. The UAD-Xpander will be offered in 3 versions: the UAD-Xpander Xpress (Estimated street price $999 including a UAD$500 voucher), the UAD-Xpander Xpert (Estimated street price $1399 including a UAD$1000 voucher), and the UAD-Xpander Xtreme (Estimated street price $2199 including all UAD plug-ins to v4.5 - almost $3000 value). The UAD-Xpander Xtreme will uniquely feature a highly polished chassis with custom Xpander logo. All UAD-Xpander's are expected to ship Q1 2007.

Key features :

- 44.1-192k Mac/PC DSP Audio Accelerator for laptops
- Noiseless, Fanless, Alumi-Cool chassis design
- Ultra-fast (2.5Gbps) ExpressCard 34 interface
- Includes 14 Powered Plug-ins & UAD$ voucher
- Travel-Case with compartments for all components
- Optional UAD-Xtenda kit with PCIe desktop adapter

Winter NAMM 2007 sees the unveiling of Focusrite's fourth Saffire solution, Saffire PRO 10 i/o. Featuring the same preamps, converters and monitoring control software as its larger sibling, Saffire PRO 10 i/o can allow for larger recording solutions via the option to aggregate multiple units, all controlled via the same control platform.

Main features :

- 8 channels of pre-amplification (derivative of the Green Series)
- high pass filters on every channel
- two channels with DI
- 8 balanced line outputs
- SPDIF i/o
- MIDI I/O
- two independent headphones outputs with volume control
- bus-powered or powered via an external PSU, the unit has also been designed to take full advantage of the external PSU and to maximize performance when powered in this way.
- Saffire ...

Origin is the first Arturia Hardware synthesizer. Loaded with modules extracted from the best synthesizers of all time (Moog Modular, ARP 2600, CS-80, minimoog and Prophet VS) Origin lets you combine these modules and benefit from the additional possibilities put onboard. The result: a new type of sound accessible through an extremely intuitive interface.

MAIN FEATURES:

- More than 500 presets created by talented musicians and synthesizer specialists
- Up to 32 voices of polyphony for a typical patch
- Create your own patch or use an existing audio structures: an Origin patch made by connecting independent modules, or the minimoog V, the ARP 2600, the CS-80, the Moog Modular.
- Superb audio quality with TAEŽ engine. 24 bits/96 kHz supported.
- Origin lets you open dedicated ...

One more ! Arturia has announced the Jupiter-8V which is a virtual synth based on the famous Roland Jupiter 8... but it also offers modern features such as an advanced step sequencer, a new line of dynamic effects or a module combining LFO's (called Galaxy).

Main Features :

- More than 400 high quality and innovative sounding presets
- Up to 32 voices of polyphony, and a Unison mode
- A unique audio structure featuring 2 oscillators per voice (16 oscillators in total), 2 LFO's, 2 filters and 2 envelopes.
- Keyboard split and layer
- A set of Analog Sounding Effects: Dual Delay, Phaser, Flanger, all three being largely modulable by any audio source in the synth.
- 2 digital effects, X and Y.
- Additional Live-oriented Step-sequencer, additional Galaxy module for advanced modulations
- Set to Control with your external MIDI keyboard in just a few clicks.
- Full compatibility with major formats and hosts on Mac OS X and Windows XP (VST, AU, RTAS)

Synthax Audio AG is shipping RME's ADI-8 QS, a new highly flexible and fully featured 8-channel AD/DA converter.

Features Overview :

- 8-channel AD converter, fully symmetrical design, 120 dBA S/N
- 8-channel DA converter, double balanced output, 120 dBA DA
- Low latency conversion: only 8 samples of delay!
- 2 ADAT optical inputs, 24 bit, with Bitclock PLL, up to 192 kHz
- 2 ADAT optical outputs, 24 bit, fully compatible, up to 192 kHz
- 8 AES/EBU I/Os, full channel count up to 192 kHz, 24 bit, connected via D-sub
- 8-channel Digital Input Trim over a range of 6 dB
- Full remote controllability via MIDI and MIDI via MADI
- All settings are stored permanently
- Included Remote Control for store/recall of presets, volume and dim
- I64 Option slot

The ADI-8 QS ...