SE Electronics is now shipping the USB2200a mic, which they announced back in January 2006 at the Winter NAMM show in California.
The USB2200a is a USB2 microphone based on the studio standard sE2200a capsule, it records CD quality audio (record path16 bit 48K, output 24 bit 48K) via USB directly to your DAW. The mic has several features unique from USB mics currently on the market including, ultra-low latency headphone monitoring (less than 1ms) with mix control to allow the user to set playback versus record path levels to monitor live takes, 10dB pad, Bass cut and an 'analogue switch' which enables the user to use the mic via an XLR connector with 48v phantom power where required.

The USB2200a will ship in early January 2007 and will retail at £222 inc vat.

Linplug has released an update for Octopus fixing the performance problem on PowerPC Macs. Version 1.22 is a recommended update for all Octopus users on a Mac with G4 or G5 processor.

Sony Oxford has released Universal Binary versions of its range of Pro Tools plug-ins for use with Apple's Intel-based Macs. Upgrades will be free of charge for a 3-month period from original registration, with a minimal cost thereafter. For owners of current Pro Tools 7 versions, the upgrade cost will be £15 per TDM plug-in (approx $29) and £10 per LE plug-in (approx $19).

Plug-ins updated include both TDM and LE versions of :

- Oxford EQ
- Oxford EQ with GML (TDM only)
- Oxford Dynamics
- Oxford Inflator
- Oxford Transient Mod
- Oxford Reverb
- Oxford Limiter
- Oxford Restoration Tools (RTAS only)

Developed by M-Audio's SynchroScience division Conectiv is a bus-powered 4 x 4 USB audio interface designed for DJs who perform and produce tracks with a laptop.

Features :

* use as a self-contained digital system, multi-effects processor or slave from control CDs/vinyl
* designed by M-Audio's SynchroScience group
* 4 x 4 USB 1.1 audio interface with 16-bit/48kHz fidelity
* 4 RCA inputs configurable for line-level or phono signals
* 4 RCA outputs with high +10dBV peak output level
* 2 mix knobs for blending audio inputs and USB output
* Torq DJ software included

Conectiv is available for $299.95 MSRP. For more information visit M-Audio's web site.

Celemony has released Melodyne plugin which offers Melodyne's unique functions for the editing of pitch and timing for the first time as a plug-in directly integrated into VST-, AU- and RTAS-hosts under Windows XP and Mac OS X. The main application area of Melodyne plugin is the intuitive correction of the pitch and timing of notes in vocal recordings. You can also, however, edit and optimize single-voice instrument recordings as well as drum and percussion tracks in a flexible manner.
Melodyne plugin costs €299 / $299. For users of Auto-tune, PitchDoctor, Pitch'n'Time and Waves Tune Celemony are offering a Competitive Upgrade Option (offer valid until the 28th February 2007) for €199 / $199. Registered users of Melodyne essential, Melodyne uno and Melodyne cre8 are entitled to the same price (€199 / $199) but without the expiry date. Registered users of Melodyne studio 3 can obtain the plug-in free of charge. Note that videos and a demo version are available at Celemony's web site.