For the MPC nurtured, pas are almost a second nature, Akai brings back a new pad controller the MPD24. It's a 16 pad MPC style controller with 4 selectable pad banks, 6 assignable Faders, 8 assignable encoders, transport functions (REW, FF, STOP PLAY and REC with MMC). It works in MIDI and USB and can be USB powered if needed. A librarian editor is included as an Akai Sample library of classic drum machines. You can go bang the drums now!

Price and availability TBA.

ADAM announced a new monitor, the A7, along with two subwoofers the Sub8 and Sub10 mkII. The A7 is a small, low price tag (yet unknown) monitor. It features the acclaimed A.R.T. tweeter and a 6.5" Rohacell/Kevlar cone fed by dedicated 50w rms amps. It is housed in a 18 x 33 x 28 cm unshielded box weighting 8 kg (so beware with CRT computer screens). The frequency response is quoted 46 Hz-35 KHz, which can be trimmed by high and low shelving filters in the back as the tweeter level. Front is housing power and general level controls. Connection is in XLR and unbalanced 1/4" jacks.

AMS NEVE announced 3 new modules at the Musikmesse: the 8803, a dual channel EQ; the 8804, a fader pack; and the 9001, their first ever Valve module, a dual channel. All three units share the 88 range characteristics of recallable setting and USB interfacing with your computer. The 8803 is a 1U rack, featuring a dual channel EQ based on the 8108 design with enhancements (frequency and Q ranges) and filter. Balanced inputs with +/- 20dB trims, 12 dB HP filter (25Hz-300Hz corner frequency), 12dB LP filter (3kHz to 15kHz corner frequency). The EQ: selectable shelving, switchable Q on high and low bands, continuously variable Q on the mids. The selection of the frequencies are continuous in the ranges 33Hz to 440Hz, 120Hz to 2kHz, 0.8kHz to 9kHz and 1.5kHz to 18kHz.

Cakewalk announced the world wide availability of Rapture. A free Rapture 1.1 update, available as Universal Binary version for new Intel-based Macs, will be also available in 2nd Quarter 2006. Rapture is a wavetable synthesizer designed to produce pop, dance and electronic sounds, is now shipping worldwide. Rapture combines an advanced modulation system with an non-aliasing wavetable resampling engine. It features 40 Envelope Generators, LFOs, and Step Generators per patch, and comes with more than 500 programs including Basses, Leads, Pads, Arpeggios, Textures, Electronic Percussion and Sequences.

Rapture ships (AU, RTAS, VST) for $259,00.

Pump Up the Volume ? Apple says no ! Apple today announced a software update for the iPod nano and fifth generation iPod, allowing customers to easily set their own personal maximum volume limit. The software update also gives parents the ability to set a maximum volume limit on their child's iPod and lock it with a combination code. The new software update 1.1.1 is available immediately as a free download for the iPod nano and the fifth generation iPod from the Apple web site.

All is so quiet in Cupertino...