RME/Synthax Audio AG today announced their first recording solutions for the new PCI-Express bus found in current Apple OS and Windows based desktop computers. The HDSPe PCI Card and the HDSPe MADI card are newly engineered PCI-Express versions of their PCI successors. Still based on RME's famous Hammerfall DSP series features and quality the new PCI-Express core ensures full compatibility and maximum performance with the latest high-speed serial bus technology found in all newer motherboards and computers. Furthermore RME's FPGA core ensures full update capability via RME's Secure Flash technology, for further hardware and driver updates. Both cards come with drivers for Windows XP (multi-client operation of MME, GSIF and ASIO 2.0) and brandnew Windows Vista drivers. Apple users are perfe ...

Moog Music will showcase the newest addition to the Moogerfooger line of analog effects at NAMM at the end of the week. The MF-107 FreqBox does not actually modify the audio input signal. Inside the FreqBox is a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) which is modulated by the sound source input—an Audio Modulated VCO! The result is an amazing array of effects that were once only possible with a complex modular synth setup—everything from fuzz-like distortion to what product development engineer Steve Dunnington calls "cataclysmic timbral morphing" ...

Here are some specs:

- Accepts instrument level and line level inputs
- Frequency and waveform controls in the VCO section
- VCO can be frequency modulated by the audio signal
- Envelope follower and mix controls for even greater sonic enhancement
- Housed in the super-durable, classic Moogerfooger enclosure

In addition to the full range of SM Pro Audio products, the Nano Patch passive volume control will be showcased at NAMM 2007. Featuring balanced combo XLR/TRS input jacks and TRS outputs, mute switch, and a good sized rotary volume encoder, the Nano Patch is designed to allow precise level adjustments to analog audio source material. As reducing levels from your software only reduces the audio bit depth, it is much more appropriate to keep your software masters at unity and attenuate the audio to your active monitors with a passive controller like the Nano Patch. This way you can maintain maximum audio resolution and attenuate your monitoring volume with the confidence that the sonic integrity of your audio is not compromised.

For more information, visit SM Pro Audio's web site.

Waldorf will announce a new synth line at NAMM. The models are :

- Stromberg : a big aluminium 5 octave wavetable digital synth with optional plug-in modules adding analog filters and/or tube amplification.

- Blofeld : a desktop/rackmount analogue modelling synth with a nice big LCD display and an aluminium box.

- Zarenbourg : a Wurli-inspired stage piano using physical modelling rather than samples (a bit like a hardware Lounge Lizard), with built in speakers - clearly going after Clavia's Electro range but with a much more retro look.

- Phoenix Edition : a limited edition reissue of the Q, Q+ and Micro Q, in black. The Q+ has analogue filters, the Q digital ones, and the Micro Q is the simplified rackmount version.

See you at the end of the week for more details ;-)

A poor flash movie from Roland's web site announces a new V-synth on january 18th... it smells like NAMM...