Wacom unveils Nextbeat, a fully integrated professional DJ system, incorporating intuitive touch sensor controls and innovative live performance functions. This wireless portable control unit enables performers to move free from the main device, resulting in more dynamic and energetic live performances, contrasting to the traditional style of DJs performing inside booths.

Wacom is approaching the music industry using its extensive experience of introducing award-winning products to creative professionals in the design and digital imaging areas. Nextbeat is the first product developed by Wacom that is based on its understanding of these creative customers, and the company is using its expertise in interface technology to diversify into a new sector.

Features :

- Nextbeat supports digital formats such as MP3, WAV and AIFF, AAC-LC.
- Nextbeat is a stand-alone DJ device.
- Transfer your favorite sounds - by track or by music folder - into a Compact Flash card by a simple drag and drop.
- One single nextbeat is offering you the performing features of two digital turntables, one mixer, one effector and one sampler.
- It is a 30cm X 30cm record jacket size and weighs approximately 2.7kg.

Nextbeat will be available at the end of summer 2009 with pricing TBA.

Antelope Audio will unveil 3 new products at the upcoming MusikMesse : the Zodiac DA series and the Rubicon Atomic clock.

Follow the link bellow to find out more about the specs of these new units :

Brainworx has just released just released bx_dynEQ, a set of 3 plugins containing of bx_dynEQ mono, bx_dynEQ stereo and bx_boom! The concept of the bx_dynEQ is described as a truely new approach to dynamic EQ-ing, using innovative M/S features to allow for results not possible with any other EQ.

bx_dynEQ is not only an EQ, not even only a dynamic EQ, but it also is a true dynamics processor and an EQ system – at the same time. The stereo version introduces Brainworx unique "cross-feed" M/S feature, which allows M & S signals to actually "trigger" each other. An impressive selection of filter types including their new band-pass filters and their trademark Bass-Shift and Presence Shift filters make this EQ an engineers swiss knife. Preset knobs in the GUI enable the engineer to find good starting points fast and easy despite of the complexity of this new monster...

bx_boom! is actually the one bx_dynEQ preset demonstrating the superior M/S features of this EQ best. Stripped down to only 2 parameters and an intuitive graphic design this tools enables you to attenuate or boost the impact of your bass drum sound - in a final mix (!) or a complete stereo drum-loop. bx_boom! is only availble as a true stereo plug-in due to the M/S nature of the beast.

bx_dynEQ & bx_boom! can be used to help you in many different situations :

- De-Essing (individual tracks, subgroups and master channel)
- dynamic EQing of mono-, stereo- and M/S signals
- bass-drum tuning in final mixes(!) and drum groups
- dynamic stereo-widening using the internal M/S features
- M/S compression and limiting
- Sound-Design

Priced at €349, this bundle is available now for both Mac and PC in VST, AU and RTAS formats. Note that a 14-days trial version is alaos available (ilok required).

Propellerhead has updated the ReCycle package with a new look and streamlined packaging, and includes a detailed, hour-long video tutorial from ASK Video that helps users get started with the ReCycle toolkit. In the tutorial, ASK Video's Mike Baggley takes users step by step from installing and setting up ReCycle to turning concrete-rigid loops into musical modeling clay in no time.

Thomson introduces mp3HD, the latest addition to the mp3 family.

The new mp3HD format allows mathematically lossless compression of audio material while preserving backward compatibility to the mp3 standard.

Content creators, the music industry and end users are now able to enjoy the ultimate audio quality experience with the same ease of use as the mp3 format. Users and content owners can organize their music library with the simplicity that they are used to with mp3 files. With the mp3HD format, the music industry can engage in user-friendly distribution of lossless music and audio files. The added file size required for lossless compression no longer being a limiting factor thanks to the continuous increase in Internet bandwidth capacity and file storage size.

"Over the past years, most of the music download services have adopted mp3 as their format of choice. By introducing this new mp3HD format, Thomson enables users and content providers to enjoy ultimate audio quality while preserving the convenience of the mp3 format," said Rocky Caldwell, General Manager, mp3 and Audio Licensing for Thomson.

mp3 is the most famous and recognizable digital audio and music file format. It was co-developed by Thomson and the Fraunhofer Institute IIS. The mp3 format is one of the major assets of Thomson's portfolio of licenses with over 600 licensees.

mp3HD files are mp3-compliant files that include additional side information, which, together with the mp3 portion of the file, can be decoded by an mp3HD-capable decoder. Standard mp3 players can simply play the mp3 portion of the file.

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