Infrasonic, one of brands of SIMS audio (Samick Innovative Music System), releases the Windy6, a new 6-in/ 6-out FireWire audio interface.

Features :

- 6-in/ 6-out FireWire High-Performance Audio/MIDI interface
- 4-in/4-out analog I/O, 2-in/2-out S/PDIF I/O
- 4 balanced inputs
- 2 x NEUTRIK® XLR/TRS combo jack, 2 x 1/4inch TRS phone jack
- Flexible Line/Hi-Z input
- A/D converter: Dynamic Range 113dBA
- 2 x MIC pre-amp features on front panel
- +48V Phantom power
- Channel Insert 1/2 for connecting serial out board effects
- 4 Servo-balanced outputs (1/4inch TRS phone jack)
- D/A converter: Dynamic Range 115dBA
- Coaxial type S/PDIF I/O
- Supports up to 24-bit/192kHz
- 16ch MIDI I/O
- Affordable 2 FireWire ports — available multi-devices link
- Heavy-Duty Aluminum body
- Hi-gain and Hi-powered class AB headphone amps
- Controllable the mixed level between output 1/2 and output 3/4
- ASIO2, WDM, DirectSound supports
- Core audio/ Core MIDI supports

The Windy6 is shipping now with a MSRP of $299.00.

Sugar Bytes announces Consequence - The Chord Synquencer, a new plug-in described as a "chord groovebox".

Consequence is a composition tool which can create chord-lines or whole songs on the fly, but also chords which are played via MIDI can be super-sized using the innovative sound and sequencing engine.

Features :

- 3 sample-based oscillators with independent envelopes and gate selection for overlaying chords with arpeggios.
- 32-step sequencers for chord selection, gate, performance (arp, tie, multi-trigger, octave, glide) and modulation.
- New sound design features like polyphonic frequency-dependent sample rate reduction and oscillator aging.
- Included kick 4/4 kick drum for easy groove orientation.
- Multi-effect with 5 effects (reverse, chorus, phaser, delay, reverb).
- Master compressor (can be driven by 4/4 kick via sidechain).
- Monophonic and polyphonic 5-mode filter (lp, bp, hp, br, comp) with independent gate selection.
- Pattern change via MIDI note.
- MIDI input for sequencing chords in realtime.
- Easy chord creation via chordmaker, chord-recording and manual chord drawing.
- Audio recorder for session recording or for creating loops.
- 100 first class sounds available.
- Split preset system can combine sound-, sequence- and chord-presets.

Consequence will be released in November 2008. It will be available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST and AU plug-in formats with a price of €149 / $199.

FXpansion has just announced the release of the 8 Bit Kit Expansion Pack for BFD2.

Factory in Los Angeles by Husky Hoskuld ( Tom Waits, Fantômas, Solomon Burke, Joe Henry, Sheryl Crow, The Wallflowers and many more), 8 Bit Kit is a collection of whacked-out percussion, trash drums and gritty, live, vintage drum machine samples. This Expansion Pack is particularly suitable for anyone who wants lo-fi, downtempo, grimy elements in their drum parts - think Tom Waits, Portishead, Tricky, Peeping Tom, Bjork etc. - and being a BFD pack, all that lovely grime has been captured in a way that's actually playable and dynamic (a whole bunch of mic channels, and a whole lot of velocities... you know the deal by now?), not just a bunch of boring static loops.

8 Bit Kit is available now for download and is priced at $75. Note that audio examples are available at :

Native Instruments has launched a special Kontakt 3 crossgrade offer for owners of GigaStudio.

From now until December 31st 2008, owners of any version of Tascam GigaStudio can get the Kontakt 3 software sampler for a reduced price of $279 / €249, a saving of nearly 40% off the regular price.

LaChapell Audio announces the Model 583e which is a vacuum tube preamplifier with EQ in the API 500 series format.

Basically, the Model 583E features the same amplifier stage found on the 583s, including the Jensen JT-115k input transformer, coupled with an ultra-clean transformer-less three-band EQ section with fully sweeping frequency controls and cut/boost settings of +/- 8dB. The EQ can run as an integrated EQ serving the preamplifier or separate as its own autonomous module where both units run independently.

Pricing and availability TBA.