TASCAM has recently announced the version 2.0 operating system update for their DM-24 Digital Mixer. This update is available as a free download from the TASCAM web site at www.tascam.com. Version 2.0 software adds 20 new features and functions to the DM-24, including Mackie HUI emulation, improved internal signal routing and direct surround panning capabilities, new footswitch control capabilities and more.

2.51 updates of Spark & Spark XL are available on the TC-Works website. Essentielly bug corrections and some minor improvements of existing functions.

Korg today unveiled at NAMM a new 37-key portable synthesizer. Based on the same DSP synthesis engine as the MS-2000 (referred to as it's "big brother") it offers modeling synthesis, vocoding, real-time control (plenty of knobs in other words), effects and external audio processing.

The newest of these is the ION, a new 8-voice 4-part multitimbral analog modeling 49-key synth. The processor inside runs at an impressive 500mips (million instructions per second), with 3 oscillators and 2 multi-mode filters per voice.

Plugsound is a virtual instrument based on a sample library, available as a VST2 plug-in (Mac-PC), and a MAS and RTAS plug-in. This Volume 3 is a sound module that offers hundreds of presets using more than 6,000 samples (540MB). Under the hood is the UVI-Engine which features dual multimode filters, separate amplitude and filter envelopes, keyzone editing, and much more.