MOTU announced its virtual sampler MachFive. A powerfull plug-in available for mac first. MachFive is called by MOTU a "universal sampler" as it supports most of the standards either in plug-in, sample, audio:

- Plug-ins: MAS, AudioUnits, VST, RTAS, HTDM, and DXi
- Sample banks: Akai S1/3000, Akai S5/6000, Akai MPC2000 and 3000, Roland S7xx, EMU III/ESI/EOS, GigaSampler/GigaStudio, Emagic EXS24, Digidesign SampleCell, Creamware Pulsar STS, and Steinberg HALion.
- Import: Kurzweil K2xxx, Akai MPC.snd, WAV/ACID, AIFF, SDII, and REX
- 16 parts per instance (multiple instances possible), polyphony limited only by the CPU power available.
- 4 effects per part
- Surround ready
- One window only throughout
- A MOTU sample library to be released…
- 32 bit internal engine, up to 24bit/192kHz resolution.
- Stereo and surround real time waveform editor
- drag and drop import (samples, banks, audio)
...

Yummy!

Available in March-April at 395$

The UAD-1 Software turns 3.0 and is a free download for registered UAD-1 users. The multicard support on Macs will be included in the next upgrade for OS X (ahhhhh!) during Q2.

It's a new 4 channels preamp from Focusrite, with an optionnal 8 channels 24 bit / 192 kHz A/D converters card, allowing to chain 2 units for a total of 8 preamp channels with digital outputs.

M-audio FireWire 410 is an announced 4-in/10-out configuration. The ten outputs allow your computer-based recording system to behave like a traditional analog recorder or sampler, where signals are bussed to multiple channels of an analog mixer or to multi-channel monitoring systems. Software-controlled DSP handles all internal routing and mixing. FireWire bus-powered architecture means that you have the flexibility of mobile operation.

- 2 analog input channels each featuring: mic/line inputs (balanced XLR and unbalanced 1/4") and preamp with level control, signal/clip LEDs and a gain of 66dB, 48V phantom power (globally switched), 20 dB pad.
- 8 line outputs with signal/clip LEDs (unbalanced 1/4" @ -10dBV)
- stereo monitor level control.
- 2-channel S/PDIF digital I/O (coaxial and ...

VariOS is an open-ended hardware/software system that allows musicians to build audio-based tracks with the same flexibility as MIDI. All processing is handled by the VariOS module, which is controlled using bundled software. The first software bundle is V-Producer for VariOS. This software lets musicians manipulate a sample's pitch, time and formant, add effects and even build complete arrangements while keeping the music flowing and without CPU drain. And since the VariOS module can be updated via PC cards, the system can take on entirely new functions in the future. (so… a bunch of DSP in, and software on top, and we have to pay how much for the cards uh oh? ;)

Comes in a 1U rack, software for Mac and PCs, control from USB, Stereo 1/4" audio in, 2 stereo 1/4" audio outs, S/PDIF Out, headphone out, MIDI I/O