Digidesign is pleased to preview the Pro Tools® 6.1 software, an update to the recently released Pro Tools 6.0 software for the Mac OS X platform that added a powerful set of new features and improvements for Pro Tools TDM and LE systems. Now, with the Pro Tools 6.1 software, Windows XP users can enjoy the enhanced Pro Tools functionality added in Pro Tools 6.0 for Mac OS X systems, as well as take advantage of a host of other exciting new features.

Along with a streamlined new look for the Mix, Edit, and Transport windows, Pro Tools 6.1 software brings to the table the powerful DigiBase file management utility, enhanced MIDI functionality (including high-resolution groove templates!), additional Beat Detective features, new Import Session options, plug-in functionality enhancements, MachineControl additions, a host of new enhancements to Pro Tools LE, and much more.

Due to strong request the Germany based company propagamma / usb-audio.de released the Mac OS X public beta version V0.8b of their USB audio driver. This driver connects external soundcards with audio applications via CoreAudio. ASIO support will be added as soon as it's available on Mac OS X.

The commercial version of the driver supports Digidesign Mbox (currently only digital input), Edirol UA-1A, Edirol UA-3, Edirol UA-3D, Griffin iMic, Opcode DAT-/SonicPort (optical), Onkyo MSE-U33, Onkyo SE-U55 and Roland-ED UA-30.

Since a numer of companies licensed this driver it will also be available soon for Apogee MineME, ESI U24, Sound Devices USB pre, Swissonic USB Studio, Media-Assistance USB One, Yamaha UW500 and others.

According to the company the latency is still high but will go down with V0.9b. A demo version is available.

Bias Inc. unveiled Peak 4, a major new version of the leading stereo waveform editing application for Macintosh. Peak 4 offers a wealth of new features and enhancements, including support for Audio Unit plug-ins - Apple's new audio plug-in standard for Mac OS X, Multi-processor support, Redbook CD burning from directly within the Peak application, a host of new DSP tools, and many other enhancements. In addition, Peak 4's graphic user interface has been streamlined, and sports a new elegant brushed metal look that Macintosh enthusiasts will surely feel at home with. Finally, Peak 4 is now a Mac OS X-only application, enabling it to take full advantage of the OS X-only services within OS X.

FXpansion announced the VST to AudioUnit Adapter. It's a simple wrapper for VST plug-ins so they can be used in AudioUnits software (like Logic or the announced update of DP that will support AudioUnits).

The plug-ins tested successfully with it by FXpansion are coming from: Steinberg, Waves, TC-Works, Prosoniq, LinPlug, MDA, reFX, Ohm Force, Synapse Audio, DSound, PSP, Waldorf, INA-GRM, Elemental Audio, Arturia, AAS, Bitshift Audio, Bitheadz, DMI, GMedia, Green Oak, Rumpelrausch Taips, Spectrasonics, Swar Systems, Yellow Tools, Silverspike, Destroyfx, Antares, DigitalFishPhones.

Release date TBA but preordering possible, price $75

Yamaha has released the latest USB drivers for the 02R96, and DM2000 consoles and posted them for immediate download. The drivers are available for OS9 and OSX.