Defective records VSThost is an app that allows plug-ins to be used stand alone, outside current VST hosts software like your sequencer. It allows also users of Digital Performer, Protools, Metro, to use VST/VSTi if the software you run supports OMS-IAC (OS 9) or iMIDI (OS X).

VSTHost allows one VSTi and 4 VST effects plug-ins simultaneously, AIFF file playback or real-time audio through the VSTs. Outpouts goes to Sound Manager/ASIO in OS 9, CoreAudio in OS X, or straight to an AIFF file.

Future support of DirectConnect and Rewire are planned, as long as more VSTi simultaneously.

Available for $35, upgrade for $10.

Ego Systems Inc has developped 3 new Firewire and a MIDI/SMPTE interfaces.

The QuataFire :
- 4 inputs included 2 fronted combo jack XLR (mic/line), phantom power, gain
- 4 outputs
- converters 24bit/192 khz
- phones with level
- 2 MIDI I/O
- S/PDIF I/O
- Firewire
- 1/3 rack case

The OctaFire (based on the WaMi rack) :
- 8 inputs including 4 fronted combo XLR/ jack, phantom power, gain
- 8 outputs
- converters 24bit/192 khz
- phones with level
- 4 MIDI I/O
- S/PDIF I/O
- Wordclock I/O
- 1 unit rack

The HexaFire :
- 16 inputs including 8 fronted combo jack/XLR, phantom power, gain
- 16 AES/EBU I/O by a D-25 connector
- phones with level
- converters 24bit/192 khz
- S/PDIF I/0
- Wordclock I/O
- VU Meter for each I/O
- 1 MIDI I/O
- 2 Firewire
- 2 units rack ...

Presonus is releasing TubePre, a new little tube driven mono channel pre-amp for microphone. it's a rackable version and has the classic gain and drive controls as well as a level indicator.

It features a 48v power supply allowing to use electret microphones, a 20dB attenuattor and a on/off 80Hz high range cut filter.

Roland prepares for its VariOS platform as seen on Sonicstate, virtual versions of their classic TB-303 and Jupiter 8. I think I've already seen something like that a few days ago ;) Korg maybe… Well, next time we'll see Yamaha with a virtual CS80 maybe (much less heavy and temperamental).

Apple is on the way to enter in the music online download scene with the help of the five Majors: Universal, Bertelsmann, Warner and EMI who would open their whole catalogs.

Steve Jobbs himself presented a revolutionnary platform which will make buying and dowloading of music as easy as buying a book on Amazon, thanks to a new technologic standard named Audio Advanced Codec.

Further on this tool would also include an anti-piracy system which would limit the numeric copies.