MacAudioLab, makers of Mac audio tutorials announces the release of the a comprehensive tutorial for MOTU Digital Performer 3. “The Complete Digital Performer 3 Series” is a 5 CD-ROM set that covers over 5 hours of in-depth video tutorials on Digital Performer. The CDs can be viewed in a large Quicktime window format – up to 720X480 window. PDF documentation accompanies the CD-ROMs for a searchable archive of topics as well as where to find them on the CD-ROM.

The new site don't accept the login names with less than 4 characters anymore! If it's your case, you won't be able to connect using your current login name.

Native Instruments announces a new version of its PRO-52 synthesizer, called the PRO-53. It comes with many new functions and improvements such as new oscillators, the option for inverted filter envelopes, and an additional filter highpass mode. The PRO-53 is equipped with a MIDI Learn function for fast and convenient integration of hardware MIDI controllers and the option to load controller maps. The PRO-53 also comes with an optimized graphical interface as well as new sounds that take full advantage of the extended functions.

LinPlug releases FreeAlpha a free VST synthesizer. The FreeAlpha features a subtractive design with special attention being paid to recreating the warmth and feel typically found in early-1980s analog synthesizers.[p]

Key Features
* up to 12 note polyphonic
* VST2.0 plugin software synthesizer (cpu dependent)
* Unlimited number of presets (direct from disk)
* 2 oscillators with each 2 from 30 different waveforms; pitch, amplitude and symmetry modulation from LFO, Envelope or MIDI
* Fat and rich-sounding Multimode filter; cutoff and resonance modulation from LFO, Envelope and MIDI
* 2 separate ADSFR envelopes for amplitude and cutoff and a additional pitch envelope ; time ranges from super-fast 1 millisecond up to full 10 seconds
* LFO with 6 waveforms, variable attack, variable ...

The new control surface, dubbed Mackie Control, is a fully automated touch-sensitive control surface for MOTU Digital Performer manufactured by Mackie Designs.
Mackie Control provides nine 100-mm motorized touch-sensitive 1024-step Penny & Giles faders. The unit includes programmable rotary V-Pots on each channel strip, along with MUTE, SOLO, SELECT and REC/READY buttons. Dedicated assignment buttons give Digital Performer users instant access to any mixing parameter on any track, including EQ, dynamics, I/O settings and plug-ins. A large, backlit LED strip provides a detailed, comprehensive readout of channel settings and plug-in parameters. Dedicated channel- and bank-switching buttons provide quick access to any track in a Digital Performer mix. Transport, zoom, scrub and shuttle mode buttons, along with a large ergonomic jog/shuttle wheel, provide complete control over Digital Performer’s main transports and zooming/locating features.