Korg announces a new Electribe groovebox: the MX. The MX is a 9 drums, 5 synths beast with 16 possible parts simultaneously (2 parts for accents, one on synth, one on drums). It uses a new version of analogue modeling called MMT (Multi Modeling technology, yes, before it was mono modeling maybe ;) and PCM sounds. You can choose from 16 models of oscillators, use formants, 4 filters, crunch 207 PCMs of drums or 76 PCMs of synths. So plenty of possiblility for noise here.

The groovebox also features 2 vacuum tube 12AX (push-pull anyone?), in the so-called Valve Force giving more power and some gritty overdrive if need be.

There is a sequencer (128 steps/part, 24 motions/pattern, 256 pattern max, memory 256 pattern, 64 songs. Modulation sources are assignable or tempo synchronized. Arpeggiator, ribbon controler, slider, scale. 4 outs (1 mono or a stereo and 2 individual outs), headphone, Midi i/O/thru. Back up on Smartmedia cards.

Available in August at 999 Euros

The Audio Engineering Society Standards Committee (AESSC) calls for comment on reaffirmation and revision of AES10-1991 (Recommended Practice for Digital Audio Engineering - Serial Multichannel Audio Digital Interface -MADI-). They try to simplify connexions between digital audio and multi channels devices.

BIAS announced they are udapting:

- Peak goes 3.2.1: free update for 3.2 users, new for $499, available now. New features include a better opening of AIFC files without types and creators, a bug fix on the registration asked again after a network configuration change, and overall performance.

- Deck goes 3.52: free update for 3.5 users form and of March. $399 for new users. The update is fixing among a few things a bug about modem dial-up on launch and Peak being grayed out when selecting Launch External Editor (a bit annoying that ;).

- Vbox goes 1.2: this new version in now fully native OS X, and also compatible with Soundsoap (Hey, for a BIAS product, you can expect that :) Vbox is available now for $99. The upgrade is free to 1.0 users.

All three apps are Jaguar 10.2.3 fully compliant

NATIVE INSTRUMENTS presents the first major update of their award winning, semi modular software synthesizer.

ABSYNTH 2.0 is now a synthesizer and a sampler!!! The list of the new features is so gorgeous that you really have to go on their site to believe what you will read.

The MODELmaker software is available free to all Neuron purchaser (see previous news) in OS 9 version, PC and OSX to follow this spring. A new soundset of 150 items is available too.