In the second half of October 2003 the Native Instruments sampler KONTAKT will receive an extensive update to version 1.5.

KONTAKT 1.5 brings many new and improved features, including a Beat Machine for slicing and syncing loops, the excellent Time Machine II, VST automation and much more. In addition KONTAKT 1.5 provides Mac OS X compatibility and new interfaces, namely Audio Units and RTAS.

The Mini-MP 2-channel Analog Mic-pre, is Apogee's latest addition to their Mini-Series.

Featured in the Mini-MP are two, low distortion, ultra-fast, high-gain pre-amps that offer a full 70 dB of gain. Input/output options on the Mini-MP are strong and flexible. The phantom powered microphone inputs are capable of handling level of up to +18dB and the auto select High-Z inputs are a great feature for instruments and consumer level equipment are ideal for giving direct guitars, basses and keyboards that warm analog sound.

On the output side Mini-MP uses Apogee's newly developed electronically balanced line drivers, which simulate true transformer behavior and allow for perfect symmetry when used in balanced mode and no increased distortion when used unbalanced.

Other useful Mini-MP ...

Apogee Electronics Corporation (booth 456) unveils it's new, X-Series Expansion Cards for the ROSETTA 800 8-ch AD/DA Converter.

The X-HD and X-Digi-mix option cards allows for direct connectivity between Pro Tools HD or Mix systems and the Rosetta 800 8-channel AD/DA converter, providing superior quality conversion to Pro-Tools TDM users without the need for an additional interface.

The X-FireWire card enables a direct connection between Apogee's Rosetta 800 and any FireWire equipped computer. Based on new S800 standards, the X-FireWire Card uses an expansion slot in the Rosetta 800, and in all future, X-Series based systems to give users of Logic, Nuendo and other popular software the option of Apogee conversion. The two ports on the Apogee X-FireWire Card facilitate the daisy-chaining of additional devices to give users great expansion options for their DAW's.

At AES, Yamaha Commercial Audio announced Version II (V2) software along with five available add-on effects packages for the DM2000 and 02R96 digital mixing consoles.

Available in January 2004 and compatible for both Macintosh OS X and Windows 2000/XP platforms, V2 represents a significant upgrade for each product's preconfigured internal software and Studio Manager Software with the addition of almost 50 new features, the capability to run the new add-on effects, expanded DAW control, and features designed specifically for the broadcast and sound reinforcement markets.

TC Electronic has announced 3 new significant plug-ins for PowerCore at the AES convention in New York:

Voltronics will be a part of the free 1.8 software update coming later this year. It is a guitar amp simulator plug-in, that includes three tube stages and a speaker simulator for truly convincing amp modeling.

Dynamic EQ is a new EQ tool that offers up to four definable bands, which can work in static or dynamic mode, or even a combination of both. Each of the bands can be configured as a parametric EQ or hi/low shelving filter.

Filtroid: With its dual filters and extensive modulation capabilities, Filtroid brings the sound of analog filter banks to the PowerCore Platform.

And not really a new product, but a good new for mac users, the TC Website is now fully compatible with Safari.