Kurzweil has announced the VA1, a new instrument (61 keys, 16 polyphonic notes and 4 multi voices). The kind of synthesis is "virtual analog". Each note allows 7 audio sources with no reduction of the polyphony. The VA1 has a large FX module (from the famous KDFX and DSP8), and a 48-band Vocoder (with a stereo preamp and phantom power supply to process external tone).

At Namm, Emagic announced its new Logic line with two products :

- The Logic Pro 6 includes Logic Platinum 6 music production software plus the complete Apple/Emagic DSP and audio instrument product line ( ES1, ES2 and EVOC20 software synthesizer, the software sampler EXS24 mk II, the EVB3, EVD6 and EVP8 Vintage Collection and Space Designer). Logic Pro costs 999 euros.

- The Logic Express includes a 48 tracks Logic software, plus the EXSP24 sample player, the EVP73 Vintage Piano and the ES1 Synthesizer. Logic Express costs 299 euros.

Ed: also check out my analysis of what this means. We'll be covering this story as it develops. -PK

Native Instruments announces that its effects processor Spektral Delay is now available for Mac OS X. This new version of Spektral Delay fully supports the modern technologies and interfaces of Mac OS X, including AudioUnits, RTAS, VST and standalone operation with CoreMIDI and CoreAudio. With this, the complete NI product range is now available on Apple's most recent operating system.

The Spektral Delay update 1.5.5 is immediately available to all registered users as a $29 / 29 Euro direct download. Customers who bought their copy after November 1st, 2003 can download the update for free or receive an update CD 19 Euro. Registered users of Spektral Delay Pro Tools Edition can also download the update for free.

In 1971, at the NAMM Convention, Bob Moog introduced the Minimoog. 33 years later ARTURIA announces the release of Minimoog V, the recreation of what became the most popular synthesizer of all time.Offering all the features of the original, the Software version also brings polyphony, MIDI management, preset handling. And taking advantage of modern tools, additional functions are hidden beyond the control panels: a modulation matrix, a LFO, an arpeggiator, a chorus and a delay.

The Minimoog V will be OS 9 (VST, MAS, RTAS, TDM) and OS X (Standalone, AU, TDM, RTAS) compatible and available at the end of february '04.

Steinberg Gmbh announced his new Cubase-System 4. This system is made by an audio interface USB 1.1 (USB 2.0 compatible) MI4 featuring 4 audio I/O, 2 microphone preamps with XLR inputs and switchable phantom power, 2 line inputs, 24-bit/96 kHz A/D and D/A converters , Main/monitor/Headphone outputs with level control, S/PDIF stereo I/O, 16 channel MIDI I/O. This audio interface is 100% bus powered and ASIO2 and Core Audio drivers are included. This interface is packed with Steinberg Cubase SL software.

The Cubase System|4 is priced at EUR 456.00 excluding VAT and will ship mid February 2004.