Native Instruments is providing a special offer for Native Instruments software users through May 31st 2004. If you have at least one application included in the Komplete pack, you can upgrade to the full NI KOMPLETE 2 package for 596,80 euros, tax included. You will have ten new products instead of nine and will save 50% on the NI KOMPLETE 2 standard price. This pack includes : Absynth 2, Reaktor 4, B4 Organ, FM7, PRO-53, Kontakt 1.5, Kompakt, Intakt, Battery, Vokator, and NI-Spektral Delay. More details on this offer on Native website.

Scott Shepard is back with yet more audio interviews from NAB: show 4 features Paul Foeckler and Wendy Abowd from Digidesign, Soundminer's Steve Pecile, SRS Labs' Alan Kraemer, and Mac developer BIAS' Zac Wheatcroft. I'll be listening on my iPod; download from the link below and listen on yours. We'll keep looking at these announcements in more detail through the week, particularly Digidesign's extensive new lineup (like that gorgeous ICON console we keep fawning over; picture at right!).

PowerFX, an online distributor of loops, sound effects and samples, released three additional collections of CD-ROMs in the Apple Loops Disc Jams series. These Apple Loops libraries are optimized for use with Apple's Soundtrack & Garage Band applications. The three new titles are available for $49 exclusively from the PowerFX website. These new products are:

• Rock and Pop Trio: A huge and well recorded collection of acoustic drums, electric bass, and guitar riffs, rhythms and leads in a straight up rock style.

• Street Stylin: An urban themed collection of loops in R&B/Hip Hop/Down Tempo flavors with synth basses, funky guitars, keys, FX and booming beats.

• Session Percussion: A broad and indispensable collection of clean and beautifully recorded percussion loops that can be used in almost any genre. It includes traditional percussion plus congas, bongos, shakers, timbales and bells.

David Bowie has asked bedroom DJs to create a new track for an internet competition by bootlegging his songs. The British music star has given fans the right to create a new song by using computer music software to blend or "mash up" two existing tracks.

The winning song will be released as an MP3 and its creator will win a car.

Version 6.4 of the Digidesign CoreAudio Driver adds the following: Fix for Peak software where clock settings could not be changed from Peak's hardware settings dialog.

The Digidesign CoreAudio Driver version 6.4 is identical to the version included with all Pro Tools TDM and LE version 6.4 installation CDs, and the Pro Tools LE 6.4 web updater. If you already have Pro Tools 6.4, there is no need to install the Digidesign CoreAudio Driver v6.4 again. This download is for owners of supported Digidesign hardware on Mac OS X 10.3.x "Panther" that wish to install the Digidesign CoreAudio Driver without installing Pro Tools.

Version 6.4 of the stand-alone Digidesign CoreAudio Driver has not been tested with Mac OS X 10.2.x and therefore is not compatible. For use with Mac OS X 10.2.x download the previous stand-alone CoreAudio driver version 6.1.2 .