At AES, Presonus unveils the FireBox, a compact FireWire audio interface which can record and playback six inputs and ten outputs simultaneously at a 24-bit/96k resolution. The FireBox includes two PreSonus microphone/instrument preamplifiers, two analog line inputs, six balanced analog line outputs, headphone output as well as S/PDIF and MIDI input/output.

More info on Presonus web site.

Native Instruments launched Traktor Beatport Player, a free audio player software for users of the Beatport online music store. The Traktor Beatport Player is a versatile and easy-to-use audio player that can even be used to tear up a party thanks to its set of basic DJ functions.The Traktor Beatport Player is based on TRAKTOR DJ STUDIO and features two decks with waveform displays, pitch faders and a crossfader.

More info on NI web site.

Roland announced that the Fantom-Xa is now shipping. The fantom Xa is a sampling workstation with a 61-note keyboard, 128 voices and high-resolution sequencer. You can export your finalized mixes to a Mac via USB.

Info on Roland web site.

GB Midi Import facilitates the import of midi information from a standard midi file into GarageBand. It creates Apple Midi Loop information which GarageBand natively understand. This version 1.1 features : added checkboxes to filter volume and pan midi events.

Native Instruments announced that the Guitar Rig software 1.2 will be available soon. The free update adds four more stomp boxes to the guitarists arsenal, allpainstakingly modelled after popular real world units. It features : Fuzz Ace" (fuzz pedal based on Arbiter Fuzz Face), "Big Fuzz" (fuzz pedal based on Electro Harmonix Big Muff), "Cat" (distortion pedal based on ProCo Rat), "Demon Distortion" (distortion pedal based on MXR Dime Distortion), more than 40 additional presets which make use of the new components and various minor improvements, cosmetic changes and fixes.

The 1.2 update will be available as a free download for all registered GUITAR RIG users in the first half of November.