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 .

Our friend Scott Shepard at OSXFAQ has still more from the National Association of Broadcasters show. He's edited audio interviews with some major folks at the show, an essential listen if you're into DV! In show 1, Scott talks to Apple's Final Cut HD product manager, training authors for Final Cut and DVD Studio Pro, plus the desktop video folks at AJA and the CEO of Jeo's Plugin's For FCP. In show 2, CinePaint, Artbeats, Bauhaus Software, SmartSound Software, and Backbone Networks are on the hotseat.

Arbiter France has announced the coming availability of an RME interface based on Firewire 800 technology (with backwards-compatibility with Firewire 400). The interface supports up to a whopping 56 channels (including ADAT channels), with 192kHz, 25-bit resolution, four class A preamps, two ADAT ports, a MIDI port, wordclock and S/PDIF with the classic 8 analog I/O.

Ed: Incredible: a dream interface. There's a huge amount of I/O there for ADAT lovers. We'll keep you posted as more details emerge. -PK