SonicBirth is an Audio Units plugins designing application which allows you to build your own AudioUnit plug-ins. You can work with existing circuits or by creating circuits completely from scratch. SonicBirth is also an AudioUnits package which comes bundled with a set of plug-ins designed for standalone use as plug-ins as well as pre-constructed circuits to modify or build upon for creating new plug-ins. SonicBirth is based on a powerful, flexible engine. Every plug-in can be used in 32 bits or 64 bits for added precision.

This preview version costs $99 and the final price will be $129

Digidesign's Beta Program is looking for users who use Pro Tools with any of the following operating systems on Mac OS X or Windows XP:

Japanese
Chinese Simplified
Spanish
Italian

The candidate must be using a supported Pro Tools TDM system (HD or HD Accel) or Pro Tools LE system (Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox). If you use Pro Tools in any of the languages mentioned above and are using a supported PT system (as specified) you could become part of this beta program. If you are interested in becoming a beta tester for Digidesign, please contact Digidesign at the following e-mail only: Digi_beta@Digidesign.com

Digidesign updated again Pro Tools TDM and LE to version 6.7.cs8 in order to fix the OS X Keyboard Shortcuts feature that would not work with Pro Tools 6.7cs7 version. This "old" (January 19 !) ProTools 6.7sc7 version already tried to fix keyboard shortcuts problems for European versions.

More info in the MM softs section.

TC Electronic introduced the VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb for PowerCore, a direct port of the legendary reverb algorithm from TC's System 6000, the first truly high-end VST/AU reverb for digital audio workstations. The VSS3 algorithm is made up of nearly 800 parameters, all of which have been condensed into a simple user interface with clear choices at all levels. Industry-standard presets and customizable focus fields from System 6000 are included to facilitate easy start-up. VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb will be shipping in February at 495 EUR retail ex. VAT.

Until now TC Electronic reverbs based on this approach have only been available in hardware form - M3000, Reverb 4000 and System 6000. VSS3 defines TC Electronic reverb, and it is now available to DAW users via the PowerCore platform.

Cycling '74 will distribute JazzMutant's Lemur multitouch control surface within the United States. The Lemur is a sleek portable controller for live performance computer music applications featuring a 12" LCD display and a proprietary touch screen interface that can simultaneously track multiple fingers.

The Lemur communicates with a host computer over 100-baseT Ethernet using the Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol developed at UC Berkeley's Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT). OSC is an emerging standard for synthesis control that supports simple configuration, 32-bit data resolution, and low latency. Applications that currently feature OSC support include Cycling '74's Max/MSP, Native Instruments' Reaktor, and Pd, a popular open-source sound synthesis application.