RME announces a new version of the Hammerfall Multiface II, unveilled at MusikMesse. This interface stays fully compatible with the current model's firmware and driver, and offers the same set of features, but improves the Hi-power headphone output with volume knob, and the analog input and output stages (the reference level of the analog inputs and outputs can now be changed with two separate switches on the front panel).

More info on the RME web site.

Tap.Tool 2 for Max/MSP/Jitter is now available. Tap.Tools version 2.0 has over 150 "externals" objects for Max, MSP and Jitter, and introduces a number of features, including the extensive use of attribute arguments to objects, as introduced in Max 4.5. This allows the objects to be directly tapped by the new pattr system in Max 4.5 with no extra effort. It also makes it easy to read patches and understand the arguments to any given object.

Tap.Tool 2 costs $65 and $99.

Silverspike has released an OS X version of R2 Reverb in VST plugin format. This release features room simulation and reverberation (with rooms of variable size), frequency response fully adjustable, optimized DSP code for low CPU consumption and sample rates from 32 KHz up to 192 KHz.

R2 Reverb VST for Mac OS X costs $99.

Native Instruments unveils that Guitar Combos will be available in strores on May 9th. The Guitar Combos series consists of the Twang Combo, the AC Box Combo and the Plexi Combo. The Twang Combo is modelled after the Fender Twin Reverb and delivers a wide range of clean and crunch tones suitable for Pop, Jazz, Blues and Country styles. The AC Box Combo is modelled after the Vox AC-30 and delivers a wide range of clean and crunch sounds that lend itself to Pop, Rock, and Alternative styles. The Plexi Combo is modelled after the Marshall JMP50 and delivers a wide range of crunch and overdrive sounds, which makes it the first choice for various flavors of Rock, Metal and Psychedelic.

Guitar Combos will be available for $79 for each combo. Furthermore, a bundle version with all three combos will be available for $199.

Apple unveiled a most powerful Power Mac G5 line, featuring dual 64-bit PowerPC G5 processors running up to 2.7 GHz and including Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger". The new range comes now with :

- G5 1,8 GHz (512 Mb Ram, 160 GB Serial ATA, 8x SuperDrive) at $1,449.
- Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5 (512 Mb Ram, 160GB Serial ATA, 16x SuperDrive double layer) at $1,999.
- Dual 2.3GHz PowerPC G5 (512 Mr Ram, 250 GB Serial ATA, 16x SuperDrive double layer) at $2,499
- Dual 2.7GHz PowerPC G5 (512 Mb Ram, 250 Gb Serial ATA, 16x SuperDrive double layer and ATI Radeon 9650 with 256Mb memory) at $2,999.

We also note that Apple reduces the price of the 20-inch cinema display model to $799 and the 23-inch model to just $1,499.