Digidesign just announced they are in the last qualification stages for PCI Express versions of their Pro Tools|HD cards. They should be available before the end of the year. In fact, Digidesign has been collaborating with Apple for some time already to bring the HD system to PCIe on the new G5 range as fast as possible, including the G5 Quad coming in november.

So you can expect the new cards in the forthcoming weeks. Check the compato page at Digi website.

Luxonix announces an updated version (1.1.3) for its LFX-1310. This release now works correctly with Logic 6 series, fixes a crash on some dual CPU systems and fixes the crusher effect bug. LFX-1310 is a plug-in multi-effector including 24 types of algorithm and 3 serial slots.

Myriad Software announces that Melody Assistant is now available as version 7.1.9, and that Harmony Assistant is available as version 9.1.9. Melody Assistant is an application for writing and composing music, with a friendly interface and many powerful features, is a lite version of Harmony Assistant.

List of new features, improvements and bugfixes are available in the MacMusic software section.

Lexicon announced the Lambda, a new USB desktop recording solution including the Lambda Studio USB interface, Cubase LE and the Lexicon Pantheon reverb VST plug-in. The Lambda Studio interface features two XLR microphone inputs, with TRS inserts and switchable +48V phantom power, two TRS balanced 1/4" line inputs, two TRS balanced line outputs, a 1/8" front-panel mounted high-power headphone output jack, a front-panel ultra-high-impedance instrument input, and MIDI input and output.

Lambda Studio will be available for $199.99.

Mackie annouces a version 2.0.2.8 of Tracktion, which now features : international language support for GUI display, folder grouping for built-in effects plug-ins, custom naming ability to audio outputs, new group soloing functionality, and new render track dialog with options.