Steinberg announces the anticipated update to its HALion String Edition VSTi. HALion String Edition 2 offers a total of 9GB of solo and ensemble strings, and integrates Steinberg's HALion sampling technology with a specially recorded sound library. Samples are recorded in 24-bit and using top grade recording equipment. Included are solo and ensemble strings in a large variety of articulations including, crescendo, trills, up and down bowing, portamento and many more.

HALion String Edition 2 will be available in August 2005.

Bias announces a time-limited pre-order special as the release of Peak Pro 5 and Peak Pro XT 5. Rules are note really clear : Customers who own or purchase a new retail copy of the Peak 4 Mastering and Restoration Edition can pre-order a copy of Peak Pro XT 5 for $299 and receive a free DDP file export extension (a $399 value). Customers who purchased new retail editions of Peak 4 before 4/1/05 can pre-order Peak Pro 5 now for US $179, and customers who purchased Peak 4 after 4/1/05 can pre-order Peak Pro 5 for $39.

Remember that with Peak ($500,00), the only "big" audio éditing software on Mac in the 21st century : you can not copy and paste from the right to left side of a stereo audio file !!!

Steinberg unveiled future versions of Cubase SX3 and Cubase SL3. These upcoming updates will offer new features and capabilities including full integration of external hardware instruments and effects including Studio Connections Audio integration, support for Steinberg Dolby Digital and DTS Encoders and expanded editing and mixing functions.

These updates will be available for download in August 2005.

A new version of ValveTone - v1.20 - is now available. This release changes : fix audio clicks under at the begining of the first crossed region, in host that make use of dynamic CPU managment), Plugin Delay Compensation now behave properly, fix error when recalling output level setting, fix error that losed the mono setting when bypassing or recalling the plugin, fix a reported error in the frequency response of "smokin' 2" (at 2 specific gain setting), improved GUI loading, new EQ presets and versioning now is featured in the GUI.

Apple has posted Mac OS 10.4.2 update for its "Tiger" operating system. This release includes fixes for:

- file sharing using AFP and SMB/CIFS network file services
- single sign-on authentication and reliable access to Active Directory servers
- autologin for managed user accounts
- AirPort and wireless access
- Core Graphics, Core Audio, Core Image, including updatedATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers
- Finder updates including finding on Kind and using Slideshow
- synchronizing your iDisk with .Mac
- installation reliability
- managing Dashboard widgets
- Address Book, Automator, iCal, iChat, Mail, Safari, and Stickies applications
- compatibility with third party applications and devices