Live 5, Pro Tools 7, Vienna Symphonic Library, Guitare Rig 2, Genelec 8050A, Arturia Prophet V, Clavia Nord Stage, or M-Audio Project mix I/O, are some of the 2006 MIPA Awards winners in Frankfurt. 58 magazines from all over the world got together to vote for the best products of 2005/2006 in more than 40 categories. The awards have been presented to the winners at a special mipa-Party/Awards-Ceremony held during Musikmesse / Prolight + Sound, March 30th, 2006.

Just clic on the link bellow to read the full list of MIPA'06 winners.

TerraTec announce its forthcoming Area 61 Keyboard. This alien territory is a mix between a 61 keys controller keyboard, a USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interface, an expandable synth and DSP synth host. The controller part adds to the velocity sensitive keyboard an interesting split aftertouch, 10 encoders with LED, 5 buttons, and 2 rubber mod wheels, all assignable. The interface is stereo, 24bit/96KHz, Midi In and Out/thru. The sound generation part is optional, you can add sound modules like the WaveXtable. One of the main interests of the Area 61 is to DSP host the latest TerraTec Komplexer softsynth (ex-waldorf employees development), but sadly it is not supported on the mac at the moment.

Available third quarter 06 for EUR 599.

Mireth Technology has released a Universal Binary version of Music Man, its Mac OS X digital music software. Version 1.7.6 of Music Man will now run native on both Mac Power PC and on the new Intel Mac (MacIntel) under Mac OS X. This version also adds new features, including Audio CD burning capability. Music Man can rip, convert, burn and play MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, AIF, Audio CD and Ogg Vorbis on Mac OS X. Music Man also offers many burning features, such as variable burn quality that allows for burning up to four times as much music on a USB Flash Drive as when using standard burn technology.

Music Man is available for immediate download, or on CD-ROM, starting at $19.95. Registered users of previous versions of Music Man can upgrade for free.

CME extends its audio interface offer by announcing the Matrix K. This affordable audio interface is available in USB or in Firewire connectivity and feature a mic/line combo input, one stereo TRS input, 2 balanced line outputs and works up to 24 bit/192 kHz. There's direct monitoring available, along 2 headphones outs and it can host a firewire optional extension.

Available in August 06, USB $179.99, FireWire $199.99, KF400E FireWire expansion $99.99

M-Audio is shipping worldwide its new Axiom 25 USB MIDI Controller. This 25-key USB mobile MIDI controller features both semi-weighted action and assignable aftertouch, plus eight rubberized trigger pads. Eight endless rotary encoder knobs let you get your hands on synth parameters, virtual mixer controls and more. Six transport controls can also assign to control other MIDI parameters. Virtually everything is freely MIDI-assignable—and the backlit LCD screen makes programming easy and intutive. You get 20 memory locations for on-board storage, plus free Enigma editor/librarian software to manage an unlimited number of setups via computer.

M-Audio Axiom 25 ships at $239.95.