IK Multimedia introduces for the NAMM show 2006 the StealthPlug powered by AmpliTube, a cable-like USB audio card designed specifically for guitarists. StealthPlug provides an easy-to-use solution to plug any guitar into a computer and comes bundled with AmpliTube Live and AmpliTube LE. The StealthPlug is an in-line guitar cable that serves as a USB audio interface with 1/4" jack on one side and USB on the other side. It also includes a mini-jack stereo output, an indication LED, and volume buttons, low latency ASIO and CoreAudio drivers.

IK StealthPlug will be available in the summer of 2006.

Digidesign, Apple, Native Instruments, Ableton, Steinberg and 1,400 other exhibitors! They have come, they are all present for this new edition of the Winter Namm Show that is about to open in a few hours now in Anheim, California. As usual, it's just the perfect opportunity to come and meet the very numerous musical equipment manufacturers but also to attend the numerous shows (training courses, concerts, demonstrations) organized by the National Association of Music Manufacturers.

The whole MacMusic team is on the starting blocks to get you informed about the latest news in this "Winter NAMM special report", and in the MacMusic Daily News Section. Enjoy the NAMM, either on the spot or on the web !

UPDATE: 80 more photos in our NAMM Galery!

At NAMM, Apogee unveiled Ensemble, a multi-channel digital audio interface designed specifically for use with Apple Macintosh computers. Ensemble is the first and only multi-channel audio interface to be controllable natively within Apple's Logic Pro software, creating a complete, fully integrated professional hardware and software system for audio production on a Mac.

Ensemble Features 36 channels of simultaneous audio, including 8 channels of Apogee's legendary A/D and D/A conversion, 4 transparent, digitally controlled 75db mic preamps, 8 channels of ADAT I/O, 2 channels of S/PDIF coax and optical I/O, and FireWire connectivity to and from the computer as standard. Ensemble also includes such Apogee's features as "SoftLimit", "UV22HR", and "Intelliclock". These technologies combined ...

Today at NAMM, Apogee Electronics Corporation (booth 6428) unveiled Symphony, a multi-channel PCI Express card designed specifically for use with Apple's Macintosh computers. Apogee's Symphony PCI Express card is a digital computer interface that is based on the PCI-Express architecture in Apple's PowerMac G5 computers. Controlled by Apogee's Maestro software, Symphony features 32 channels of digital I/O on a single PCI-Express card format. With support for sample rates up to 192 kHz, Symphony can be used as a digital router or patch-bay when connected to external converters or other digital outboard equipment.

Software drivers for Symphony will feature extensive routing capabilities and very low latency performance. Symphony connects directly to Apogee's Rosetta and AD-16X and DA-16X ...

Intel-based iMac and MacBook Pro can be happy. Roland, BOSS, EDIROL have prepared drivers for Intel based Macs. Roland drivers are in the final stages of qualification on iMacs and MacBooks and will be available as soon as they are polished. Firewire audio class drivers for EDIROL FA-66 and FA-101, along with USB mass storage drivers used for Fantom-x and other Roland, BOSS and EDIROL products are already included and fully compatible with the new macs.