Cakewalk announced the world wide availability of Rapture. A free Rapture 1.1 update, available as Universal Binary version for new Intel-based Macs, will be also available in 2nd Quarter 2006. Rapture is a wavetable synthesizer designed to produce pop, dance and electronic sounds, is now shipping worldwide. Rapture combines an advanced modulation system with an non-aliasing wavetable resampling engine. It features 40 Envelope Generators, LFOs, and Step Generators per patch, and comes with more than 500 programs including Basses, Leads, Pads, Arpeggios, Textures, Electronic Percussion and Sequences.

Rapture ships (AU, RTAS, VST) for $259,00.

Pump Up the Volume ? Apple says no ! Apple today announced a software update for the iPod nano and fifth generation iPod, allowing customers to easily set their own personal maximum volume limit. The software update also gives parents the ability to set a maximum volume limit on their child's iPod and lock it with a combination code. The new software update 1.1.1 is available immediately as a free download for the iPod nano and the fifth generation iPod from the Apple web site.

All is so quiet in Cupertino...

TC announced 2 new effect and treatment, the C300 and M350 racks. The C300 is a dual engine dynamics processor (compressor/limiter/gate/expander) in 1U metal rack. Both engine are independent but can be linked either in series or parallel, a stereo link mode enables you to treat a composite stereo signal thru both engines simultaneously. The unit has analogue (jacks 1/4" balanced/unbalanced) and digital I/O (S/PDIF), uses 24 bit A/D-D/A converters, MIDI I/O, and is centered around its 32 presets interface (16 compression/limiter and 16 expander/gate). Universal power supply included in the rack! C 300 available in May, EUR 210.

TC Electronic announced the famous TC Powercore card will be available this summer in PCIe (PCI express) format. The latest G5 owners will be pleased to know it and use it. it'll retail at Euro 1140.

Presonus released the Faderport control interface previewed at last NAMM show. It's both a single fader, transport and MIDI box, hooked up via USB:
- One loooong quality motorized fader
- single channel or group operation
- all the transport controls you want
- all operation in 3 windows: Edit, Mix and Transport
- Pan control, mute, solo, record enable
- Footswitch in for quick punch in/out hands free

The Faderport is supported in Digital Performer, Pro Tools, Cubase and Nuendo, more to come. Price tag should be round $179.