Mackie announces the release of its new C4 Commander virtual MIDI and hardware control software. Using an intuitive drag-and-drop visual interface, Mackie C4 Commander allows users to map parameters of popular MIDI hardware devices to the V-pots and scribble strips of the C4, for remote hands-on control and comprehensive visual feedback. Over 180 of the most popular MIDI hardware devices come preloaded into C4 Commander, while custom layouts are easily constructed with the visual interface.

C4 Commander software is a free download from Mackie web site.

Ableton announces a free upgrade to Live Lite 5 Enhanced Edition for current Live Lite Digidesign Edition and all Ableton Live Lite M-Audio versions. Live Lite 5 Enhanced Edition offers many features found in Live 5, including Plug-in Delay Compensation, MIDI remote control, full ReWire support, high-definition recording and rendering (up to 32-bit), Mackie Control support, Track Freeze, and the "Complex" warp mode for high-fidelity, on-the-fly time stretching.

These free upgrades are available on the Ableton web site.

Digidesign announces updated versions for Pro Tools HD, Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered to version 7.1cs8.

- Pro Tools HD 7.1cs8 fixes a problem with some international characters not allowed In Pro Tools 7 Sessions, a bug with Machine Control (item #75405) , an automation error in existing playlists when using "Import (Session Data): Overlay New on Existing Playlists" (Item # 63172), a volume automation problem from a control surface (Item# 75888).

- Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.1cs8 fix a proble with some international characters not allowed In Pro Tools 7 Sessions (Item # 71269 and 76222).

Famous and avant-garde composer Gyorgy Ligeti has died aged 83, on June 12th 2006. Hungary born in 1923, Gyorgy Ligeti was forced to labor by the Nazis during the WWII. At the same time his parents and relatives were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Gyorgy Ligeti wrote in a variety of styles, including chamber music, opera, avant-garde ("Poème symphonique pour 100 métronomes" in 1962, "Glissandi" in 1957) and electronic music ("Artikulation" in 1958). His music ("Atmosphères" for example) was used in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" or "Eyes Wide Shut".

Gyorgy Ligeti was awarded Sweden's prestigious Polar Music prize in 2004, and is survived by his wife, Vera, and his son, Lukas, a New-York percussionist.

URS Plugins announces the release of 1975 Classic Console Compressor in TDM and RTAS formats. This recreation of the 1975 VCA Compressor includes two different plugins, the Compressor/Limiter/Sidechain version and the Compressor only version. They feature high Res 48 bit Double Precision processing, Adjustable Knee control from hard to soft, Compressor and separate "Brick Wall" Limiter , Internal Side Chain with High and Low Pass Filtering, Stereo, Mono and Multi-Mono.

URS Classic Compressor Bundle can buy the URS 1975 Classic Compressor for $399.99 (TDM) or $199.99 (Native) until July 31st, 2006. Users of URS Everything EQ and Compressor Bundles will receive URS 1975 Compressor for free. VST and AU versions will be released soon.