At the Musikmesse, Celemony Software announces the version 1.5 of the audio editing software Melodyne essential. This update of the bundled version of Melodyne offers optimized Pro Tools integration, a clearer menu structure and numerous other improvements in areas such as ReWire integration, scrubbing and saving. Melodyne essential forms part of the Ignition bundle that comes with DigiDesign's Pro Tools and therefore offers all purchasers of Pro Tools entry-level access to the pitch correction, vocal production and melody editing functions of Melodyne.

The update is available on the Celemony web site for download free of charge by all users of essential.

RME just announces the very new Fireface 400 audio inteface. The 400 is not only a compact version of the Fireface 800 but a new designed product in a 19-inch half-rack. Fireface 400 offers active jitter suppression, stand-alone MIDI, direct device, 648-channel matrix router and is operational up to 192 kHz. It features : 2 digitally controlled high-quality mic preamps, 2 balanced universal line/instrument inputs, coaxial S/PDIF I/O fully AES/EBU compatible, optical S/PDIF, and MIDI in/outs.

The RME Fireface 400 will ship in May at 900 euros.

Yamaha announces two new Mobile Recording Systems in their new portable GO series. The two models, GO44 and GO46 are FireWire powered and come supplied with Steinberg Cubase LE software. Both models can record at up to 192kHz and also act as MIDI interfaces. The GO44, features two balanced analog jack line level inputs with a stereo digital i/o and analog outputs are handled at the rear by two balanced jack outputs. The GO46 features front panel XLR combi-jacks that can supply switchable +48v phantom power to condenser microphones. The front panel knobs allow for easy input gain control and headphone / master volume control. Around the rear the GO46 offers insert points and optical digital IO ports.

New Yamaha GO Mobile Audio Interfaces will be available in June 2006.

E-MU has announced its new 1616M PCI and 1616 PCI Digital Audio Systems that deliver the same powerful DSP effects, zero-latency monitoring and pristine 24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters of E-MU's PCI Digital Audio Systems with the MicroDock breakout box of its CardBus Digital Audio Systems. The 1616M PCI and 1616 PCI Digital Audio Systems offer a total of 16 inputs and 16 outputs plus 32 channels of MIDI I/O, including two E-MU XTC Class-A ultra-low noise mic/line/hi-Z preamps with 48V phantom power and analog soft limiting circuit for clip protection. The 1616M PCI and 1616 PCI ship with the E-MU Production Tools software bundle that includes E-MU's Proteus X LE, as well as software by Steinberg, Ableton, IK Multimedia, and many more.

The new E-MU 1616M PCI and 1616 PCI Digital Audio Systems will ship in July 2006 with an estimated street price of €449.99 for the 1616M PCI and €349.99 for the 1616 PCI.

At Musikmesse Frankfurt, 80 magazines from all over the world get together to vote for the best products in more than 40 categories. More than 500 international representatives of manufacturers and distributors of musical instruments and audio equipment are attending the MIPA Awards. The awards will be presented to the winners at a special ceremony held during the Musikmesse on Thursday, March 30th 2006...so tomorrow.

You'll find bellow the full list of all the nominees for mipa 2006 in their respective categories.