Behringer announces at Musikmesse that two new digital piano are now shipping wordwide. The Eurogrand EG8080-BK features a hand-polished wood cabinet with black lacquer finish and 80-Watt speakers, and the Eurogrand EG540-BK features a wood grain cabinet with black finish and 40-Watt speakers. They both come with an 88-note, weighted hammer-action keyboard and three pedals – Damper, Sostenuto and Soft.

Price : TBA.

CME the new kid on the block in the controller keyboard block, will release in July its VX series of red featured full keyboards. This 4 models range share:

- USB Audio/MIDI interface
- 4 MIDI out, 1 MIDI in
- 2 mic/line input, 2 line output
- 2 headphone outputs
- 2 pedal connectors
- Expandable
- 64 programmable controllers, including 9 motorized 60 mm faders, a ribbon, 12 pads, 8 pots; 8 encoders, switches…
- transport controls
- breath controller input (Yamaha BC3 compatible)
- Initial and after touch, velocity sensitive keyboard
- multi scale support for any scaling system (including non occidental)


VX5 (49 keys), $899.99, VX6 (61 keys) $999.99, VX7 (76 keys) $1199.99 US, VX8 (88 keys) $1299.99.

Behringer announced the C-3, a multipattern (cardio, omni, figure of 8) dual diaphragm condenser microphone. It comes with its transport case, shock mount and integrates a LED that indicates Phantom power is on. Behringer announced too a new mixer in the Eurorack family, the RX1202FX. This is a 8 mono, 2 stereo mixer with 8 mic preamps with a stereo FX processor holding 100 presets to go.

Both available second quarter '06
C-3 $79.99 - EUR 83
RX1202FX $229,99 - EUR 238

Alesis unveiled two new podcasting kits. The "USB kit" contains the Alesis MultiMix 8 USB mixer (2 channels) and the "FireWire kit" contains the Alesis MultiMix 8 FireWire mixer (8 channels). Both kits feature a dynamic microphone, a desktop stand, a mic cable, headphones, Steinberg's Cubase LE and a comprehensive podcasting application.

Price/availability : TBA

Announced at last NAMM, the Line 6 LowDown amplifiers is a powerful range of enhanced amps for bass guitars. it features fast and resourceful amplification (1x12,150W with Tilt Back monitor design; 1x15 w/horn, 175W and 1x15 w/horn, 300W) with Line 6 quality models: 5 Bass Amp (Clean, R&B, Rock, Brit and Grind), 5 Essential Bass Effects (Synth, Compressor, Envelope Filter, Octaver, and Chorus), a Deep switch for "supreme fatness", XLR out with Bass pod modelling, 4 channel memories, headphone out, audio in on 1/8" for cd/mp3 jamming, built-in tuner, Foot Switch Jack for FBV Express or FBV Shortboard.

Shipping now. LowDown LD150 $399.99, LowDown LD175 $499.99, LowDown LD300 Pro $599.99. As a side note, Line 6 updates for free the Vetta I and II software to 2.5 with better models, better tuner stability, tap tempo sync to MIDI clock, additional footswitch assignments…