SM Pro Audio presents at the Musikmesse a festival of new products available now, prices are TBA:
The EP84: 8 independent microphone preamplifiers based on the PR8E circuitry in a 2U rack.
The OC8E: 8 optical compressors (soft-knee design) with individual compression ratio, Class A transformer-less high voltage signal path and individual attack and release controls, Bypass, Output level control per channel; tri-state LED indicator and Output (bluuuue) VU level indicator in a 2 U rack.
The TC01 and TC02: single (desktop unit) and dual channel (1U rack) tube microphone preamp/DI and optical compressor with (bluuuuue) Vu meter.
The VU8: multi-channel passive (bluuuue) VU meter and headphone monitor.
The M-Patch 2: new version of the M-Patch passive volume control/switch box.

At Frankfurt, Sonicbytes announces Phrazor, a rack/sequencer new plugin. Phrazor has 64 Tracks, each providing up to 8 Plugin-Slots. You can see Phrazor as a Rack for all your software Synthesizers. The Basic usage is combining instruments and effects in order to simplify everyday's work. In Phrazor the term Track is used instead of Rack because a Track contains Mixer-States, Programs and optional Clips and Playlist information. Tracks can easily be used in any host, since the file format is independent. But also Projects, Slots, Grooves and Clips can be reused at any time.

The final release is scheduled for April/May '06.

Metric Halo announced that the Universal Binary version of ChannelStrip AU is now shipping. Version 2.2 of ChannelStrip AU is supported for operation with systems running Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later, and Audio Unit compliant host applications. Version 2.2 is available at all Metric Halo authorized dealers, and upgrades are available from the Metric Halo website at www.mhlabs.com.

For the MPC nurtured, pas are almost a second nature, Akai brings back a new pad controller the MPD24. It's a 16 pad MPC style controller with 4 selectable pad banks, 6 assignable Faders, 8 assignable encoders, transport functions (REW, FF, STOP PLAY and REC with MMC). It works in MIDI and USB and can be USB powered if needed. A librarian editor is included as an Akai Sample library of classic drum machines. You can go bang the drums now!

Price and availability TBA.

ADAM announced a new monitor, the A7, along with two subwoofers the Sub8 and Sub10 mkII. The A7 is a small, low price tag (yet unknown) monitor. It features the acclaimed A.R.T. tweeter and a 6.5" Rohacell/Kevlar cone fed by dedicated 50w rms amps. It is housed in a 18 x 33 x 28 cm unshielded box weighting 8 kg (so beware with CRT computer screens). The frequency response is quoted 46 Hz-35 KHz, which can be trimmed by high and low shelving filters in the back as the tweeter level. Front is housing power and general level controls. Connection is in XLR and unbalanced 1/4" jacks.