Digidesign VENUEPack 2.0 is is now available. It's an updated version of the software bundle that is included with every VENUE live sound environment, and contains : Digidesign Impact, Reverb One, ReVibe, Smack!, Digidesign/Bomb Factory BF-3A, Pultec Bundle, Slightly Rude Compressor, Classic Compressors Bundle, Moogerfooger Bundle, Focusrite d2, Focusrite d3 and Troodon Technologies TrooTrace Audio Analysis Bundle. VENUEPack Pro 2.0 offers five additional plug-ins with the purchase of a D-Show Mix Engine DSP card : Digidesign/Bomb Factory JOEMEEK Bundle, Fairchild Bundle, Voce Bundle, Line 6 Amp Farm 3 and Line 6 Echo Farm.

From April 18, VENUEPack 2.0 will be included with all VENUE systems and with the D-Show 2.0 paid upgrade. VENUEPack Pro 2.0 will be included with each D-Show Mix Engine DSP Card purchased on or after April 18.

MsPinky's BinkyToy Application allows DJs to play digital audio files (.WAV, .AIFF, and .MP3) using the MsPinky vinyl records and standard DJ turntables. The physical location stamps on the vinyl are used by BinkyToy to cue up your file and play it just as if it were a track recorded on vinyl. BinkyToy has two waveform displays for each file in a session. The smaller of the waveform displays shows a condensed view of the whole file. The larger waveform display shows a zoomed-in view of the track which scrolls automatically as the track plays.

The current version of the BinkyToy is for Mac OS9 and OSX

For a limited time, Digidesign is offering a free Native Instruments AC BOX guitar combo plug-in—an $80 value—when you buy a Digi 002 Factory system. As an additional bonus, Native Instruments will let you upgrade to the full Guitar Rig 2 product for the special price of $399—more than 30% off the regular price.

This promotion is valid for customers who bought their Digi 002 Factory system on or after February 15, 2006, and will run through September 15, 2006.

M-Audio, announces the release of the Sputnik large-diaphragm studio tube condenser microphone. The Sputnik's frequency response is 20Hz – 20kHz ±1.5dB; the sensitivity is 30mV/Pa (-30.5dBV) and the max. SPL at 0.5% THD is 132dB (or 142dB with the 10dB pad). It also features a low-frequency roll-off and multiple pick-up patterns (cardioid, omni, figure-8). Sputnik includes a professional shockmount, dedicated power supply, 7-pin mic cable, grounded IEC power supply and a custom flight case.

Sputnik is now shipping and carries an MSRP of $699.95.

Digidesign announces that D-Show 2.0 software for VENUE is now available. it adds several key features plus support for upcoming hardware options, significantly increasing the efficiency, depth of control, and flexibility of the VENUE live sound environment. New features include support for Digital Stage Input (DSI) Card and Digital Stage Output (DSO) Card, because Digidesign currently anticipates that the VENUE DSI and DSO hardware options will be available in the second quarter of 2006.

Customers who purchased a console on or after January 1, 2006, are entitled to a free D-Show 2.0 update. For other customers, D-Show 2.0 software is a paid upgrade.