This is only a rumor for now... but things ar getting more and more clear day after day so let's have a look ! Dave Smith and Roger Linn are working on a new analogue/digital drum machine, obviously inspired by the Evolver, but with the 4x4 pads of the MPC range... and it's called BoomChik. And... nothing else ! But if we get more details we'll certainly keep them "for eyes only" ;-)

Edirol launches three new keyboard controllers in the PCR-series. The PCR-300, 500 and 800 not only provide more physical controls than previous models but they also offer new innovative and intuitive controls such as velocity pads, a Crossfader which allows you to control two parameters at the same time and can work as a DAW software control for zooming screen views as well as for synthesizer filters and DJ gestures, or the longer-throw sliders which can control eight track faders and one master fader or function as organ drawbars. Dynamic Mapping allows the PCR to automatically assign its physical controls to the most important parameters in the current window of the software being used. Fifteen user memories are provided for storing your favorite setups.

For more information, visit their web site.

Defective Records has announced Major Malfunction v1.0, a new Mac OS X realtime audio plugin specifically created for use in Ableton Live. It allows you to easily mangle, glitch, slice and dice, and otherwise FSU in your audio stream, in either subtle or extreme ways. Major Malfunction syncs itself to the Ableton Live tempo automatically, and processes the incoming audio in a number of different user-specified ways, or even randomly selected ways.

Features :

- Realtime VST/AU plugin effect
- 6 different DSP effects, including "pass through" available to choose from
- Each DSP effect has 4 preset slots, individual volume and stereo pan controls
- 8 different 64 step patterns can be stored in preset slots, and saved to disk
- Global volume and dry/wet mix parameters
- Almost ...

Digidesign is now shipping the VENUE All Access Pack, a powerful collection of the most coveted, high resolution TDM plugins for mixing live sound on any VENUE system. This pack features a collection of the best plug-ins on the market designed by some of the most influential signal-processing innovators in the industry, including Digidesign, Aphex, Chandler Limited, Crane Song, Drawmer, Eventide, Focusrite, McDSP, Serato, TC Electronic, and URS.

Featured Plug-ins :

* Aphex Aural Exciter & Big Bottom Pro Bundle
* Chandler Limited EMI TG12413 Limiter
* Crane Song Phoenix
* Digidesign® D-Fi
* Digidesign Maxim
* Digidesign SansAmp PSA-1
* Digidesign TL Aggro
* Digidesign TL EveryPhase
* Digidesign TL Space
* Digidesign Tel-Ray® Variable Delay
* Drawmer TourBuss
* Eventide ...

Sinevibes has released Gateboy, an advanced gate sequencer which allows you to modulate the audio level in many interesting ways. It features a unique pattern composer with variable rate, length and smoothness. Each of the pattern's steps, which has level and bypass controls, triggers a flexible envelope generator with adjustable shape and time. Thanks to such configurability, Gateboy is capable of a very wide variety of effects - from complex trancegates and intricate tremolo, to rhythmic strobes, expressive beat slicing and beyond.

Features:

- Pattern composer with up to 16 steps.
- Variable pattern length and rate.
- Step bypass switches.
- Multiple envelope generator shapes.
- Variable modulation smoothness and depth.

Gateboy is immediately available for $19 as a Universal Binary Audio Unit plug-in (Mac OS 10.3.9 or later). Audio demo, owner's manual and demo version are available for download.