CME has announced the U2 USB Cable Interface Series, a series of USB cables with built-in computer interfaces for easy plug and play connection of line and mic level audio sources and MIDI keyboards and controllers. The U2GKB is designed for line level sources such as guitar, bass, and keyboards, the U2MIC is designed for microphone input and features +48v phantom power via USB, and the U2MIDI is designed to carry 16 channels of MIDI to and from a computer. All U2 series cables are USB powered.

The U2 Series will be available in the Spring of 2007. For more information please visit their web site.

Line 6 has released GearBox Plug-In version 3.1 which delivers amp emulation and effects derived from Line 6's PODxt hardware in software. There are two different GearBox Plug-in Bundles to fit your needs :

Silver Bundle :

* 18 guitar amp and 24 cab models from PODxt.
* 5 bass amp models from Bass PODxt.
* 6 world-renowned vintage and modern mic preamps.
* 30 studio and stompbox effects.


Gold Bundle :

* 78 guitar amp and 24 cab models from PODxt/Vetta II.
* 28 bass amp and 22 bass cab models from Bass PODxt.
* 6 world-renowned vintage and modern mic preamps.
* 80 plus studio and stompbox effects.


GearBox Plug-In is available for Mac OS X (UB) in RTAS and AU formats. The Silver bundle has an MSRP of $419.99; the Gold version $699.99.Note that GearBox Plug-In is also available as a download for owners of PODxt, GuitarPort, and TonePort products for $199.

Linplug has released version 3 of their soft synth Alpha. Just when you get tired about the many over-complex synthesizers of today, when you want to return to the roots, the beginning of all synthetic sound, the times when a Synthesizer could be fully programmed, then the Alpha 3 is the right synthesizer for you.

Alpha 3 is available for Mac OS X (UB) in AU and VST 2.0 formats at a retail price of 99 US$ / 79 Euro.

WaveMachine Labs has released Drumagog Platinum and Drumagog BFD. These versions of Drumagog offer the ability to directly trigger BFD, without the need for MIDI or other complicated setups, enabling you to harness the power of BFD directly from the Drumagog interface so if you own a copy of Fxpansion's BFD this is exactly what you need !

Drumagog Platinum is the top-of-the-range version of Drumagog and retails for $379. Drumagog BFD lacks various features, such as internal sounds and sample import, and retails for $199.

Grooveboxmusic.com, the online pro audio training provider has released a new in-depth Pro Tools 7 training product entitled "Excel Pro Tools 7". Containing 34 video tutorials and running over 3 hours in length, "Excel Pro Tools 7" covers many useful "Tips and Tricks" and task specific topics about the industry standard recording software Digidesign Pro Tools 7.

Just some of the tutorial videos on "Excel Pro Tools 7" include:

• Cleaning Vocal Tracks
• Create a Composite Track
• Auto Punch Recording
• Groove Quantize Audio
• Recording Reason Rewire
• Recording Virtual Inst
• Print FX to Track
• Using Playlists
• Stereoize Tracks
• Creating Submixes
• Telephone Effect

"Excel Pro Tools 7" is available for purchase right now exclusively as an Instant Digital Download on Grooveboxmusic.com for $39.99.