Alesis has announced MasterControl, a FireWire audio interface and a control surface.

Features :

- 8 Built-in analog inputs – 2 XLR mic preamp inputs with Phantom Power and channel inserts, 6 TRS 1/4" line inputs
- 192kHz analog recording / playback capability
- 6 analog outputs – configurable as discrete, 5.1 Surround, or Stereo X 3, with dedicated speaker switching
- Nine 100mm motorized faders and eight 360° virtual assignable knobs (three banks each) Provides instant access to 28 different parameters on every DAW channel
- 2 banks of 8 fully-assignable buttons provide 16 different functions per preset (setting markers and loop points, setting automation modes, cut/copy/paste)
- Expandable audio inputs for up to 26 simultaneous inputs. S/PDIF and dual S/MUX ADAT Lightpi ...

More portable and affordable than its M-16DX big brother, the M-10DX packs an amazing amount of high-end features into its small frame, including a 24-bit/96kHz processing engine and a backlit LCD so you can see the effects in operation, as well as a small graphical spectrum analysis.

* 10-channel full digital mixer with M-16DX flagship features with dedicated channel controls for Pan, Aux, Select and Level
* 3-band EQ controls (Q & Freq.) with graphic backlit LCD for precise tone shaping
* Compact and Portable
* "Room Acoustic Control" for instant automatic room compensation
* Built-in pro-quality effects, including COSM® insert effects, reverb/echo, effects and finalize effects
* Flexible analog I/O and digital output, including two high-quality mic preamps
* Scene memories allow instant recall of channel and effect parameters.
* AC adaptor included

Digidesign has announced Structure, a sampler workstation designed and optimized specifically for Pro Tools. Structure includes a premium comprehensive sample library from EastWest, features support for importing SampleCell, EXS24, and Kontakt 2 sample libraries, and many more features.

Main features :

- 128-level multitimbral universal sound engine
- support for an unlimited number of nestable patches and up to 8-channel interleaved samples
- supports all standard bit depths, sample rates, and surround formats (up to 24-bit/192 kHz/7.1 surround)
- integrated file browser, sample editor and multi-effects processing engine including convolution reverb
- samples can be played back via disk streaming or solely from RAM

Digidesign will soon be launching a Structure public beta program open to a limited number of participants. More details and the official beta program kickoff announcement will be soon posted at the Digidesign website.

Korg has debuted the mini-KP, a newcomer in the KAOSS Pad family.

Features :

- Intuitive touch-pad interface gives you fingertip effect control in real-time.
- The smallest body in the KAOSS PAD series.
- Battery operation and a carrying strap make it an ideal choice for any scene.
- One hundred effects including filter, delay, and looper meet the needs of any musical style.
- Numerous BPM effects are provided. You can use the "TAP/BPM button" to synchronize the mini-KP to your song's tempo, and apply a wide range of effects to your music.
- "FX RELEASE" function provides a natural decay when changing effects or removing your finger from the pad.
- Hold function lets you memorize the position at which you touched the touch-pad when you release your finger.
- Use the two memory keys A and B to store your favorite effect program settings, including the effect depth and the Hold on/off status.

The mini-KP will be available March 2007 for $250.

Blue Microphones has announced the Woodpecker, an active ribbon microphone made the old-fashioned way - without compromise. With an exotic wood finish and unique active circuitry, the Woodpecker is a precision-crafted recording tool, combining the low noise and Blue's Class-A discrete handmade electronics with the bold sound of a handmade aluminum ribbon pressure-gradient transducer.

The Woodpecker will be available on Q1 2007 for $1299.