Sonoma Wire Works, developers of RiffWorks, is demonstrating the latest version of their guitar recording software at the MacWorld Expo this week in the Music & Audio Pavilion. A preview of RiffWorks Standard Version 2 is being shown running on Mac OS X with new features such as RiffLink online collaboration service, RiffCaster instant podcasting technology, and more. Several new recording features have also been added in version 2 including Riff Notes, Riff Gain and Riff Effects.

RiffWorks Standard Version 2 will be Mac OS X compatible with any Core Audio device. It will be available as a universal binary for Intel Macs. This version is slated for release at the end of the 1st quarter of 2006.

URS announces the Audio Units versions of the URS Classic Console Compressor Bundle. The URS Classic Console Compressor Bundle digitally re-creates the sound of two popular British console compressors. The URS 1970 is smooth and warm, and the URS 1980 is snappy and more aggressive. Both feature up to 192k sampling and 64-bit double-precision processing. The URS Classic Console Compressor Bundle includes two plug-ins: the URS 1970 Compressor and the URS 1980 Compressor.

Bundle price is $449 (Native Audio Units, includes RTAS), and 1970 and 1980 are sold individually for $249.99 each. A 10 Day Demo version is now available.

ION has created an USB turntable allowing you to convert your old vinyl collection directly to CD or MP3 with the included recording software. The ION USB turntable includes Audacity software for Mac for recording as well as a trial of Bias Soundsoap 2 for cleaning and restoring vinyl. This turntable also has line level output for connecting to any home stereo with CD or auxiliary (AUX) inputs. This product is compatible with any software that supports USB audio input sound cards.

It costs $140,00.

While we are preparing some huge update of the website (tadaaaah…), we found that pushing things a bit in the forums for the better would be a good idea. Fancy some more specialised forums? So happy the Logic and Pro Tools users! You have from now on new dedicated forums in our forum software section. They will host all exchanges over these 2 softwares It'll make thing easier to find and share, it will sure make help even wiser too. Enjoy the two new forums, and be prepared for more surprises in the next days and weeks, MacMusic.org is on the move to be bigger, better, easier, and even more your reference for hints and help. Yeeehaaa!

Digidesign announced that Digi 002 interface now includes Digi Factory bundle for free. Digi 002 system now contains Pro Tools LE software, Pro Tools Ignition Pack, 50 Digidesign and Bomb Factory plug-ins, and now the following plug-ins : Bomb Factory BF-3A, Moogerfooger Ring Modulator, Moogerfooger Analog Delay, SansAmp PSA-1, Cosmonaut Voice, Joemeek SC2 Photo Optical Compressor, Joemeek VC5 Meequalizer, Tel-Ray Variable Delay, Voce Spin and Voce Chorus/Vibrato.

Digidesign is no longer offering the Digi 002 without the Factory bundle. Pricing for Digi 002 Rack and Digi 002 Rack Factory products will remain unchanged. If you purchased a non-Factory Digi 002 on or after December 1, 2005, you may be eligible to receive the Factory software bundle for free.

update Clouvel : It seems this offer only applies to Digi 002 intefrace and NOT to 002 Rack model...