FXpansion has released GURU in conjunction with Devine Machine. GURU is a sampling beat box featuring 8 engines (each with16 MIDI-triggered Sample Pads, step-sequencer with 24 MIDI-triggered Patterns, Three Aux effect slots and Insert effects slot), Sample Pad Editor (with individual control of Gain, pan, tuning, resonant filtering, Amp/FX envelopes and more), Advanced Step Sequencer (128 steps, 16 channels, 24 Pattern memories per engine and Graphical automation). GURU comes with more than 2GB of sample with material by Yellow Tools, Wizoo, Gearshift and others.

GURU (standalone, ReWire, VSTi, AudioUnit, RTAS) costs $249,00 or 199 euros.

As usual, poor Pro Tools LE users are still waiting for a Pro Tools LE version compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. And as usual happy and rich Pro Tools TDM users have a new update for Pro Tools TDM. This week, update is number 6.9.2cs1 and fixes several bugs. This release needs a Pro Tools|HD and Pro Tools|HD Accel Systems, with Pro Tools TDM 6.9.2 Software only and Mac OS X 10.4.1 "Tiger" only.

Full list of bugs fixed in the MacMusic softwares section.

Native Instruments announces an updated version of Absynth. This 3.0.2 version adds several improvements and bugfixes : 8 individual outputs in plug-in mode, many fixes in the envelope page, surround LFE fixed. This version also features a new 'Active_Aurora.glo' preset designed by Brian Clevinger, the creator of Absynth, and 64 new "Universal Library Files".

For a summer promotion, all the plug-ins that normally come with Power Suite are available for $99.95 each, from now until the end of July. TrackPlug, MasterVerb, FinalPlug and MultiDynamics, which are all normally $149.95, will be available for $50 off during this time.

Feel free to visit the Wave Arts website for more information and free demos.

Digidesign announces an update to version 6.9cs2 for Pro Tools TDM. This release fixes this bug : Legacy Peripherals Attached to a 192 I/O or a 96 I/O (with Firmware Version 4.3) Would Exhibit Incorrect Gain at Their Inputs (Item # 59048). If you have a 192 I/O or 96 I/O, and the interface firmware version is 4.3, you need to run the DigiTest firmware updater. If your 192 I/O or 96 I/O has firmware version 3.0, incorrect input gain on legacy peripherals will not occur, and you will not be able to update the firmware. This does not apply to the 96i, which does not have a legacy port.