From MusikMesse, Bias announces Peak Pro 5. This new version of Bias sound editing software now features :

- brand-new playlist with graphic waveform view and advanced crossfade control
- 100% Redbook Replication-ready CD burning with ISRC, PQ subcodes and more
- VST and Audio Units instrument support in Vbox
- new DSP algorithms for Change Pitch, Change Duration and Sample Rate Conversion
- optional Extension for DDP file export

Peak Pro 5 will be available Q2 2005 at $599. Customers who purchased the full edition of Peak before April 1, 2005 can upgrade to Peak Pro 5 for $179, and customers who purchase the full version of Peak after April 1, 2005 can upgrade to Peak Pro 5 for $39.

Dynaudio Acoustics is launching the BM 5P, a new passive nearfield monitor that delivers transparent sound and high performance at an affordable price. The 2-way passive monitor operates within a frequency response of 50 Hz – 21 kHz, and is equipped with a 170mm (6,9") woofer and 26mm (1") soft dome tweeter.

The BM 5P is expected to ship in May 2005 at 580 euros retail ex. VAT per pair.

At Musikmesse, PreSonus announces that the Firebox is now shipping. The FireBox is a compact yet powerful FireWire recording system with the ability to record and playback six inputs and ten outputs simultaneously at professional-grade 24-bit/96k resolution.

The Firebox ships complete with Steinberg's Cubase LE.

At MusikMesse, the Vienna Symphonic Library team unveiled Opus 2, which comprises basic articulations of instruments taken from other Horizon Series titles, such as Solo Strings, Epic Horns, French Oboe, or Woodwind Ensembles. Opus 2 is available in EXS24, GigaStudio, HALion and Kontakt formats.

Opus 2 includes 9.3 GB of data on 2 DVD-ROMs and retails for $495

Edirol annouces an innovative product - the CG-8 Visual Synthesizer. Just as synthesis in music prompted new waves of musical creativity so the CG-8 is set to do the same for the visual artist. In a musical context, a sampling synthesizer takes audio in or regenerates it from a wave generator and then modulates it with filters and amplifiers before outputting the sound.  In a similar fashion the CG-8 can take in still images, create motion pictures from these and then modulate them with Modifiers and Fade Controllers. Designed to enhance live performance in today's merging world of audio and visual, the CG-8 will allow DJ's, musicians and visual artists to create stunning visual patches.