Digidesign today announced Pro Tools 8. In their own words :

" Meet the new Pro Tools® 8 — the most advanced audio creation and production software, featuring a gorgeous new interface; dozens of new plug-ins; five new virtual instruments; exciting new scoring, MIDI, editing, and mixing capabilities; deeper controller integration; improved ease of installation and use; and enhanced performance. With Pro Tools 8, you get the most comprehensive music and sound creation features and functionality, and the proven, dedicated platform for world-class audio production — all in a single application. Pro Tools 8 is coming soon for Pro Tools|HD®, Pro Tools LE®, and Pro Tools M-Powered systems, so get ready — you'll never work with audio the same way again.

Features :

- Stunning New Look and ...

This year's AES show in San Francisco sees the launch of Focusrite's latest addition to their Liquid range. Liquid Mix HD delivers the power of Liquid Mix exclusively to the Pro Tools HD market.

Providing the same pool of classic EQ and Compressor emulations, Liquid Mix HD combines the sound of priceless and historically significant compressors and EQs with all the benefits of operating directly inside the Pro Tools HD environment. Over 60 instances can be used simultaneously on an HD 3 system, and thanks to Pro Tools HD's low latency environment, they can be used for both recording and mixing.

Liquid Mix HD will be shipping worldwide from October 2008. For pricing details, please contact your local Focusrite distributor.

URS has announced the release of URS Saturation v2.0.

Features :

- Six Vintage Pre Amplifier Algorithms.
- Two Analog Tape Saturation Algorithms.
- Transformer Core Saturation Algorithm.
- Even and Odd Ordered Harmonics.
- Soft Clipping.
- 158 Factory Presets.

The two Mono Tape Head algorithms add Analog Tape saturation. This non-linear saturation produces a smoothing effect on high frequency transients. The Transformer Core Saturation algorithm adds non linear transformer core saturation as found on vintage consoles, tape machines and outboard gear. The two new vintage pre amplifier algorithms are : Tape Deck (Class A Tube Mic Pre) and 1951 (Class A Tube Mic Pre).

URS Saturation v2.0 is now available for Windows (VST) and Mac OS X (VST, AU and RTAS) at an introductory price of $199.99. The update is free for all registered Saturation v1.0 users.

Sweetwater has dubbed October "Microphone Month," and to celebrate, the retailer is giving away one of its largest prize packages ever - two mic collections with a combined retail value of more than $25,000.

Two winners, who will be chosen after the conclusion of the promotion October 31, will each receive a "Dream Mic Locker," including studio icons such as a Neumann U 87 AI and AKG C 414 B-XLS, along with microphones from Audio-Technica, Audix, beyerdynamic, Blue, Bock Audio, Earthworks, Electro-Voice, Mojave Audio, Rode, Royer, Sennheiser, Shure, and others.

No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Entrants can register online at :

Waves Audio introduces the Silver plug-in bundle, which gathers 16 of Waves' plug-ins in one "affordable" package.

Waves Silver includes :

- Renaissance Compressor
- Renaissance Equalizer
- Renaissance Axx
- IR-L Convolution Reverb
- L1 Ultramaximizer
- C1 Parametric Compander
- S1 Stereo Imager
- Q10 Paragraphic Equalizer
- MaxxBass
- MondoMod
- Enigma
- TrueVerb
- SuperTap
- Doubler
- DeEsser
- Paz Analyzer

Waves Silver is now available with a U.S. MSRP of $900.