Korg has expanded its MR Series of digital recorders with the MR-2000S 1-Bit Studio Recorder.

Sleek and flexible, the MR-2000S is a single rack height digital stereo 1-bit recorder, offering 5.6 MHz or 2.8 MHz 1-bit recording, or up to 24-bit 192 kHz PCM recording and playback. 1-bit file formats DSDIFF (used in SACD production), WSD and DSF are all supported, as well as PCM support for standard WAV, BWF (Broadcast WAV) and even MP3 playback. Sampling frequencies for PCM formats range from 44.1 kHz through 192 kHz. AudioGate version 1.5 audio file converter software is included, supporting reading/playback of MR project files and for converting to various file formats

Analog connectors include XLR balanced input/output jacks, and RCA unbalanced input/output jacks. The reference level of the XLR jacks can be switched in a range of -12/-14/-16/-18/-20 dB, allowing the MR-2000S to be used in any recording environment from a music-related studio to a broadcast facility. Digital connectors include S/PDIF coaxial jacks for PCM sources, as well as word clock jacks for synchronization with other devices or a second MR-2000S unit. The MR-2000S also features a multi-step LED level meter with excellent response speed and high visibility.

The unit's built-in 80 GB hard disk allows up to approximately 120 hours of recording (44.1 kHz 16-bit two track), or approximately 14.5 hours at the highest quality (1-bit 5.6448 MHz two track). Up to 400 projects can be created for each of up to 400 recording date folders (160,000 possible projects total). USB 2.0 "high speed" mode is supported for rapid file transfer to and from users' computers.

The Korg MR-2000S 1-Bit Studio Recorder will be available in December with a target U.S. MSRP of $1,999.

AKG Acoustics recently announced the acquisition of the worldwide distribution rights for the Crown family of microphones. The integration of Crown microphones into AKG Acoustics' product portfolio adds to AKG's global position as one of the world's leading sources of high-quality microphones. As a result of the partnership, AKG distributors now handle the worldwide distribution for two of the industry's leading microphone brands.

Great news from Apple! Steve Jobs revealed the new awaited MacBooks & MacBook Pros at yesterday's live KeyNote. How cool...

That would have been of great interest to our community if a "minor" detail haven't caught our attention... Apple simply decided to remove the firewire interface from the MacBooks leaving this option to the MacBook Pros family only (with a single firewire 800 connector). WOW, isn't that incredible coming from the company that first introduced the firewire IEEE 1394 protocol in personal computers?

In short, that means that any nomad musician will from now on have to spend at least $1999 to connect a firewire interface and/or hard drive to an Apple laptop... Isn't that cool? Ooops, my mistake... There is an option from the Apple website. The 13-inch White MacBook is still alive with it's cheap GMA X3100 graphic card. I don't now what's "new" there but it is presented as so... Well at least it has a firewire 400 connector and costs "only" $999. For that price, I'm sure the "black" model with the 2.4 GHz intel Core Duo processor would have generated a little more interest to our community... Yes the "black" MacBook does look better in the studio or on stage!

Solid State Logic has just updated the Duende software. Duende 2.5.9 is the first release to include the optional plug-in Vocalstrip. This release covers the full Duende product line; Duende Classic, Duende Mini and Duende PCIe.

For more information, please visit their website.

Expert Sleepers has released a public beta of Augustus Loop v2.0 which is a major update to the tape echo/looping plug-in.

Features :

- Augustus Loop's GUI is now fully skinnable and scriptable.
- MIDI behaviour is now scriptable.
- VST version now receives MIDI.
- Added Record Offset feature.
- Added waveform display.
- The 'Max Delay Time' parameter now has a smaller minimum value (1.0 seconds) and is not rounded to the nearest 10 seconds.
- Added Tape Read Mode parameter.
- The Freeze Loop function is much improved.
- A small crossfade is now applied when activating Clear Loop, and when Clear Loop ends.
- The Input Level parameter is now protected against sudden changes, which previously could result in audio artefacts. In particular this makes the Punch In/Out f ...