MOTU has announced the upcoming release of Digital Performer 6, which promises to be a major upgrade to the company's flagship digital audio sequencer. DP 6 features a redesigned user interface, which includes the ability to zoom in the Track window.

Two new signal processing plug-ins are included: Pro Verb, a convolution reverb that MOTU says is very CPU efficient, and Masterworks Leveler, a dynamics processor that models the classic LA-2A. A new, and very flexible track comping feature is also included. It gives you plenty of control for comping takes, and it even lets you comp your comps.

DP 6 will also include support for Broadcast WAV files, which means your sequence's audio files no longer need to be in Sound Designer II format. Also included is support for Final Cut Pro XML fi ...

URS has announced Saturation, a new plug-in designed to recreate four different and distinct pre amplifiers, each featuring: a different type of input stage saturation, even and odd ordered harmonics and soft clipping.

Features :

- Four Vintage Pre Amplifier Algorithms
- Even and Odd Ordered Harmonics
- Tube and Discrete Analog Saturation
- Soft Clipping

The initial four Pre Amplifiers models include :

- Class A Tube Mic Pre Amplifier - Vintage Motorcity
- Class A Tube Mic Pre Amplifier - German
- Class A Discrete Pre Amplifier - British
- Class A Discrete JFet Pre Amplifier - Modern

Native Support only, the URS Saturation plug-in currently supports Audio Units and VST for both Mac OSX (VST for WinXP, Vista to be released soon). Note that RTAS is currently supported with a VST to RTAS Wrapper only. The URS Saturation is available now at an introductory price of $199.99 (regular price $249.99).

Overloud has announced TH1, a new virtual guitar amp plug-in based on 4th-generation technology that "boasts unique features not found in other virtual amplifiers".

Modeled after a wide variety of amplifiers, one of the most unusual TH1 features is its ability to "morph" between amps, so the guitar player can "build" his own personal amp. TH1's Smart Control strip is a row of 8 soft buttons, pots and switches controlling the vital parameters of the current sound. The logic beneath these devices allows the user to control more than one parameter at once. The Smart Control strip and Preset Selection can also be controlled by host automation and MIDI control.

Features :

- 15 Amps, 15 cabinets, 15 mics.
- 3D-positioning of mics around guitar cabinets and in the room.
- Virtual Cabinets.
- In-line tuner.
- At-a-glance photographic view of the signal chain.
- MIDI pedal board support.
- User-oriented amp channel switching.
- Tons of ready-to-use sounds with up to 8 variations made to fit different song sections, or a full set.

TH1 will be released in Q2 of 2008.

M-Audio unveils a new FireWire audio interface : the ProFire 2626. This new interface delivers 26 x 26 simultaneous I/O, complete with an onboard DSP mixer sourced from up to 52 audio streams.

Features :

- 26 x 26 simultaneous analog/digital I/O
- eight preamps with award-winning Octane technology
- flexible on-board DSP mixer
- up to 24-bit/192kHz for pristine audio
- features critically acclaimed JetPLL jitter elimination technology
- Pro Tools M-Powered compatible

The ProFire 2626 interface is expected to ship in the first quarter of 2008 and carries an MSRP of US$899.95.

PreSonus has announced not less than 3 brand new products at the 2008 NAMM show, including the DigiMAX D8, AudioBox USB, and the FireStudio Tube.

The DigiMAX D8 is the newest member of the DigiMAX family, offering you 8 XMAX mic preamps, 8 direct analog outputs, and ADAT optical light pipe expansion capability.

The AudioBox USB is a portable, USB bus-powered recording interface featuring 2 mic/instrument preamps with 48V phantom power, 2 balanced TRS outputs, and MIDI in/out.

Last but not least, the FireStudio Tube expands your studio with 8 Class A XMAX microphone amplifiers, 16 analog ins/outs, PLUS 2 tube preamp channels.

The DigiMAX D8 will be available on February while the AudioBox USB and the FireStudio Tube are expected on Q2, 2008.