This Musikmesse is set to be Sonnox's biggest show ever, with no fewer than 10 shows a day from four different presenters. As well as mainstage shows from Fab Dupont, Robbie Bronnimann, Nils Hahmann, and Josep Maria Sola, there will be iMac stations for general public use, and plenty of Sonnox staff to ask questions and get one on one Oxford Plugins demos.

Visitors who come to the demos will have a chance to win a Sonnox Elite Collection worth around €1000, which will be presented at 17:30h each day. Also, with Sonnox's special Musikmesse promotion, purchase and register any Oxford Plugins Bundle (2 or more plug-ins) between April 1st and April 17th 2009 and receive a free Oxford Limiter with your order !

Come and see Sonnox at Booth B66, Hall 5.1 from April 1st – 4th, to find out more details.

Akai announces the MPD18 portable pad controller.

The MPD18 is the smallest-sized model in Akai's line of MPD MIDI-over-USB pad controllers. The heart of the MPD18 is its bank of 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive genuine MPC pads, an Akai Professional exclusive. Users can access three different banks of sounds from the pads for a total of 48 sounds at once. The MPD18 also borrows the MPC series' assignable Q-Link controllers, enabling users to control nearly any parameters in their software in real time on an assignable Q-Link fader and an assignable Q-Link button.

Users will find the MPD18 to be convenient, sending MIDI information over its plug-and-play USB interface for use with Mac or PC without installing any drivers. The USB connection also powers the MPD18 so musicians can use the controller with no power supply. The MPD18 can control nearly any MIDI software, as well as MIDI hardware, such as synths, sound modules, samplers, sequencers, drum machines and more.

The MPD18 will be available from musical instrument and professional audio retailers Q3, 2009.

Stanton releases the SCS.3m, the next installment in their SC System 3 series controllers.

The SCS.3m is a portable MIDI controller with a unique control surface that emulates the layout of a traditional two channel mixer, but is completely touch-sensitive and features the StanTouch® technology introduced in its deck controller counterpart, the Stanton SCS.3d.

The SCS.3m incorporates all the functions of a two channel DJ mixer, plus a host of new performance features. The touch sensitive sliders can be used to tweak EQs, allowing DJs to bring in different elements of a song during a mix, or instantly switch the sliders to control FX parameters of your software. The wide, touch-sensitive crossfader allows for seamless slow blends between decks, but is also able to detect multiple fin ...

AnaMod will demonstrate the new AM670 Stereo Limiter at this year MusikMesse (Hall 5.1, Booth D-94A).

The AM670, list price $3295.00, is a stereo 3U rackmount based on the technology of Anamod's successful AM660 500-series compressor introduced last year. Both the AM660 and AM670 were created by the AnaMod Process. Precise mathematical models were created from the classic 1950s variable-mu 670 limiter. These models were used to synthesize the analog hardware of the AM670. Like the classic1950s variable-mu 670 limiter, the AM670 duplicates the Lateral / Vertical (mid / side) modes of compression while adding a stereo link function which was not present on original 1950s vacuum tube unit.

AnaMod's co-founder Greg Gualtieri says, "Having mid / side compression available in a buss limiter will be eye-opening for many engineers. You're able to independently control the amount of compression of the center of a mix while not affecting the extreme ends of a stereo mix… and vice-versa."

Novation unveils the successor to its ReMOTE SL.

The SL Mk II combines a semi-weighted Fatar 'fast touch' keyboard with a full DAW and plug-in control surface that visually feeds back all control information to the user. All knobs and faders are touch sensitive. By simply touching a control, all mapping information automatically appears on the 144 character LCD display. Back lit LED buttons and LED ringed encoders instantly show the status of controls. SL Mk II also includes full transport control, an XY "Xpression Pad", 8 drum pads, sprung pitch/mod joystick and a unique "Speed Dial" encoder, which enables the user to grab any parameter the cursor is positioned over. In addition to 25, 49 and 61 key versions, a keyboardless "Zero" will be available with longer-throw faders and a central crossfader.

Ultra-quick mapping of all 56 knobs, faders and buttons is managed by Novation's Automap 3 PRO software, which provides instant and intelligent control of all your music software. As well as extensive DAW control, parameters on VST and AU plug-ins can be assigned by simply touching the controller and clicking the parameter. Perhaps Automap 3 PRO's biggest asset is "Keystroke Assignment", this enables almost any QWERTY or ASCII keyboard shortcut (and combination shortcuts) to be instantly assigned to the SL Mk II controls.

SL Mk II will be available almost immediately. The 25-key and 61-key models are shipping worldwide, April 2009. Zero SL MkII and the 49-key model will follow shortly after. For further details and pricing, contact your local Novation distributor.