In celebration of Finale's 20th Anniversary, MakeMusic has announced the imminent release of the next major version of the music notation software for Windows and Mac OS X.

Finale 2009 includes major workflow improvements among its many new features plus full VST and AU plug-in support. The Garritan Aria Player is also included free and is fully integrated into Finale 2009.

Shipping is expected to begin July 21st. Pre-order is available for $600. Note that upgrade and academic pricing are also available. For more information, please visit the link below :

Audio Impressions will be previewing the release version of DVZ Strings, Ai's virtual instruments and high-resolution 70 piece orchestral string library at the audioMIDI.com's Film and TV Composition Clinic.

Ai's DVZ Strings includes samples of priceless Stradivari and Guarneri instruments and it features groundbreaking and never-before-available technologies developed to produce real-time, real-world orchestral balance for accurate score transcription.

Included is Audio Impressions' SPACE, Decca Tree and microphone cross-bleed simulation software with continuously variable room size and acoustic adjustments to once-and-for-all eliminate the overdubbed s ...

Let me introduce you to Aurora, a USB powered dual MCU data acquisition device in a typical DJ form factor.

This open source device features two linear channel faders, a single a/b crossfader and eight backlit buttons. Twenty four backlit knobs allow you to control effects. As it is an an open source project, you will find everything you need to build your own unit from scratch on the aurora website. But if you are interested in purchasing an assembled mixer this should be possible soon so be patient !

More info and videos are available at the following address :

Nine Volt Audio has released Big Bad Guitars, a collection of tough and heavy-duty modern rock guitar loops. With aggressive and intense tones, all parts were recorded on two guitars through different amps, allowing for a huge stereo spread of six-string sound.

Amp sounds were dialed in and recorded by producer, mixer and engineer Michael Wagener, known for his work with many top hard rock and heavy metal bands like Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica.

Specifications :

- 925 files for each format: REX2, Stylus RMX, Apple Loops and ACIDized Wav. Each part is presented as a mono, single guitar part, and an accompanying stereo loop with each part panned hard left and right.
- Big Bad Guitars is organized into "mini-song" suites. Each suite contains clearly labeled song parts, riffs, string "scrapes" and sustained chords for endings and breaks.
- The collection features 130+ "remix" style guitar loops that feature filtered, "stuttered" and effected sounds.
- Any of the REX-based loops (used in Stylus RMX and Reason) can be used at tempos as slow as 70 BPM.
-"Toolbox" section of straight-ahead 8th and 16th note palm-muted power chord loops.
- All loops are in 24-bit/44.1kHz resolution.

Big Bad Guitars is available on DVD or via Download at a price of $99.99. Note that a video demo of Big Bad Guitars is available at the Nine Volt Audio website.

Audix has announced the release of a new USB plug and play microphone : the Audix USB12.

Designed for recording voice and acoustic instruments directly into the computer via the USB port, the USB12 is a gooseneck microphone featuring a 12 mm modular threaded capsule for accuracy, a membrane switch for "steady on" or "momentary on", a heavy duty base for stability, a double gooseneck for precise positioning, a headphone jack for real time monitoring and a bass roll-off filter to help reduce unwanted room noise or boominess. The USB12 is a plug and play microphone supporting 44.1k and 48k sample rates for both PC and Mac platforms.

The Audix USB12, which includes a 6' USB cable, is available from authorized Audix dealers in a matte black finish or a white finish for a suggested retail price of $179.