Digidesign's Beta Program is looking for users who use Pro Tools with any of the following operating systems on Mac OS X or Windows XP:

Japanese
Chinese Simplified
Spanish
Italian

The candidate must be using a supported Pro Tools TDM system (HD or HD Accel) or Pro Tools LE system (Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, Mbox). If you use Pro Tools in any of the languages mentioned above and are using a supported PT system (as specified) you could become part of this beta program. If you are interested in becoming a beta tester for Digidesign, please contact Digidesign at the following e-mail only: Digi_beta@Digidesign.com

Digidesign updated again Pro Tools TDM and LE to version 6.7.cs8 in order to fix the OS X Keyboard Shortcuts feature that would not work with Pro Tools 6.7cs7 version. This "old" (January 19 !) ProTools 6.7sc7 version already tried to fix keyboard shortcuts problems for European versions.

More info in the MM softs section.

TC Electronic introduced the VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb for PowerCore, a direct port of the legendary reverb algorithm from TC's System 6000, the first truly high-end VST/AU reverb for digital audio workstations. The VSS3 algorithm is made up of nearly 800 parameters, all of which have been condensed into a simple user interface with clear choices at all levels. Industry-standard presets and customizable focus fields from System 6000 are included to facilitate easy start-up. VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb will be shipping in February at 495 EUR retail ex. VAT.

Until now TC Electronic reverbs based on this approach have only been available in hardware form - M3000, Reverb 4000 and System 6000. VSS3 defines TC Electronic reverb, and it is now available to DAW users via the PowerCore platform.

Cycling '74 will distribute JazzMutant's Lemur multitouch control surface within the United States. The Lemur is a sleek portable controller for live performance computer music applications featuring a 12" LCD display and a proprietary touch screen interface that can simultaneously track multiple fingers.

The Lemur communicates with a host computer over 100-baseT Ethernet using the Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol developed at UC Berkeley's Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT). OSC is an emerging standard for synthesis control that supports simple configuration, 32-bit data resolution, and low latency. Applications that currently feature OSC support include Cycling '74's Max/MSP, Native Instruments' Reaktor, and Pd, a popular open-source sound synthesis application.

Muse Research, Inc. announced the Version 1.2 software upgrade for Receptor, the ground-breaking hardware VST plug-in player. This software update for Receptor adds significant new features, including ADAT output support that increases the number of outputs to a total of ten. Also new in version 1.2 is Z-Load (patent-pending), which dramatically reduces the amount of time required to load a plug-in, as well as new MIDI mapping features with full support for keyboard zones and layers, improving Receptor's functionality as a synth, sampler, and sound module. Version 1.2 software for Receptor is slated to ship in the first quarter of this year.

Muse Research, also announced that it completed testing for compatibility with hundreds of freeware plug-ins. The company reports that Receptor customers are finding new plug-ins that work with Receptor almost daily and the list is growing fast. The web is full of compatible plug-ins and a Receptor customer can install them using the "Unsupported Plug-ins" installation feature.

MR also announced UniWire, a single cable solution for connecting Receptor to a computer (Mac or PC) using standard Ethernet protocol and standard, off-the-shelf network peripherals to carry all audio, midi, and control data over a single wire. UniWire technology makes it possible to seamlessly integrate Receptor into a VST host on a Mac or PC by simply installing the UniWire VST onto the host, and then connecting the Receptor to the computer over a standard Ethernet cable. The company has announced that it will create UniWire plug-ins in other formats as well.

FD: Please Muse, do a RTAS version to emancipate the large ProTools users community deprived of VST compatibility. I'm sure we would rather buy a Receptor than a windows PC to run VST plugins that we miss ;-)