MOTU has announced the UltraLite MK3 Hybrid, the world's first hybrid FireWire/USB2 audio interface for Mac and Windows.

The UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid provides flexible and mobile operation via FireWire or hi-speed USB2 connectivity to a Mac or PC computer, with professional audio quality at samples rates up to 192 kHz and plenty of I/O, including two mic/instrument inputs, six line-level analog inputs, ten channels of analog output, stereo S/PDIF and a stereo headphone output.

As the first-ever "hybrid" audio interface of its kind, the rear panel of the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid provides both a FireWire A (400 Mbps) and hi-speed USB2 (480 Mbps) port. Users can connect the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid to their computer using either port for full-featured operation and ultra-low bus latency. Using FireWire provides the added benefit of fully mobile bus-powered operation, with enough power through the FireWire cable connection from the computer to support all features, including 48-volt phantom power to both mic inputs. An included power adapter can be used for USB2 connectivity, or operation as a stand-alone mixer.

The UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid will ship Q4 of 2009 at the same price as the original UltraLite-mk3.

Ableton has updated Live 7 and Suite 7 to v7.0.18.

Improvements since v7.0.16 :

• Controller surface support for the Novation LaunchPad controller.
• Controller surface support for the AKAI MPD-18, MPK-25, MPK-61 and MPK-88 controllers.
• Controller surface support for OpenLabs devices.
• Several improvements for the AKAI APC.
• Several bug fixes

JBL Professional announced delivery of the MSC1 Monitor System Controller.

The MSC1 Monitor System Controller includes essential "Monitor Strip" features found in large mixing consoles so you can take control of all monitoring functions from your place at the mix position. Since the acoustics of the room can play a big part in what you hear, the MSC1 includes JBL's RMC Room Mode Correction Technology to tune your monitor system to the room. The end-result is a calibrated reference environment in which your speakers work in harmony with your room to take the guesswork out of mixing.

Features :

• Master Volume Control
• A/B Speaker Select
• A/B/C input Source Select
• Subwoofer Output with Level Control and Selectable Cross Over Frequencies
• Adju ...

Apple has updated Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard to 10.6.2 fixing a number of bugs including a serious issue that could result in data loss when using a guest account, potentially wiping files. This update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

FXpansion has announced the availability of demo versions of its suite of advanced synthesizer instruments, DCAM: Synth Squad.

The limitations of the demo are as follows :

• Can load only a reduced set of factory presets.
• Can SAVE but not LOAD user presets - you'll be able to load your saved patches if you purchase the full version.
• Cannot reload settings saved within DAW/host projects.
• Launches a web nag-screen when any DCAM: Synth Squad plugin is launched.
• Demo expires after 28 days.

Available for Windows and Mac OS X (Intel only).