Mackie has announced two new recording interfaces, additions to the popular Onyx family — the Onyx Blackjack and Onyx Blackbird. These new interfaces combine the Onyx mic preamps with high-end Cirrus Logic AD/DA.

The Onyx Blackjack is an ultra-compact desktop 2x2 USB interface, perfect for the home studio. It features two Onyx mic preamp channels, each featuring built-in DIs for connecting guitars, etc. Separate level control for studio monitors and headphones, along with true analog hardware monitoring take the guesswork out of zero-latency recording. It is bus-powered, with a rugged, ergonomic chassis perfect for both portable and home studio applications.

The rackmount Onyx Blackbird delivers studio-grade recording via eight Onyx mic preamps. A 16x16 FireWire interface, Blackbird also features 8x8 ADAT and wordclock I/O. There are two "Super Channels" on the front panel with dedicated low-cut switches, phantom power and true hardware monitoring options for quick zero-latency tracking. The other channels are equally flexible, utilizing the powerful Blackbird Control DSP Matrix Mixer for quick setup of independent mixes and the ability to route any input to any output. Monitor, main, alt and dual headphone outs with dedicated source selection and level control ensures there are plenty of mix routing options.

The Onyx Blackjack and Onyx Blackbird are Mac/PC compatible, work with most major DAWs and include Tracktion 3 Music Production Software. Both interfaces will be available worldwide in August, 2010. The Onyx Blackjack will have a RRP of 249€, The Onyx Blackbird will have a RRP 599€.

Alta Moda Audio debuted the Hippo stereo compressor/limiter, the latest product in Alta Moda's expanding range of popular 500-series rack products.

The Hippo is a VCA-type compressor/limiter housed in a 2-space 500-series compatible module. Modeled after well-regarded console bus compressors used throughout the '80's and '90's, the Hippo has many enhanced features including expanded control ranges, sidechain filters for better bass control, a warmth function for added harmonics, and Alta Moda's popular wet/dry blend control. A special feature of the Hippo is its ability to run in Dual Mono mode. This "unlinks" the sidechains and allows the channels to operate independently of one another. Retail price of the Hippo is $1,295.00.

Cakewalk announces immediate availability of a new Mac Support update for the V-Studio 20. The V-Studio 20 Mac Support update enables the VS-20 hardware and Effects Editor to be used with all popular Mac-based recording software titles. The update provides Mac users with all the benefits of recording with the V-Studio 20 COSM guitar and vocal effects; and use of the V-Studio 20 hardware as dedicated universal DAW controller. Additionally, both GarageBand and Logic can be further integrated into the V-Studio 20 system using the included custom control surface plug-in included in this update.

The free V-Studio 20 Mac Support update includes:
- OS X 10.5 & 10.6 (Snow Leopard) drivers for the V-Studio 20 hardware (Mackie Universal Control)
- OS X 10.5 & 10.6 (Snow Leopard) support for the ...

MOTU is now shipping Digital Performer 7.2, a free update for all DP7 users now available for immediate download at motu.com. Version 7.2 adds new features and enhancements, including customizable UI Themes, which allow users to completely change the look and feel of Digital Performer's entire user interface with one click.

Power users with basic Photoshop skills can even create their own themes by duplicating and modifying the factory-supplied themes, which are stored as standard .png graphic files in the Mac OS X Application Support folder. Users can also fine-tune waveform display colors and the color of audio level meters to carefully match their favorite theme.

Other new features introduced in Version 7.2 include right-click menu access and live searching in list windows.

M-Audio introduces new versions of its Axiom USB MIDI keyboard controller series designed for live performance and software-based music production: Axiom 25, Axiom 49, and Axiom 61. Building on the comprehensive feature set that popularized the original Axiom line, new features and highlights include:

DirectLink technology: Provides dedicated control surface functionality that automatically maps keyboard controls to common mixer and virtual instrument parameters, giving users hands-on control over their mix and their music, without any complicated set up or user configuration required. DirectLink works with popular DAWs, including Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro and Steinberg Cubase.