Steinberg announces that its prices for both the MR816 CSX and MR816 X FireWire interfaces have been lowered by about 20% in selected countries*. While the pair have witnessed a remarkable success since their introduction in 2008, an increase in efficiency of production was noted over the last year which allows Steinberg now to adjust the pricing accordingly and pass the benefit on to its valued customers.

The pro-audio MR816 units combine FireWire interfacing with Advanced Integration technology and are the focus of latency-free recording and monitoring environment, taking full advantage of Steinberg's renowned Cubase music production system.

* Selected countries are Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Finland, Denmark, UK & Ireland, France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Austria, South Africa, Poland, Israel, Russia, Greece, Turkey, Slovakia, Czech Rep, Portugal, Cyprus, UAE, Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Iceland, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Malta, Lebanon , Mexico, India, Kazakhstan, Martinique and USA.

Waves Audio unveils the HLS Channel and PIE Compressor, developed in association with legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer. In modeling the vintage Helios console channel and Pye compressor, Waves has recreated two essential elements of the recording chain at London's acclaimed Olympic Studios, where Kramer engineered and produced scores of historic recordings that are now considered part of the essential classic rock canon.

HLS Channel
The HLS Channel was carefully modeled on a Helios mixing console just like the one Kramer used for sessions at Olympic Studios. (In fact, for the modeling, Waves actually managed to get their hands on the Helios from the Rolling Stones mobile truck, which was

Serafine FX Tron is an Infinite Player virtual instrument powered by Kontakt that works as stand alone software for the Mac or PC or as a plug-in for every major DAW such as Logic, ProTools, Cubase and many others. It comes with a broad range of sound effects for film, tv, games, radio, music and any multimedia project all in one powerful "Sound Effects Workstation".

From classic sci-fi FX Frank Serafine created for movies like "The Hunt for Red October", "Lawnmower Man" and "Tron" to a wide assortment of first call sound effects that multi-media producers are looking for this workstation has it all. Within the included Infinite Player software sounds can be layered, processed, manipulated and "performed" from a midi keyboard to create an infinite amount of effects for any media or mus ...

Plogue has announced that it has released demo versions of its Chipsounds software synthesizer and updated it to v1.0.0.3, which offers an improved set of presets now covering an even wider range of classic video games sounds and tones.

The demo limitations are :

• Silence after a 15 minute session.
• No Save.

Chipsounds is currently available for Windows and Mac OS X in stand-alone and VST, AU and RTAS plug-in formats for $95/€65 (excl. VAT).

Modartt has updated Pianoteq to v3.5.3 and announced the release of a Clavinet Add-on, which brings you the characteristic sound featured in many rhythm & blues, pop, funk, disco and reggae songs. It also offers additional features not available in the original instrument.

The clavinet add-on is modelled after the well-known D6 electric clavichord. Thanks to the powerful technology provided by physical modelling, it offers in contrast to the original instrument a sustain pedal, an extended range from C0 to C6 (original range F0 to E5), a variable mute bar, continuous pick-up mixing, and of course the well-known Pianoteq's possibilities to adjust the timbre such as hammer hardness, overtones and resonator. There is also a wah-wah feature and customized equalizer presets.

The clavinet was frequently used in recordings during the 1970-80's and is still being used today. It has a seducing characteristic bright staccato sound that many musicians utilize to enhance the rhythmic qualities of the songs. Its portability makes it popular for use on stage as well as in the recording studio.

The clavinet has a similar mechanism as the clavichord. The strings are stroked by small rubber tips and pressed on to an anvil at the striking point. For that reason, it is not loud enough by itself and is therefore amplified electronically, and no sustain pedal could be implemented in the real instrument.

The clavinet add-on is embedded in demo mode in Pianoteq's latest version 3.5.3 and can be unlocked for 49 €. Further details with audio demos are available at :