MXL Microphones will demo the new MXL USB-77 at this year's Musikmesse in Frankfurt (booth B47, hall 5.1).

Designed for recording directly to a desktop or laptop, the MXL USB-77 is a cardioid condenser studio microphone with the look and feel of a 1940's era ribbon.

Features include a gold-sputtered diaphragm and 32mm capsule. An analog gain control dial can be used to manipulate the sound level of your recording and the USB-77 includes a 1/8-inch stereo headphone with amplifier so users can monitor their recordings without latency issues.

The MXL USB-77 interfaces with Windows and Macintosh computers without any special drivers. As a USB device, it carries the added benefit of not requiring an external microphone preamp, as is the case with most cardioid condenser microphones.

The MXL USB-77 includes a carrying case, desktop microphone stand and mounting ring, USB cable, and cleaning cloth. MSRP is $349.95.

Sinn7 unveils the Status 24|96 which combines a hi-end recording interface and a monitor switch controller.

Key features :

• Deluxe desktop audio and monitoring station
• Combination of professional studio audio-interface and monitor-switch controller
• 4x4 In/Out studio audio-interface with high-quality 24 bit/96 kHz signal processing
• 2x XLR/6.3 mm jack microphone-combination connection with shiftable phantom power
• 1x stereo RCA input with GND grounding screw and phono/line switch
• Digital In/Out
• Flexible outputs: monitor speakers can be connected via XLR, jacks, and RCA
• Up to 3 pairs of monitor speakers can be connected to the interface and switched
• Especially large master volume controller with monitor select and mute switch
• Separate volume controllers for monitor pairs A & B
• 2 headphones connections with separate volume controllers
• Monitor-mix function: Inputs can be monitored directly without latency; software playback can be monitored or both signals can be individually mixed
• Monitor-source function: Master pairs A, B or individually mixed, can be monitored
• Separate glistening blue-white LEDs for all inputs and outputs for direct, visual monitoring
• Hi-speed via USB 2.0 with low latency ASIO/CORE audio drivers
• Firm metal housing in a matt-black finish and embedded acrylic cover plate

Brainworx has released a mono version of bx_digital V2. It has the original sound and all of the features of bx_digital V2.

Brainworx is offering a limited time sale : €99 (Native) / €149 (TDM) until March 31st.

bx_digital V2 mono is :

• free for every bx_digital V2 user
• free for every bx_bundle user

Genuine Soundware has updated Key Performer to version 1.1. This is the first version available for Intel - Mac OS X 10.5+.

For the record, Key Performer is described as "the Swiss Army knife of the modern gigging keyboardist". It's a single software instrument which offers a wide variety of keyboard sounds that are used in almost all musical genres where a keyboardist is involved.

Key Performer is available for both Mac and PC in VST, AU and Standalone versions at an introductory price of €99 until December 31st, 2010.

RightClickMP3 is a small and handy little utility that converts most popular audio formats to mp3, directly from the right click menu in Windows Explorer or Mac OS Finder.

It's designed to be simple and lightweight - it doesn't install anything else on your computer, and won't slow it down. It can easily handle batch conversion of a folder of files (even folders containing varying file types), and there is a bitrate selector for you to adjust the quality setting.

It supports Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6, and all flavours of Windows (32bit and 64bit). Supported formats are WAV, AIFF, M4A, OGG, MP2, WMA, FLAC and AAC.

RightClickMP3 is priced at $9.99, and is available now as a direct download.