Ploytec has released a unique tool for measuring latency in audio systems called Latenc-o-meter. Once it is powered up, it generates a 100 kHz signal sent from its analog output to the target audio hardware's input and back into the Latenc-o-meter, then Its display indicates value in remarkably precise increments ranging from 0.01 to 999.99 milliseconds.

The Ploytec Latenc-o-meter is now available for € 333. For more information, please visit their web site.

KEL Audio has released the HM-2, a large diaphragm "small supercardioid" true condenser instrument microphone for home recording artists and performing musicians. The mic features a transformerless, symmetrical, balanced amp circuit in a pencil-style body but adds a 1-inch diameter, 3-micron thick, center-terminated diaphragm suspended in an internal shock mount. Unlike a pure cardioid microphone, the HM-2 has its null at 140-degrees -- rather than 180 -- yet its rear lobe is smaller than usual for a supercardioid. This increases the mic's usefulness in many recording situations.

The HM-2 is available now at an introductory price of $99 (Reg. $129) including custom-designed shock mount.

Pro Application Support 4.0 is available. This update improves general user interface reliability for Apple's professional applications and is recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Pro, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Aperture, Final Cut Express HD, Soundtrack, Logic Pro and Logic Express.

AraldFX has announced StormGate3, a "new and unique" gating effect. Basically this plug-in splits the audio in three bands, and lets you shape each audio band with amplitude patterns. Patterns can be drawn freely by hand, or with the aid of drawing tools. Don't want to draw the envelopes? Then record them, StormGate3 can take any audio source, and after calibrating the cross-over frequencies, you will be able to record a new envelope pattern.

StormGate3 will be available by the end of this month Mac OS X (UB) in VST format (Audio Unit version is expected later) and will cost $59 but you can pre-order it for $39. By pre-ordering you will get a copy of SG3 (beta), have access to all the future beta releases, and free lifetime updates up to version 2.0.

The next version of Digital Performer has been recently released. The 5.12 version presents, among other things, the ability for DP to play files of any bit depth simultaneously. The bit depth menu in the control bar has disappeared while the preferences have now two new menus - one controls the bit depth of the recorded material in newly created projects, the other controls the bit depth of the files recorded in the opened project.

You will need to have your serial number (the one that's located on the registration card at the beginning of the manual) since MOTU has changed their registration system. If your copy of DP 5 is an update then it's the serial number of the original copy of DP you've purchased. If in doubt, contact MOTU support.

Avlex Corporation is pleased to announce the new Superlux E522/B X/Y Stereo Field Recording Microphone. Designed for use in broadcast and other professional field recording applications as a convenient solution for capturing live performances in stereo, the Superlux E522/B features a closely matched pair of capsules in an X/Y configuration, an integrated switchable low cut filter, external On/Off switch, the ability to operate on either battery or Phantom power, and dual unbalanced outputs that makes this microphone an excellent choice for use with professional or consumer grade A/V equipment.

The Superlux E522/B X/Y Stereo Field Recording Microphone includes a 3-meter stereo cable, a microphone clamp, and a protective pouch. Optional accessories include the S-50 wind screen and the HM-40C camera mount. The microphone carries a MSRP of $100 and is expected to be available Q2 of 2007.

PreSonus is pleased to announced the Monitor Station Remote (MSR) for their FireStudio 26x26 firewire recording system. The MSR is a completely integrated surround sound/stereo speaker manager, input switcher and communication system delivering fast and efficient workflow for music creation.

Features :

- Connect to FireStudio via rj45 ethernet connector
- Main speaker volume control (surround and stereo)
- Dual headphone amplifiers
- Track Mode: enables 9 stereo mixes for headphones during tracking
- Mix Mode: allows user to switch between three sets of stereo monitors
- Surround Mode: enables 5.1 surround volume control or mixing in surround sound
- Switch between surround and stereo with the push of a button
- Talkback
- Dim, mute, mono and more

The MSR is available now at a retail price of $229.95.

Corsair has released an extremely rugged line of USB 2.0 flash drives called Flash Survivor. Designed and engineered to be the industry's toughest USB drive, Flash Survivor is water-resistant, CNC-milled aluminum encased, and shock-proof to safely store user's information and files in the most demanding environments.

Flash Survivor is immediately available in two variations :

* Flash Survivor GT 8GB - $129.99 USD MSRP
* Flash Survivor 4GB - $59.99 USD MSRP

For more information, please visit the link below :

Tonium has announced Pacemaker, the worlds first pocket-size DJ system. This pretty little box is hidding some interesting features such as 120 GB storage, the SNR 103, the bend, pitch, cue, loop, EQ and sound-FX functionality, the separate line-out and headphones crossfaders, the separate line-out and headphones jacks and the two independent channels... Want more ? And so do I, but we will have to wait until october to see this beauty hit the stores.

Modartt has updated Pianoteq to v2.0.1. This update offers multi-core rendering, which vastly improves CPU performance on dual-core and hyper threaded Pentium 4, and Receptor compatibility.

Complete list of changes :

- Multi-core rendering.
- Receptor compatibility.
- Fixed parameter automation.
- Stand-alone: output channel selection for ASIO sound cards.
- Stand-alone: fixed wav export bug.
- Stand-alone: added 'clear menu' entry in the recent files menus.
- Stand-alone: metronome volume now adjustable.

For more information, please visit their web site.

Do you remember MultiInspectorFree ? This little free plug-in which was a multitrack spectral analyzer ? It was pretty cool but limited to 4 instances at a sample rate of 44.1 kHz... not enough for professional use. So today VertexDSP releases MultiInspector v1.0, the commercial version of MultiInspectorFree and guess what, it rocks !

Features :

* 31 band third octave frequency analyzer showing the spectral analysis of other plug-in instances in the same window.
* Independent editor windows for different views of the same content.
* Level bar width automatically adapts to the number of signals currently viewed.
* Adjustable attack and release time for smooth level bar display.
* Adjustable slope with a default of 3 dB per octave for flat display of pink noise.
* Peak optio ...