IZotope has announced that the new version of its software mastering suite Ozone will be released in January 2009.

Ozone 4 features a new Intelligent Loudness Maximizer, "Perfect Reconstruction" crossovers, mid/side processing for superior control over the sound stage, and a new True Envelope dynamics processing mode. In addition, iZotope claims that numerous interface improvements and ease-of-use additions make Ozone even more accessible to musicians and engineers who want to quickly finalize their projects.

Ozone 4 will be available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU, DirectX, RTAS/AudioSuite and MAS plug-in formats with an MSRP of $249. iZotope Ozone 4 will be distributed worldwide by M-Audio, and will also be available direct from iZotope online. Customers who buy Ozone 3 after October 1, 2008 are eligible for a free upgrade to Ozone 4 when it is released.

Blue Microphones has announced the latest additions to their award-winning line of products; the BottleRocket Stage One Solid-State Microphone System and the Bottle Rocket Stage Two Tube Microphone System.

The Stage One BottleRocket is a transformerless solid state microphone system with the clarity and detail you've come to expect from Blue. Fully compatible with the Bottle Caps, the same interchangeable capsule system used with Blue's Bottle mic, you can add an array of tonal characteristics and pickup patterns on the fly. It's like having an entire mic cabinet in one mic.

Stage One Features :

- Class A discrete solid-state amplifier circuit delivers superb detail
- Includes Blue's versatile B8 capsule & shockmount
- Hand-tuned and tested
- Mic System allows for different ca ...

Chandler Limited has announced the release of a brand new unit : the Universal Mix Control (UMC).

Inspired by the popular Wet/Dry feature used on their Germanium Compressor, each channel of the UMC can function as either a Wet/Dry control or as a 2 x 1 summing mixer for those needing a high quality solution for combining multi mic'ed sources. Simply put, you can now add Wet/Dry to anything you want. Ever wanted some Dry signal on your EMI Limiter, 1176, Alan Smart, LA2s, 33609? How about a Fairchild 670 with a Mix Control :-)

Don't stop with just compressors. Distortion with a Culture Vulture or Sans Amp, Transient Designer, Leslie Cabinet, Guitar Pedals. The list is nearly endless. No latency, saves channels, little patching, and a very high quality, transformer balanced, low noise discrete circuit that allows you to use it anywhere without concern.

The Universal Mix Control is available now for a fee of $1450.

Universal Audio has announced the shipment of the LA-610 Mk II Classic Tube Recording Channel, a feature enhanced, 2nd generation version of UA's most popular analog product.

The preamp and compressor use the same signal path as the original LA-610 and features the 610 mic-pre and EQ section combined with an LA-2A style T4 opto-compressor. The LA-610 Mk II now offers key enhancements such as: true compressor bypass, larger metering, improved output signal performance, and the highly popular "black on black" cosmetics of the LA-610 Signature Edition.

The LA-610 Mk II will have an MSRP of US$1999 and a MAP of US$1599.

Focal Professional has announced that their new CMS Active Nearfield Monitors - the CMS 65 and CMS 50 - are now shipping.

According to Focal, their Al/Mg (Aluminium/Magnesium) inverted dome tweeter combines both, lightweight mass and damping, resulting in a tweeter that easily extends up to 28khz at -3db.

They also tell us that the Polyglass bass driver combines hollow micro-balls of glass to a pulp cellulose cone thus permitting a good rigidity versus mass ratio.

They are bi-amplified active nearfield monitors, 165 watts for the CMS65 and 130 watts for the CMS50.

Both of them also have separate HF and LF shelving adjustments, a Desktop Notch correction filter that controls first reflection when the speakers are located over the mixing board, rubber decoupling stand, spikes to tilt the speakers and adjust soundstage height.

Pricing :

- CMS 50: $695 each MSRP
- CMS 65: $995 each MSRP

In an effort to help their customers continue to create, record and produce music during these tough economic times, PreSonus tell us that they are offering a new Audio Stimulus Package from now through the end of the year in the form of two rebates :

1. Buy a FireStudio, FireStudio Tube, FireStudio Lightpipe or FireStudio Project and get a FREE FaderPort (a $249 value)

2. Buy a DigiMax D8, DigiMax LT, DigiMax FS and DigiMax 96k and get a FREE HP4 headphone amplifier (a $159 value)