Sims Audio has just announced The AMON USB recording interface, a two channel USB interface. It features a high quality microphone preamp, a line level/instrument input, and MIDI I/O. Additionally, the AMON includes a full software package from Native Instruments including: Absynth 4, Massive, and Traktor 3 demo software.

Note that this interface is USB bus powered and requires no extra power supply or wall-wart. The lack of power supply and small size make the AMON ideal for location recording. The AMON also supports zero latency direct hardware monitoring so you can hear exactly what is coming from the recording source. A powered headphone amp is also included in the chassis and it accepts a 1/4" headphone input.

The AMON has a MSRP of $225 USD, and will be available in the 1st quarter of 2008.

"Consider that each band of EQ can be selected from any of the five included 1951-1980 classic hardware models, add to that 60 unique compressor presets with an almost limitless set of input stage, compressor and the EQ combinations and clearly you've got one killer channel strip" says Mikail Graham in his review.

Read the whole story here.

This article is proposed to you by in association with audioMIDI

Tascam has introduced two new digital Portastudios, the DP-02 and the DP-02 CF. The new Portastudios have been updated with a fresh new look, new effects and a new display.

The DP-02CF includes a 1GB card as an introductory offer, for plenty of recording time without purchasing additional memory, The DP-02 records to a 40GB hard drive instead of compact flash, and includes a multieffect processor, stereo reverb and CD burner for CD masters and song backup. Both units feature a Portastudio-style interface so that musicians can mix with knobs instead of digging through menus.

Features :

- Two XLR mic/line inputs with phantom power for condenser microphones
- Eight-track recording at uncompressed 44.1k/16-bit audio quality
- Portastudio-based interface with volume fader, pan, effect send, high and low EQ controls per channel
- EQ frequency button to access high and low EQ shelf frequencies
- USB 2.0 interface for transferring tracks, mixes and backup files to a computer
- Dedicated stereo master track for mixdown
- Internal metronome and bar/beat display for song position
- Headphone output
- Stereo line outputs on RCA analog and S/PDIF optical digital connectors
- 1GB Compact Flash card included as a launch promotion (DP-02CF only)
- 40GB internal hard drive (DP-02 only)
- Multieffects processor with guitar, bass, vocal and drum programs featuring a new tube overdrive effect (DP-02 only)
- Stereo reverb processor with send/return controls for multichannel mixing (DP-02 only)
- Built-in chromatic tuner (DP-02 only)
- Built -in CD-RW burner for CD mastering and song backup (DP-02 only)

Price :
DP-02 CF : $500
DP-02 : $800

AudioWarrior has released Analogue Synthesizers For Kontakt, a collection of gurgling analog sounds from some of the of the most famous analog synthesizers of the 60's & 70's. This collection includes searing synth leads, deep shaking bass patches, FX, trippy pads based on classics like Juno, Oberheim, Moog, Prophet, Oscar, and more.

This whole retro-classic collection is available now for download at a retail price of $99.99. Note that Analogue Synthesizers For Kontakt requires Kontakt 2 or higher Windows XP | Vista | Mac OS X.

Musicrow releases Shaker Maker- new VST plugin that turns any rhythmic content into a "convincing natural shaker rhythm". Shaker Maker can produce a wide variety of shaker sounds, and you can shape your shaker to sound exactly the way you want it to.

For using Shaker Maker you should put it in the insert slot of your audio track, Then load a drum loop or any other rhythmic audio file to this track. You can also connect a microphone and use your own voice as the source for your shaker rhythm. Finally choose one of the 16 prepared shaker sounds, or shape your own shaker.

Shaker Maker is available now and it's free so... enjoy !

This holiday season Sweetwater is giving away a special gift every day between December 1 and December 24. That means you have 24 chances to win some of the coolest gear around! Prizes include gear from Digidesign, Native Instruments, Roland, Paul Reed Smith, AKAI, DigiTech, Epiphone, and many others.

Enter online at Sweetwater and you'll be eligible to win for all 24 days of giveaways (but only one gift per person). There's a new winner every day, so check the Sweetwater site daily to see if your name has been drawn.