Digidesign Pro Tools 8 (Mac/Win) Review
Among DAWs, Pro Tools is a ubiquitous behemoth. From M-Powered to LE to HD, Pro Tools is the software you're most likely to find running in studios of all sizes. A major upgrade like version 8 is always enough to get the whole pro audio community abuzz with excitement, and this reviewer is certainly no exception. New features include user-interface enhancements, integrated score and MIDI editors, new Elastic Audio functions, a sizable loop collection, 20 all-new effects plug-ins, 4 all-new software instruments, and more. Read more of the Pro Tools 8 review.

What's GigaStudio's Future
For those who haven’t heard, Garritan acquired all the rights to Tascam’s recently discontinued GigaStudio technology, ensuring a future for the Giga sampling platform. I had an opportunity to ask owner Gary Garritan about what Giga fans and users can expect going forward. Read more about GigaStudio's future.


Product Update

Akai Professional's APC40 Ableton Performance Controller will be available at the end of this month. Read more.

Genelec has announced the 1038CF, a three-way active monitoring system. Read more.

Find out how your purchase of Native Instruments Kore 2 can get you Kore Electronic Experience, for free. Read more.

Roland has announced the V-Piano, the company's latest offering in V-Technology. Read more.

At the 126th AES convention, Sonic Studio will preview the Amarra computer music player and other new products and updates. Read more.

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Odds and Ends

EM Pick: J.M. Smig

Salem, Mass. based J.M. Smig, presents contemporary music for the bizarre at heart. Featuring both conventional and atypical instrumentation and composition techniques, their electronica and classical works operate in a style unlike any other. Songs present everything from momentous, Philip Glass-like sweeps to old-school MIDI music and Baroque-era voice leading and structure. For J.M. Smig, anything goes! To listen, visit MySpace.

All EM Pick artists are EM readers selected from our growing number of friends on MySpace. Want to be featured next? For consideration, add us at myspace.com/electronicmusician.

Let's Talk Chips
The IEEE Spectrum Online presents everything you ever wanted to know about microchips.

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EM Announcements

NEW! EM Cast with John Medeski
In the latest edition of EM Cast, John Medeski of Medeski Martin & Wood talks about the recording of the new CD, Radiolarians II, vintage keyboards versus software emulations and more. In addition, Len Sasso previews Spectrasonics Stylus RMX 1.7, Sony Creative Software Evolver, Togeo Studios Free Live Packs and three new libraries from Tonehammer for Native Instruments Kontakt. Click to listen.

Get Listed in Mix Master Directory
The Mix Master Directory (MMD), the audio industry's premier listing of professional services, is now live! Get listed for free in this essential guide for 2009.

BeatleTech Live
At BeatleTech, you will find Fab Four-related articles and interviews from the pages of Mix and Electronic Musician magazines, as well as exclusive video content with artists and engineers who have worked with The Beatles. MORE.



Calendar and Contests

Coming Soon! Mix Nashville 2009
On May 19 and 20, 2009, Mix magazine will gear up once again for Mix Nashville, which will include expert panels, master classes, product demos, and artist performances at Soundcheck Nashville. For a taste of last year’s event, check out their exclusive video coverage on the Mix Nashville page!

NEW! Tone Port UX8 and BackTrack Giveaway
EM and Line 6 have teamed up to offer exclusive prizes to EM readers like you. For the chance to win a Tone Port UX 8, a BackTrack and microphone, POD Studio GX and/or a subscription to EM and Mix magazines, visit emusician.com.

NEW! Get a Korg MR-1 for Free
Through August 31, 2009 (or while supplies last), customers who purchase a new M3 Music Workstation (M3-61, M3-73, M3-88 or M3-M) from an authorized Korg USA dealer can receive an MR-1 mobile DSD recorder for free. Click for details.

Open Happiness Remix Contest
Now that you've blasted the infectious hit, "Open Happiness," enough times to inflict happiness on you and all those around you, it's your turn to put a spin on the song. The "Open Happiness" crew is teaming up with imeem, Coca-Cola, and Remix magazine to find the remix that takes the song to a whole different level with $3,000 in prizes up for grabs. The person with the winning remix will take home new turntables and a vintage Coca-Cola refrigerator. Get your entries in before May 26. To enter the contest, go to the official Open Happiness imeem page.