Read an interview with banjoist Béla Fleck about how he field-recorded the music on his recent trek to West Africa where he collaborated with an array of local musicians. See photos from the trip and listen to excerpts from the recordings. Read more of this article.

New EM Cast: Chris Lord-Alge, Part 2
Part 2 with mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge. He talks here about monitoring, knowing when a mix is finished, optimal monitoring levels, and much more. What's New: Len Sasso looks at Native Instruments/Heavyocity Evolve Mutations, Loopmasters/Big Fish Audio Circuit Bent Sounds 2, Dark Side of the Tune Queen's English; and he picks his three favorite Download of the Month products from 2009. Listen to it now!.

Video: iZotope Alloy Plug-In
A look at the features in iZotope's new Alloy plug-in, which features EQ, dynamics processing, an exciter, a de-esser, a transient shaper and a limiter from AES 2009. Watch the video now!

Robair Report: Today's Studio—It's In the Bag
My job keeps me traveling, but I like to get a bit of work done while I’m sitting in an airport or train station. In the past few months, I have assembled a portable, yet highly flexible workstation that let’s me listen, edit, and mix recordings with high-quality effects, as if I was at home. Read more of this blog posting, including a video!

iPhone Apps Site Live
There are many iPhone apps being released each day, we take the guess work out of it and show you the best for your audio needs. Check out all the apps.

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A Studio Staple for True Tone Sharks. Super versatile, seriously professional, and gimmick-free pre-amp for guitar, bass, vocals, horns, drums, mixdowns, etc. Get a universe of consistently warm, multi-dimensional, dynamic sound. Mercilessly tweak 8 knobs and save. 128 program locations (49 presets/77 user). 100% analog signal path. www.tech21nyc.com

Product Update

Roger Linn Design Releases AdrenaLinn Sync Plug-In
Roger Linn Design has released AdrenaLinn Sync ($99), an AU/VST/RTAS-compatible plug-in for Mac OS X (a Windows version is coming) that offers the same type of beat-synced filter effects of its hardware sibling. Read more.

Novation's Launchpad Now Shipping
Novation has announced that the Launchpad hands-on interactive controller for Ableton Live is now shipping. Read more.

Ableton Launches Able10: 10 Years of Ableton
Ableton is pleased to announced Able10, a season of special offers and giveaways to celebrate 10 years in the business. Read more.

Toontrack Music Upgrades EZdrummer to 1.2
Toontrack Music has released the EZdrummer 1.2 update, which is recommended for all EZdrummer users. Read more.

Universal Audio Releases Trident A Range Plug-In for UAD
Universal Audio announced the release of the Trident A-Range Classic Console EQ Powered Plug-In for their popular line of UAD-1 and UAD-2 DSP Accelerator Cards for Mac and PC. Read more.

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Odds and Ends

Job Listing: Native Instruments Managing Director
Native Instruments North America (Los Angeles and) is currently looking for a managing director to head up its U.S. branch. The position requires managing/mentoring the branch's team; working closely with the CEO and the Berlin-based headquarters; defining/implementing strategies and measures to expand the company's outreach in the U.S.; leading U.S. sales/marketing managers and their teams, as well as the local office/HR and finance staff; planning and overseeing expansion of local staff, facilities and infrastructure; and more. Send a cover letter and resume, stating your earliest possible starting date and expected salary to tom.kurth@native-instruments.com with the subject line "Managing Director."

George Duke and Quartet Benefit Concert for Bob Moog Foundation and Museum of Making Music
On Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, R&B legend George Duke will perform an intimate concert with his quartet at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, Calif. Proceeds will directly benefit The Bob Moog Foundation and the Museum of Making Music. Find more information.

Free Ocean Way Drums Refill for Reason 4
For a limited time, Reason 4 users can download an Ocean Way Drums Refill for Reason 4 for free. Ocean Way Drums Kit 10 Medium is mapped for GM and Sonic Reality's iMap. Read more.

Free SPL Attacker Download
SPL is celebrating one year of Analog Code by giving away one download of its Attacker MicroPlug per computer (recommended retail price 59 Euro). Offer ends Nov. 15, 2009. Details here.

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Calendar and Contests

FiXT Remix With Blue Stahli
FiXT Remix has launched a new remix contest for indie electronic-rock artist Blue Stahli, featuring the track “ULTRAnumb.” Contestants can win a total band image makeover with free clothing/gear from Bleeding Star Clothing, a Social Network design package from Industriarts Studio and a band logo from VIVIDBOX, and new music software tools from Cakewalk and samples/loops from Prime Loops. Find out more information about the contest.