Sonic Solutions Toast 7
Sonic Solutions has released Toast 7 software with Blu-ray Disc (BD) support, providing Mac users with the ability to store as much as 50 GB of data on a BD-R (recordable) or BD-RE (rewritable) disc. Toast 7 with BD support is available exclusively for original equipment manufacturers that are developing next-generation external BD drives. The company expects that the first drives to feature Toast 7 with BD support will be available later in 2006. MORE

Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5033
Rupert Neve Designs announces the launch of the Portico 5033 Five Band Equalizer and High Performance Line Driver as part of the growing family of half-rack Portico series modules. The 5033 features Neve's custom input and output transformer designs and is available in either horizontal or vertical formats. MORE

Steinberg WaveLab Studio 6
Steinberg Media Technologies announces WaveLab Studio 6 ($399), a streamlined version of its WaveLab 6 audio editing and mastering application that is tailored for project studios and musicians. WaveLab Studio 6 offers comprehensive stereo and multitrack editing and CD burning features. MORE

PreSonus DigiMax FS
PreSonus Audio is now shipping the eight-channel DigiMax FS microphone preamp, which features 24-bit resolution and sampling rates up to 96 kHz. The DigiMax FS can expand any digital audio hardware system with optical Lightpipe I/O, including the Digidesign Digi 002 and Digi 002 Rack, Yamaha DM Series digital mixers and RME audio interfaces. MORE

Actors, Musicians, Composers Against Paralysis (AMCAP)
Donald F. Taylor -- an artist, musician and composer -- was paralyzed in 1991 by a hit and run driver. Releasing his first CD after being paralyzed, Taylor is working with The Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation, donating a percentage of all sales from his CD, The Long Journey Home. MORE

Avatar Studios Purchases Weiss Engineering ADC2 Converter
Avatar Studios in New York City purchased a Weiss Engineering ADC2 A/D converter. Avatar Studios is known for making excellent recordings with vintage analog equipment and consistently needs a superb A/D converter to support the use of Pro Tools and other digital equipment. The studio spent several months evaluating A/D converters from different manufacturers. MORE

Eric Elwell Joins Paragon Studios
Engineer/producer/entertainment manager Eric Elwell (pictured) has been named studio manager for Paragon Studios in Franklin, Tenn., which specializes in recording and post-production. Elwell's responsibilities include an overhaul of the studio's marketing direction, branding and imaging campaign, new business development and operational management. MORE

Disc Makers' Automated DVD/CD Duplicators Are Now Mac Compatible
Disc Makers announced that its complete line of automated duplication systems are shipping with Charismac Discribe software, which allows them to work with both Macs and PCs. This includes Disc Makers' Elite2, Elite4, Elite Micro and Pico systems. The included software runs on Mac G5 towers with the OS X 10.4.3 operating system or later. MORE

VirtuosoWorks, makers of NOTION music composition and performance software, is conducting the NOTION Realize Music Challenge until November 30, 2006, which offers a chance to win a recording session with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. Entrants can compose a work of up to ten minutes long using NOTION software. One grand prize winner and a guest will be flown to London to record their winning composition in a three-hour recording session with the London Symphony Orchestra. The grand prize winner will also receive hotel accommodations while in London, a free copy of NOTION and $2,500 in cash. For entry information and complete rules, visit www.notionmusic.com/win.

Gen Con LLC will present two interactive Video Games Live concerts featuring music from the biggest video games of all time on Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12, at 8 p.m. at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis, Ind. These special performances will be presented in conjunction with the Gen Con Indy Convention that will be held in Indianapolis from August 10 through 13 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. Ticket prices range from $22 to $62 each and can be purchased online at www.indianapolissymphony.org/season/production.aspx?performanceid=1133&src=t. For more information, go to www.indianapolissymphony.org/hilbert/, www.gencon.com/2006/indy/ and www.videogameslive.com.

The Songdoor 2006 International Songwriting Competition is open to songwriters worldwide. Beginning August 15, for an entry fee of $10, songs may be submitted in eight different categories: country, pop, singer/songwriter/folk, rock, R&B/soul, Christian/gospel, blues and instrumental. Entrants may complete the entire entry process online with no additional fees or obligation. Entries are accepted through November 15, 2006. Judges include seasoned music industry producers, artists and engineers. Entrants are eligible to win a Grand Award of $3,000 in music merchandise and services, including a fully produced, professional demo at Jay's Place in Nashville's Music Row. Category winners also receive a valuable package of songwriter's tools. All entrants in the competition will receive one free, self-paced songwriting course from SongU.com, worth about $40. For complete information, rules and an entry form, visit www.songdoor.com.

The Bandwidth Conference for music and technology professionals will take place August 18 and 19, 2006, in San Francisco at the Regency Center, featuring discussion panels, guest speakers and networking opportunities. Topics include marketing, fan behavior, trends and future forecasts, and an examination of the ways that people discover, purchase, interact with and are exposed to music. The deadline for the early registration rate of $145 is July 15; information is available at www.bandwidthconference.com. A companion event, The Bandwidth Shindig, will offer the general public an opportunity to explore music and technology through live events and an expo on August 19. For more information, visit www.bandwidthshindig.com.

On Wednesday, September 6 in Los Angeles, the National Association of Record Industry Professionals (NARIP) will present Clay Pasternack, who will discuss "Independent Distribution Solution: Getting Records From Concept to Consumer." For details and to register, go to NARIP's Website at www.narip.com.

The Game Audio Conference (GAC) will take place September 6, 7, and 8 in Austin, Texas. The GAC is designed to offer advanced game audio sessions aimed at working industry professionals and is geared toward illuminating and proposing solutions to some of game audio's toughest problems. Register online by September 5 to receive a 20-percent discount off the on-site price of $495. For details, go to www.gameaudioconference.com.

The Summer Music Conference (SMC) is an annual electronic music conference and technology expo that will take place in San Francisco from September 27 through October 1. The conference brings together professionals in music, media and technology to generate new opportunities, create synergies and identify trends for the future. For detailed information and to purchase all-access passes, visit www.summermusicconference.net.

The 22nd Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards will be held on Saturday, October 7 (the second night of the 121st AES Convention) at the Hilton San Francisco. For more information, visit www.mixfoundation.org.

Music China will take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre October 18 through 21, 2006. It will feature more than 800 manufacturers and suppliers of MI products from 17 countries and regions in five exhibit halls. Advanced visitor registration and travel information is available at www.messefrankfurt.com.hk/en/5Music/MC/musicchina.asp/.

Prolight + Sound Shanghai will also take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre alongside Music China from October 18 through 21. Exhibitors from China, Germany, France, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK and the U.S. will take part in the fair, including leading names from the pro audio, lighting and entertainment technology sectors, such as Procon Event, Dataton, Shure, Penn Elcom and Roxland. Prolight + Sound Shanghai is organized by INTEX and Messe Frankfurt. For online pre-registration, travel information and more, visit www.prolight-sound.com.