Fairlight Xynergi
The Xynergi Media Production Centre organizes and delivers a suite of all the media processing tools needed for high-end audio-for-video production in all widely used surround formats. The controller features self-labeling key switches that display full-color images, icons or text, and can support any type of language or icon-driven menu structure with an on-demand QWERTY keyboard. The controller also features eight touch-sensitive rotary controllers and multiple soft-keys arranged around a color-control zone known as the "pad." These can be used to support Xynergi's sophisticated mix automation system, as well as precise control over signal processing facilities such as multiband EQs, 3-stage dynamics, multidimensional panning and auxiliary sends.
www.fairlightau.com

M-Audio Fast Track Ultra
The Fast Track Ultra 8x8 audio interface with MIDI features high-speed USB 2 connectivity, MX Core DSP mixer and four preamps with Octane™ technology. The robust MX Core mixer employs an array of eight individual DSP cores to deliver near-zero latency, effects and a matrix for sophisticated channel routing options -- accessible via a control panel that uses a separate mixer for each pair of outputs. MX Core technology enables users to apply reverb while tracking vocals or take advantage of the two independent headphone outputs to create separate monitor mixes. The mixer provides for up to a 16x8 configuration. Other features include six channels of analog I/O and 2-channel digital S/PDIF I/O. The Fast Track Ultra is currently expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 2007 and carries an MSRP of $449.95.
www.m-audio.com

Purmagnetik BIG07
BIG07 is a collection of 13 Micropaks from Puremagnetik's 2007 catalog. With more than 2 GB of content, BIG07 is exclusively available in Ableton Live Pack format. BIG07 contains the these Puremagnetik Micropaks: Vintage 80's Classics, Elektrodrum, EightBit, String Machines, Guitar Rack Vol. 1, JUICE!, Analog Bass Vol. 1, Microdrum, RackPak, PM-200 Electronic Piano, P-50 Linear, Wavebase and Retroputer. BIG07 can be downloaded immediately upon purchase or ordered on a backup CD for delivery.
www.puremagnetik.com

CoolIT Systems Workstation Cooler
CoolIT Systems' Workstation Cooler is a CPU liquid-cooling device relying on the company's patented MTEC technology, which uses a combination of liquid cooling and thermoelectric cooling to aggressively remove heat and dissipate it from the workstation. The result is heightened computing performance due to a 40-percent reduction in CPU temperature, lower noise levels and enhanced reliability. The Workstation Cooler also includes CoolIT's MTEC Control Center, which allows software control of the chiller and uses patented predictive-cooling to stabilize fluctuations in CPU temp. As an added layer of security, the control center is self-monitoring. It supports event-based e-mail notification and can even securely shut down a server in case of an emergency. The CoolIT Workstation Cooler is available now, starting at $449.
www.coolitsystems.com

News You Can Use

Audiokinetic Teams Up With Emergent
Audiokinetic Inc. has joined the Emergent Game Technologies' Premier Partners program as the only audio premier partner; this agreements includes technical and commercial aspects that address the business and creative needs of game developers. Audiokinetic's Wwise is already integrated with Gamebryo, Emergent's game engine that has been used to craete games for the Wii, PLayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC; this option is available to Gamebryo users now.

The commercial side of the partnership is a strategic distribution agreement that enables Emergent to sell Wwise to its customers; Emergent can also sell a stand-alone version of Wwise to non-Gamebryo customers.

More information on Audiokinetic and Emergent can be found at www.audiokinetic.com and www.emergent.net, respectively.

Nintendo Starts Holiday Shopping Season Strong
In the first week of the 2007 holiday shopping season, Nintendo of America has sold more Nintendo products than at any other time in its history. This includes more than 653,000 Nintendo DS portable videogame systems, 350,000 Wii home systems and millions of games and accessories throughout the United States.

Nintendo DS (MSRP: $129.99) set a new all-time sales record for Thanksgiving week, eclipsing the previous mark of 600,000 Game Boy Advance systems sold during the same period in the United States in 2005. The 350,000 Wii (MSRP: $249.99) systems represent the highest one-week U.S. sales total outside of its launch week one year ago.

Thirty-five percent of consumers said they plan to spend less than they did last year, according to a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corp. for the Consumer Federation of America and the Credit Union National Association. Similarly, a USA Today/Gallup Poll showed that 25 percent of Americans expect to spend less on gifts this year than they did in 2006.

Kyd Composes 'Assassin's Creed'
Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed is being composed by British Academy Award--winner Jesper Kyd, who is combining epic orchestral compositions with acoustic, percussion and vocal performances.

According to the game's producer, Jade Raymond, "We wanted the score to capture the gruesome atmosphere of medieval warfare but also be edgy and contemporary. Jesper not only achieved this balance, but also underlined the changes in gameplay and pacing in a way that immerses the player even further into the Assassin's Creed experience."

Each setting within the game has its own theme and distinct musical identity. "I was inspired by the deep and engaging world of Assassin's Creed and working with the visionary team at Ubisoft Montreal was a fantastic experience," says Kyd. "It was truly refreshing to be given so much creative freedom for such a high-profile blockbuster title and I believe we took it to the max."

The game is available in North America at the MSRP of $59.99 with the Limited-Edition priced at $69.99. For more information, visit assassinscreed.uk.ubi.com.

Spotlight: Out Now

'Unreal Tournament 3'
Available through Nile Rodgers' Sumthing Else Music Works label, Unreal Tournament 3: The Soundtrack (Epic Games) two-disc set features more than 150 minutes of new tracks written and produced by Rom Di Prisco and Jesper Kyd in a diverse range of modern electronic genres, in addition to a number of remixed Unreal franchise classics. The first-person shooter game returns to the PC and makes it debut on the PlayStation 3. Making use of the Unreal Engine 3, players engage in intense battles with other human players online or against Unreal artificial intelligence. Check out Unreal Tournament 3 online at www.unrealtournament3.com.

'Sudden Strike 3, Stranger'
Empire Interactive PLC and Fireglow Games Publishing have released two PC titles: the RTS (real-time strategy) Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory and Stranger.

Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory takes place in more than six campaigns, where the largest of the maps is scaled to two kilometers square and takes an experienced player up to six hours to overcome.

Stranger is a hybrid of RTS and role-playing.

For more information, visit www.empireinteractive.com.

Events

Where You Should Be
MIDEM, Cannes, France; January 27-31, 2008. Check out the "Music for Images" shared keynote between Jesper Kyd and Nitin Sawhney. www.midem.com

Game Developers Conference, February 18-22, 2008; San Francisco. www.gdconf.com