Rycote Invision
Rycote’s (www.rycote.com) latest noise-reducing suspensions for compact mics, the InVision Series features a patented design called the Lyre, comprising virtually unbreakable dual W-shaped clips of varying sizes. The INV-1, INV-2 and INV-3 are designed for use with desk, stand-mounted or hanging mics. The remaining five sizes in the range, INV-4 to INV-8, are intended for use with boom-mounted mics. The different models use Lyres of varying sizes to fit different length/diameter mics from various manufacturers. INV-1, for example, fits the AKG C 747, Audio-Technica ATM350, Sennheiser ME36 and Schoeps CCM. INV-2 fits the RØDE NT6 and Sennheiser MKH8000 Series (remote).

Yamaha PockeTrak 2G
A light, compact pocket recorder featuring 2 GB of built-in memory, the $449 Pocketrak 2G from Yamaha (www.yamaha.com) offers USB file transfer, Steinberg Cubase AI DAW software and two tracks of CD-quality recording in PCM, MP3 and Windows Media formats. It includes a rechargeable AAA nickel-hydrogen battery, providing 19 hours of MP3 recording. Plugging its sliding USB connector into a powered USB bus simultaneously recharges the battery and transfers files to a PC or Mac. It also has an onboard speaker, headphone jack, USB extension cable, stereo earphones, leather carry case and stand adapter.

Neural-THX Surround
Expanding the barriers of broadcast and game audio to 7.1, Neural-THX surround technology (www.neuralsurround.com) lets broadcasters and game developers encode 5.1 content during a live mix or post session, transmit the content in a stereo format over existing channels and decode the original 5.1 mix through a Neural-THX Surround–enabled playback device. For the listener, this offers a consistent surround sound experience, regardless of the compression type. Expanding the game audio experience to 7.1 allows gamers to add two additional rear speakers, creating a 360-degree listening environment. When playing in Neural-THX Surround, sound elements will be placed in front, to the side and behind gamers.

Marantz PMD580 Recorder
The newest addition to its family of rackmount digital recorders, the $1,399 PMD580 from Marantz (www.d-mpro.com) brings network connectivity to the line. Via its Ethernet port, the PMD580 can be positioned as a network device, allowing users to set menu parameters, schedule recording events, and transfer and archive audio files—all by using a Web-based GUI interface from any PC or Mac in the network. I/O includes balanced XLR inputs and outputs, S/PDIF and AES/EBU digital interfaces, and RS-232 control. The unit offers MP3 and WAV recording formats, and users can select between 16- and 24-bit resolution.

News You Can Use

The Audio Goods From GDC 2008
The 2008 Game Developer’s Conference was at the Moscone Center for the second year in a row, drawing record crowds in excess of 18,000 people. This year was packed, and all the bugs from last year's layout were ironed out. For instance, the exhibit floor in 2007 was split, but this year everyone was in the same room downstairs in the North Hall, making it easy to get around the exhibits. Eye candy abounds at GDC; there is never a shortage of dazzling visual imagery to wrap your brain around. Of course, games are only 50-percent visual (although you’d never guess by the paucity of audio exhibitors at this show) and there were some interesting aural exhibits around the floor, as well. MORE

Flashman Works With 'In My Pocket'
Flashman Studios has teamed up with Licensing Works, the licensing agent for MEG's "In My Pocket" intellectual property, to license the property for videogames. Licensing Works is working with Flashman Studios to look for a videogame publisher to partner on all future In My Pocket videogames. MORE

Gamebryo Reaches New Height
More than 50 PlayStation 3 game-development studios have downloaded Gamebryo since its debut on "PS3" Developer Network" on February 17. The Gamebryo game-development platform is downloadable in its full version for evaluation, prototyping and game creation. MORE

Tough Competition for Videogaming Jobs
It's a dream shared by millions of twitchy-fingered teens and many of their parents: that hours - or years - spent playing video games could lead to a lucrative career. In reality, love of games is a prerequisite for most jobs in the industry, which is concentrated in the Bay Area and a few other tech-heavy regions. But as with so many things in life, it turns out that love is not enough. MORE

Sony and Microsoft in talks on sharing Blu-ray
Sony and Microsoft are in talks that could see the Japanese company's next-generation Blu-ray drive fitted in the Xbox 360 games console. Sony has up to now touted Blu-ray as an advantage that its PlayStation 3 holds over Microsoft's console. Microsoft has backed Toshiba's HD-DVD format and offered an HD-DVD drive that could be plugged into the 360.MORE

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'Obscure: The Aftermath'
Ignition Entertainment Ltd. announced that Obscure: The Aftermath has reached Gold Master status and is scheduled for release on March 25, 2008, for Wii ($29.99), PlayStation2 ($19.99) and PC ($14.99). MORE