Based on a poll of a few weeks ago, it's clear what CDM readers wanted under the tree Saturday. So I've decided to give it to you — virtually speaking, anyway — based on the top three winners. The Readers' Choice goes to: Fairlight CMI: The original ultimate digital synth/sampling workstation (shown); while it's not […]

'Twas the night before Christmas, that the folks at Dave Smith Instruments let their new 4-voice analog keyboard out of the bag. Like the Evolver rack, the keyboard coming at the NAMM show next month will have real analog circuitry, a MIDI-synced analog-style sequencer, and extensive effects and editing parameters. Of course, there are the […]

Carillon is a free Windows VST plugin from Tweakbench: analog-modeled bells and chimes plus chorusing and reverb. Sounds fantastic. Plenty of other free stuff over there for Windows users, so check it out! Yes, it's a bit late if you're ready for some Nutcracker or other Christmas bell ringing, but why not celebrate the 12 […]

This week's Gizmodo installment from me highlights the Smart AV console, the intelligent control surface shown at AES and appearing again next month at NAMM. If you haven't seen this yet, it's a futuristic computer DAW control surface that uses touch-sensitive and light-sensitive surfaces to allow a limited number of physical channel strips to virtually […]

Apple is targeting Web sites because it doesn't yet have a defendant as it attempts to smoke out the source of a leak, report The Mac Observer and CNet News.com. Apple, a company known for obsessive secrecy and CEO Jobs' dedication to finding and plugging leaks, appears interested in  stopping leaks of both information and […]

Normally, I don't like to cover 'point-one' releases, but MOTU's Digital Performer 4.51 is a major upgrade for users of this popular Mac-only digital audio workstation: Dynamic CPU Management frees up the CPU when plugins are idle. All MOTU plugins have been updated; third party MAS and AU plugins have to be updated by the […]

Musical instrument giant Yamaha will acquire 100% of Steinberg GmbH, including Steinberg USA, in a closed competitive bidding deal announced yesterday. Steinberg is developer of software products like Cubase and Nuendo. The purchase isn't a surprise: Steinberg and Yamaha collaborated on integrating Yamaha gear with Steinberg software via Studio Connections, integration that's likely to deepen […]

Apple's Airport Express is about to become a must-have. Rogue Amoeba's Slipstream Mac OS X application will let you use any Mac application with the Airport, not just iTunes. Pick an application source, choose the Airport you want to send to, and you've got instant audio streaming over Wi-Fi. The application is coming in early […]

Sometimes the best interface for music is no interface at all. The international S.S.S. trio (Sensors Sonics Sights) has adopted three different gestural interfaces for their work: ultrasound, traditional Theremin, and EMG electrical 'bio-signals' that measure muscle contractions. None of these are unique in themselves, but seeing the visual artist, Theremin virtuoso, and electronic music […]

Okay, it's a stretch. Despite its name, the Wetronome covered yesterday by Gizmodo is intended for pacing strokes in swimming, not music. But given the innovations in portable music covered here alone, why couldn't your next instrument be — waterproof? The Wetronome is a model of aquatic design, completely sealed and programmed with a magnetic […]