January 22 - 11:55pm EST   MOTU has announced its Beat Production Machine (BPM), a rhythm production tool which combines drum machine-style operation with virtual instrument technology. The BPM allows users to combine drum kits, sliced loops, sequenced patterns, and instrument sounds to create a variety of different beats. With a 15GB integrated library, users receive over 10,000 individual samples and over 1,000 new drum and percussion loops -- all recorded at 24-bit 96 kHz resolution. BMP also includes importing and exporting capabilities, music recording abilities, a graphic mixer, and a live performance mode. [full story]

July 21 - 3:55pm EDT   MOTU on Monday announced the release of its UltraLite-mk3 portable digital audio mixer and processor, which is powered and interfaces with computers entirely via a FireWire connection. The third generation of the company's UltraLite is now able to apply DSP effects and be used as a standalone mixer without a computer. The half-rack sized mixer offers 10 inputs and 14 outputs, the signals of which are processed via a 192kHz analog I/O and 32-bit floating point DSP. [full story]

January 28 - 10:35am EST   MOTU has unveiled the 828mk3, a cross-platform FireWire audio interface with on-board effects and mixing functionality. The 828mk3 features a 32-bit floating point DSP for digital mixing and effects processing, more I/O, 192kHz operation, and true hi-Z guitar inputs. The device also offers signal overload protection, digitally controlled analog input trims on all inputs, two banks of ADAT/TOSLink optical, and MIDI I/O. The 828mk3 will ship in February for $800. [full story]

January 24 - 10:20am EST   Audio and video specialist MOTU has debuted Digital Performer 6, the next version of its audio sequencing software. The interface of the program has been completely redesigned, and includes a variety of other enhancements as well, such as XML exchange with Final Cut Pro, and generally improved support for film scoring. Users can now work with interleaved broadcast WAVE files, pre-render virtual instruments, and "bounce and burn" to audio CDs. Finally, there is better support for AU plug-ins, and operating as a front end for Pro Tools HD systems. DP6 should ship later this quarter for $795. [full story]