Register today for InfoComm 04, the premier exhibition and conference for the pro audio/visual communications industry, to be held June 5-11, 2004, in Atlanta. Visit infocomm04.expoexchange.com/ for up-to-date details.

The next ProToolsUsers meeting has been postponed to late-May/early June: "Mixing Inside and Outside Pro Tools." Bruce Botnick (The Doors, Rolling Stones) will share his mixing tips with Digidesign's Tom Graham. Also planned is a debate on the merits of mixing inside a DAW and previews of the Digidesign ICON console, the new Command|8 controller and more information about new mixing products from Mackie and other manufacturers. For more information, visit protoolsusers.org.

Aphex 148
Aphex's Model 148 active digital audio splitter was designed for applications that require feeding the same digital audio signal to multiple inputs. Through the use of 15-pin D-sub connectors, the half-rack unit can split eight channels (four pairs) of digital audio into 32 channels (16 pairs). The D-subs follow the standards used on the company's Model 1788 remote-controlled mic preamplifier. MORE

Digigram Upgrades VX442
Digigram has upgraded its VX442 multichannel sound card by making it 3.3V-PCI bus compatible and started an Open Source Linux driver project. MORE

DTS Suite of Software Encoders
DTS introduced a new suite of three software encoders for Mac and PC to create DTS soundtracks for DVD-Audio, DVD-Video and 5.1 CD titles. Providing 96 kHz for DVD-A and DVD-V, two of the encoders can create high-quality 6.1-channel discrete DTS soundtracks. All of the encoders will be available through DTS' international distribution network (dtsonline.com/pro-audio/find/) at the end of Q2 2004. MORE

RealNetworks Real 100 Export Plug-In
RealNetworks unveiled a beta version of its new Realª 10 Export Plug-In for Mac OS X, which is available for free download at realnetworks.com/info/real10export/. The Real 10 Export Plug-in allows video editors to export high-quality RealAudio 10 and RealVideo 10 formats directly from Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects, Avid Xpress Pro and more. Support for additional applications including Adobe Premiere and Discreet Cleaner is expected this summer. MORE

Waves 'Production-Mixing-Mastering With Waves'
Waves' CD-based interactive course, Production-Mixing-Mastering with Waves, written by Anthony Egizii, includes seven CDs (Mac/PC) that contain audio session files for use on audio editing software to teach DAW users how to master the signal processing tools; a 14-day complimentary Waves software demo set of programs for users to install on their system is also included. MORE

Sound on Sound, Thwak! Announce Alliance
Sound on Sound Recording has announced a strategic alliance with recording artist/electronic drummer Tony Verderosa's Thwak! Music to offer original music for commercials at the recording company. MORE

Microsoft Joins World DAB Forum
Microsoft announced its membership in the World DAB Forum, an international group of 80 organizations focused on developing digital audio broadcasting (DAB) technology. Microsoft will work with forum members to accelerate the deployment of devices and services based on the DAB standard. Using DAB with Windows Media 9 Series, trials are currently being conducted to deliver 5.1-channel surround sound in London, working with Capital Radio plc, NTL Broadcast, RadioScape Ltd. and PURE Digital and Imagination Technologies Ltd. Details of the 5.1 trial are now available on at microsoft.com. MORE

Digidesign, Apple Announce Motivated by Music Tour
Digidesign and Apple's "Motivated by Music" is a free worldwide tour that offers professionals and aspiring pros the opportunity to see and hear the latest Apple and Digidesign innovations. MORE

Full Sail Brings In Harrison's MPC-3D Console
Full Sail (Winter Park, Fla.) has developed new courses focused on advanced mixing for motion pictures and television with its new custom Harrison MPC-3D film-dubbing console, which will be installed in its new dubbing theater designed by studio bau:ton. MORE

Musictech Opens American Pop Music College in Europe
Musictech College announced plans to open its first college of American popular music in Europe this fall. McNally Smith College of Music, named for Musictech co-founders Jack McNally and Doug Smith, will be located at the Media Docks in LŸbeck, Germany, and will offer coursework ranging from contract law and entrepreneurship to recording, music production, applied music and songwriting. MORE

AMP Announces Mixer Award Winners
This year's top honor at Association of Music Producers' (AMP) third annual AMP Mixer Awards was presented to "Mixer of the Year" Bob Gremore of Mike Recording Services in West Los Angeles. MORE

Music Books Plus Launches New Site
Music Books Plus' redesigned online store, musicbooksplus.com, contains thousands of music, audio and lighting books, CD-ROMs, DVDs, videos, software and sheet music. Visitors to the new site can become a part of the Music Books Plus community and receive exclusive discount pricing, special offers, product announcements and more. MORE