Euphonix sold a few System 5s, we're told, and has plans to ship the MC controller very, very soon. Fairlight sold 13 Constellations on the first day! SSL had a lot of interest in their updated lines of AWS 900 (now with AWSomation automation), announcing more than 100 sold since August. Real dollars there. AMS Neve wasn't exhibiting but told us that they recently placed three DFC Geminis at a "major Hollywood film studio."

An interesting item on display in the South Hall was TASCAM's X-48 hard disk recorder/editor. Not only will it record 48 tracks at 96k, but you can also run VST plug-ins right from the mix window. Apple was showing their slick new audio editing component for Final Cut Pro: Soundtrack Pro. This app offers many new features including multitrack audio editing, noise reduction and a Write To Mix function that lets users alter parts of the waveform and render it, without losing individual control of the original components. NAB had some surprises, one of the biggest being felt by Mackie and anyone else making HUI-like devices: Everyone was ecstatic at the news that Apple's Final Cut will now support the HUI protocol. Mackie and the rest were taken by surprise by this, however, as it seems that Apple hadn't told anyone. To take care of spillover demand for the HUI, Mackie's Jamie Engen was on the horn from the booth ordering new units.

We also checked out Soundminer, the asset management company that started in film but has morphed into a variety of markets...and is now available for XP. Hosa Technology stopped by to talk about their line of sturdy, small-footprint mixers. And Dave Malekpour of Professional Audio Design says the Reso Pre 873 is shipping, with the first sale in March.

Nigel Toates, Mackie: "I got here Saturday and had a nice 22-mile jog up a the strip (training for my next marathon). Figured it would be a good way to to get my legs ready for the show hours. It was a big surprise for us was Monday morning when we found out that Apple had released Mackie Control Universal Support for Final Cut Pro. We are swamped with video guys asking about the Final Cut Controller. This has made our Desktop display as very busy place..."

Paul Foschino, Sony: "This show has pretty much blown us all away-the level of intensity in just the first two days has been unlike any show since 2001. We took a pretty big hit after 2001; people weren't investing into new formats or buying new geaer. Budgets were tighter and people were taking a 'wait and see' attitude. We're seeing that people are ready-no tire kickers."

Max Gutnik, Apogee: "With the new HD push and convergence of surround, better listening environments, better sound quality has become imperative. There's a new recognition that the audio side of the business is an integral component in high-quality video content."

Dave Malekpour, Pro Audio Design: "There are many changes abounding as we move further into the digital production age, but one of things that stays the same is how we communicate and our need to relate. The tradeshows have a great way of reconnecting us with our friends that we may only see at the shows."

GENELEC DIGITAL MONITORING SYSTEM
Genelec's new 8130A features AES/EBU digital and analog I/Os, 192 kHz/24-bit digital audio interface, plus Genelec's curvy Minimum Diffraction Enclosure design. The system supports single and dual-wire digital input mode, is compatible with Genelec's 7050A subwoofer, and up to eight 8130A's can be daisy-chained together in digital or analog mode. MORE

MARANTZ IN THE FIELD
Working on field recording and short on space? the PMD 660 from Marantz records 44.1 or 48k uncompressed .WAV files direct to compact Flash cards (for example, over 1 hour stereo and 3 hours mono of uncompressed audio on a standard 1-gig). It has stereo built-in condenser mics and can record for four hours on four standard AA batteries. MORE

OTARI DAW UPGRADE
Otari introduced Version 2 of its DR-100 48-track digital audio disk recorder, which now supports BWF and DVD-RAM. The DR-100 features 48-track recording at 24-bit, 44.1/48 kHz sampling, and 24-track at 24-bit, 88.2/96 kHz, direct to a 72GB SCSI hot-swappable hard drive that enables seamless/gapless punch in/out throughout all 48 (or 24) tracks (48/24 channel crossfade). MORE

SMARTSOUND AND MEGATRAX ARE HOT ON "THE SCENE"
SmartSound Software ad Megatrax Music put their heads together, and the result is "The Scene," a SmartSound-enabled needle-drop music library that combines music from Megatrax with SmartSound's "Innovative Soundtrack Creation Technology," which allows each track to be instantly edited into a piece with a complete musical beginning and ending at custom lengths. MORE

SONIC'S FEELING BLU (RAY)
Sonic Solutions released Blu-ray Creator, touted as the first commercial authoring system to let studios create titles for the highly anticipated Blu-ray Disc format. The system was developed in collaboration with Panasonic. MORE