Today's Top Stories:

  McDSP and TC Electronic Get Impulsive
Plug-in developer McDSP has entered into an impulse response licensing agreement with TC Electronic. This means McDSP will be able to use impulse responses which were developed for TC Electronic's flagship M5000 processor in their Revolver plug-in software, as well as other future products. Colin McDowell, CEO and CTO of McDSP was thrilled with the arrangement: "McDSP can [now] legally provide its customers with what they have been wanting for a long time - impulse responses of accurately named presets from the legendary M5000 processor." McDSP's Revolver RTAS/AudioSuite plug-in for Mac-based Pro Tools systems is a flexible convolution reverb that offers end users total impulse response control, dedicated and routable EQ, syncable delay lines, a reverb decay crossover network, and specialized stereo imaging. Revolver ships with hundreds of responses that range from vintage high-end production reverbs to real acoustic spaces.

  ITC to Investigate Apple iPod Issues
On May 15, 2006, Singapore-based Creative Technology Ltd. filed a claim which alleges that Apple Computers infringed upon its U.S. Patent, which the company refers to as the "ZEN Patent." Today the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to institute an investigation of the matter, while stressing that by investigating, the ITC has not yet made any decisions regarding the actual merits of the case. Creative asserts that the ZEN Patent covers the user interface in its own portable digital media players, as well as the iPod, iPod Nano and iPod Mini. The complaint alleges violations of the Tariff Act of 1930 and requests that the ITC issue Apple a permanent exclusion order and permanent cease and desist order. The case will be referred to an ITC administrative law judge, who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing, as well as set a target date for completing the investigation. Don't give up your iPod any time soon, as a decision is likely a long way off.

  Guitar of the Day
If you're a regular reader of our Guitar of the Day feature, you know how rare it is for a guitar manufacturer to use koa, a beautifully figured timber from a tree that only grows in the Hawaiian Islands. Gibson's Custom Luthier's Choice Advanced Jumbo acoustic has a gorgeous flame koa back and sides along with a red Adirondack spruce top in a Vintage Sunburst finish. In fact, Gibson is offering a limited run of just 20 units, each with a certificate of authenticity. Not surprisingly, we have one of the 20 now in stock! Introduced in 1936, the Advanced Jumbo was the first of Gibson's round-shouldered dreadnoughts and these instruments are often called acoustic cannons because of their room-filling sound. This instrument, which is part of the Luthier's Choice collection, is lovingly crafted in Gibson's Bozeman, Montana facility and is among the most powerful - let alone beautiful - acoustic guitars Gibson has ever made. The guitar has single-ply white binding on the body (front and back), a solid mahogany neck with a comfortable rounded profile and an Indian rosewood fingerboard with real mother-of-pearl inlays. Other features include a vintage script-style pearl Gibson logo, an open slot AJ rectangular bridge with pearl dot inlays and of course, a plush-lined hardshell case to keep your investment in like-new condition for decades to come. A word of advice: Don't wait! This guitar has instant collector's item written all over it!