Today's Top Stories:

  Updates and Upgrades
Steinberg has announced that there are tons of cool new features in its significant new update to both Cubase 4 and Cubase Studio 4. Either one is available to registered users as a free download. The latest versions, Cubase 4.1 and Cubase Studio 4.1, have a long list of enhancements, which include compatibility with Windows Vista and a whole lot more:

• A redesigned Sample Editor that makes editing, stretching, and audio manipulation tasks faster through better accessibility using Inspector-style controls.
• Sidechaining for VST3 Plug-ins offers fast creation of sidechains in many of the outstanding VST3 effects included in Cubase.
• MusicXML Import and Export provides for the exchange of musical scores with specialized score layout applications from Cubase projects, including detailed data plus a graphically rich layout.
• Full Sequel Project Import and complete compatibility to Sequel content allows full editing of Sequel projects and instant access to all Sequel content installed on the same system within the advanced MediaBay database.

• Digidesign Pro Tools M-Powered, LE, HD
• Adobe Audition
• Cakewalk SONAR and Guitar Tracks Pro
• MOTU Digital Performer
• Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo
• Apple Final Cut Pro and Soundtrack Pro

  New in Stock at Sweetwater

• Ovation VXT - An electric-acoustic hybrid from Ovation? You bet! This is not like any guitar Ovation has ever made in the past. It's designed from top to bottom for players who are constantly striving for versatility. With a pair of real Seymour Duncan '59 humbuckers along with a Fishman Power Bridge, the VXT has the ability to pan from acoustic tones to electric with just the simple turn of a knob, so now you can blend the two for complex mixtures of everything in between. While the magnetic humbuckers provide classic electric tones, the VXT incorporates Ovation's VIP virtual microphone imaging preamp, which allows you to dial in a natural acoustic sound with plenty of headroom and no feedback. Ships free to your door via FedEx in a hardshell case.
• Audio Ease Speakerphone - Powered by Altiverb, Speakerphone combines a wealth of effects including a convolution engine that uses actual samples of hundreds of original speakers, a radio receiver tuning dial, record player scratch and static generator, GSM cell phone data compression, distortion, tremolo, delay, a variety of EQ and dynamics, bit crushing, sample rate reduction, a full-blown convolution reverb, and a large library of samples to work with. Add dial tones, static, distortion, and many more textures via hundreds of presets and a set of comprehensive controls. Not simply a great speaker-emulation plug-in, Speakerphone excels in putting your track inside of truly realistic environments.
• Numark TTXUSB - This affordable turntable is the result of extensive interaction with hundreds of professional DJs. It features an ultra-high-torque motor, plus an interchangeable tonearm system that includes both straight and S-shaped configurations, an interchangeable pitch fader, and button cartridges for club and "battle"-style workouts. The TTXUSB, like its predecessor, features user-variable torque and also delivers versatility and control thanks to a blue display showing pitch, BPM, and motor settings, an illuminated output bay, and a built-in BPM counter. The USB connector simplifies connection to a computer for fast, professional vinyl-to-digital transfers.
• Randall RT2/50 - This 50-watt per side, 2-channel tube power amplifier is more than just a stereo amp! The true genius behind this rig is its ability to run each channel independently, right down to the power tubes! You get MIDI switching capability, a master level control, adjustable density and presence controls, and a bias section right on the front panel. Designed to complement the RM4 or any MIDI-capable guitar preamp, the RT2/50 provides the flexibility to switch between different power tubes in one amplifier. Channel 1 comes standard with two Ruby 6L6 power tubes, and Channel 2 is stocked with a pair of Ruby EL34s. Two modes of operation allow for maximum versatility: Choose channel switching mode for 50 watts mono a side, or select full 100-watt stereo mode.

  Guitar of the Day
Originally, the Fender Telecaster was built as a sort of "working man's guitar," with little in the way of flash or cosmetic touches. But every once in a while, Fender comes up with a Telecaster that has the kind of features typically found on more expensive instruments that generally have much more ornamentation and are crafted using more attractive timber. And that's the case with today's Guitar of the Day, the Fender Custom Shop Merle Haggard Signature Telecaster. It maintains all the things that made the Tele famous, including that one-of-a-kind body shape with two single-coil pickups and the slim headstock. What sets this Tele apart from its blue-collar counterparts is the addition of a figured maple top in a rich Two-Color Sunburst and ivoroid body binding. But that's just for starters. The body has a maple center block with select alder "wings" to keep the weight down, special tone chambers that allow the body to resonate more freely (and also helps with weight issues), and an eye-popping 22-fret flame maple set neck with a deeply carved heel and a 7.25-inch radius. There are two Texas Special single-coil pickups in the neck and bridge positions, but with an interesting 4-way pickup selector switch that adds an extra tone color you can't normally get on a Tele. Here's how it works: The first three positions are standard Tele sounds, but the fourth places the two pickups in series, so it delivers a fatter, chunkier sound than you'd expect from two single-coil pickups. The Tele headstock also gets a cool "Tuff-Dog Tele" inlay. The machine heads are Fender/Schaller Elite die-cast tuners with white pearloid buttons and all the hardware, from stem to stern, is gold-plated. Everything comes in a deluxe brown Custom Shop case with a plush gold interior (pretty stunning all by itself) and all the case candy you can ever hope for. Plus it comes with free FedEx shipping direct to your door.