Sonoma Wire Works published a four track mini recording software for iPhone/iPod Touch, called FourTrack. It records only two tracks only at a time of course, but handles downloaded sound files as well. Compensates latency, and has a master compressor/limiter at the final stage. Via wifi, it is possible to synchronise with desktop recording application - it is not clear whether it performs automated mixing or not. The price is relatively high, 10 USD: here is the link to the App Store, and here is the official info link.

Portastudio category can get a new boost with solid state media: here is the new Tascam DP-004, an SD card recorder with four physical tracks. Having two inputs and two condenser mics, it bounces tracks luckily of you run out of them. USB 2.0 is implemented to reach its audio content. Runs on AA batteries or power supply, has no price still - check here the rest.

Korg's new 1-bit recording technology can move into the rack now: you can purchase it (called MR-2000S) for 2000 USD. It samples at 5,6 MHz in 1-bit resolution but also works in the standard, 24/192 PCM mode. Mp3 rcording/playback is performed, too, and all the ins and outs are professional, balanced XLRs. It has 80 gigs of hard drive - it can hold up to 14 hours of recording, using the best recording quality. Comes with an editor/converter software. Click here to know more.

Tascam has launched a dedicated pocket recorder for the guitarists, GT-R1. It records MP3 and WAV files on any SD cards - the package includes one piece of a 1 gigabyte card. USB 2.0 is also supported, and charging its battery is also done with this connection. On the input stage it has a low-cut filter and a limiter to protect your recording, and built-in is a stereo condenser microphone that performs quite well. All of these are standard features on any recorder but here come the guitar-oriented goodies: amp simulation and effects, a small drum machine, and a pro-like overdubbing facility. It even has a guitar and bass canceler to perform a karaoke show with any hit you have. Price is around 200 euro, check the details here.

Alesis shows us how to use your 5th generation iPod as a pocket recorder. The small black shoe is ProTrack, the company's new wonder: it features pro-grade XLR inputs accepting microphone or line level signal. It even puts phantom power on them if you use the gadget from the power supply. ProTrack also has a good stereo LED metering, and after the input stage an analogue limiter cares after the proper signal level. It even has a pair of built-in mics to provide a ready-to-fly solution. Price is still a secret but you can browse the product's page already.

Sound Devices came up with this serious tool, 788T, which is an eight track recorder which copies your takes onto CF card or the internal 160-gigs hard disk. It records eight tracks simultaneously (as you can see), and all the inputs accept microphone-level signals also (with phantom power, of course). The battery that drives it is rechargeable and removable, and the device has a QWERTY keyboard option which is a very handy solution to ename the files. The video people will be also satisfied with the word clock and video sync input. Here is the product page.

Marantz is out with a rack-mountable flashcard recorder, PMD580. It is a very professional equipment having balanced analog XLR-type connections, AES/EBU and S/PDIF for the digital signals, and controllable via RS-232. Records wav and mp3 formats, with 16 or 24 bit resolution. Files are stored in standard Compact Flash card, and they are accessible even on an Ethernet network since it has a proper connector for it. Costs 1400 USD, for more details click here.

Edirol is also a member of the Roland group and they are also dealing with mobile multitrack, but from a different aspect. R-44 is a real professional product, with XLR connections, four channels, a maximum resolution of 24/192, and records only uncompressed files. You can link together two units to record eight channels in perfect sync. Its medium is SD or SDHC cards, runs four hours from AA batteries, weighs 1.3 kilogramm, has a USB 2.0 connector, and has some real-time effects like EQ, compressor, limiter and de-esser. To dig into the details go to the product's page.

The already feature-packed flash-card multitrack recorder, BR-900CD from Boss got a serious software update, version 2.0. The new software has a huge bunch of new guitar amp models, and Boss provide two extras beyond it. The freely downloadable PC and Mac drum editor makes its drum machine part a much more tangible experience, and the 1-gigabyte Compact Flash card eliminates the need to buy your medium separately. Go check the official info if you mind.

Tascam built two simple flash recorders with standard rack sizes. On the picture is SS-R1, a device which records onto Compact Flash (679 euro at Soundworks). It produces mp3 and WAV formats, has professional analog XLR inputs and S/PDIF for digital. If you record the digital input's signal, a real-time sample rate conversion is performed if needed. For labeling your files recorded, you can attach a standard PS/2 keyboard. The big brother, SS-CDR1 has an additional CD recorder drive inside. Check the press release for more.

Sony announced two new pocket recorders, ICDUX70 and ICDUX80. (Since they forgot to post them to their website we have a picture from Future Music blog, thank you.) Interanl memory sizes are 1 and 2 gigabytes, both connect and charge via USB. Visually they are quite similar to the semipro Sony walkman recorders. Prices to be announced.

Tascam also has a new recorder, DR-1. It records on SD card, a 1-gigabyte piece is attached, formats supported are mp3 and WAV, the maximum resolution is 24 bits and 48 kHz. A guitar tuner feature is included.The best part is the price: only 300 USD. Check here.

Rappers wanted virtual analog synth: Akai's new, best-ever production tool, MPC5000 features a nice, polyphonic VA-synth with 3-oscillator architecture and arpeggiator. Hard-disc recording is eight-track now, with four effect busses, and plenty of new effects. The sampler now has 64 voices, and 64 megabytes of RAM (expandable to 192 megabytes). The price is a not-so-affordable 3500 USD, but check all the details - it's not a toy really.

This new pocket recorder from Olympus, LS-10 makes 24 bit, 96 kHz uncompressed or compressed recordings for 400 USD. It has 2 gigabytes of memory for start, and has an SD slot for pushing it upwards. Working with standard AA batteries, it has a tremendous 12 hours of life with a single set. records WMA, WAV and mp3 formats, and has USB connection, too. The product page is elegant, but doesn't say too much more.

Sony was dealing with flash-based recorders already but in the higher price category - now times are changed and their new baby, PCM-D50, showed in AES these days has a price that is much closer to the M-Audio/Edirol/Zoom category. You have to pay 600 USD to own this product which reords 24/96 quality at its best, has 4 gigabyte internal memory which is expandable with standard Memory Stick cards. It is boxed with aluminium, and runs on standard AA batteries - communicates via USB, and has some extra features like digital pitch control, limiter, and low-cut filter. You can buy even a remote controller accessory! Here are the very detailed sheets.

A new product called Trinity from a new company called Trinity: it is planned to be the very first real multitrack solution in the pocket-sized category. "It is like Pro Tools but better" - says their web page proudly... :) The Linux-based handheld device has two analog XLR inputs with phantom power plus a stereo analog output, has wifi connection, and runs 5 hours from the battery. Mouse operation is solved with a conventional touch pad, and the screen is touch sensitive also - a qwerty-layout keyboard software runs on it also. Applications bundled are Ardour and Audacity, plus a number of other Linux audio programs, and we suspect we can also install new ones. USB is on the board also. Their web page does not state too much more - we hope they are funded enough already to finish the project.

A small but good news: M-Audio has refreshed their lovely small flash recorder. MicroTrack II has the same face like the predecessor but got some extra hard and soft functions like the input limiter, an extended range of input gain, faster file transfer and the 2 GB file size problem has solved. Price is the same (around 400 USD), more info is found here.

Marantz's new portable recorder, PMD620 will be available in November. It is probably the smallest device in its class, working with standard SD cards. recording is done with a maximum of 48 kHz sample rate, at 16 or 24 bit resolution. Compressed audio is also a deal, format is mp3, bitrate can be selected from three different quality. There is a little editing function non-destructively, and file transfer is possible via its USB 2.0 port, too.Price is still a secret.

Zoom's new pocket recorder, the H2 works with SD cards, and its most important feature is the built in microphone set. It has three acceptable-quality microphones, one directed to center, and the other two serves letf and right - and the software is capable of producing a nice stereo image from their outputs, or even a quasi-surround recording. It makes 24/96 wave files and mp3, up to 320 kilobits, plus bonus: broadcast wave files are supported also. Another surprise is the small guitar tuner software. It connects to USB 2.0 of course, price still not known but we are prepared to a Zoom-like very low price. More knowledge can be found here.