BOSS has announced that it’s now shipping the MICRO BR BR-80 Digital Recorder, an updated version of its MICRO BR multitrack recorder.

The MICRO BR is small enough to fit in your pocket, but is basically a portable virtual studio, offering two tracks of simultaneous WAV-format recording, eight tracks of playback, and 64 virtual tracks for editing and mixdown.

Alesis has introduced the TwoTrack portable audio recorder, which runs on two AA batteries and captures 16-bit 44.1 stereo audio.

Alesis TwoTrack Features:

• High-quality stereo recording for any application
• Two condenser microphones in XY configuration for optimal spatial imaging
• Small, portable, and ergonomic design fits in virtually any bag
• Simple controls and backlit LCD for use in low-light situations
• Auto-gain feature keeps levels consistent and nearly eliminates distortion
• Record in MP3 format up to 192 kbps or uncompressed 16-bit PCM WAV
• Save files to built-in memory or micro SD and SDHC cards up to 8 GB (sold separately)
• East file transfer to computer via high-speed USB 2.0 interface
• Low power consumption for hours of recording with just one AA battery
• Stand or tripod-mountable
• Includes AA battery, USB cable, and quickstart guide

The TwoTrack audio recorder should be available in Q3 and is expected to sell for about $79.

Samson has introduced the Zoom H2N portable audio recorder, an updated version of the H2, which has proven to be popular with podcasters because of its combination of features and compact size.

The Zoom H2N offers improved mics, Auto-Gain, a compressor/limiter, time stamping, new volume control, better battery life and more.

The H2N is expected to sell for about $200. 

Apple today announced Final Cut Pro X, a new version of their popular video editing software.

According to the company, Final Cut Pro X ‘completely reinvents video editing’, with:

• a Magnetic Timeline that lets you edit on a flexible, trackless canvas;
• Content Auto-Analysis that categorizes your content upon import by shot type, media and people; and
• background rendering that allows you to work without interruption.

Rebuilt on a 64-bit architecture, Final Cut Pro X is now available from the Mac App Store for $299.99, pricing that makes the platform an extremely competitive option.

Here are the details on the new features:

Developer Kyle Graham has released a new plugin for WordPress, called VoicePress.

The plugin adds a microphone button to the WordPress editor, letting you dictate your blog posts. You can see a demo of VoicePress in action above.

VoicePress is in the early stages. It is in beta and only works in Chrome browsers. The beta is available as a free download.

It’s not hard to imagine this developing into a useful tool for WordPress-based podcasters, creating a transcript for your podcast as you talk. It would be interesting, too, to see voice recognition incorporated into mobile versions of WordPress.

If you’ve tried VoicePress, leave a comment and let me know what you think of it.

Sound Byte

Developer Black Cat Systems has introduced Sound Byte – a $4.99 app for playing back sound bites on demand.

According to the developers, Sound Byte was designed for:

• Radio, podcast and TV productions – have ads, announcements, songs and sound effects
• at your fingertips.
• Theater Productions – play any sound effect on cue.
• Sports Events – jazz up the commentary for your home team with sound effects each time they score.

Sound Byte supports five racks of carts, or up to 375 recordings total.

Sound Byte plays sound files that you have installed in the Documents folder, which you can access via the iTunes app. It does not come with any sound files.

Apple has updated GarageBand for iPad, adding several cool new features, including new audio output options, Apple Loop support and copy and paste for audio files.

Here’s what’s new in GarageBand for iPad 1.0.1:

• Support for audio output over AirPlay, Bluetooth devices and HDMI with the Apple Digital AV Adapter.
• Import of AIFF, WAV, CAF audio files and Apple Loops (16 bit, 44.1 kHz) via iTunes.
• Allows copy and paste of audio from supported apps into GarageBand using the clipboard.
• Addresses occurrences of GarageBand freezing while playing Smart Instruments.
• Improves overall stability and addresses a number of minor issues.

Full details on the update are available at Apple’s support site.

This is an interesting download for iOS users – iMotion HD, a free time-lapse & stop-motion app for iOS.

Features:

• HD 720p capture and export
• Universal binaries iPhone / iPad / iPodTouch
• 4 capture modes (time-lapse, manual, wifi remoted*, microphone)
• Portrait and landscape orientations supported
• Useful capture tools (Onion skin, Grid, Manual Focus*, …)
• Video and photo exports: Photo Library, iTunes Sharing Folder and Email (in app upgrade)
• YouTube direct upload
• iMotion Gallery sharing
• Quick and smooth interface
• Autosave and direct preview
• Unlimited movie size
• Retina Display
• Multi-tasking

iMotion HD works with all iOS devices with camera:

• iPad 2,
• iPhone 4,
• Phone 3GS,
• iPhone 3G
• iPodtouch 4th generation

If that’s not cool enough for you, a free WiFi remote app, iMotion Remote, is also available that lets you preview and control iMotion HD.

Note: I hesitate to call this a free app because one of the most important features, exporting, is a $1.99 paid in-app upgrade.  🙁

Cinegenix has released FiLMiC Pro (App Store link), a dedicated video camera app that lets you shoot better video on your iPhone by giving you more control over the focal point, the white balance, the exposure and more.

This video offers a video demo and review of Filmic Pro. See our previous Filmic Pro post for full specs.

Here’s a video review of Fire 2, the latest version of the iOS field recording app.