This past year has been a good one for Digital Performer 7, which delivered an industry-leading combination of workflow enhancements, software design innovations, and bullet-proof performance. The world is taking notice. The editors of Electronic Musician magazine have just given Digital Performer their 2011 Editors' Choice award for Best Digital Audio Workstation Software, concluding that when you add up DP7's significant enhancements, plus "the rock-solid performance of this latest incarnation, you've got yourself a winner."

For their 25th anniversary issue, the editors of Sound On Sound magazine named "25 Milestone Products That Changed Recording History" from 1985 to 2010. The one and only audio interface to make the list? The 828, which ushered in a new era in desktop recording as the first-ever FireWire audio interface. According to Sound On Sound, the 828 represented a huge leap forward, offering "...the same power and flexibility as a multi-channel PCI card...via a single cable. Bliss!"

Are you making your holiday gift list? According to Keyboard Magazine, "If you're in the market for a world/ethnic sample collection, Ethno 2 should be at the top of your list. With a Key Buy award, it's sure at the top of ours." In their December 2010 issue, Keyboard raves, "Ethno 2 puts a staggering amount of world instruments, loops, and phrases at your fingertips at a budget-friendly price. With the original Ethno, the bang-for-buck factor was high. With Ethno 2 it's through the roof."

Are you a Pro Tools user? Have you always wished you could use a MOTU audio interface with your Pro Tools software? Now you can. All current MOTU FireWire, USB, and PCI audio interfaces are compatible with Pro Tools 9, including the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid, 828mk3, 896mk3, 8pre, Traveler-mk3, 2408mk3, and MicroBook. A whole new world of compatibility and interoperability has opened up between Pro Tools software and MOTU hardware. Getting them going together is easier than ever, too.

Do you own a mk3 FireWire audio interface or a MicroBook? You can now go here to download the latest MOTU FireWire and USB audio driver installer that adds a tuner to your MOTU interface's CueMix FX software. Just open the new Tuner window, play a note, and use the large graphic display to get in tune with an accuracy of one 10th of a cent (one 1,000th of a semi-tone). Being in tune has never been easier, and it's available now as a free update. Your MOTU interface just keeps getting better!

DP Control™ is an iPhone app now available as a free download at the Apple app store. DP Control allows you to operate Digital Performer over a WiFi network using your iPhone, iPad or third-generation iPod Touch. Built specifically for use with Digital Performer (Version 7.2 or later), DP Control gives you easy access to the most important transport and mixer functions for tracking, mixing, and live performance.

Digital Performer beta testers could barely contain their excitement (and their non-disclosure agreements) when they first experimented with DP 7.2's new Themes. Within minutes of posting the first beta with this feature, comments like "AWESOME work guys!" and "I'm as giddy as a school girl!" came flooding in to MOTU Central. Want to see what all the excitement is about? If you own Version 7, you can now download the free Version 7.2 updater and see for yourself.

Ethno 2.0.1 and Electric keys 1.0.3 are now shipping. If you own either one (or both), you can download the free updaters (for Mac or Windows). These maintenance updates provide numerous enhancements and we recommend that all registered owners download and install them.

Digital Performer 7.12 is now shipping. If you own Version 7, you can download the free Version 7.12 updater. This maintenance release includes expanded control surface and MIDI device configuration options, improved waveform overview construction, and more, as well as features and enhancements first introduced in DP 7.1 and earlier. Improved control surface configuration options enable the use of applications such as Saitara Software's AC-7 applications for iPhone and iPad.