There's something about graphic equalisers that brings the geek out in all of us. Those little multi-coloured flashing lights reminiscent of Knightrider do it for us ever time, so you can imagine our excitement when we saw this cushion with little dancing figures jumping and flashing up and down to the beat!

Coined the I-Cushion (presumably on account of the fact the dancers seem to have been imported direct from an iPod ad), each one comes with its own  built-in power unit and sound sensor to get the party started. You can get your hands on one for just £20 from Boystuff.co.uk.

Cakewalk has been quick of the mark, making SONAR the first DAW to provide native support for Windows Vista in both 32-bit and 64-bit modes. Not only that, it's offering it as a free upgrade (6.2) and throwing in a host of other goodies for good measure. New to 6.2 are MIDI Input Quantize, enhancements to AudioSnap for smoother audio quantize and improvements to the ACT (Active Controller Technology) features – not to mention a curious feature allowing you to see through plugins. For the full spec sheet click here.

SONAR 6.2 will be available late January as a free download from www.cakewalk.com for all registered SONAR 6 Producer and Studio Edition customers.

Fresh from taking on the iPod mixer market, Numark has branched out and teamed up with ArKaos to launch the NuVJ video controller. Targeted at DJs wanting to synchronize video with their set, the NuVJ is a hardware/software solution that allows the user to trigger images and clips, add effects, and mix them to music using a crossfader in much the same way as they would do normally. But if all that sounds too much like hard work, you could always set the NuVJ to Auto and let it sort itself out to the beat of the music.

From the looks of it, the NuVJ is aimed at the budget market – relying on your computer's graphics card when it comes to video duties rather than the hardware itself. Compatible with both Macs and PCs, the NuVJ can be used on both laptops and rack-mounted servers.

No word yet on availability or pricing, but if you fancy the sound of VJing keep your eyes peeled on the LSS site for details on our up-coming VJ course.

Guitarists having problems training their fingers to master that fiddly lead part could find salvation in Transcend’s new flash audio player. The T.sonic 820 comes complete with an A-B track section repeat feature, which combined with its track speed control should prove an invaluable practice aide.

The mini flash player comes in two flavours – a 2GB white player and a 4GB black number. It's not quite as appealing as the nano, admittedly, and bears more resemblance to a cheap mobile phone than a cutting-edge music player. That said, if you're the kind of person to buy a DAP purely for a section-repeat feature you probably don't care!

Pricing and availability have yet to be announced, but for more specs go to the Transcend official site.

Top marks to Allen & Heath for listening to the mutterings of all those Xone-owning Ableton fanatics, rueing their mixer's lack of MIDI. The company has decided to take a saw to its Xone:3D and is now offering the controller section as an add-on to your existing analogue mixer for compatibility with must-have software of the moment Ableton Live and Traktor.

The Xone:2D is compatible with most DJ setups (although will look a whole load better next to a fellow Xone family member), and combines a 4 stereo channel USB soundcard and MIDI controller. Imported from the Xone:3D is the LED display BPM counter and MIDI clock generator, complete with nudge facility – not to mention plenty of MIDI controls to map.

You want it, I know, but you'll have to part with more than £500 to get it. Why is life so unfair…

Shipping March 2007, £499 (excluding VAT).

Fresh from releasing quite possibly the coolest piece of kit ever in the form of the KP3, Korg has expanded the Kaoss Pad family with a mini version of everyone's favourite DJ tool. The mini-KP, previewed at NAMM, comes with the standard XY controller and still packs a punch in the features department with 100 effects, tap tempo/auto-detect tempo and two memory keys.

As ever, size comes at a cost. Those looking to use the mini-KP as a MIDI controller will be sorely disappointed by the lack of a MIDI jack, and being battery powered it will only stand up to five hours of use so no marathon sets.

Serious users may well turn their noses up, but the mini-KP still looks like a great toy to have a bit of fun with.
Due out in the US in March with a list price of $250.

We're starting this blog to have a quick way to inform LSS students and fellow music-makers at large about musical and technological stuff that would otherwise go unnoticed. It will also be a place to express opinions that wouldn't have a place anywhere on the official website of the London School of Sound, and to entertain open-minded discussions on the craft of music-making, the music industry etc. Comments, questions and contributions are welcome, and hopefully we'll find a place in your bookmarks.