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``Roland is very pleased to be bundling a special edition of Cakewalk Home Studio 9 with the U-8 in North America,'' said Naohisa Imazawa, producer, DTM Project Division, Roland Corp. ``The full integration between Cakewalk's software and Roland's hardware represents the next revolution in computer-based recording, editing and mixing. The U-8 premium package also includes powerful GM2/GS MIDI software synthesizer, so everything you need is in one U-8 box.''

``Home Studio 9 software already provides integrated digital audio and MIDI recording, so combining it with the Roland U-8 is the perfect solution,'' added Ron Kuper, chief technology officer, Cakewalk. ``We've enhanced Home Studio 9 to work seamlessly with the Roland U-8. Combined, the user gets multitrack recording and mixing software, an integrated audio and MIDI interface, DSP-based effects processing, and a powerful hardware control surface all in one package.''

Home Studio 9 provides eight tracks of stereo or mono digital audio and up to 256 MIDI tracks. Other features include WavePipe(TM) technology for low-latency audio mixing and playback; real-time audio and MIDI effects processing; support for DirectX audio plug-ins; non-linear multitrack editing; audio waveform editing with volume and pan automation; graphical MIDI note editing; integrated notation printing; and a trial-version of the patented Fraunhofer MP3 encoder for delivering music and sound on the Internet. Users of the U-8 edition of Home Studio 9 can also upgrade to Cakewalk Pro Audio 9 software at any time, directly through Cakewalk.

Studio Automation with StudioWare(TM) Technology

This special edition of Home Studio 9 ``talks'' directly to the U-8 control surface using Cakewalk StudioWare technology, which emulates and translates the hardware controls and commands into the equivalent Home Studio software operations. This level of software and hardware integration allows the user to control nearly all of Home Studio 9's functions entirely from the U-8 surface, including transport controls, track arming, jog/shuttle wheel positioning, fader levels, as well as the ability to navigate and select commands from any of Home Studio 9's pull-down menus--without ever touching the computer mouse.

The U-8 hardware features eight faders that can be used to control recording and mixing operations in Home Studio with tactile precision. It also features 135 on-board DSP multi-effects presets that can be used in real-time on input, while recording.

The U-8/Home Studio 9 bundle is designed to get users up and running quickly with minimal learning curve. By simply pressing one of the ``EZ'' buttons on the U-8, users access step-by-step, on-screen ``wizards'' from within Home Studio 9 that guide the user smoothly through setup, studio configuration, recording, and mixing.

Other U-8 hardware features include: 44.1 kHz/16-bit digital audio sample rate, Unbalanced MIC In; 1/4 inch Phone In; 1/4 inch Guitar In; RCA Phono Audio In/Out; and Optical S/P DIF Digital In/Out.

Pricing and Availability

The special edition of Cakewalk Home Studio 9 with the Roland U-8 has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $695 U.S. and is scheduled to ship in March 2000. The Home Studio 9/U-8 bundle is distributed in North America by Edirol Corporation. Dealers can order The Home Studio 9/U-8 system through ThinKware, San Francisco.

For more information on the U-8 bundle with Cakewalk software, please see Cakewalk at the NAMM International Music Market 2000, Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall, Booth # 1205. Interested customers can call 888-CAKEWALK; or visit the Cakewalk web site at www.cakewalk.com.

About Roland

Roland is a world leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of electronic musical instruments, professional audio equipment, multimedia products and music accessories. Roland USB Digital Studio U-8 and Desk Top Music Products are sold in the United States by Edirol Corp., and distributed by ThinKware.

About Cakewalk

Founded in 1987 and based in Cambridge, Mass., Cakewalk® is an international, industry-leading provider of software for music and sound creation. The company's award-winning products are used worldwide by more than 750,000 professional and home users for applications including audio CD production, film/TV soundtracks, live stage sound, computer games, multimedia applications, and Internet delivery.

Cakewalk is a registered trademark, and WavePipe, Cakewalk Home Studio, Cakewalk Professional, Cakewalk Pro Audio, Cakewalk Pro Suite, Cakewalk Metro, Cakewalk Metro SE, Cakewalk Audio FX, Cakewalk Overture, Cakewalk Guitar Studio, Cakewalk Guitar Tracks, Cakewalk ScoreWriter, Cakewalk MIDI Music Pack and the Cakewalk logo are trademarks of Twelve Tone Systems, Inc. GigaSampler and NemeSys are trademarks of NemeSys Music Technology. Other products and companies mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective

Contact:

     Cakewalk
     Christopher Rice
     617/441-7870, ext 111
     chrisrice@cakewalk.com
             or
     Porter Novelli Convergence Group
     Kristen Wiltse/Jacquelyn Dara
     617/450-4300
     kristen.wiltse@pnicg.com
     jacquelyn.dara@pncig.com