Propellerhead's Balance box promises clip-free recordings

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The developers of popular music-making software package Reason are going into the hardware business with Balance, a 2-in 2-out USB audio recording box. Features include automatic clipping prevention (by recording at two volumes and "healing" clipped recordings), two XLR mic inputs with phantom power, and direct monitoring with a built-in headphone amp. It will be available Sept. 30 and come with Reason Essentials, a cut-down version of Reason 6, also out in the fall.