Disc Makers is offering a holiday reprieve for artists rushing to complete short-run CD projects in time for Christmas. Artists have until December 19, 2006 to submit projects for duplication; holiday rush orders include on-disc printing and full-color inserts.

AirEQ v. 1.2 (Mac/Win; $269) is available for download from Eliosound. MORE.

SoundBlade 1.1 (Mac; $1,495), the latest all-purpose workstation from Sonic Studio is out now. Version 1.1 offers premastering, signal-processing, restoration, recording, and editing functionality, as well as a variety of new features and improved stability. MORE.

XO Audio has released the latest version of its freeware digital audio software package, XO Wave, for Mac OS X and Linux. Still in beta, XO Wave 0.19.0 offers a host of audio and post-production capabilities as well as several new features and bug fixes. MORE.

Author Blair Jackson looks beyond the hippie and drug culture surrounding Jerry Garcia and Co. for his new book Grateful Dead Gear: The Band's Instruments, Live Sound Systems, and Recording Sessions, 1965--1995 (Backbeat Books). With more than 200 photographs, the book details the Grateful Dead's equipment and recording techniques through an in-depth historical account and interviews with band members, producers, techs, and roadies.

NEW! Electronic Musician on MySpace
Join our online EM community at www.myspace.com/electronicmusician.

NEW! EM Cast
Check out this brand new monthly podcast featuring an interview with producer Ted Perlman, a look at new gear with EM associate editor Geary Yelton, and a preview of the January issue of EM with editor-in-chief Steve Oppenheimer.

MixBooks Is Live!
Finally available, MixBooks offers educational books and DVDs focused on recording and production, sound reinforcement, and tips & techniques, as well as buyer's guides, directories, and back issues. Great gifts for the holiday season! Check it out at www.mixbooks.com.