Winter NAMM is officially here, and Peavey Electronics and Muse Research are kicking it off with news about the long-awaited MuseBox ($1,199.99 MSRP). According to the two companies, the MuseBox musical instrument and effects box makes virtual instruments and effects technology more mobile, so that every kind of musician can take software-based synths, sounds, and effects to different locations for rehearsals, gigs, practice rooms, or to the studio.

Its compact 2U half-rack design makes it super portable, while the custom MuseMachine software environment provides stable OS that runs software plugins efficiently in 24-bit, 48 kHz quality audio.

The MuseBox has flexible I/O, with front-panel guitar and microphone inputs, MIDI, four USB ports, and a CF-Card slot that lets you load new software synths and effects. Using a MIDI controller, you jam along with the MuseBox, sing through it, process keyboards, make new sounds, and more.

Since it comes pre-loaded with virtual instruments and effects, you can start playing "out of the box." The unit includes various keyboard sounds, reverb, chorus and Peavey’s ReValver amp modeling software VST.

Navigate the unit's presets using the SoundFinder preset architecture, and automatically create new presets as you add virtual instruments and effects to the MuseBox. Use the DuoHost software environment to connect a computer monitor and easily view plugin parameters.

The MuseBox comes standard with 1 GB of RAM (expandable to 2 GB) and is equipped with a 4 GB solid-state system disc module (expandable to 8 GB). An optional 250 GB laptop hard drive is also available for additional storage.

Expect the MuseBox to be available in the spring of 2010. For more details, visit museresearch.com.