Native Instruments has announced the release of Guitar Rig 2 Producer Pack, a limited edition "software + hardware" bundle for recording and arranging guitars and bass. The package consists of the Audio Kontrol 1 audio interface and the Guitar Rig 2 Software Edition.

Guitar Rig 2 Producer Pack offers a price advantage of more than $ 230 / € 200 (36%) as a bundle over the combined individual price and is available now at selected dealers and online for a short time only.

Minnetonka Audio Software ships AudioTools Batch Pro, the industry's first fully automated processing tool for audio assets. Batch Pro is a flexible, easy to use, and powerful tool for editing, converting, transcoding, encoding, and applying plug-ins to sets of audio files in a batch mode. Users specify input files, configure a chain of processors, set parameters for each processor and run the job. All files are automatically processed and placed in the specified output location. Integrated access to vintage analog processors, external digital processors, and VST plug-ins both stereo and surround, including Minnetonka's SurCode for Dolby® Pro Logic II VST plug-in, is possible.

AudioTools Batch Pro is available now at a retail price of $1,495 (USD). For more information, please visit the link below.

Steinberg has announced the release of the Universal Binary update for Virtual Bassist, making the virtual bass player compatible with Apple's Intel-based Macintosh computers.

This update is available as a free download for registered owners of Virtual Bassist.

Audio Ease has updated Altiverb to v6.0.7.

Changes :

- Fixes not running installer bug.
- Altiverb now always opens in low latency mode by default.
- Reads old format custom IR
- [PT] automation shows all parameters now.
- [PT] Page table fixed for 002.
- [PT] Page tables created for D-Command/Control.
- [MAS] fixed unnecessary "save preset" message.
- [VST] fixed latency compensation.

Big Fish Audio has released VI.ONE, a massive multi-disc sample library. It includes drums, drum loops, basses (including acoustic, upright, electric, and synth), world and ethnic instruments (organized by geographic regions), sound effects, guitars (acoustic and electric), keyboards, a full collection of orchestral instruments, screaming B3 organs, world-class acoustic pianos, prepared pianos, electric/synth pianos, pop horns and brass, a bank of vintage synths, and cutting-edge synth patches.

Contents :

* 20 Gigs on 3 DVD's
* Over two thousand sampler patches
* Standalone, AudioUnit, VST, RTAS

VI.ONE is powered by the Kontakt Player 2 engine, bringing instant access to the sounds via the standalone application, as well as being accessible within sequencers via every major plug-in format: AudioUnit, VST and RTAS. VI.ONE is available now at a retail price of $399.95.

AMG has released version 1.0.6 of their virtual brass instrument Kick-Ass Brass! which, apart from a few minor bug fixes, brings Intel-Mac support to the Mac OS X AU and Standalone versions - VST is planned for the future.

Puremagnetik has just released Analog Bass Volume 1 for Live 6, Kontakt 2 and EXS24. Analog Bass is a huge collection of over 50 multisampled analog bass instruments recorded directly from classic monosynths. Among the sound sources are the TB-303, Minimoog, Doepfer Modular and ARP 2600. The Ableton Live 6 version of Analog Bass contains over 50 Sampler Racks AND over 50 Simpler Racks. The Kontakt 2 version includes extensive KSP mappings for control of filters, time-based effects LFOs and envelopes.

Features :

- Over 50 Analog Bass Instruments
- Over 270 MB of 24-bit Content
- Ableton Live Simpler and Sampler Racks with Macro Controls
- Customized Kontakt 2 KSP Panels
- Easy Edit of Synth Controls and Effects

For more information, please visit their web site.

NuGen Audio has released version 2.1 of Line-up, bringing the plugin to Mac OS X (VST and AU, Universal Binary) for the first time. Line-up is a track adjustment utility designed to allow the rapid manipulation of audio inputs, including phase switching, multiple mono collapse options and sample accurate line-up of multiple audio tracks. Delay times can also be entered in m/seconds. These features can be useful for correcting mis-aligned tracks (no host PDC, phase re-alignment, long mic/speaker recording delay, etc.), checking mono compatibility and switching/muting/collapsing stereo channels. Line-up can also be used as a send effect to create very precise chorus, phase and doubling effects.

Line-up is available now as a free download for all registered users (registration is free).

Art.Lebedev Studio is annoncing for january 2008 the production of 400 new units of his keyboard Optimus Maximus. It's a USB keyboard including 114 keys with individual screens of 32 x 32 pixels OLED. Each key can be configurate for switching easily from "traditionnal" alphabet to cyrillic or arabic, you can also customise with differents symbols which makes it a real delight for using shortcuts of our favorite sequencers !

This great device has unfortunately a price of 1564,37 $. for more infos go to their website !

ReFX has announced the release of Nexus v1.3.

New features :

- New master effect: distortion has been added.
- New arpeggio-mode: poly has been added.
- Internal limiter has been added.
- Several 'locks' have been added, so specific sections (mod, arp etc.) can be protected from loading new presets.

Fixes :

- One-time click when loading new preset has been fixed.
- Internal optimizations and minor bug fixes.

Note that reFX has also released two new expansion packs, Store'n'Forward and Hardstyle which cost $69.99 each.

Graf-Martinez has released version 3.2 of Compás which is a metronome for learning the Flamenco rhythms. This standalone application allows you to hear and see the beats in the Flamenco rhythms, and to learn how to count in the Flamenco styles.

The Flamenco Metronome 'Compás' is available now as a download for €24.50. For more information, please visit the link below.

VirSyn today announces the release of Poseidon 1.2.

Features :

- "Inverse filter" model for separation of sound source and body enables preservation of formants.
- Bitmap import function to convert images into sound.
- New harmonic/wavetable analyzer modes ensure strict harmonic partials.
- Unison modes for suboctave and fifth.
- Added filter and blur functionality to residual noise.
- Output limiter.
- 64 new presets.

Bugfixes :

- Output muted if sound model is missing/deleted.
- Partial count "1" working now.
- Residual noise level is now normalized.
- Wave recorder display problems fixed.

Kel Audio Inc. regrets to announce that it will not be releasing the HM-2 large diaphragm instrument mic announced recently. In discussions with another microphone company, all parties agreed that the HM-2, as configured in earlier announcements, may unintentionally conflict with one of that company's products and Kel Audio has chosen not to market the HM-2.

All customers who pre-ordered an HM-2 have been refunded. Kel Audio thanks everyone for their interest and confidence in its products and apologizes for any disappointment or confusion that may have been caused by earlier announcements.