Akki Plugs has announced the release of Virtual Bouzouki, a Greek bouzouki sample library virtual instrument. Virtual Bouzouki is a Kontakt Player 2 instrument based on advanced script programming and offers different playing styles and techniques.

Features :

• 2.2 GB 24-bit samples.
• Advanced script programming.
• Choose between Natural or Tuned tuning.
• 12 keyswitches.
• 5 velocity layers of plectrum playing downwards and 5 velocity layers of plectrum playing upwards.
• All four strings sampled and each string got recorded notes throughout the full length of the string.
• Release samples.
• Control the hand position on the fret with the modulation wheel. The position is presented on the layout.
• Polyphonic playing allows you t ...

Intelligent Devices releases Marshall Time Modulator plug-in.

Before there was much "digital" anything, and before records were considered something anachronistic and nostalgia evoking, back when "Dark Side of the Moon" was new and Hip-Hop kind of a distant dream, Stephen St. Croix had an idea: What would happen if you took the the longest analog delay line possible, gave it the greatest signal to noise ratio in a piece of outboard gear, and then made the modulation of it possible over such a wide range that it could effect sound in ways sublime AND outrageous. Something so utilitarian and necessary that it could fit in equally well on Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life," or as the means of giving extra gravitas to the sound of a bad acid trip. Stephen called it: The Marshall Time Modulator.

Features :

• Two separate delay lines, in a ratio of 1:2 or 1:4., each with their own volume, phase and pan controls and a joint feedback control.
• Once modulation is added, the ratios between the delay lines don't change, but together the delay lines can be continuously swept over the range from minimum to maximum time over the LFO (Low frequency Oscillator) rate. This is a function of the interaction between the Time Delay, Preset, Time Modulation, LFO Shape and LFO Speed parameters working together.
• From subtle thickening, to reverb loving "spin", to the sound of vinyl left out on the hood of an '84 Camaro in the Black Rock Desert in the last week of August, The Marshall Time Modulator has all the bases covered - and then some.

The Marshall Time Modulator is available now for both Mac OS X and Windows in VST format at a price of $149.

Ueberschall has just released Electro Producer Pack 2, a new Elastik Player-based instrument that provides 1.9 GB of full-range Electro Sounds and Samples and surrounding styles such as Nu Dance, House, Minimal, Trance, Techno, Dance and Breaks.

EPP2 is divided into 7 main folders and consists of 3,322 samples total. Material is grouped into :

• 1,153 single drum and percussion sounds.
• 777 kick-drum-less and percussion loops which are packed into 113 drum-less themes.
• 138 synth sounds.
• 331 synth loops.
• 355 effect sounds (sfx sounds).
• 346 effect loops which are packed into 56 sfx themes (sfx loops).
• 222 vocal samples and loops.

Electro Producer Pack 2 is available now for Mac OS X and Windows in VST, AU and RTAS formats at a retail price of €99.

The Saffire PRO 24 is the latest in Focusrite's new generation of FireWire audio interfaces.

Features :

• Two High Quality Focusrite Pre-amps
• High Quality 24-bit/96kHz FireWire Interface - Features high quality A-D / D-A conversion and JetPLL jitter elimination technology
• Total I/O Count of 16 Inputs and 8 Outputs
• Unique Loop-Back facility for routing audio between software applications via Saffire Mix Control
• Saffire Mix Control Zero-latency DSP Mixer/Router
• Xcite+ Software Bundle
• Focusrite VST/AU Plug-in Suite
• Front panel 5-LED metering
• Dedicated front-panel headphone bus

Pricing and Availability TBA. However some Online webstores have the Saffire Pro 24 in pre-order for around €300.

LiquidSonics has released Reverberate, an efficient convolution audio processor with modulation capabilities offering true zero-latency operation for two separate, stereo impulse responses.

Reverberate seeks to provide a richer and more dynamic sounding reverb from impulse responses by optionally modulating an amalgamation of two, separately controllable IRs using an LFO. Further modulation is possible using the post-processing effects; an all-pass interpolator chorus provides a fuller sound and an over-sampled analogue prototype paragraphic equaliser is provided with dual LFOs. These features make for a livelier sound than typically associated with some convolution reverbs.

Features :

• Stereo convolution reverb.
• Dual IR for true-stereo capability.
• IR mix m ...

Roland unveils the new JUNO-Di Mobile Synthesizer. This latest addition to the JUNO Series is specifically designed for the musician on the go, providing a vast array of professional sounds in a lightweight, portable design.

The user-friendly design of the JUNO-Di will deliver hassle-free live keyboard performances for both the seasoned musician and entry level user. Weighing just under 12 pounds, the battery-powered JUNO-Di can be played anywhere, anytime. Plug the JUNO-Di into a portable amplifier such as the Roland Cube Street or Mobile Cube for instant amplification, or plug in headphones for quiet practice. With eight Ni-MH AA-size rechargeable batteries, the JUNO-Di can go for up to five hours without being plugged in.

The 61-note synth-action JUNO-Di boasts over 1,000 diverse customisable sounds to fit any style of music, including grand and electric pianos, modern synth sounds, lush strings, beautiful guitars, powerful brass, percussion, and banks of exotic instruments. Simple navigation with dedicated category buttons and the large LCD display ensures players can recall and perform their favourite sounds on the fly. In addition to a world-class sound engine and extreme portability, the JUNO-Di offers an array of features for the live performer. Process vocals live through its microphone input, built-in vocoder, and dedicated reverb. And with its USB memory port and song player function, the JUNO-Di enables direct playback and control of MP3, .WAV, AIFF, and SMF sound files with dedicated transport controls on the front panel.

The JUNO-Di is expected to be available in September. Pricing TBA.

Applied Acoustics Systems has just updated its virtual electric piano Lounge Lizard EP-3 to version 3.1.2. This is a maintenance update containing the following changes :

• Fixed Recorder crash on Windows;
• Fixed automation from plug-in window in Logic 8;
• Fixed audio cuts when the plug-in window was displayed;
• Fixed MIDI Link crash on "Default" channel;
• Fixed Cubase 5 crash on Windows;
• Now works with Cubase 5 64-bit VST Bridge;
• Now works with Sonar 64-bit BitBridge;
• New solution for volume build-up on repeated notes with sustain pedal;
• Fixed "Fatal Error 417" during authorization on Mac OS X;
• Fixed Edit MIDI Link dialog values glitch;
• No more clicks when changing Pickup Type;
• Fixed MIDI Link on Pickup Type.

This update is available now, free of charge for all Lounge Lizard EP-3 registered users.

Toontrack Music updates EZplayer pro to version 1.0.4.

New Features in 1.0.4 :

• New wrappers for Steven Slate Drums and generic IMAP formats
• SDX kit pieces available for Superior content
• contextual filtering for kit piece selection
• internal logging of missing wrappers for QA purposes

Fixed in 1.0.4 :

• channel is no longer offset by 1 in the Browser
• graphical issues on PPC affecting clips in Arranger
• uninstalling/re-installing should resolve MIDI path issue arising from relocating EZdrummer
• clicking in the timeline while looping and playing should no longer crash EZplayer
• empty MIDI files (or files emptied by wrapper action) no longer crash the program
• further sync to host improvements in Apple Logic
• missing input wrapper for RDK is now included
• Drumcore wrappers are no longer placeholders but do more than looking nice
• minor other fixes in various wrappers

Novation announces the upcoming release of its Automap software for iPhone and iPod Touch, providing an instant and intelligent, wireless, palm-sized MIDI controller.

The Automap for iPhone / iPod touch app will be available to buy from the Apple app store mid July. Combined with Novation's free Automap 3 Standard software, or Automap 3 Pro, it provides two horizontal faders and eight buttons per page, displayed on a single iPhone / iPod touch screen. However, the number of pages – and thus the number of controls – is unlimited.

Automap lets you see at a glance how every control on your iPhone / iPod touch is assigned, both on the iPhone / iPod touch itself, and across your computer screen. Combining all this visual feedback with intelligent software browsing also helps you get to the right software fast. Control maps are automatically placed into categories depending on type (instrument, effects, mixer and so on) for quick and easy browsing and selection.

Although Automap automatically and intelligently maps to all major music making software, you will inevitably

Soundprovocation "Sweeps & Whooshes" is a collection of creatively recorded, generated, played and carefully selected sound effects. These pure sounds were ment to assist audio professionals : musicians, sound designers, radio and TV producers, DJs. Effects are dedicated to blow-up expressivity and power into your music and production.

Collection contains four categories of 179 royalty-free effects total :

• Noise sweeps (23)
• Short sweeps (77)
• Tone sweeps (29)
• Crunchy sweeps (25)
• Whooshes (25)

Format : Aiff, 24 bit, 44100 Hz / Package size : 280 MB.

Sweeps & Whooshes is available now as a downloadable product at an introductory price of €9.99 instead of €19.99 until the end of this month.

Yamaha has announced two new synths designed specifically for players : the S90 XS and S70 XS Music Synthesizer. Here is an excerpt from the official website :

"Designed specifically for players, particularly those who want the highest quality piano sounds and expression, the S90 XS/S70 XS is a performer's dream. Yet, casual players and hobby musicians will appreciate the exquisite sounds, advanced features and superb playability just as much as top professional artists.

Main features :

• Sounds That Satisfy
• Streamline Your Performance
• Ideal for Live Performers
• Recording Direct to USB / Internal Memory
• 76 & 88 Keyboard
• Software Integration"

Pricing & Availability TBA.

Humanoid Sound Systems has released a VST/AU version for Mac of Scanned Synth Pro.

Scanned Synth uses a unique new form of synthesis inspired by advances in digital music theory. It is designed to create rich complex digital tones and fantastic sound effects, while using simplified controls and traditional synths techniques such as filters, LFOs and effects.

Perfect for biting metallic growls, movement filled pads, and weird modular-like sound effects, Scanned Synth Pro provides a unique sound that is constantly changing and new every time you press a key. Featuring a "revolutionary" synthesis engine, combining the powers of both Physical Modelling and Wavetable synthesis, with simplified controls and full MIDI automation, Scanned Synth Pro is both simple and complex, powerful and easy to use.

Scanned Synth Pro is available for both Mac (AU/VST) and PC (VST) using the "pay-what-you-like" model (with a minimum donation of 30 US cents).

VSL has announced that its new virtual grand piano plug-in instrument, the Vienna Imperial, is now shipping. The venerable Bösendorfer Imperial 290-755 that the VSL team hosted at the Silent Stage for two months was equipped with the famed piano manufacturer's CEUS technology, which allowed for precise and extensive piano sample recordings.

Features :

• Up to 100 velocities per key, 1,200 recorded samples per key.
• Audience, player, and close microphone recording positions.
• Powerful proprietary piano engine.
• Multiple release samples for different note lengths (supports authentic staccato/staccatissimo performances).
• Repetition samples for pedal-sustained notes.
• Sympathetic resonances for sustain pedal up and down positions.
• Adjustab ...

Waldorf has just announced the release of Largo, a virtual instrument offering the same powerful synthesizer engine as found in the Waldorf Q-, MicroQ- and Blofeld-synthesizers.

Largo offers three fat oscillators, two of them with sub oscillators. These oscillators include models of classic analog waveforms as well as a selection of waves from the PPG and Waldorf Wave stored in two Wavetables. All these run through two Waldorf multimode filters with steep cutoff, resonance up to self-oscillation and a drive stage to add even more punch and grainyness to the sound. Ultra-fast envelope generators and flexible LFOs as well as an easy to understand, yet extremely versatile modulation matrix make for a sound designer's dream.

Largo contains a flexible arpeggiator with 16 freely programm ...

Waves introduces the Grand Masters Collection, an all-inclusive set of mastering tools. Featuring the complete original Masters bundle (L2 Ultramaximizer, Linear Phase Equalizer, Linear Phase Multiband Compressor), the Grand Masters Collection adds ten new plug-ins :

• MaxxVolume
• PuigTec EQP-1A
• PuigTec MEQ-5
• Waves Dorrough Meters
• Stereo Edition
• Waves Center
• L3-16 Multimaximizer
• L3 Ultramaximizer
• L3 Multimaximizer
• L3-LL Ultramaximizer
• L3-LL Multimaximizer

Waves Grand Masters Collection is available for both Mac OS X and Windows in Native (VST/AU/RTAS) ($2,200) and TDM ($4,200) formats, it requires iLok authorization. Upgrades are available. All purchases and upgrades include one full year of Waves Update Plan coverage.