In August, Toontrack has decided to offer great value savings on EZX expansion packs. We have two great offers. One for North America and one for Europe.

North American customers : Guitar Center 45th anniversary EZX saving !

To help celebrate their 45th anniversary, Guitar Center has partnered with Toontrack to bring you the biggest savings spectacular in drum software history ! For a limited time, go to any Guitar Center location and buy any EZX expansion pack for $45.00 !

Sweetwater, the third-largest music instrument and pro audio retailer in the world, has been awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum is the USGBC's highest rating for designing and constructing the world's greenest, most energy-efficient, and healthiest buildings.

The award was presented to Sweetwater Founder and President Chuck Surack by Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry, and Liz Ellis, representative of the Indiana Chapter of the USGBC at a special ceremony preceding the company's 30th anniversary celebration.

Sweetwater's $35 million, 150,000 square foot corporate headquarters was completed in January of 2008. It was designed by Fort Wayne architectural firm MSKTD to achieve LEED certif ...

Dave Smith Instruments announces the release of Tetra, its next-generation analog polyphonic synthesizer. Tetra's four voices feature a 100% analog signal path and four-part multitimbral operation with individual outputs per voice.

Tetra is fully programmable via the front panel or with a free downloadable editor for Mac OS and Windows. Tetra is basically four Mophos in a very compact (7.9"L x 5"W) enclosure, a sort of mini Prophet with a couple of extra tricks up its sleeve: specifically, a sub-octave generator for each oscillator and feedback. With a street price of approximately $799, that's like four Mophos for the price of two. And it's expandable. Tetra can be poly-chained with additional Tetras or a Prophet '08 for up to sixteen-voice polyphony.

Other features include Combo Mode, used to combine four programs into unison or poly "super patches." Combos can also play four 16 x 4 step sequences — one per voice/program-simultaneously. In Multi Mode, each of Tetra's voices responds to a different MIDI channel, making it ideal for complex arrangements and sequencing analog drum sounds. Tetra is the first DSI product to feature USB. "USB is one of the most requested features across our entire product line," said DSI's Tracy Wadley, "so it's great to be able to offer it."

Tetra is available now with an MSRP of $879.00.

Apple has released Mac OS X 10.5.8. This update addresses general system fixes, stability, and security :

• Upgrades Safari to version 4.0.2.
• Improves the accuracy of full history search in Safari 4.
• Resolves an issue in which certain resolutions might not appear in the Display pane in System Preferences.
• Dragging an Aperture image into Automator now invokes an Aperture action instead of incorrectly invoking an iPhoto action.
• Resolves an issue that could prevent importing of large photo and movie files from digital cameras.
• Improves overall Bluetooth reliability with external devices, USB webcams and printers.
• Addresses an issue that could cause extended startup times.
• Improves iCal reliability with MobileMe Sync and CalDav.
...

For the month of August, McDSP offers a great special, allowing all customers to purchase or upgrade to Chrome Tone HD/Native and Synthesizer One HD/Native at a discounted price.

Purchase Chrome Tone HD or Synthesizer One HD for $129 each, or purchase both for only $179. Purchase Chrome Tone Native or Synthesizer One Native for $79 each, or purchase both for only $129. All LE customers may upgrade Chrome Tone LE and Synthesizer One LE to Native for $49 each.

The McDSP HD product line supports TDM, RTAS and AudioSuite formats, and operates on Pro Tools HD, LE and M-Powered, and the McDSP Native product line supports RTAS and Audiosuite formats, and operate on Pro Tools HD, LE and M-Powered. Special available only via electronic delivery.

Antares has updated Auto-Tune Evo for Mac OS X to v6.0.8 and Windows to v6.0.9. These updates provide improved pitch detection accuracy of higher-pitched notes, as well as resolve a variety of issues in the various versions.

Changes :

• Improved pitch detection of higher-pitched notes.
• New installers and PACE software (version 5.8.10.3223) to fix installation and authorization issues, particularly in 64-bit Vista.
• Fixed a problem where Nudge Up or Down would sometimes result in horizontal movement as well.
• Fixed a problem with incorrect zoom range after tracking pitch in a long song.
• Fixed crashing bug occasionally seen when using drawing tools.
• Fixed crashing bug occasionally seen when using Undo button.
• Fixed problem of selection highlights vanishing when using the Scissor tool close to a line or curve endpoint.
• Added hours field to the clock display (when time passes the one-hour mark).
• Fixed a memory leak in the Scissor tool.

Phazeform by Puremagnetik is a new Micropak for Ableton Live, Kontakt and Logic. It comes loaded with a captivating library of instruments and phrases based on Casio's classic Phase Distortion technology. Phazeform also contains a comprehensive sound set from the VL-Tone pocket synth/calculator guaranteed to pack your DAW with the sound of Casio synthesis.

Additionally, Phazeform includes a collection of looped phrases from the SK-1 and VL-Tone drum machines, giving Live, Logic and Kontakt users instant access to this unique collection of sounds.

Features :

• Complete palette of famous Casio Phase Distortion sounds
• Multi-sampled CZ library with advanced DAW integration
• A collection of expertly programmed clips
• Sound set of percussion menus
• Custom Kontakt KSP GUI and native Kontakt effects

Pricing : Basic Monthly Subscription: $5.75/Month Basic Yearly Subscription: $60/Year All Access Pass - $198/Year.

Eloquence by Sugar Bytes is described as an extremely powerful and intuitive MIDI stepsequencer plug-in, giving you control over just about all aspects of your favorite MIDI devices. You can use Eloquence to create varied and organic bass lines, screaming leads, pulsating chords, and organic pad sounds in the studio or on stage.

For live musicians, Eloquence provides a versatile palette of performance options which can be triggered right from your MIDI keyboard: you can transpose, manipulate, twist up, mutate, and mangle your patterns without even getting near your computer.

Eloquence is a plugin which can be used with any major Windows or Mac VST or AU host.

Release Date: August 15, 2009. System Requirements: VST or AU compatible host software Win XP/Vista, MAC OS 10.5 and higher, 128 mb Ram, 1ghz CPU

Price: €99 / $129. Crossgrade Price for registered SonicBytes ERA users: €69 / $89.

Nomad Factory announces the release of the Blue Tubes Plug-Ins Suite, a suite of eighteen plug-ins processors that were until now only available as bundled version, the bundled plug-ins are now also available as individual processor for Mac and PC.

01 - BT BrickWall BW2S
02 - BT Compressor CP2S
03 - BT DeEsser DS2S
04 - BT Compressor FA770
05 - BT ExpanderGate GX622
06 - BT Limiter LM2S
07 - BT Analog Chorus CH2S
08 - BT Analog Phaser APH2S
09 - BT Oilcan Echo TLE2S
10 - BT Tempo Delay DL3D
11 - BT Stereo Imager ST2S
12 - BT ValveDriver ADR2S
13 - BT Equalizer BQ2S
14 - BT Equalizer BX2S
15 - BT Equalizer GEQ12
16 - BT Equalizer PEQ2B
17 - BT Equalizer PEQ5B
18 - BT Equalizer PEQ322

Blue Tubes Individual Plug-Ins lists for $89 each while Blue Tubes bundled versions are still available for purchase. More information can be found from the Nomad Factory web site :

Back In Time Records has just released Presets #1 by kpr, a brand new presets bank for the Arturia Origin modular synthesizer. 64 Program Presets sounds for the typical keyboarder who is looking for cool lead synths, evolving pads, fat bass, vintage classics, smart polysynths. Fine sounddesign art with useful controller programming for stage, studio, filmsound.

Presets #1 by kpr is priced at €19. Details and audio track are available at :

Steinberg has announced the release of Nuendo 4.3.

"The overall goal for Nuendo 4.3 was to further improve the stability of the program. We've not only concentrated on addressing open issues concerned with File Import, Surround, Solo/Mute and Session handling, but have also enabled Cubase 5 projects to be opened in Nuendo 4.3. Our thanks goes out to our valued customers for their input," comments Timo Wildenhain, marketing manager at Steinberg.

In addition, the new update also provides support for the upcoming Nuendo SyncStation, Steinberg's new synchronizer.

"Our new synchronizer will be a benchmarking machine. The overall functionality and integration with Nuendo is absolutely outstanding," Wildenhain continues. The Nuendo SyncStation is a joint-development of Steinberg and engineering legend Colin Broad.

This new version is free for all registered users.

Univers-Sons/Ultimate Sound Bank introduces Hip Hop Planet.

Hip Hop Planet from the brand new EKOLOOPZ series isn't another Urban sample library... Why ?

• First of all : sound quality

This library was produced the same way the best Hip Hop and R'n B tunes are. From creating and mixing the construction kits - with a unique way to analyse and process the sounds -, to the mastering, done at Sterling Sounds in New York by top mastering engineer Chris Gerhinger. The result is that punchy sound you won't find anywhere else. All recorded at 24-bit 96 kHz resolution.

• Unprecedent flexibility, compatible with MOTU BPM

Even if the library can be used right away with the included UVI Workstation, it also contains datas for the new MOTU BPM format, making the library complet ...

FXpansion is proud to introduce the Maple Custom Absolute Expansion Kit for BFD2 which features a high-end Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute drum kit and a bonus Yamaha FHP (fiberglass) snare.

This download-only BFD v2.1 expansion kit includes toms played with sticks, brushes, mallets, and rods. The bass drums were hit with both a wood and felt beater. The snare drum is played with sticks and hot-rods, with the snare wire on and off for both.

New articulations include rim shots and rim clicks on the toms. The snare also offers rim clicks, as well as support for positional sensing for use with electronic drums.

• Maple Custom Absolute 7"x8" Tom
• Maple Custom Absolute 7.5"x10" Tom
• Maple Custom Absolute 8"x12" Tom
• Maple Custom Absolute 14"x14" Floor Tom
...

Voxengo is happy to announce the release of version 2 of Polysquasher - a mastering compressor plug-in for professional audio and sound production applications, for Mac OS X and Windows pro audio software that supports VST and AudioUnit plug-ins.

New Features :

• Compressor mode editor
• Linear-phase oversampling
• Multi-channel support
• Multi-platform support
• Undo/redo
• Routing matrix
• Preset manager
• User interface coloration
• User interface re-scaling
• Channel grouping
• Plug-in instance naming
• Bypass switch

Polysquasher was designed with a main goal: to be transparent. Polysquasher achieves its goal by using a unique compression algorithm which requires a small number of parameters – basically thr ...

Peter Vogel, Fairlight co-founder, has posted some teaser information on a new, 30th Anniversary Limited Edition of the Fairlight CMI.

Well there's only a pre-production mockup for now but we hope there will be more information soon, so stay tuned !

PSP Audioware is happy to announce their latest release: PSP oldTimer - a vintage-style compressor designed for track and program compression and limiting.

The goal in developing this plug-in is to provide a simple compressor that offers an exceptionally musical sound while requiring a minimum of tweaking. This plug-in is not based on any specific hardware, rather it is inspired by vintage circuits and is designed to emulate some favorite characteristics of such compressors. PSP oldTimer is so simple and is easy to use, it's difficult to make it sound bad even at extreme settings! This compressor offers soft and smooth compression in most applications, however it may slightly color the sound with its tube emulation on transients when heavily driven internally by high compression values. ...

The Avantone BV-1 Microphone is the first in a new series of high-end microphones to be released by Avant Electronics.

"The BV-1 features premium grade capacitors, a hand selected 6072A tube, plus our own custom-designed 3 micron thick 34mm dual capsule, as well as a custom CINEMAG transformer," stated Glen Heffner, V.P. Global Sales and Market Development. "Final assembly and testing are performed here in Sunny Southern California. We also incorporated "Real World" producers/recording studios to confirm the smooth, airy, top end and the powerful, rich bass response. This was a major part of our litmus test to verify the reliability and integrity of the BV-1. It consistently passed with flying colors."

"The microphone was put into the hands of producers such as Grammy-winner Ray Kenn ...