WaveMachine Labs is pleased to announce the next major Drumagog release, Drumagog 5. Available in the first quarter of 2010, Drumagog 5 represents more than two years of design and development.

Some of the new features include :

• Auto-Align 2.0 - A collaboration between WaveMachine Labs and Fraunhofer (inventors of the MP3 format) has resulted in a revolutionary new alignment algorithm.
• Direct Plugin Hosting - Play any virtual instrument from within Drumagog. VSTi plugins like BFD2, Kontakt, and Superior Drummer are inserted directly into Drumagog to allow a virtually unlimited sample palette. (Platinum version only)
• Redesigned graphic interface – Streamlined control and easier sample editing.
• Support for multiple room samples - The Gog format now allows for different room sounds and mics. Simply dial in the amount of room desired.
• Auto Hi-Hat Tracking - automatically detects the hi-hat pedal position (open/closed) in real time.

Upgrade and pricing information to follow. As current beta testing expands over the coming weeks any existing Drumagog 4 users interested in participating should contact WaveMachine Labs.

Vir2 Instruments is pleased to announce that the MOJO 1.2 update is availabe for immediate download.

Here's what is new and improved :

• New microtuning feature available in the main menu, allowing for instant access to more than a dozen different common alternate tunings.
• All instruments tweaked sonically to improve their overall sound.
Improved sound and performance for Punch feature, now converted to a pulldown menu.
• Improved load time across all instruments.
• Optimized polyphony usage across all instruments, resulting in less voices used and less CPU hit.
• Trombone doit release issue fixed.
• Improved tempo-syncing of all crescendos and swells across all instruments.
• Improved quality of timestretching of all crescendos and swells ...

During the 2009 AES Conference in New York, Rupert Neve Designs will release the Portico II Channel, the first in a new series of rack-mounting modules based on the high voltage single-sided op-amps developed for the 5088 mixer, with a new range of dedicated transformers, and an extensive arsenal of tonal controls.

The Portico II is a self-powered 2U Channel module comprised of a fully featured mic preamplifier, 4-band EQ, compressor-limiter, "texture" control and level metering. The Portico II includes a bevy of new features including: Variable Silk / Silk+ Texture control, a fully tunable de-esser, multiple VCA filtering and detection options, a transient-optimized swept HPF, and parallel compression blending. With its simple yet powerful topologies and extensive feature set, every el ...

Sonnox is about to unveil a brand new suite of audio restoration plug-ins at the upcoming 127th AES Convention. Sonnox Restore is a suite of three plug-ins : Oxford DeBuzzer, Oxford DeClicker and Oxford DeNoiser, designed to accurately restore impaired audio recordings.

Developed over an exhaustive 18-month R&D program, the Sonnox Restore suite represents a quantum leap beyond previous restoration plug-in technology. Its advanced algorithms allow fast and extremely effective removal of pops, clicks, crackles, scratches, hum, buzzes and extraneous background noise from virtually any recording. All three plug-ins provide detailed graphical feedback, and include novel features new to the restoration field such as a specialized dialogue mode in the DeClicker.

The Sonnox Restore Suite will be available at a price of $1995 in the fall of 2009, and will be compatible with Pro Tools (RTAS), Audio Units and VST platforms.

Platinum Samples and John Emrich are pleased to announce the release of the Real Jazz MIDI Groove Pack.

Real Jazz is a Jazz MIDI groove collection featuring both stick and brush grooves. Over 2,100 actual live, jazz grooves were recorded as a real performance on an electronic drum set at specific tempos. It includes 2-beats, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, ballads, and shuffles for both sticks and brushes. Real Jazz even includes some bop and jungle grooves.

This definitive jazz collection features the first real usable set of brush patterns for MIDI. By using the sweep articulations available in drum VST and Core Audio instruments, the Real Jazz grooves replicate the correct sound and feel of playing brushes.

Real Jazz is available now as a download from Platinum Samples' website and includes BFD2 groove palettes, BFD 1.5 groove bundles and GM Standard MIDI files for $35.

Universal Audio today announces a refresh of its UAD-2 Neve Powered Plug-Ins line. The new UAD-2 SOLO, DUO or QUAD Neve packages, formerly known as the "Nevana" packages, include the only plug-ins officially licensed and developed in partnership with Neve UK.

Following is an overview of contents and pricing of the new UAD-2 Neve packages:

• UAD-2 SOLO Neve: Single Analog Devices SHARC processor; includes 88RS Channel Strip and 33609 Compressor plug-ins; MAP price $699.

• UAD-2 DUO Neve: Dual SHARC processors; includes 88RS Channel Strip, 33609 Compressor, 1073 EQ and 1081 EQ plug-ins; MAP price $1499

• UAD-2 QUAD Neve: Four SHARC processors; includes 88RS Channel Strip, 33609 Compressor, 1073 EQ, 1081 EQ, and 31102 EQ plug-ins; MAP price $1,999

Also included with all of the new UAD-2 Neve packages is a $100 Plug-in voucher that allows access to the entire UAD Powered Plug-ins online library.

DiscoDSP has finally released a Mac version of its virtual synth Vertigo.

Vertigo is a 256 oscillators additive synth with resynthesis and sound morphing. It imports WAV audio and PNG images and offers a very accurate recreation of complex musical phrases, drumloops, speech and simple tones. The full version includes 128 presets.

Vertigo is available now in Audio Unit and VST instrument formats for Intel-based Macs only at a price of €75 / $99.

Audio Ease has just released a bunch of outdoor impulse responses for their Altiverb reverb plug-in, with available environments ranging from forests to alleyways to business parks.

Available for free for registered Altiverb 6 users.

Virsyn is happy to announce the release of KLON - The Vocal Designer. The heart of the vocal designer plug-in KLON is a harmonic pitch shifter for natural pitch and formant manipulation of vocal sounds in realtime. KLON takes your voice and adds up to 16 different copies of your voice in realtime.

This lays the ground for an impressive amount of applications like :

• Choir generator
• Harmonizer
• Voice doubler
• Change voice's gender
• Pitch corrector
• Extreme voice manipulation

The 16 pitch shifters inside KLON are divided into 4 groups making it easy to build up large choral parts from a simple, single vocal line. The four separate, switchable groups have their own dedicated set of controls. These controls include an x-y pad for fast, easy co ...

Arturia has updated Moog Modular V to version 2.5.

Changes :

• Switch to Syncrosoft copy protection.
• VCF audio quality improvements.
• Lower CPU utilization on Mac OS X.
• Better Audio Unit compatibility (Digital Performer most notably).
• Ability to use NRPN MIDI messages for automation.
• Better handling of control surfaces while changing preset.
• New presets added.
• MIDI RPN "pitch bend range" message is now recognized.
• Miscellaneous Bug fixes.

The KAWAI-EX sample Library is a 9-foot (276cm) KAWAI EX concert
grand piano that used to be in the Kennedy center in Washington DC.

• This Library is the result of a collaboration with Lance Herring.
• 17.49Go sample bank, no loops Recorded at 24-bit/48Khz.
• 5 "pedal up" layers, 5 "pedal down" layers, and 15 release samples per
note.
• Multiple mic position and mixing from the interface.
• Multiple releases depending on time. They have been carefully picked up
for each note to really reproduce the real mechanical behaviour of a note.
• Sympathetic resonance (pedal down samples).
• Thumps samples and Automatic Pedal noises samples.
• Custom kontakt interface that let you modify the response of the piano as
well as its tone and the volume of the releases and the pedal.
• Ability to save polyphony by enabling / disabling each position.
• Kontakt 3 (optimized for Kontakt 3.5). Easy to use Kontakt interface.


The KAWAI-EX Grand piano library is available now and costs €89 for the PRO version. There is also a LITE version that has less features at a price of €59, and you can also upgrade to the full version anytime from your user account for another €59.

VSL has announced the release of the completely revamped mixing host, Vienna Ensemble PRO.

The software offers a comprehensive cross-platform LAN solution that can incorporate both Mac OS X and Windows computers into one network using a simple Ethernet cable. New features include full 64-bit support, 3rd party plug-in hosting, dual architecture servers to include both 64-bit and 32-bit instruments and effect plug-ins, the intelligent Preserve function, and the free bonus library Epic Orchestra.

Introductory Offer :

Through October 7, 2009, the price of Vienna Ensemble PRO will be €145. On October 8, the price will go up to €195. Users of the predecessor Vienna Ensemble 3 (which is no longer available) may download Vienna Ensemble PRO as a free upgrade and have the option to get the Epic Orchestra Pack separately, only through October 31, 2009.

Antares Audio Technologies has announced the upcoming release of Harmony EFX, a new tool for generating up to five-part vocal harmony from a single vocal line.

Features :

• Evo Voice Processing Technology for fast, accurate pitch detection; smooth, artifact-free pitch shifting; and seamless, natural-sounding (if you want it to be) throat modeling
• Four high-quality, formant-corrected harmony voices with independent pan settings
• Antares Throat Modeling technology that lets you process each harmony voice through a physical model of the human vocal tract
• A variety of innovative Harmony Control modes, from fully automatic to individual control of every note:
. Fixed or Scale Intervals: Simply set the key and harmony voice intervals and let Harmony EFX do the ...

Waveframe by Puremagnetik is a an advanced wavetable synthesizer designed exclusively for the features of Ableton Live. Based on the Ensoniq Fizmo, Waveframe contains over 1700 wavetable samples, over 30 waveform Live Racks and a generous selection of performance patches.

SoundToys has announced the upcoming release of PanMan, an advanced auto-panner plug-in with groove control.

PanMan takes the process of moving audio back and forth in the stereo field and gives it that special touch that is uniquely SoundToys. It features a complete range of panning modes to recreate classic analog panners (such as the PanScan and Spanner) plus new modes never before available. With MIDI sync to tempo, preset storage, and automation, users get modern innovation alongside classic features from hard to find vintage analog hardware.

Features :

• SoundToys exclusive Rhythm Mode with user programmable rhythm editor.
• Ping Pong triggered panning with user definable trigger divider as found in the classic PanScan.
• LFO style continuous panning with u ...

IZotope releases Alloy, a new plug-in that provides key sound shaping effects for your tracks and busses, bringing them to life with six processors designed to give character to every element of your mix :

• Dynamics : new Vintage mode, sidechaining, more.
• Transient Shaper : enhance percussive sounds.
• De-Esser : tame vocal sibilance.
• Exciter : with Harmonic Scaling XY pad.
• Limiter : zero latency, advanced phase tools.
• Equalizer : exceptional sonic quality, precise controls.
• MacroPresets : over 150 presets.

Alloy is available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU, RTAS, DX and MAS plug-in formats at a price of $249.

Softube is shipping the Tube-Tech CL 1B for native VST, AU, and RTAS.

Tube-Tech CL 1B is a true studio classic, heard on tons and tons of records for the past 20 years. Like its hardware counterpart, the Tube-Tech CL 1B native plug-in sounds soft, smooth, groovy and can compress an insane amount of dB's without sounding bad. The CL 1B plug-ins by Softube are the only Tube-Tech plug-ins that are fully endorsed by Tube-Tech.

This version requires no DSP hardware but uses the same outstanding modeling technology and algorithms as the famous Tube-Tech CL 1B plug-in for TDM and PowerCore (distributed by TC Electronic). The sound is of course just as fantastic as its predecessor. With this unprecedented accuracy, down to details such as the precise VU meter behaviour, the Tube-Tech CL 1B ...