V-Plugs announces Mr. Soundman summer competition, with special prices for the winners.

Mr. Soundman is a free challenging Ear Training game for music producers and sound engineers, that enable users to assess and improve their frequency detection skills, to compete with other users around the globe, and to win prizes.

The Mr. Soundman summer competition will run until August 31, when the winners will be announced. The competition's standings can be viewed in real time on V-Plugs site.

Native Instruments today introduced CONANT GARDENS, a new MASCHINE Expansion that reflects the soulful side of Detroit – covering hip-hop, funk, afrobeat and deep house.

Named after the district of Detroit renowned as the birthplace of many African American musicians and artists, this expansion explores the distinctive sound of the neighborhood through tailored drum sounds, percussion and sampled phrases.

Austin based Real Software today announces Real Studio, the latest version of its popular flagship software development tool.

Real Studio 2012 Release 1 contains a record 350 improvements and 3 new features: OS X Mountain Lion support, Webkit support for HTMLViewer on Windows and a new way for SQLite BLOBs that allows data in a BLOB to be added sequentially, making it much faster and more responsive. Additionally, this release significantly strengthens Real Studio's Cocoa support.

Resonance Sound & Aiyn Zahev present Transitions for u-he DIVA.

Using state of the art modeling technology, DIVA offers an incredible hardwarelike sound, great flexibility and impressive effects. It`s remarkable versatility lends itself greatly to contemporary electronic music and sound design.

This sample pack is true to our heart and we can never get enough of those classic and retro sounds.

'Old Skool House Grooves' is the pinnacle of the 90's and early 00's house sounds ranging from those classic house hooks through to some retro rollin percussion and grooves.