The SoftStep foot controller is the alternative to bulky and limited footswitches used by musicians today. The latest innovation from Keith McMillen Instruments (KMI) weighs in at just over a pound, fits into many laptop cases, and boasts ten keys, each with 5 degrees of freedom.

Pettinhouse has released AcousticGuitar FREE, a Stereo Steel-strings Acoustic Guitar sample library for Kontakt (2+) coming directly from its "big Brother" AcousticGuitar. Like the full library it is recorded in stereo with microphones and it has round-robin for alternate notes, full sustain, natural decay.

Details:
• 16-bit / 48Khz dry stereo samples.
• 315 dry samples recorded with mics.
• Full sustain.
• Natural decay (no loops).
• Round-robin for alternate picking.
• Fret noises.
• Noise releases.

Differences:
• AcousticGuitar FREE includes just one of the patches from AcousticGuitar FULL. It includes the Finger patch while AcousticGuitar FULL consists of two other patches: Pick and Strumming.
• AcousticGuitar FREE doesn't hav ...

Applied Acoustics Systems releases the String Studio VS-1 v1.1.2 Update for Mac OS X and Windows. This is a maintenance update containing the following changes:

• Authorization now works with non-admin user accounts
• Fixed browser focus crash on Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
• Fixed drag-and-drop in Logic 9 but now have a separate edit window
• Fixed MIDI Links behavior on On/Off buttons
• Fixed Termination module instability
• 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 BitB ...

Korg has announced a free software download that can be used to auto-map the slim-line nanoKONTROL to access numerous parameters in Apple's GarageBand and Logic Pro/Express software.

In response to worldwide requests from many users of the nanoKONTROL and both GarageBand and Logic Pro/Express, the new plug-in dramatically improves nanoKONTROL's integration with the software programs. It provides immediate access to Transport Controls; Volume, Pan, Mute, and Solo functions for each channel; and EQ, Effect, and Track Instrument settings.

System requirements for the plug-in are the same as any MacŪ/Mac OS X which implements the hardware requirements for GarageBand and Logic Pro/Express. The other members of the nanoSERIES - the nanoKEY and nanoPAD - already interface with GarageBand and Logic to provide note and modulation input.

The free download is available at :

Notion Music has released Notion SLE, a special version of their Notion3 scoring software that is customized for Vienna Symphonic Library's all-in-one orchestral collections, the Vienna Special Edition and the Special Edition PLUS.

Notion SLE features presets created for Vienna Instruments, Vienna Ensemble and Vienna Ensemble PRO that automatically handle all articulation changes in the background, allowing for very realistic playback directly out of the score.

Notion SLE is available now for download at a price of $89.