Steinberg has released new updates to its Universal Binary versions of the Virtual Guitarist 2 and Hypersonic 2 VST instruments.

The new update for Hypersonic 2 introduces several minor enhancements to Steinberg's VSTi workstation on Intel-based Macs. These include improved integration of Hypersonic 2 phrase content. The Audio Unit version of Hypersonic 2 also sees improvements when using the onscreen ModWheel and MIDI controllers.

The update to Virtual Guitarist 2 improves the accessibility of VG2 to MIDI controllers when running on Intel-based Macintosh computers.

A very interesting new website of a brand new company working on a new type of virtual instrument, combining realistic modeling with a large amount of sampled data. No mac version yet but it's in the making.

Forever For Now has released Diatonic Shifter 2, a real-time diatonic pitch shifting and harmonizing Audio Unit effect.

Key features :

- Real-time, low latency processing for live performances.
- High precision post-processing for studio quality results.
- Truly diatonic in-scale pitch shifting, harmonizing and microtuning.
- Robust real-time pitch tracker with integrated visual pitch monitor.
- Four full octaves of pitch adjustment.
- Extensive user manual.

Diatonic Shifter 2 costs $9.99 and replaces the freebie Diatonic Shifter (which is still available as an unsupported "legacy" version). A demo version is available.

Ableton is pleased to announce that Live Lite to Full, the upgrade from all Lite versions to the full version of Live 6, is now available at musical instrument dealers worldwide.

All users of Live Lite (as bundled with products from M-Audio, Digidesign, Korg, Line 6, E-MU, Focusrite, Novation, Tascam, Allen & Heath, Behringer and TC Electronic) can now purchase an upgrade to the full version of Live 6 at a discounted price of €379 / $419 from dealers worldwide and from the Ableton webshop.

Softube has released the Vintage Amp Room plug-in for Pro Tools|HD Accel and VENUE. This plug-in features three great sounding vintage amp models that handle like real amps and give a raw and highly authentic sound. It has an intuitive 3-D rendered photorealistic user interface, complete with continuous click- and-drag mic positioning.

Vintage Amp Room is available now at a retail price of €649 (excl. VAT). Note that worldwide distribution of Vintage Amp Room is handled by TC Electronic and a PowerCore version of the plug-in is planned for June 2007.