Arturia has announced that version 2.0 of its Analog Factory software is now available worldwide.

New Features :

- Includes 3500 sounds instead of 2000
- Now includes presets from Jupiter-8V
- Improved effects management
- Vst 2.4 \ Cubase 4 ready

Main Bug Fixes :

- Preset switching has been improved to avoid any problems whilst browsing presets and playing simultaneously
- Improved loading time
- Hanging notes have been eradicated when used within a sequencer
- The preset database has been updated to avoid presets with same name and/or sound
- Fixed a bug in the minimoog engine: on mac intel, some preset parameters could go out of range and cause a bad sound
- The GUI (Graphical User Interface) has been improved
- Preferences are now saved automatically after each change to avoid any loss of midi configuration or snapshots

Analog Factory v2.0 is available now at a retail price of $249 / €199. Note that this update is free for all registered owners.

Sugar Bytes has just released WOW, a filter-box with 10 Filtertypes, including Vowel Mode, Overdrive and a modulation system. WOW offers a good collection of filter types : High, Band and Lowpass (each 12 or 24dB), Comb Filter, Band Reject, Band and LF Crusher.
The Vowel mode seems to come from their Unique synthesizer (which is worth a try) : 2 Vowels (U, UE, O, OE, A, A:, AE, E, I.) can be mixed via Cutoff, with all available filter types.
The modulators, Envelope Follower, LFO and Step Sequencer, can be mixed in the parameters right-click menus and can modulate each other.

WOW is available as VST and AU Plugin, for Mac and PC and cost 99 dollars (79 euros).
Note that there is a demo version.

Sims Audio has announced the INFRA-SONIC Blow5d digital monitors. The BLOW5D studio monitors feature on-board D/A converters that are constructed with Burr Brown op amps. They support up to a 24-bit/192kHz sample format and have a dynamic range of 123dB and can accept a wide variety of inputs including: SPDIF, RCA, AES/EBU, XLR, TRS, or TS. They also feature room compensation controls and a bass response switch. The room compensation controls (accessible via a switch on the back of the unit) allow the user to alter the frequency response of the monitors to better suit any room. The bass reduction switch allows bass frequencies to be reduced to better accommodate the use of a subwoofer or a bass heavy mixing environment.

The BLOW5D monitors have an MSRP of $550 USD and will be available 1st quarter of 2008.

Flying Haggis: a rare and much sought-after Scottish creature. Those lucky enough to spot this shy little animal are filled with a sense of pride and happiness. Not a coincidence if this legend became the inspiration for db audioware's latest and finest virtual guitar amp, which is said to produce similar feelings in those who play it.

The Flying Haggis will be landing imminently. From 3rd December, registered owners of any previous db audioware guitar amps (including Quantum FX) can download Flying Haggis beta version by logging into their personal support page. More info coming soon...

EXPANSE is a collection of multi-sampled 24bit waveforms that can be played as instruments, used as drones, or to create tonal beds. Some touching on the traditional, others exploring the surreal or etherial, but never too close to the mundane, and never too far away that they loose the listeners connection.

All patches are programmed with modulation wheel support. 1 gigabyte of 24bit multisamples make up the 128 Instrument Patches and 79 Multi Patches. All instrument patches are broken down into the categories: Fast Attack - Pads - String Hybrids - Vocal - Weird. Multi Patches are sorted as either Fast Attack, or Slow Attack.

Now available for the introductory price of $79 until January 1st 2008. Note that additional patches utilizing Kontakt 3 features and fixes (modulation sync) will be available, free of charge to registed users, 1st quarter 2008.