M-Audio has announced the availability of the new Keystation 88es, a USB MIDI keyboard controller with 88 semi-weighted and velocity-sensitive keys. The unit incorporates a built-in USB MIDI interface, a separate MIDI Out jack for controlling MIDI hardware, pitch bend and modulation wheels, an assignable volume/control slider, sustain and expression pedal inputs. This unit is USB bus powered.

Keystation 88 ES is shipping and costs $300.

Propellerheads is now looking for people who are interested in helping them to beta test the next version of Reason. If you're up for it and if you are a registered Reason 2.5 owner you can sign up by by clicking on the link below.

Applied Acoustics Systems has updated its virtual synthesizer Ultra Analog VA-1 to version 1.0.1. It now features : Audio Unit plug-in now pass the Logic 7 validation, MIDI program changes work in Pro Tools and in Cubase, the Ultra Analog VST plug-in now works in Orion, there is no more noise or stuck notes when changing presets while playing, there is no more portamento effect when playing the first notes of a newly loaded preset, the manual has been updated, corrected a problem with the Locate command and effect presets now load correctly in the RTAS version.

Focusrite d2 v2.2.1/d2 v2.2 is now available for download. The d2 EQ graph has been updated for better response when editing EQ parameters from a control surface.

More info on Digidesign web site.

Delaydots has now combined two of their plug-in bundles, the Sound Designers Pack and Spectral Pack, into a single bundle, the Sound designers-Spectral Suite, now available in VST for Mac OS X. This suite now features five plugins : Spectral Morpher, bass exciter Phat, Phat Pro, PitchShift multiband and daBomb distortion device.

SDS Suite costs $99 and a demo version is available for download.