MOTU's Ethno Instrument 2 is now shipping. The Version 2 upgrade more than doubles the size of Ethno's included sound library of instruments, loops and phrases. Significant new features have also been added, including preset searching, microtonal scales, state-of-the-art time stretching, and much more.

To help users quickly find sounds in this 21 GB library, Ethno 2 lets users browse presets by geographic region or instrument category, or by a new search feature: users type in an instrument name or other text phrase and all presets with that text in their name instantly appear in the browser list. Users then simply click to audition sounds, without having to close the browser, for fast previewing and loading of sounds into separate parts. Version 2 now supports unlimited parts, so user ...

Moog Music has set up a dedicated microsite for the new Taurus 3 Bass pedals.

The Microsite will be a gathering place for (future) owners of the Taurus 3, where you can find information from Moog but also other Taurus 3 users. Check the Taurus 3 Bullpen for educational videos, audio files, and other cool content straight from the Moog factory.

Here is a great news from BigTick : except for their virtual synth Rhino (which has just been updated to v2.05), all other previously commercial BigTick products are now freeware. It includes the following plug-ins :

• Angelina
• EP-Station
• EP-Phazer
• Rainbow

Note that registration on BigTick's website is required to access the downloads.

Syflex has released Sylfid-f2, a new physical modeling string virtual instrument that models a musical instrument that has two strings per note.

Sylfid-f2 doesn't use any samples: everything is computed using a fast simulation algorithm. It computes the propagation of waves on the strings, and converts them to sounds in real time. This allows creation of sounds that exhibit real-life properties like long decays, without any samples, no loops and no reverb.

The material of the strings can be changed continuously from metal to plastic.

Sylfid-f2 costs $20 and is available for Windows and Mac OS X (Intel only) as a VST instrument plug-in.

Xfer Records has announced the upcoming release of Nerve, a new software drum machine that brings powerful beat creation and manipulation to your host sequencer.

Nerve was designed and coded by veteran dance music producers, with a diverse sample library included from many of today's top sound designers. Create your own beats entirely from scratch using sounds you already have (AIF/WAV/REX/RX2/AKAI .SND), or utilize the factory-included Drum Kits, Presets, Patterns, and Sounds.

Features:

• Powerful Internal Step Sequencer: Nerve has an ergonomic mouse-driven Step Sequencer which allows you to program beats visually or by clicking rhythmically, with minimal mousing.
• Compact, hassle-free interface: Everything you frequently want to control is instantly accessible in Ne ...