PreSonus Audio Electronics is proud to announce that the FireStudio Project will be shipping this week. The FireStudio Project is a complete professional recording system combining eight XMAX microphone preamplifiers, 24-bit/96kHz sample rate conversion, zero-latency matrix router mixer, and the PreSonus ProPak Software Suite featuring Steinberg's Cubase LE 4 48 track recording and production software, over 25 real-time plug-in effects, and more than 2 GB of drum loops and samples.

Based on the award-winning FP10(FirePod) the FireStudio Project features the following upgrades and improvements :

- Improved analog to digital converters (114dB dynamic range)
- Synchronization with JetPLL for improved clarity and stereo imaging
- FireControl Mixer/Router to send up to five mixes to musicians
- LED input metering on all channels
- Internal IEC-based power supply
- Updated ProPak software bundle

The FireStudio Project will be available at an estimated street price of $499.

Vir2 Instruments has just released syntAX, a Kontakt Player 2 based virtual instrument synth plug-in. The core of syntAX is a 2000+ patch synth library covering an immense amount of synth territory, including soaring leads, evolving pads, thick basses, harsh distortions, unusual textures, other-worldly atmospheres, FX, hits, blips, and more. Then syntAX blazes into new territory with its custom scatterFX engine which allows real-time manipulation and interaction with the syntAX core library. scatterFX is made up of two components :

- scatFX gives you control over rhythmic stuttering, allowing you to program, play, and command rhythmic patterns of syntAX.
- stepFX functions as an advanced step modulator allowing you to melodically animate pattern-based arpeggiations.

Bo ...

Eiosis is proud to announce the release of AirEQ TDM. Their acclaimed 8 bands EQ - which already exists in all formats for OSX and Windows - is now available in the TDM/RTAS format for Protools HD on Mac OSX.

Protools HD users have now access to the mixing experience with AirEQ, which is really musical and intuitive, thanks to its particular sound character and its ergonomic interface which lets the mixing engineer works faster and spontaneously.

AirEQ TDM is available for TDM and RTAS, mono, stereo and 5.1 versions for $669/€479.

RME has announced the new OctaMic II Preamp, a completely new electronic design with increased features based on the highly acclaimed OctaMic and OctaMic D devices. The new OctaMic II features 8-channel 192 kHz/24 bit hi-class microphone and line pre-amplification and includes some significant enhancements compared to his predecessors.

New Features :

- The balanced TRS inputs of the Neutrik Combo XLR jacks are phantom power-free and can be operated as real line inputs
- The improved design of the input circuits allows for a maximum input level of +21 dBu with a convenient gain range from 0 dB up to 50 dB
- Improved signal to noise ratio (SNR) ADC 107.5 dB
- Improved THD, especially at high gains
- Optimised heat dissipation by a new and larger housing with improved convection
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IK Multimedia has announced that SampleTank 2.5 is now available. It includes many new features such as an enhanced built-in multi-effects system with send and master effects, the addition of a high-quality studio reverb, the ability to read all "Powered by SampleTank" instruments and more.

What's New :

- 5 send insert effects and 5 Master insert effects.
- New Master Loop sync.
- New Global Volume/Pan.
- New selectable Portamento curves.
- Includes high-quality reverb derived from Classik Studio Reverb.
- Includes 200 new Combi patches based on SampleTank XL sound set.
- Able to read any "Powered by SampleTank" instruments such as Sonik Synth 2, Miroslav Philharmonik and the upcoming SampleMoog, SampleTron and StudioPhonik.
- Includes bonus sound disk in SampleTank XL (boxed ...