AMG has released version 1.0.6 of their virtual brass instrument Kick-Ass Brass! which, apart from a few minor bug fixes, brings Intel-Mac support to the Mac OS X AU and Standalone versions - VST is planned for the future.

Puremagnetik has just released Analog Bass Volume 1 for Live 6, Kontakt 2 and EXS24. Analog Bass is a huge collection of over 50 multisampled analog bass instruments recorded directly from classic monosynths. Among the sound sources are the TB-303, Minimoog, Doepfer Modular and ARP 2600. The Ableton Live 6 version of Analog Bass contains over 50 Sampler Racks AND over 50 Simpler Racks. The Kontakt 2 version includes extensive KSP mappings for control of filters, time-based effects LFOs and envelopes.

Features :

- Over 50 Analog Bass Instruments
- Over 270 MB of 24-bit Content
- Ableton Live Simpler and Sampler Racks with Macro Controls
- Customized Kontakt 2 KSP Panels
- Easy Edit of Synth Controls and Effects

For more information, please visit their web site.

NuGen Audio has released version 2.1 of Line-up, bringing the plugin to Mac OS X (VST and AU, Universal Binary) for the first time. Line-up is a track adjustment utility designed to allow the rapid manipulation of audio inputs, including phase switching, multiple mono collapse options and sample accurate line-up of multiple audio tracks. Delay times can also be entered in m/seconds. These features can be useful for correcting mis-aligned tracks (no host PDC, phase re-alignment, long mic/speaker recording delay, etc.), checking mono compatibility and switching/muting/collapsing stereo channels. Line-up can also be used as a send effect to create very precise chorus, phase and doubling effects.

Line-up is available now as a free download for all registered users (registration is free).

Art.Lebedev Studio is annoncing for january 2008 the production of 400 new units of his keyboard Optimus Maximus. It's a USB keyboard including 114 keys with individual screens of 32 x 32 pixels OLED. Each key can be configurate for switching easily from "traditionnal" alphabet to cyrillic or arabic, you can also customise with differents symbols which makes it a real delight for using shortcuts of our favorite sequencers !

This great device has unfortunately a price of 1564,37 $. for more infos go to their website !

ReFX has announced the release of Nexus v1.3.

New features :

- New master effect: distortion has been added.
- New arpeggio-mode: poly has been added.
- Internal limiter has been added.
- Several 'locks' have been added, so specific sections (mod, arp etc.) can be protected from loading new presets.

Fixes :

- One-time click when loading new preset has been fixed.
- Internal optimizations and minor bug fixes.

Note that reFX has also released two new expansion packs, Store'n'Forward and Hardstyle which cost $69.99 each.