Qwikn for Pro Tools 8 is a handy utility that lets you effortlessly search and store Pro Tools 8 keyboard shortcuts. You no longer have to leave your DAW and open a PDF or web browser to search for a keyboard shortcut — you know, the one you should be using but were too lazy to find and remember ! Qwikn does this all for you, allowing you to remain focused on more important things — like making music.

Priced at $10, Qwikn requires an Intel Mac running OS X 10.5.5 with Pro Tools 8 (any flavor).

Acousticas has just released a Lexicon 224XL Impulse Response Library. This Library has been divides into 7 categories, covering various application styles :

- Hall 01 (87 impulses)
- Hall 01 (87 impulses)
- Vocal (87 impulses)
- Orchestral (87 impulses)
- Plate 01 (93 impulses)
- Plate 02 (87 impulses)
- Ambience (69 impulses)

Future updates are planned covering even more aspects of the Lexicon 224XL. All updates are always free to all registered users.

The Acousticas "version" of the 224XL is available now at a price of €79.

FabFilter has released updates for the Twin 2 synthesizer, Volcano 2 filter and Pro-C
compressor plug-ins.

Changes :

- The VST 3 versions of all plug-ins have been updated for Steinberg Cubase 5, and contain improved MIDI support and bypass functionality.
- Fixed problems with the external side chain input in combination with the envelope generators in FabFilter Twin 2 and Volcano 2.
- FabFilter Twin 2 fixes various minor problems with loading Twin 1
presets.
- All plug-ins contain various other fixes and improvements.

The updates are free for existing customers.

Last but not least, FabFilter also announces a preset contest. Since Twin 2 already contains an impressive grand piano preset, we are looking for an equally impressive vintage-sounding Rhodes piano preset. Submit your presets before April 15. The winner gets a FabFilter goodie bag including a free Total Bundle! More information can be found here:

Blue Sky introduces two components to its full line of monitoring solutions : SUB 212 400W Push-Pull Active Sub & SAT 8 300W Compact Mid-Field Monitor.

Blue Sky's SAT 8 is a three way, tri-amplified, 300-Watt, compact mid-field monitor which features an 8" high excursion hemispherical woofer, an ultra low distortion 4" hemispherical midrange driver, and a 1" dual ring radiator tweeter with integral waveguide, for superior off-axis response. To reduce destructive cabinet diffraction reflections, Blue Sky has developed

Rusty Trombone has released Erectifier, a free plug-ins that works as a doubler, demented phaser or exciter. It is designed to widen and phatten your sound, although it is capable of being a very demented beast as well.

You have an LFO that controls how long back an echo is. You can set the length and speed of this LFO. Then there is a filter that can be LowPass, HighPass or Allpass, and a cut Hz so that you can control where the cut is. The distortion is to "gritt" up the sound a little, or a lot, it's not the world's best distortion. Then you can amplify the signal, if you want to. The filter can cut away a lot of the volume, that's why we have it. Then finally there is a on/off. There are two to the left side and two on the right side. And finally one dry through parameter. So if you'd like to test one of your settings, turn the other three off (via on/off parameter) and then tweak away. There are a few presets (plus a random-function).

Erectifier was programmed for Rusty Trombone by Shuriken.se.

Erectifier is available for Windows and Mac OS X as a VST effect plug-in and it is free.