Max for Live is a new product, co-developed by Ableton and Cycling '74. Quite simply, it puts the power and potential of Max/MSP inside Live. With Max for Live, it's possible to create completely new instruments, effects and extensions that go beyond the common and predictable and transcend the limits that conventional tools impose. The possibilities
are virtually endless, from completely unique synths and effects, algorithmic composition tools or radical, new music machines fusing Live and controller hardware. Max for Live is a chance to join a society of makers and share ingenuity.
Max for Live will be available from Ableton later this year. No price available yet.

Spectrasonics announced and previewed their brand new virtual instrument Trilian, the long-awaited successor to their Trilogy bass module. The new instrument has a much larger core library and features highly-detailed new acoustic, electric and synth basses - as well as enhanced versions of the classic Trilogy sounds. Sporting a brand new user interface with numerous software innovations, Trilian is the first 64-bit native software based on Spectrasonics STEAM Engine and is the first virtual instrument to feature full library integration with the company's flagship Omnisphere synthesizer.

Trilian is set to be released May 18, 2009, the MSRP is $299US/€229Euro. All Trilogy customers can upgrade to Trilian for $99US. There is also a special FREE upgrade offer for Trilogy customers on the Intel-Mac platform and for customers who purchase Trilogy in 2009. Upgrades will be available exclusively through Spectrasonics online techshop.

Arturia has also announced that Brass, their award-winning software recreation of three wind instruments - a trumpet, a saxophone and a trombone –, is now coming in version 2. All the characteristics of the real instruments have been analysed and modelled by Ircam
Paris through mathematical algorithms, to offer extreme realism and expressivity.

In version 2.0, Brass offers an entirely redesigned interface with major new features and improvements :

- New physical modelling of the saxophone
- Two new Saxophone mouthpieces
- Possibility to play four instruments at a time using a new Harmonization
module.
- Advanced spatialization possibilities
- Improved MIDI control
- Better integration into DAW software.
- Entirely redesigned interface

This upgrade will be free for all registered users.

Winter NAMM 2009 sees the launch of Focusrite's first Guitar FX VST/AU Plug-in suite; the result of a collaboration between Focusrite and Overloud.

The Focusrite Guitar FX Suite provides eleven VST/AU plug-ins which include five of the world's finest guitar amp models and four distortion pedal effects, all courtesy of bespoke Italian software company 'Overloud'; experts in the field of accurate Guitar Amp modeling. An attractive 'Hot Tuna' guitar tuner and 'Smart Hum Remover' are also provided.

The amp models include plug-ins based on the Vox AC30, Marshall JCM900, Fender Twin, MESA Boogie Rectifier and the Fender Bassman. The pedal models include plug-ins based on the Boss DS-1, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Electro Harmonix Big Muff and the Dunlop Fuzz Face.

The new Focusrite Guitar FX Suite will be available worldwide in January 2009 from a selection of pro audio retailers worldwide. Contact your local distributor for further details.

FXpansion, has also announced the debut of BFD version 2.1 the follow-up to its BFD acoustic drum software.

New features :

- Overloud's "Breverb BFD2 Edition" is now integrated into the BFD2 mixer – including, Hall, Plate, Room & Inverse algorithms.
- PSP's "Vintage Warmer BFD2 Edition" is now directly available in the BFD2 mixer.
- Improved synth engine supporting varied mic and articulation configurations.
- Many new third party expansion packs are in the pipeline to take advantage of these new features.
- Preset/Kit switching playlist, controllable via MIDI Program Change.
- In-place 'kit-piece preview' before loading.
- 'Load-on-demand RAM' optimization.
- Many new workflow enhancements in the Kit page, such as Copy, Swap and the ability to move kit-pieces between slots when loaded
- Workflow improvements in the "Grooves Page", including new edit tools like the Roll Tool; Drum Track enhancements; Redo as well as Undo

BFD2 is available direct from FXpansion's online store for $399 / €299 / £199, excluding local taxes where applicable. BFD2 upgrade from BFD1.5 is available for a limited time from FXpansion's online store for $199 / €149 / £99, excluding local taxes where applicable. BFD2 & BFD2 Upgrade will also be available at all respectable music retailers in most countries worldwide.