The keyboardist Ragz Tuttle has created a new instrument that brings fresh methods of playing to musicians. His creation, the Ragzpol MIDI Controller, wraps a standard keyboard around a visually striking acrylic pole, using the music theory of the circle of fifths to arrange the keys in a unique spiral pattern.

The Ragzpol MIDI Controller spans three octaves, is polyphonic, and can be connected to any external MIDI keyboard or sound module.

A revolution is happening in the world of Plug-ins and Digidesign users. FXpansion, a young but talented UK-based company, previously released a VST to AU (AudioUnits) Adapter, which some macmusicians have found to be more stable than official AudioUnit versions of some VST plug-ins.

They are now back, with the 'VST to RTAS Adapter', a software converter that allows use of any of the hundreds of VST effects plugins and virtual instruments plugins (VSTi) available for OSX, directly in Protools 6. It supports all the VST2 standard features including sample accurate timing, parameter automation, automatic tempo synchronization, easy browsing of presets, and it even works with DSP cards like TC PowerCore or Mackie's UAD1.

The VST to RTAS Adapter converts any OSX VST plug-in (Carbon or Mach-O formats) into an RTAS plugin for Protools 6 (OSX). Mac OS9 VST plugins are not supported. The VST to RTAS Adapter is available via download at the FXpansion Online Shop for $99.

TC Electronic has just released a software update for its System 6000. System 6000 is a rack-mount audio processor consisting of a combination of hardware and software components, including DSPs and I/Os, along with effects for a variety of sound formats, from mono to 6.1 channels.

The new version 3.3 offers a variety of improvements, including new dynamics processing or enhancement for Skywalker collection, and is available now. This update is available now on download for registered users.

Smartelectronix offers a public beta 1.01b version of KT DrumTrigger, a VST plugin with custom editor that triggers MIDI notes based on the sound level of the incoming audio stream in different frequency bands. It allows you to "detect" occurrences of percussive sounds in an audio stream and send out a MIDI event whenever that happens.

KT DrumTrigger public beta is downloadable on VST Mac OS X version.

Opuslocus released LC Xmu. This software provides emulation of an Emagic/ Mackie Logic Control, for control and automation of Emagic's Logic Gold or Platinum software in Mac OS 9 or Mac OS X. A hardware controller's knobs, faders, buttons or keys can be mapped to the Logic Control's various functions, and Logic will behave exactly as if it has a real Logic Control connected.C Xmu provides a flexible way of using generic controllers with Logic, without spending hours building a custom Logic Environment.

LC Xmu costs 30.00 euros and a demo version is available.