The virtual synth Albino by LinPlug comes with a cutting-edge selection of presets designed by sound designer Rob Papen. Albino 2.0 is a VST and AU plug-in synthesizer for Mac and features a modular, extensible design with three oscillator modules, two filter modules, two envelope modules and eight effect modules. The synth is 32-note polyphonic (CPU-dependent) with up to four oscillators per voice.

Demo sounds are available on the LinPlug web site; the full version of Albino 2.0 costs US$199.

Native Instruments has just posted the 1.5.2 update of its sampler Kontakt. This new version features multiple dimension controllers, inverter modules for pan and phase and important enhancements and fixes, like Akai batch convert for entire CDs. This update is available as a free download for registered users of version 1.5 on the Native Instruments website.

PSP Nitro by PSP AudioWare is a multimode filter plugin (VST for Mac OS X; AU/RTAS for Mac OS X in development). It offers many filter types derived from analog prototypes in addition to other useful processing blocks such as phaser, bit-crusher/downsampler, waveshaper and interpolated delay blocks. These can be connected to each other using virtually any routing scheme.

A VST demo version for Mac OS X is available for download now; the full version will be released March 21 for MSRP US$149.

If you have Logic Audio with EXS24, this is your opportunity to experiment with microtuning (to the nearest cent).
These free files and associated samples can be downloaded from:
http://www.lucytune.com/midi_and_keyboard/pitch_bend.html

In 1971, at the NAMM Convention, Bob Moog introduced the Minimoog. 33 years later ARTURIA announces the release of Minimoog V, the recreation of what became the most popular synthesizer of all time.Offering all the features of the original, the Software version also brings polyphony, MIDI management, preset handling. And taking advantage of modern tools, additional functions are hidden beyond the control panels: a modulation matrix, a LFO, an arpeggiator, a chorus and a delay.

A few days after the availability of the demo version, The Minimoog V full version is now available for Mac OS 9 and OS X (Standalone, MAS, AU, TDM, RTAS) for a retail price of 199 €.