At NAMM, Spectrasonics has announced the release of an update to version 1.2 for Stylus RMX, its realtime groove-based virtual instrument plug-in. This version adds new features including three new professional quality effect modules (Radio delay, PRO-Verb, Spring Verb), as well as enhanced compatibility with major host applications (multiple Outputs in Apple Logic 7, multiple Outputs in Pro Tools v6.7) and various additional enhancements and improved performance.

Thise update is now available as a free download for all registered users.

Dave Smith after the infamous evolver and Poly evolver, release the announced Keyboard version. Spec wise it's the same as the rack version analogue/digital hybrid with wavetables, with a 61 keys keyboard and still the possibility to link it to 4 Evolvers for expandability.

Price TBA but under $2000

Korg's white elephant, Korg's see snake, in one word OASYS. This long long to come project, believed to be stored away due to the tremendous need of computing power needed. After years of development, it was supposed to be after having brought the OASYS card and induced the Z1 and Prophecy. Well, after more than 10 years, I don't even recall… Korg can release the OASYS synth. It's a synth workstation, a MIDI controller, an effect rack, but for now you don't see the real innovation into. It integrates into an underlined by LINUX platform: PCM, analogue modeling, tone wheel modeling (B3 anyone?), KARMA, sampling, vector synthesis (think Wavestation)… All in 24 bits, and if I remember rightly, it's not the full OASYS yet, there's expansions possible and it's not the end of it…

OASYS 76 keys $8000, OASYS 88 notes $8500 (oooch!)
More specs at Sweetwater.com

Native Instruments has released Komplete Sound, a huge collection of ensembles, sounds and samples for NI's software instruments, combining all eight products from the Native Instruments sound line into one single pack. It contains Reaktor Electronic Instruments Vol. 1, Reaktor Electronic Instruments Vol. 2, Battery Studio Drums, Synthetic Drums , FM7 Sounds Vol. 1, FM7 Sounds Vol. 2, Absynth Sounds Vol. 1, and B4 Tonewheel Set "Vintage Expansion".

N.I. Komplete Sound will be available in March 2005 for $339 / 289 Euro.

Waves releases Q-Clone, a very new product utilizing a new technology that lets you use your outboard hardware equalizer in a completely new way. By capturing the sound of your own gear, Q-Clone allows you to use that sound freely throughout your session, adjusting the sound of each track just as you would if you had dozens of that same hardware equalizer. Q-Clone has softwares: Q-Capture is used to capture the sound of your hardware, and Q-Clone shows you the equalization curve of your hardware

Q-Clone costs $1000 and is available for MacOS X in VST, AU,RTAS, MAS, AudioSuite and HTDM formats. A demo version is available for download.