Steinberg announces HALion Player, the playback-only version of its HALion sampler. This new and light version of HALion can play any HSB, FXP or FXB files created for HALion 3, HALion Player includes the full HALion 3 sound library, with a huge selection of instrument and drum sounds, and utilizes the surround-capable HALion 3 playback engine.

HALion Player will be available as Audio Units and VST versions, for US$89.99 in February 2005.

LinPlug has updated RM IV to version 4.1.2. This update improves LM 4 import, fixes slight inconsistency in synth-modules sound, improves multi-channel support in Logic and adds faster kit loading on Mac. The RM IV is a flexible and easy-to-use drum machine that combines analog-style percussion synthesis with a fully featured, intelligent percussion sampler.

More info on LinPlug web site.

Native Instruments announced that Traktor DJ Studio is updated to version 2.6. This new release of the DJ mixing software features : compatibility to FinalScratch 2, WMA and AAC compatibility, internet broadcasting, input recording, enhanced browser and playlist features, and much more.

Info and download in the MM softwares section.

Applied Acoustics Systems today announced the upcoming release of the String Studio synthesizer for Mac OSX. String Studio is scheduled for release at the end of the first quarter of 2005. The String Studio synthesizer swaps the traditional oscillator, filter, and envelope pattern for reallife string instrument components. At the core of String Studio lies a new, cutting edge physical model of strings interacting with picks, bows, hammers, fingers, frets, dampers, and soundboards. Through this direct approach, String Studio delivers stunning guitars, basses, harps, clavinets, bowed instruments, percussions as well as rich and animated tones that blend the warmth, naturalness, and density of real-life instruments.

The String Studio synthesizer will be available for Mac OS X and Windows systems at the end of the first quarter of 2005 at a suggested retail price of US$249.

AudioFinder by Iced Audio is a sample library manager. This new release v3.5 features : added Full AudioUnit Plugin support, added AudioUnit Presets menu, improved the Waveform Overview to allow vertical sizing, added searching with Regular Expressions to the Scanner, replaced the Scanner's Search ComboBox with the Mac OS X standard Search Field, added Search field Recent Searches menu, added "Suspend MIDI Input" to the Options menu, to temporally enable/disable the MIDI inputs, bugfices and more !

Info and download in the MacMusic software section.