Native Instruments presents Electronic instruments 2 XT, the extended version of NI's Reaktor instrument collection. The new version contains all the synthesizers, drum machines and effects from the collection as individual self-contained software instruments. The eight instruments included in Electronic Instruments 2 XT are:

PHOTONE . hybrid master synthesizer
LIMELITE . advanced beat composer
METAPHYSICAL FUNCTION .soundscape synthesizer
KRYPT . granular drum machine
AKKORD . sequenced chord generator
FAST FX . advanced performance effects
RESOCHORD . programmable polyphonic resonator
CYAN . extended vintage chorus

Electronic Instruments 2 XT will be available in February 2005 for $169 / 149 Euro.

Ableton announces the worldwide release of Operator, a powerful new software synthesizer instrument optimized for use inside Live 4. Operator brings an eclectic spectrum of sonic possibilities and musical inspiration to Ableton Live users. Operator features powerful oscillators, innovative Time and Tone controls, multimode resonant filters, looping envelopes, an LFO and more.

Operator is available now for $149, and a demo version of Operator is included in the Live 4.1 update.

Korg is giving away a demo of the Legacy plug-ins to help people have a go at their product. it won't replace the real MS20 (I won't give you mine!) but the range is rather convincing and of help given the bang for the bucks ratio. Demo is for OS X 10.2.6 or higher, G4 800 minimum, 1,25 GHz recommended.

M-Audio has announced its first two virtual instruments. Key Rig is a virtual keyboard rack with stage piano, MS-2 polyphonic synthesizer, MB-3 electromagnetic organ, and a GM-4 General MIDI Module. Drum & Bass Rig is a virtual bass and drums rack which contains real drums, electric bass, LC-5 loop creator, and BL 6 bass synthesizer and step sequencer.

Key Rig and Drum & Bass Rig are available as stand-alone, VST, Audio Units and RTAS version for $129,95 each.

After a too long run of products only dedicated to PC, E-mu builds USB/MIDI controllers, the Xboard 25 and Xboard 49. Both have a velocity sensitive full size keyboard, aftertouch and 16 controllers. Each controller can answer to his own, MIDI channel, snapshots can be made and sent at a button pressing, part of the keyboard can be used as on/off switches. To add on this this not so virgin territory, E-mu throws in the Proteus X LE Desktop Sound Module (1000 sounds, 50 Z-plane filters, extensive 80 modulation source/destinations, 6 stages envelopes…).

Price TBA, available in April.