Hotwork Ltd announced the release of The Analogue Ripper 2.03, a major update to it's OSX software for recording and editing sound. The Analogue Ripper allows you to :

- Record sound from any analogue source (LPs, Cassettes, radio, VHS, etc.);
- Record sound at various speeds shortening your recording sessions;
- Find and save tracks easily from the recorded sound file with its Track Hunter feature;
- Schedule recordings to take place while you are away from your computer;
- Send your tracks to iTunes and encode them using any of iTunes' encoders.

Native Instruments announces that a User Library for Kontakt 2 users is now online. This convenient database allows registered users to freely exchange their own Kontakt 2 creations on the NI website - similiar to what users of Reaktor, Guitar Rig and Absynth have been enjoying for some time now. Users can share their scripts, license-free samples and impulse responses as well as instruments and effects.

The M-Audio iControl will start shipping in June at 179 euros. The iControl is a controler for GarageBand. USB powered, it packs transport controls, a jog wheel, 8 encoders assignable (control volume, pan, aux bus sends or effects), 7 mode assign buttons, 8 sets of buttons for Mute, Solo, and Record-enable… The icontrol include also a MIDI In for a keyboard.

Tinysoft has become tinytool ! A new name, and new updates for Outi 2 and Chachacha 1.6...Outi is a real-time loops player which allows you to record, loop, use VST plug-ins. It includes a cut-up feature, and is tempo-synchronised. Chachacha is a audio video live mixing tool which helps you mix four videos depending on the mix of their sounds.

Both are donationwares you will find on our site.

Applied Acoustics Systems announces String Studio VS 1.0., a new string modeling synthesizer for Mac OS X, available as a standalone application and supports VST, Audio Units and RTAS formats. At the core of String Studio lies a whole new cutting edge string model interacting with picks, bows, hammers, fingers, frets, dampers, and soundboards. With String Studio play stunning guitars, basses, harps, clavinets, bowed instruments, ethereal pads and wild textures. Check out the extensive preset library or use String Studio's innovative tools to craft earthy, organic timbres or other-worldly instruments simply not possible with other synthesizers.

String Studio is available at US$249.