Korg has announced that microKONTROL and KONTROL49 USB-MIDI controllers are now being bundled with a variety of popular software products suited for dance music creation and performance — Ableton Live Lite 4 Korg Edition; SampleTank 2 Korg Edition; Korg MDE-X effects; Reason Adapted for KORG and UVI Korg Edition — collectively known as the Creative Kontrol Pack, Volume 2.

This promotion is valid for all new microKONTROL and KONTROL49 units purchased from November 15, 2005 until March 31, 2006

Garritan has announced that 'Jazz and Big Band Garritan Collection' is now shipping. Garritan Jazz and Big Band Collection features Trumpets, Trombones, a Comprehensive Saxophone Collection, Keyboards, Rhythm Section and more (over 50 individual instruments), all accessible via the included Native Instruments Kontakt Player in VST, AU, DX, RTAS and standalone formats on Mac OS X.

Garritan Jazz and Big Band Collection is now available for $299, but you can save some bucks with the introductory price of $259 (but order soon!).

If you want a bit of fun in your studio, LaCie in collaboration with designer Ora-Ito, has just released a new range of USB hard-drives looking like Lego bricks. Four models are now available : 160 GB (in white) for $119.99, 250 GB (in red) for $149.99, 300 GB (in blue) for $199.99 and 500GB (in red) for $399.99. Please note that Ora-Ito is a French designer, with prestigious collaborations like L'Oréal, Vogue Magazine, Heineken, Adidas, Kenzo, electronic musicians AIR, Honda, Guerlain, Swatch and Nike.

I'm waiting for the FireWire version...

TC Electronic today started shipping the VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb for Pro Tools. The new plug-in is a genuine and original reverb directly ported from TC's System 6000. VSS3 is a Stereo Source Reverb, which uses Virtual Space Simulation (VSS) to accurately recreate the natural characteristics of acoustic spaces.

VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb costs 795€ (ex.VAT) and is now available as a TDM plug-in.

M-Audio announces the limited availability of the GForce Future Retro Pack collection of GForce virtual instruments. The GForce Future Retro Pack combines all of GForce's emulations of vintage keyboards in one package. These software instruments —Minimonsta-Melohman, The Oddity, impOSCar and M-Tron —bring back the sounds that defined an era — the Minimoog, ARP Odyssey, Oxford OSCAR and Mellotron, respectively. They can be used alone or with most popular host software (in VST 2.0, RTAS and Audio Units).

This is a limited-edition collection that is only available approximately through the holidays. GForce Future Retro Pack costs $449,95.