Native Instruments has updated its synthesizer, sampler, and effects processor Reaktor to version 5.1. This new release adds and updates several ensembles, instruments and macros, adds cross-platform compatibility of plug-ins, and Pro Tools 7 compatibility. At last, a number of optimizations have been made to ensure a smoother, more efficient running of Reaktor.

The full list of new features is available in our Software section.

Celemony announced that both update and full version of Meldoyne 3 are now shipping worldwide. This new version offers a new algorithm that allows any type of audio material to profit from Melodyne's unique editing functions and sound quality; in other words, Melodyne is no longer limited to the editing of melodies but can handle homophonic and polyphonic textures. Melodyne3 also offers fully automatic analysis of the audio material, powerful macros for the correction of intonation and timing errors, and numerous improvements in the user interface.

Melodyne 3 studio (full edition with polyphonic time stretching) costs 699 € and the Melodyne 3 Cre8 is 319 €. Upgrade to Melodyne 3 costs 99 € for Cre8 users and 149 € for Studio Edition users. The upgrade is free for purchases registered after the 1st September 2005. A last a demo version will be available on 23th December 2005.

Apple has updated SoundTrack Pro to version 1.0.2. Soundtrack Pro 1.0.2 waveform editor now includes innovative action layering and intelligent repair and restoration functions that let you accurately manipulate audio while retaining total creative flexibility. SoundTrack Pro supports video formats up to HD resolutions, full multitrack editing and mixing, over 50 professional effects plug-ins, and thousands of included Apple Loops. This update also provides improved reliability and performance.

SoundTrack Pro 1.0.2 is available as a free download from the Apple web site.

Listen right now : audioMIDI.com is taking their "not just a reseller, but a resource" attitude one step further with the introduction of a weekly Podcast geared towards musicians and music professionals. The audioMIDI.com Podcast debuted in June of 2005 as the first Podcast geared toward music technology. Since its inception the audioMIDI.com Podcast has received 500-1,100 downloads a week and growing. The weekly Podcast covers industry news, manufacturer spotlights, interviews, audio tutorials, and music. Thus far the audioMIDI.com Podcast has featured interviews with product specialists from Ableton, Native Instruments, as well as other companies. There is also a "Tutorial Minute" that covers topics such as AD/DA conversion, synthesis, and choosing the right microphone.

VirSyn has just released version 3.0 of TERA, its modular software synthesizer based on five different synthesis technologies. This major update features Multi sampling, Terrain filter, Arpeggiator, Stereo routing, four multi-segment envelopes in TERA can now be used in a new "free" mode, Spectrum oscillator, new generation process (wavelet synthesis, walsh function synthesis, operator synthesis), new VCA working like a ring modulator, new Modulation sources, new modulation matrix, 8D morph control, RTAS version, 256 new presets and more...

Tera 3 costs $299. Demo version and upgrades are available.