XLN Audio has unveiled Addictive Drums, a "Complete Drum Production Studio" plug-in for Windows and Mac OS X.
Addictive Drums ships with 3 complete kits, and lots of extra drums and cymbals. The samples include every nuance from the softest to the hardest hits, many stroke variations (hihat has 12 variations, snare has 6 for example) with alternating samples through-out. All sampled drum/cymbal sounds are recorded with a multi channel mic setup, just as you would record a real drum kit.

The Kits:

* Sonor Designer (Kick, Snare, 5 toms).
* DW Collector's Series (Kick, Snare, 5 toms).
* Tama Starclassic (Kick, Snare, 3 toms).
* Extras: Pearl Signature Ferrrone snare, Pearl Masterworks Piccolo snare, Pearl Masterworks kick.
* Cymbals (Sabian & Paiste): 3 Hihats, 9 Crashes, 3 Sp ...

SE Electronics is now shipping the USB2200a mic, which they announced back in January 2006 at the Winter NAMM show in California.
The USB2200a is a USB2 microphone based on the studio standard sE2200a capsule, it records CD quality audio (record path16 bit 48K, output 24 bit 48K) via USB directly to your DAW. The mic has several features unique from USB mics currently on the market including, ultra-low latency headphone monitoring (less than 1ms) with mix control to allow the user to set playback versus record path levels to monitor live takes, 10dB pad, Bass cut and an 'analogue switch' which enables the user to use the mic via an XLR connector with 48v phantom power where required.

The USB2200a will ship in early January 2007 and will retail at £222 inc vat.

Linplug has released an update for Octopus fixing the performance problem on PowerPC Macs. Version 1.22 is a recommended update for all Octopus users on a Mac with G4 or G5 processor.

Sony Oxford has released Universal Binary versions of its range of Pro Tools plug-ins for use with Apple's Intel-based Macs. Upgrades will be free of charge for a 3-month period from original registration, with a minimal cost thereafter. For owners of current Pro Tools 7 versions, the upgrade cost will be £15 per TDM plug-in (approx $29) and £10 per LE plug-in (approx $19).

Plug-ins updated include both TDM and LE versions of :

- Oxford EQ
- Oxford EQ with GML (TDM only)
- Oxford Dynamics
- Oxford Inflator
- Oxford Transient Mod
- Oxford Reverb
- Oxford Limiter
- Oxford Restoration Tools (RTAS only)

Developed by M-Audio's SynchroScience division Conectiv is a bus-powered 4 x 4 USB audio interface designed for DJs who perform and produce tracks with a laptop.

Features :

* use as a self-contained digital system, multi-effects processor or slave from control CDs/vinyl
* designed by M-Audio's SynchroScience group
* 4 x 4 USB 1.1 audio interface with 16-bit/48kHz fidelity
* 4 RCA inputs configurable for line-level or phono signals
* 4 RCA outputs with high +10dBV peak output level
* 2 mix knobs for blending audio inputs and USB output
* Torq DJ software included

Conectiv is available for $299.95 MSRP. For more information visit M-Audio's web site.