Updating their instruments to Universal Binary has been an epic task for GForce Software, but now the hat trick has been scored with the release of the UB Oddity.

The update is free to users who purchased and registered their instrument after the 1st October 2006. For these users the instrument has automatically been allocated to their accounts at the GForce website. If you purchased your Oddity before 1st October 2006, you will need to update to the Universal Oddity via the shop at a price of £13.99 (plus VAT), €19.99 (plus VAT) or $26.00.

Note that GForce are promising that the Universal Binary versions of their remaining MiniMonsta instrument will be available in a matter of weeks.

Mackie unveils the HRmk2 high resolution studio monitor series with the new THX approved HR824mk2 and HR624mk2 monitors which replace their predecessors.

Crafted from a single piece of cast aluminum, the HRmk2's new Zero Edge Baffle minimizes diffraction for a crystal clear mix image, while its Optimized Waveguide delivers wide, even dispersion as well as full, articulate mids. Coupled with the passive radiator, the new baffle design also ensures tight, articulate bass extension. And with a real wood enclosure, the HRmk2s perform with maximum detail, clarity and warmth. The HR624mk2 features a 6.7-inch low distortion LF transducer (woofer) and a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter while the HR824mk2 has a 8.75-inch low distortion LF woofer and a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter.

They will be available late June 2007 and have a European retail price of €599,00 for the HR824mk2 and €449,00 for the HR624mk2.

SonicProjects has just released OP-X version 2.0, their remake of the legendary OB-X from Oberheim for Reaktor.

What's new :

- enhanced new gui
- faster envelopes from op-x pro
- a brand new factory bank containing the best sounds from all banks
- some great new sounds in the factory bank
- new banks added: opx_obx, opx_percanalog and opx_syncsolo
- new sounds added in several banks (arp, jupiter8, strings)
- new arranged prophet 5 bank featuring a lot of great new sounds
- enhanced analog approximations in equal tuned mode (from op-x pro)
- some phasing issues fixed that could occur in offline exporting mode
- a new copy protection scheme Receptor version available

OP-X 2.0 is available now for Mac OS X as a Reaktor Ensemble. This update is free for registered users.

Ohm Force has just release Ohmicide : Melohman. Based on Predatohm design, Ohmicide:Melohman is organized around up to four frequency bands, each of them coming with their own Noise Gate, Dynamics, Distortion, Feedback Generator and all mixing abilities with just a twist of pre- and post-processing (distortion input, high shelf output).

Core features :

- Phase corrected multiband stereo effect.
- Band distortion : a heap of modern sounding stereo distortions that can feedback.
- Band dynamic : alien compressor or expander, synchronized noise gate
- Band stereo : optionally process in mid/side mode for more stereo field tweak-ability.
- First Melohman effect: midi controlled preset morphing or randomization.
- Optional High Quality rendering (internal oversampling)
- Great on gu ...

Eliosound is proposing a group buy of its ELS Vocoder. The aim is a -55% from the normal price, or even -65% for the first in the deal (they are already 20 buyers and the reduction 15%). It runs until the 1st of May and if at this date the number of buyers is higher than 300 it'll be -55% for everyone save the lucky first ones… The original price of the ElS Vocoder is $279 / 219€, the aim is $125 / 98€! Don't waste your time, it's a very very nice voder.