Steinberg has announced Universal Binary updates to VSTis based on HALion sampling technology. The updates are now available for HALion, HALion Player, HALion Player OEM, HALion Symphonic Orchestra and The Grand 2.

The update adds compatibility with Apple's Intel-powered Macintosh computers and is available for download now to all registered owners of these instruments. The updates also offer the following enhancements (where applicable) :

- Support for Intel-based Macs.
- Kontakt 2 and GIGAstudio 3 file import support
- Performance improvements when using Waldorf filters
- Disk-streaming LED improvements and new peak function allows for better streaming analysis and User feedback
- Overlap Mode enhancements
- New Hybrid Rewire mode in standalone allows receiving MIDI from selected port instead of from Rewire connection
- Several smaller enhancements and fixes

Mstislav Rostropovich, cellist and conductor, human rights activist, has died today at 80 in Moscow from a long illness.

Audio-Technica introduces two stereo shotgun microphones aimed at the high-end broadcast and production environment. The new BP4027 and BP4029 Stereo Shotgun models are based on models that A-T originally developed for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Designed for broadcasters, sound recordists and videographers, these phantom-powered models feature independent line-cardioid and figure-of-eight elements configured in an M-S (Mid-Side) arrangement. Each provides a switch-selectable internal matrixing system offering a selection of wide and narrow stereo (L/R) output or M-S output. A switchable low frequency roll-off filter helps minimize the pickup of unwanted low frequency noise. The models differ from one another primarily in length (BP4027 15" long and BP4029 9" long); they both feature a li ...

Today zplane.development announced the availability of vielklang, a plugin instrument for instant audio harmonization. vielklang generates up to four voices from a single voiced audio input. The progression of each individual voice is controlled by sophisticated harmony progression and voice leading models, resulting in musically meaningful harmonization without any configuration efforts.

Main Features :

- instant 4-voice harmonization of any single-voiced audio input
- integrated voice leading and harmony progression models, resulting in entirely natural-sounding automatic harmonization
- one-click modification of key scales and harmonies
- high quality, formant preserving, flexible pitch shifting
- audio-to-MIDI functionality for all voices
- customizable user interface

vielklang is available in AU and VST formats for Mac OSX at an introductory offer of €159 / $199 until May 31st, 2007. After that vielklang retails for €179 / $249.

Solid State Logic has also released version 2.0 of the Duende software.

New Features :

- Time limited trial version of Drumstrip included in installer.
- Mouse Wheel control of all Duende plug-in parameters.
- Duende DSP resources are released following a freeze command in Cubase and Nuendo.
- Multiple Duende GUIs now use shared host memory. This will improve host performance in some cases.
- RTAS installer is now separate from VST/AU/Driver in Mac OS. This simplifies the installation procedure.