Native Instruments today announced KORE 2, the second generation of its advanced multi-functional host system. While remaining an open platform for all software instruments and effects, this new version significantly extends and refines the concepts introduced and established with KORE.

Thus KORE 2 now includes its own powerful sound capabilities, realized in a library of 500 specially designed studio-quality KoreSounds, each with multiple sound variations, covering all relevant musical styles and genres. Based on the integrated engines of Absynth, FM8, Guitar Rig, Kontakt, Massive, and Reaktor, this ready-to-use sound arsenal offers highly focused, musical sound shaping functions. KORE 2 also takes the acclaimed "Find sounds fast" paradigm of the system to the next level with a signif ...

Bias announces Peak Pro 6, a major new upgrade to their editing, processing, mastering and delivery software for Mac OS X with Universal compatibility for PPC and Intel-based Macs.

Features :

Advanced Playlist Editing & Mastering

* Mastering & "Classical Editing" Cross-Fade Modes: Overlap/Gap & Centered cross-fades optimize workflows.
* Volume envelopes: easily & precisely edit volumes across entire regions, fades & cross-fades.
* Custom Default Fades: create, save & load your favorite cross-fade shapes & apply them automatically.
* Controls: pre/post roll audition, insert new event at play-head, edit sync between source document and region & more.
* Playlist waveform zooming tools: zoom to sample level, auto-zoom to cross-fade, zoom out ...

Arturia announces the Origin Keyboard which combines their upcomming hardware synth Origin and a smart keyboard.

Features :

* • Create your own patch by combining innovative modules and modules extracted from the Minimoog, the CS-80, the ARP 2600, the Moog Modular and the Prophet VS.
* Use template patches: an Origin audio structure made by connecting independent modules, or the minimoog, the ARP 2600, the CS-80, the Moog Modular.
* • Up to 32 voices of polyphony for a typical patch
* More than 500 presets created by talented musicians and synthesizer specialists
* Superb audio quality with TAE® engine. 24 bits/96 kHz supported.
* Origin lets you open dedicated software on your Mac and PC and use it as an AU or VST plug-in. All the sounds are calculated on the ma ...

Cakewalk today releases Session Drummer 2 Hip Hop Pack Vol. 1, an expansion pack for Session Drummer 2 . This Pack was designed from the ground up to provide SONAR users with the fastest way to create realistic Hip Hop drum tracks.

• 33 Session Drummer 2 programs and 600+ unique samples
• Includes complete kits, kick combinations, snare combinations, cymbals, toms, percussion, special FX, and more
• 242 MIDI patterns allowing for thousands of unique beat combinations
• 16 standard drum kits and 400+ SFZ multi-sample maps for thousands of kit combinations
• Ideal for Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B, and other modern music styles

Pricing and Availability :

The Session Drummer 2 Hip Hop Pack Vol.1, expansion pack is available to registered SONAR 6 and SONAR Home Studio 6 XL customers direct from the Cakewalk online store for $59.00 U.S. For more information call 888-CAKEWALK, +1 (617) 423-9004 outside U.S. or visit Cakewalk on the web at :

Dangerous Music has announced to the European market D-Box, a new multi purpose hardware product for DAW users. This 1U rack-mount box combines 8-channels of the Dangerous Music analog summing technology and an integrated programmable monitor control section with analog and digital inputs, on board 24 bit/96KHz D-to-A converter, talkback, dual headphone amps, speaker switcher and more.

The D-Box will be available soon with price to be announced.