FXpansion has just announced the release of the 8 Bit Kit Expansion Pack for BFD2.

Factory in Los Angeles by Husky Hoskuld ( Tom Waits, Fantômas, Solomon Burke, Joe Henry, Sheryl Crow, The Wallflowers and many more), 8 Bit Kit is a collection of whacked-out percussion, trash drums and gritty, live, vintage drum machine samples. This Expansion Pack is particularly suitable for anyone who wants lo-fi, downtempo, grimy elements in their drum parts - think Tom Waits, Portishead, Tricky, Peeping Tom, Bjork etc. - and being a BFD pack, all that lovely grime has been captured in a way that's actually playable and dynamic (a whole bunch of mic channels, and a whole lot of velocities... you know the deal by now?), not just a bunch of boring static loops.

8 Bit Kit is available now for download and is priced at $75. Note that audio examples are available at :

Native Instruments has launched a special Kontakt 3 crossgrade offer for owners of GigaStudio.

From now until December 31st 2008, owners of any version of Tascam GigaStudio can get the Kontakt 3 software sampler for a reduced price of $279 / €249, a saving of nearly 40% off the regular price.

LaChapell Audio announces the Model 583e which is a vacuum tube preamplifier with EQ in the API 500 series format.

Basically, the Model 583E features the same amplifier stage found on the 583s, including the Jensen JT-115k input transformer, coupled with an ultra-clean transformer-less three-band EQ section with fully sweeping frequency controls and cut/boost settings of +/- 8dB. The EQ can run as an integrated EQ serving the preamplifier or separate as its own autonomous module where both units run independently.

Pricing and availability TBA.

WaveMachine Labs has reduced the price of Drumagog Basic to $99 through the end of the year. Previously $199, this downloadable version of Drumagog can only be purchased through their online store and is not available in retail outlets.

Drumagog Basic is an entry-level version of Drumagog, a drum replacement software. Drumagog Basic now includes Auto Align and Advanced Triggering Mode, both features that were previously only included with more expensive versions of Drumagog. Auto Align is a phase alignment tool, and Advanced Triggering Mode provides the best triggering performance Drumagog has to offer. It features a smart algorithm which minimizes false triggering and maximizes sensitivity, making it particularly useful on difficult tracks.

Drumagog Basic is available in VST, AU and RTAS formats for Mac and Pc. Note that a 14-day demo version is also available.

Here's a picture I've found on the web, it seems that Wade Goeke (the man behind Chandler Ltd) is working on a beautiful new console !

But there is more, he 's also working on several new products that should be released shortly... more or less... As far as I know those new units should be :

- a full Germanium Channel Strip
- a "super TG" Channel Strip
- new 500 series modules
- a Mini Mixer Mark II
- mkII versions of all the Germanium family

So wait and see !