EastWest announces that Quantum Leap SD2 - The Next Generation virtual instrument, the sequel to Stormdrum is now shipping.

EastWest has given one of its most popular collections, the EastWest/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra, a turbo boost by upgrading the line (Platinum and Gold) to the company's Play 64-bit sampling engine.
Play-upgraded versions of Symphonic Orchestra will be introduced at NAMM 2008.

ESI will showcase the Firewire Audio Interface DuaFire at the Winter 2008 NAMM show, booth #6832.

Features :

- high-grade 24-bit/96kHz analog-digital-converter
- high-grade 24-bit/96kHz digital-analog-converter
- 2 channels of audio input with level controls
- microphone preamps and phantom power for XLR inputs (selectable)
- Hi-Z input circuitry for guitar and other Hi-Z devices
- selectable switch between line-level inputs phono pre-amps
- 4 line-level audio outputs on rear of unit
- direct input monitoring with level control
- bus powered via FireWire-Bus or with separate power supply unit (selectable)
- support for DirectWIRE 3.0
- supports EWDM driver: MME, ASIO 2.0, GSIF 2.0, DirectSound
- CoreAudio devices for Mac OS X
- Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac OS 10.3.6 (and higher) compatible
- 1 headphone output with amp and volume control
- world's first FireWire audio interface with EWDM driver support
- bundled with Steinberg Cubase LE 4.0 for PC and Mac

DuaFire is available at a retail price of €249.

Nomad Factory has also announced the Analog Mastering Tools (A.M.T.) bundle which consists in three plug-ins : the A.M.T Amp Leveling, the A.M.T Max Warm and the Multi Max.

The A.M.T Amp Leveling is a highly optimized look-ahead Brickwall Limiter and Level Maximization. Designed to be used for Mixing, Mastering, Tracking and Live use, it uses a new proprietary algorithm ensuring a very smooth-warm sounding with maximum loudness and no digital-over-clipping as well as low CPU consumption for lightening-fast processing

The A.M.T Max Warm is a highly optimized look-ahead Brickwall Limiter, Equalizer and Level Maximizer. What makes the A.M.T Max Warm process unique is the approach used for its dynamic signal analysis. Internally, it uses a special processing algorithm to accurately maximize the incoming signal level while limiting the ceiling peak levels. This approach tends to produce a more natural warm-sound, the A.M.T Max Warm also includes a two-band equalizer (Shelving/Peaking) with adjustable frequencies.

The A.M.T Multi Max multiband peak limiter is a highly optimized 3 band look-ahead Brickwall Limiter, and Level Maximizer. It uses a special processing algorithm to accurately spilt and maximize the incoming signal level while limiting the ceiling peak levels. This approach tends to produce a loud and clear natural warm-sound. The A.M.T Multi Max 3 band crossover with adjustable frequencies delivers sweet highs and punchy lows.

The Analog Mastering Tools will be available for Mac and PC in VST, AU and RTAS formats at a retail price of $249.

ESI will exhibit their new keyboard controller K.ON at the upcoming NAMM show. K.ON is ESI's new expandable USB controller keyboard with 88 hammer action keys.

Features :

- 3 digit LED display
- 9 endles dials
- 9 faders
- modulation wheel / pitch bend
- numeric keypad
- transport control buttons
- various editing functions for programming
- power supplied via USB or optional external power supply
- expandable via 4 expansion slots on backside
- Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Mac OS X 10.3 (and higher) compatible
- bundled with Steinberg Cubase LE 4.0 for PC and Mac

K.ON is already available and costs €599.