Audio Ease has updated Altiverb to version 6.3. This is a major update that greatly enhances efficiency, and ensures Pro Tools 8 and Pyramix Mascore compatibility. It is the result of ongoing extensive optimizations under the hood, from which all digital audio platforms will benefit.

Changes :

- Extensive optimization resulted in reduced CPU loads.
- Major rewrites have enhanced overall stability of Altiverb.
- When run in sessions higher than 48 kHz, when applying delays in early refs and tail errors in assembling the final IR could occur. This is fixed.
- Fixed problem in the naming of Altiverb presets.
- [PT] flatter cpu load within Pro Tools systems, reducing "CPU held off too long" -messages.
- [PT] fixed problem when using automation presets.
- [TDM] Improper load of settings removed.
- [PT PC] Altiverb TDM instances now map properly to Altiverb Regular counterparts when no XL authorization is found.
- [MAS] when "Reset All Parameters" is on, a song load does not delete all settings anymore.
- [AU] After "rescan IR folder" Altiverbs interface remains functioning properly.
- [PC] compatibility with Sequoia, Samplitude and Sonar improved.
- [PC Pyramix] silence at start of non-realtime mixdowns fixed.
- [PC Pyramix] surround mapping of output channels is now compatible.
- [PC Pyramix] integration with mascore completed.
- [VST] fixed mono-mono IR selection problem.

The Altiverb 6.3 update, and the monthly Impulse Responses are free of charge.

Toontrack Music has released Funkmasters EZX. This is a unique and exclusive recording of two of the most important drummers in popular music. Clyde Stubblefield and John "Jab'o" Starks.

On their own or in tandem, Starks and Stubblefield were the principal drummers for the Godfather of Soul and Funk, Mr. James Brown. Fans and critics alike cite their collective era in Brown's band as the pinnacle of Funk. Their combined drumming on the classic double-album "Sex Machine" is some of the most innovative, inspired and funky playing ever recorded.

Samples and looped audio of their original beats and breaks would go on to become the foundation of Hip-Hop. Their breaks gave birth to countless genres reaching deep into the realms of underground, experimental and popular music. It is also crucial to note that the use of their breaks inspired innovation within the techniques of DJ-ing and sample based production, thus making Starks and Stubblefield the most sampled and influential drummers in modern day music.

Toontrack Music has sampled both their unique sound and grooves.

The Funkmasters EZX feature two kit interfaces, one for Clyde and one for "Jab'o". The EZX also features effects sliders in the EZmixer, a Vinyl effect created with the use of iZotopes Vinyl plug in and a large Plate reverb resampled at Toontrack Music Studios, UmeĀ, delivering all that you need to create those real sounding Funk tracks.

Funkmasters EZX is available now and is priced at $89/€59.

Blue Cat Audio has released a new version of its audio analysis plug-ins. Already available for PC in VST and DirectX formats, the new versions bring Mac VST compatibility as well as several improvements and fixes. This is the first commercial release of the company for the Mac platform. For this occasion and to celebrate the holiday season, Blue Cat Audio also launches winter special offers (from 10 to 20% discount) on their entire audio plugins catalog until January 10th.

The six plugins are available as a single bundle (Blue Cat's Analysis Pack) or separately. They include an audio level meter as well as spectrum and stereo field analyzers and a multiple tracks oscilloscope. While the "Multi" series propose simultaneous multiple tracks analysis with multiple instances linking support, the "Pro" series let you extract parameters from the incoming audio signal and record them as automation curves or send them as MIDI CC messages for unique side chaining effects and external hardware control.

The upgrade is free for existing customers, and demo versions of the plugins are available for download on www.bluecataudio.com. Audio Unit versions are expected later in 2009.

Kelly Concepts presents the Kelly SHU Composite, the latest addition to the Kelly SHU line of suspended kick drum microphone mounts.

Stage vibrations and low-end transfer can rob an amplified kick drum of its full sonic potential. A shock-mounted kick drum microphone platform is one logical defense against these unwanted mechanical interferences. This innovative new system promises to isolate the kick drum microphone from the drum and the stage that the drum sits on, both at the same time.

The economical new Composite series SHU mounts are injection molded using lightweight yet tough high-density reinforced compounds. The system fits any size or depth of kick drum, utilizing the drum's existing tuning hardware as attachment points for solid rubber isolation cords. The system accepts any standard kick drum microphone which is designed to fit on a conventional boom stand.

Manufactured and assembled in the U.S.A, the Kelly SHU Composite is available now at a list price of $62.

MHC Synthesizers and Effects introduce a holiday season discount, 50% on all products, valid until December 31. The offer covers all VST plugins for Windows and Audio Units (universal binaries) for Mac OS X and the sample loop libraries, including the latest library, Industrial Loops, which was released the 5th of December.

Note that the ordinary 30% discount on all but one item, if a customer buys more than one, still applies. So customers who buy more than one item can get more than 50% discount.

Order before December 31 and type in the coupon code 671 on the order page to obtain the discount.