Univers Sons / Ultimate Sound Bank today announces the release of the IRCAM Solo Instruments, a collection of acoustic solo instruments.

In collaboration with the famous IRCAM research department, this brand new collection presents the finest solo instruments (Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Flute in C, Oboe, Clarinet, Basson, Alto saxophone, French horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Bass tuba, Accordion, Guitar & Harp) played by the most talented contemporary musicians an captured in the very best conditions to ensure maximum fidelity.

This collection not only contains the usual sounds of these sixteen wonderful instruments, but also some very rare playing techniques that you will not find anywhere else: multiphonic, aeolian, hit-on-body, buzz, crushed... Carefully programmed with expressive key-switches and other crossfading techniques, each preset can be loaded and played instantaneously whatever your system thanks to the supplied UVI Workstation.

"Better than any words, we advice you to listen to the audio demos and you will understand why this collection is so unique, and don't hesitate to download the pdf included with the library, it will give you a better view of how deep the collection is." said Alain Etchart, Founder and Director of Marketing at Univers Sons / Ultimate Sound Bank.

IRCAM Solo Instruments is available now for $399 / €319, and it include the full version of UVI Workstation.

Let me introduce you to Audiotool from Hobnox. This free online electronic music studio lets you compose with two TB-303 Bass Line generators, Roland TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines and two banks of boss-like effects pedals including three delays, crusher, detune, flanger, reverb, a parametric equalizer and a compressor. Very simple of use, you just have to drag virtual cables between any output and any input to customize the setup.

Interested? Give it a shot !

Today we offer you a great video which is the first part of an introduction to sound, propagation, wave characteristics, etc...

Watch this video...

FXpansion has announced the avaibility of the first official expansion kit for BFD2. Jex (John Emrich's XDrum kit) Expansion Kit features a high-end, custom hand-made kit from XDrum's Xotica line. The drums feature 6-ply Keller Maple shells with an additional ply of Sapeli Pommele running vertically, resulting in excellent, focused low-end. The finish is hand-applied tung oil, which leads to a very open tone.

This download-only BFD2 expansion kit includes the following kit-pieces, all played with sticks, mallets, brushes and rods. The kick drum was hit with both a wood and felt beater.

- Custom XDrum 18x22 inch kick
- Custom XDrum 8x8 inch tom
- Custom XDrum 8x10 inch tom
- Custom XDrum 8x12 inch tom
- Custom XDrum 14x14 inch tom

You also get a bonus download of a detail-reduced Ludwig Super Sensitive snare from the Jazz & Funk expansion pack. There are no hihats or cymbals included with this expansion kit.

Jex Expansion Kit is a download only product and is available now for all registered BFD2 owners at a price of €35 / $50. Note that Jex is only €20, $30 for all registered BFD2 owners who also have either one or more of the following expansion packs registered to their user account: BFD Jazz & Funk, BFD Percussion, or BFD B.O.M.B.

MoReVoX has just released a new free IRs Pack : MoReVoX Groville. Groville is an Italian Country House Complex with annex Recording Studio.

The Pack includes:

- 51 IRs sampled in Mono, Stereo, Surround 4.0/5.0
- 3 Sounding Stones&Wood Rooms
- 1 Studio Control Room
- 1 Vocal Boot
- 2 Recording Room

MoReVoX Groville is designed for TLSpace but is fully compatible with all convolution plug-ins. This pack is downloadable for free directly from their website.