IK Multimedia has announced that AmpliTube XGEAR v1.1 has been released as a free download for all registered StompIO users and all registered owners of at least one "powered by AmpliTube" product* including: Ampeg SVX, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix, AmpliTube 2 and AmpliTube Metal.

AmpliTube X-GEAR is an expandable guitar amp and effects modeling software system, available as a plug-in and standalone for Windows / Mac OS X. It allows you to mix and match all the gear models from all current and future "Powered by AmpliTube" products in a single host interface, providing seamless control over every parameter directly from StompIO, or any generic MIDI controller.

Eligible users are able to download X-GEAR for free from their IK user area. X-GEAR is also available to purchase as a download for €74.99/$99.99 (excluding taxes) in the IK Multimedia online store.

*AmpliTube 2 Live, AmpliTube 2 DUO and Ampeg SVX UNO users are not eligible for this free crossgrade.

Sinevibes is proud to announce that the Planet F and Planet X sound libraries are now available for Roland SonicCell synthesizer module.

The Planet F and Planet X libraries have been designed to take all the great features of the Roland synthesizers to the extreme, and each included patch has been carefully crafted to instantly inspire new musical ideas. From vintage analog and digital classics to new and never-heard-before instruments, phrases and grooves, the Planet libraries include an extremely large collection of different sounds that are ready to go into any modern performance and production.

Planet F and Planet X are immediately available in all loadable formats for Fantom-S, Fantom-X, Juno-G and SonicCell, at $29 each. These libraries are part of the Planet Pack which adds the Fantom Tweakbook for a total of $59 (23% off), and the upcoming fifth edition of the Tweakbook will add SonicCell compatibility as well (as a free update to all owners of the fourth edition).

Harmonic Sense has released ChordMate 1.2 for Mac OS X. The latest version has many new features :

- New Look. Many customers requested vertical chord diagrams and diagrams for left-handed guitars. ChordMate now supports both.
- Copy/Paste Chord Diagrams. You can create chord charts, mail interesting chord voicings to your friends, and annotate your favorite songs.
- Capo. You can tell ChordMate to place a capo on any fret.
- Alternate Tunings. Players who do not use the standard EADGBE tuning can tune ChordMate to match their guitar.
- Support for Leopard.

This update is free for all existing customers.

Inspiration Sounds has just released DOBRO Licks & Slides Sample Pack which is a new collection of loops for country music producers and soundtrack composers.

It features 515MB of Dobro licks and slides performed by Bob Dixon, who has worked with artists and bands including The Magic Numbers, The Kelvin Henderson Band, Roly Daniels, The Medicine Bow, Kalibre and Alison Moyet. Inspiration Sounds recommends 'Dobro' for Music, TV, Film and Multimedia producers. However, the content can be used in a wide variety of other genres and applications.

Specifications :

- 515MB Download
- ACIDized Wave Files
- Apple Loops
- All loops are at 100BPM
- Licks and Slides in every key (A, B, C, D, E, F,G)
- Includes 'Dry' and 'Processed' versions
- All loops sync to BPM
- PC/Mac Compatible
- Royalty-Free (no exceptions)

You can listen to demo samples and instantly download the Dobro Sample Pack for £29.95 / €39.95/ $59.95 at :

Once again our dear friend -i snor has written a great article just for us. This time it's about Eleven LE, the virtual guitar amp by Digidesign.

... Digidesign probably got annoyed by this increasing part of its target going for plug-ins like Amplitube, GTR or Guitar Rig, and therefore decided to make its own amplifiers' emulations. But not in the way IK Multimedia, Waves or Native Instruments would do. Much more like Line6 or Softube: doing one thing only but doing it well...