Yamaha today releases a new operating system (Version 1.10) for their Motif XS line of music workstations, adding new functionality and features and bringing more flexibility and creativity to their users.

New features :

- Support for USB ASCII keyboards.
- Saving of user name for network computers.
- Copy punch In and Punch Out from Locations 1 and 2.
- Holding notes while changing track or part in Song/Pattern mode

Yamaha has also released a new Voice and Multi-Part editor with enhanced Drum Kit and Utility features.

IK Multimedia has just announced the release of the Total Guitar and Bass Gear Bundle, a bundle of plug-ins which includes the entire "Powered by AmpliTube" range.

Features :

- AmpliTube® 2, Ampeg® SVX, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix , AmpliTube Metal and AmpliTube X-GEAR
- Over 150 analog models of classic guitar & bass gear
- 5 separate modules: tuner, configurable Stomp pedal board, Amp head, Cabinet + Mic, and Rack Effects
- 51 stomps, 26 amps, 33 cabinets, 11 mics and 23 rack effects on 2 rigs in a single interface
- Standalone and VST/AU/RTAS plug-in for all popular DAWs
- Includes SpeedTrainer for playing along with your favorite recordings
- Control your rig via StompIO or traditional MIDI controller and X-GEAR
- Mac OS X (including Leopard) and XP/Vista compatible

For a li ...

Native Instruments has just released Urban Arsenal, the latest entry in the Kore Soundpack range. Created in collaboration with established urban music producers and sound designers, Urban Arsenal provides a "versatile assortment of professional hip-hop grooves, drum kits and instrument sounds" for use in KORE 2 and the free KORE PLAYER software instrument.

Urban Arsenal is available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for a suggested retail price of $119 / 99 EUR.

Steinberg lowers the prices of Cubase 4 and WaveLab 6 as of July 1st, 2008 to €599.00 (SRP). The pricing for several upgrades has also been reduced. Customers who have recently purchased Cubase 4 at the old recommended retail price may request a voucher for a special rebate on a future purchase in the Steinberg Online Shop.

Puremagnetik has released Metalsphere, a sound design toolox of intense soundscapes, suspenseful textures and horrific environments.

Conveniently packaged into 2 multisampled menus of the most nightmarish proportions, Metalsphere contains a huge array of sonic possibilities. With up to four individual distorted and layered sound sources, users can easily tailor their individual textures and signal levels. Sound designers, film composers and producers alike can each find something in this colorful palette of amiences.

System Requirements:
Requires Aleton Live 7, Logic 8 or Kontakt 3
'500 MB of physical RAM
1 GigaByte (GB) of free hard disk space