Audio Ease has just released the second version of their end-all speaker simulator Speakerphone.

In the 17 months after Speakerphone's release it has quickly become a household name in audio post production and also in many music studios. Speakerphone version 2 has a new cleaner look, new features, many newly sampled guitar amp cabinets, antique phones, toys, answering machines and megaphones.

Speakerphone will give you all the walkie-talkies, distant transistor radios, upstairs TV sets, bullhorns, cell phones and guitar cabinets you'll ever need, plus 5 gigabyte of ambiences and sound FX to provide some context.

Added is a microphone simulation module that hosts microphones ranging from Royers to toy mics. And also among the new modules in Speakerphone 2 is one that's called 'Coverup'. Coverup can place any sound inside tin cans, cardboard boxes, under blankets or in the closed trunk of a car. Speakerphone 2 adds presets that switch via automation, an extensive LFO and envelope following section for controlling virtually all parameters of Speakerphone, and a Leslie speaker module.

So if you want to see and hear for yourself what's new (or if you just want to hear Arjen lock Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor in the trunk of a Volvo parked on a moonlit business park) do check out the what's new movie or take the complete guided tour.

Available for both Mac and PC in VST, RTAS, AU and Mas formats, Speakerphone 2's upgrade costs $149 / €119, but free upgrades are available to anyone that purchased Speakerphone or the All In Bundle in 2009. New customers can buy Speakerphone 2 at a price of $609 / €470.

FabFilter has just released updates for the FabFilter One synthesizer (v3.10) and the Simplon filter (v1.10) plug-ins, bringing them up to date with VST 3 support and various improvements.

On top of that FabFilter has also announced a special FabFilter One
anniversary sale because it was first released five years ago. Until Friday you can pick up a copy of FabFilter One for the special celebration price of just €5 !

For more information, please visit their website.

666 by 9 Soundware is a set of instruments for the EXS24 sampler within Apple Logic Pro. The underlying theme of the sound set is the portrayal of 666, The Number of the Beast. From drones and disturbing cry-like textures to squeals and intense noise rhythms, these sounds were designed to paint fear-inducing backdrops, as well as evoke fright.

The instruments are based on 50 samples (20 loops, 15 one-shot events, and 15 hits). The source sounds for the samples include animal shrieks and growls, distorted vocals, a bass guitar being beaten, and drum loops. The samples range from very subtle to extremely jarring.

In addition to the 147 MB 666.exs instrument which uses all 50 samples, included are 20 instruments which make extensive use of the modulation capabilities of the EXS24 mkII sampler. Among them are tempo synced instruments, free-form textural instruments, impact instruments, as well as radical instruments that allow sample switching triggered by MIDI message cc#1 (Camouflage.exs). Many are designed to be played primarily with the modulation and pitch bend wheels (and less so with the keys). As they lend themselves more to performance than step sequencing, a midi controller is highly recommended when using this sound set.

The 147 MB download includes 21 .EXS files and 50 WAV files (24-bit/44.1 kHz).

666 is available now for $19.99 at :

D16 Group unveils the full feature list for Nithonat, its virtual Roland TR-606 emulation. You can discover those features by following the link bellow. Note that Nithonat is now available for pre-order for €69 (it will be €79 upon release in the middle of May).

SONiVOX has released the latest versions of its Downloadable Virtual Instrument plug-ins. DVI 2.0 adds features in addition to offering deeper control over SONiVOX's next generation of in-house developed synthesis engine technology. It also includes additional DSP / Special FX by iZotope.

As a part of the rollout SONiVOX is offering a free trial program allowing musicians to try these downloadable virtual instruments before they purchase them.


There are currently 59 DVIs available for instant download and free trial including orchestral instruments, vintage keyboards, ethnic tonal & percussion instruments, electronic instruments, guitars, basses, and much more, with price starting at $19.95. Many more releases are to follow. Registered DVI 1.0 users may upgrade to DVI 2.0 versions free of charge. DVIs are all available for Windows and Mac OS X as stand-alone applications and AU, VST and RTAS instrument plug-ins.