Humanoid Sound Systems has released a VST/AU version for Mac of Scanned Synth Pro.

Scanned Synth uses a unique new form of synthesis inspired by advances in digital music theory. It is designed to create rich complex digital tones and fantastic sound effects, while using simplified controls and traditional synths techniques such as filters, LFOs and effects.

Perfect for biting metallic growls, movement filled pads, and weird modular-like sound effects, Scanned Synth Pro provides a unique sound that is constantly changing and new every time you press a key. Featuring a "revolutionary" synthesis engine, combining the powers of both Physical Modelling and Wavetable synthesis, with simplified controls and full MIDI automation, Scanned Synth Pro is both simple and complex, powerful and easy to use.

Scanned Synth Pro is available for both Mac (AU/VST) and PC (VST) using the "pay-what-you-like" model (with a minimum donation of 30 US cents).

VSL has announced that its new virtual grand piano plug-in instrument, the Vienna Imperial, is now shipping. The venerable Bösendorfer Imperial 290-755 that the VSL team hosted at the Silent Stage for two months was equipped with the famed piano manufacturer's CEUS technology, which allowed for precise and extensive piano sample recordings.

Features :

• Up to 100 velocities per key, 1,200 recorded samples per key.
• Audience, player, and close microphone recording positions.
• Powerful proprietary piano engine.
• Multiple release samples for different note lengths (supports authentic staccato/staccatissimo performances).
• Repetition samples for pedal-sustained notes.
• Sympathetic resonances for sustain pedal up and down positions.
• Adjustab ...

Waldorf has just announced the release of Largo, a virtual instrument offering the same powerful synthesizer engine as found in the Waldorf Q-, MicroQ- and Blofeld-synthesizers.

Largo offers three fat oscillators, two of them with sub oscillators. These oscillators include models of classic analog waveforms as well as a selection of waves from the PPG and Waldorf Wave stored in two Wavetables. All these run through two Waldorf multimode filters with steep cutoff, resonance up to self-oscillation and a drive stage to add even more punch and grainyness to the sound. Ultra-fast envelope generators and flexible LFOs as well as an easy to understand, yet extremely versatile modulation matrix make for a sound designer's dream.

Largo contains a flexible arpeggiator with 16 freely programm ...

Waves introduces the Grand Masters Collection, an all-inclusive set of mastering tools. Featuring the complete original Masters bundle (L2 Ultramaximizer, Linear Phase Equalizer, Linear Phase Multiband Compressor), the Grand Masters Collection adds ten new plug-ins :

• MaxxVolume
• PuigTec EQP-1A
• PuigTec MEQ-5
• Waves Dorrough Meters
• Stereo Edition
• Waves Center
• L3-16 Multimaximizer
• L3 Ultramaximizer
• L3 Multimaximizer
• L3-LL Ultramaximizer
• L3-LL Multimaximizer

Waves Grand Masters Collection is available for both Mac OS X and Windows in Native (VST/AU/RTAS) ($2,200) and TDM ($4,200) formats, it requires iLok authorization. Upgrades are available. All purchases and upgrades include one full year of Waves Update Plan coverage.

The Edirol R-44 is a compact and lightweight recorder that offers quiet and reliable SD/SDHC recordings. It has up to four channels of uncompressed audio available at selectable 16- or 24-bit depths and between 44.1kHz and 192kHz (stereo mode only). Broadcast wave is also supported and two R-44s can be synced together to offer up to 8-channel recording for surround sound applications.

The latest update takes the R-44's software to v1.05 and enables users to add effects in Pre Record mode, and also includes updates for the BWF (Broadcast Wave File) marker format, notable with previously recorded data. Other improvements include quicker shutdown times in some modes with SD cards, and a smoother overall workflow helped by minor bug fixes.