To celebrate the birth of their own inhouse TDM-team, Brainworx is releasing a free control listening tool bx_solo. The new 1.0.2 installer includes TDM - RTAS - VST - & AU and is available for MAC and PC.

Note that Brainworx has also announced that all bx-tools will soon be available in TDM format (bx_control TDM is scheduled for Dec 8). Fair upgrades from Native to TDM will be available for all customers and all plugins.

Smart Loops has released MIDI Drum Loops Vol. 4, an all-new collection of real-feel, live drum grooves. Volume 4 includes 100 unique drum grooves and fills, inspired by artists including Stevie Ray Vaughan, and rock drumming legends Jeff Porcaro, Bernard Purdie and John Bonham. These loops are great for blues, country, jazz, shuffle-rock, and other musical styles.

Compatible with GM note mappings, loops are provided in three formats: Standard MIDI File Type 0, Standard MIDI File Type 1, and MIDI Groove Clip (for Session Drummer 2). All drum grooves are un-quantized to retain the live feel of each performance.

MIDI Drum Loops Vol. 4 is available now for $19.

FabFilter has just just launched a holiday sale : until December 31, there is a 25% discount on all FabFilter bundles. So if you don't already know their plug-ins such as FabFilter Timeless (God I love this delay !), well maybe it's time for you to discover something great !

Steinberg has just announced that it has acquired the eLicenser technology of crypto and security solutions provider Syncrosoft Hard- und Software GmbH for an undisclosed sum.

The assets acquired from Syncrosoft include the development team and know-how behind the successful USB and Soft-eLicenser products used by Steinberg and several other companies. Steinberg will offer the eLicenser solutions to third parties, which will continue to utilize the MCFACT technology.

"We're very pleased to open up a new area of business for Steinberg, namely to offer an outstanding eLicensing solution to the audio industry and beyond," says Andreas Stelling, Steinberg's General Manager. "We want to add further services to the existing solution, and in doing so to offer more benefits for end customers. We're looking forward to working with all current Syncrosoft eLicenser customers, and to expanding this platform over the long term.

Steinberg software customers will also benefit from this acquisition, as it will improve the integration of the eLicenser solution within our software products," Stelling continues.

Universal Audio has announced that the next update of the UAD software will bring the long-awaited RTAS compatibility. So finally Pro Tools LE users will be able to enjoy the fantastic sound of UA plugs, what a great news !

As a good news never comes alone, the Harrison 32C and Little Labs IBP plug-ins will also be released with the new OS v5.2.

No release date for now but if you read between the line on this web page, new OS will certainly be out before the end of the year !