Akai Professional announces that the MPK88 is now shipping.

This new addition to the MPK series of keyboard controllers with MPC pads and technology brings the utility and creative control of its siblings to more dedicated piano and keyboard players, thanks to its fully-weighted, hammer-action keyboard with assignable keyboard split and aftertouch.

In addition to the premium keybed, the MPK88 gives the player 16 MPC pads that are velocity and pressure sensitive and can access four banks of sounds each, for access to 64 sounds at any time. The MPK88 also puts the player in command of their software with assignable Q-Link faders, knobs and buttons. The user can assign any Q-Link to control nearly any parameter in their software for hands-on, mouse-free performance. The MPK88 also has ...

Cinematique Instruments has announced the release of Celtic Nylon Harp, a small-sized harp with a height of nearly 39 inch, usually designed for traditional music. The wooden instrument ranges in three octaves and has got 22 strings which are made of nylon and are plucked with the fingers.

Celtic Nylon Harp was recorded in several velocity layers and 4 Round Robin variations in two different mic positions (firstly very close and secondly at the sound hole at the rear of the harp), giving you different sound variations. With the ModWheel you can control the length and decay of the strings giving you feeling of damping. Beyond that you have got the possiblity of using the harp in a glissando or an arpeggiator mode.

Summary of all 4 patches :

• Celtic Nylon Harp Close MW damped ...

BBE Sound Inc. and Nomad Factory are proud to announce their collaboration in the development and design of the Sonic Sweet Plugins.

The BBE Sound Sonic Sweet includes :

• the D82 Sonic Maximizer which is identical to the physical unit it terms of utility and processing
• the H82 Harmonic Maximizer which increases Presence and Clarity, Restore Natural Brightness and adds Deeper and Extended Low Frequencies
• the L82 Loudness Maximizer which is a mixing and mastering multi-band limiter plug-in

Available now for Mac (AU, VST, RTAS, AS) and PC (VST, RTAS, AS) at a price of $149. Note that if you already own the D82 Sonic Maximizer V2, you can upgrade to the BBE Sonic Sweet for only $50.

Toontrack Music has just announced the release of the Electronic EZX, their first electronic drum collection.

"It is with great excitement that we introduce the Electronic EZX®.

A modern collection of classic, circuit bent and resampled electronic drum sounds suitable for a wide variety of genres and production styles. Pristine classics, otherworldly one of a kind bends, and gritty must haves make this the hottest collection of electronic drums imaginable. This EZX® includes 33 meticulously crafted kits with additional menus of the most requested electronic kick and snare drums. It also features our ever-popular use of parallel FX processing for unlimited variation and new sonic depths. With this EZX®, you will be able to cover a broad range of popular and emerging electronic genres. You name it.... House, Dub, Techno, Progressive, Pop, Hip-Hop, Rap, Electro, Grime, Jungle, DnB, RnB, Dub-Step, Trip-Hop, Acid, Disco, Electro-Crunk, Ghetto-Tech, Baile Funk, Industrial, Garage, Experimental, Noise-core, Hard-core, Minimal, Glitch, Gabba, Ambient, Trance, Miami Bass, 2 Step, B-more and many more... its in here!!

AcousticsampleS has updated DrumTaste Brush, VibysM and A-Pian.

The DrumTaste Brush now features a Multi-output patch to really be able to mix and apply the effects on every element of the drums.

The VibysM is now available in v3 :
• The Kontakt Version has been improved and now features a better voicing and a build in motor simulation (tremolo effect).
• Two new formats are also available: Halion and Mach5 and the existing EXS and SFZ versions have been improved..

The A-Pian is now available in v2 :
• The Kontakt Version has been completely rewritten, voiced and adjusted.
• It now uses the script of the Kawai-EX PRO.
• Two new formats are also available: Halion and Mach5 and the existing EXS and SFZ versions have been improved.

These updates are free for the library owners, you can download them from your user account in the "My account" page. Note that the update of the A-Pian is a little different as it also includes file modifications, so you'll have to contact AcousticsampleS and they will send it manually.