GForce has released OptiTron, an expansion pack for the M-Tron Pro synthesizer.

The OptiTron expansion pack offers a fresh interface design and a full set of sounds recorded from an old Optigan:

• 30 new tape banks
• 5 leads and 25 rhythms, all looped
• 4/4 rhythms at 110 BPM
• 3/4 rhythms at 80 BPM
• 35 notes per tape bank
• Over 150 new MTP patches
• OptiTron interface design

Registered users of M-Tron Pro may purchase the downloadable OptiTron expansion pack for €39.

Acousticsamples has announced the release of a free drum samples library called DrumTAsteFree.

The DrumTAsteFree is a Rick Marotta Signature Hipgig drum set with paiste cymbals with the following features :

• 80Mo of samples recorded at 16 bits, 44.1khz.
• Custom mapping, you can assign every element to any key from the interface.
• Mappings presets: GM, V-DRUMS, IMAP, NSKIT (NDK) or default one.
• CC# controlled Hihat that features automatic closing sound.
• 2 Cycle round robins.
• Sensitivity button to adjust the response.
• Detailed instruments: 6 velocity layers per round robin
• Kontakt 2 or superior.

Feel free to do you own mapping and sent it to Acousticsamples so they can add it to the downloads !

CEDAR Audio is proud to introduce the DNS One which signals the arrival of CEDAR's DNS series as a Pro Tools plug-in. Here's what they say about it :

"The DNS One is everything you ever wanted from a software-based dialogue noise suppressor. A Pro Tools plug-in that runs on both Mac OS X and Windows, it makes no compromises in sound quality and offers the same Academy Award winning performance as its illustrious siblings, the DNS1500, DNS2000 and DNS3000. Coupled to a superb new user-interface that allows you to control hundreds of channels of DNS (software and hardware, in any mix you choose) from a single Pro Tools host, DNS One is the most powerful and flexible noise suppressor ever developed.

Image Line has released Drumaxx, a percussion modeling instrument that gives you total control over 16 physically modeled drum pads that can be routed to independent outputs for external effects processing.

At the core of Drumaxx is a model where the vibrating membrane is represented as a mesh of interconnected points. Each point is given physical properties including mass, inertia, stiffness, damping, and all that good physics stuff. For the musician, this means Drumaxx gives you control over multiple parameters such as material, thickness, tension and shape. More importantly, the parameters can be modulated in real-time as a function of velocity or external controls. The drum body is also under user control too, including body material, size, vibration damping, and shape. All this giv ...

Contributing to the ongoing debate about M/S Mastering, SPL introduces a new, powerful analog tool that can manage M/S signal separation and integrate external processors seamlessly - The M/S Master. It's world premiere will be at the MusikMesse in Frankfurt.

The M/S Master allows a fully adjustable separation of stereo L/R signals (X/Y) into middle/side signals (M/S). M/S separation and positioning, as well as the stereo image, are defined by the Balance and Level knobs, while a switchable frequency filter for the Side signal controls the lower frequencies and the room ambience.

One of the main features of the M/S Master is that it can integrate external processors via switchable inserts. Thus, outboard gear can be easily integrated into the X/Y or M/S mix with a single button and without the need of any cabling. These processing possibilities make the M/S Master an essential tool in mastering environments.

The M/S Master will be displayed at the MusikMesse in Frankfurt from the 24th to the 27th of March, 2010. You can find the SPL stand (B82) in Hall 5.1.