Korg has officially announced the microKORG XL. Here's an excerpt of what you can find on their UK website :

"The microKORG range expands with a new big brother to mega selling microKORG synth.

The original microKORG is loved and used daily by musicians around the world – from keyboardists to guitarists – enabling everyone to experience the enjoyment of a great synthesizer. Now an advanced microKORG is available; a synthesizer that lets you generate your own personal sound, packing a cutting-edge sound engine and powerful effects into a compact, vintage-like body. Welcome the microKORG XL

Main features :

- New vintage design is both fresh and nostalgic.
- Korg's renowned MMT Multi Modeling Technology, optimized for the microKORG XL.
-Sixteen band vocoder for voice controlled effects. A gooseneck microphone is included, so you can begin vocoding right away.
- 128 powerful sounds are built-in and ready for immediate use.
- Intuitive sound selection; simply specify the music genre and instrument category.
- Seventeen powerful KAOSS derived effects.
- Newly developed natural touch mini keyboard is compact, yet easy to play.
- Editing software can be downloaded from the Korg website, as well as converted MS2000 and microKORG programs.
- Battery powered for on-the-go enjoyment."

The microKORG XL will be available in early 2009.

For the month of December, Wave Arts is taking 15% off all prices. Existing Wave Arts customers can also get additional upgrade discounts this month :

* Version 4 customers: get $100 (per plug-in) towards the purchase of the version 5 equivalent or version 5 bundle containing the plug-in(s) - Custom Duo, Custom Trio, or Power Suite (applies to Power Suite plug-ins only).

* Version 5 customers: get $150 (per plug-in) towards the purchase of a custom bundle containing the plug-in(s) or Power Suite (applies to Power Suite plug-ins only). For Master Restoration, get $100 off the whole Master Restoration Suite for MR Click, MR Hum, and MR Gate, and $275 off for MR Noise.

For more information, please visit their website.

Lexicon has released a new update for the PCM96 software. Not only this version 3.0.0.7 improves the stability and reliability of the unit, but it also brings a set of algorithms that give the user new pitch-based effects.

According to Lexicon, the new effects can be used for anything from pitch-shifting spoken voices and doubling vocals, to re-tuning choirs and vocal ensembles, and creating wacky effects. There are also useful presets for correcting the pitch of audio after common video conversions, such as when the sample rate is changed from 44.1kHz to 48kHz.

The software v3.0.0.7 is available for free on the Lexicon website.

Radial Engineering is pleased to announce it will be launching a series of lunchbox modules to fit the popular API 500 series format.

Radial JDV-LB Class-A direct box

The Radial JDV-LB is a class-A direct box with a feed-forward circuit topology. By eliminating all negative feedback loops, the audio remains absolutely pristine. The result is a natural open sound. To further dial-in the tone, Radial's unique Drag Control load correction allows the user to replicate the effect of amplifiers and cables on the instrument and when disengaged, introduces a 4meg-Ohm input to properly mate with piezo pickups. This makes the JDV-LB an ideal interface for bass guitar and acoustic instruments.

Radial PHZ-LB phase adjustment tool

Following the success of the Radial Phazer, this 'studio tool' will also be ported over to the lunchbox format to allow multiple Phazers to be assembled into a recording kit. The PHZ-LB is a class-A analogue phase adjustment tool that allows the engineer to combine the sound of two sources such as microphones or direct boxes to create fuller more natural tones or introduce weird effects. Variable from 0° to 180° and equipped with a polarity reverse to capture the 181° to 360° cycle, the Radial PHZ-LB is more fun than a barrel full of lizards!

Pricing and Availability TBA.

Two Notes Audio Engeneering is about to release the Torpedo VB-101 modelisation loadbox for guitars and basses. In studio, on stage or at home, the VB-101 is the ultimate solution for quick, easy and silent mikingof your bass and guitar amplifiers.

Just plug your amplifier to the VB-101 instead of a speaker cabinet, directly at the power output. You catch this way all that makes your tube or transistor amplifier's sound.

The Torpedo VB-101 replaces the usual miking process by a powerful simulation of the speaker cabinet, the microphone, the microphone preamplifier, and the studio acoustic environment. The miking process then takes place silently, with perfect control over the most important parameters : choice of speaker cabinet among many models, choice of microphone, placement of the microphone around the cabinet.

Features :

- 2U 19" rack format loadbox/DI with a maximum admissible power of 150W RMS
- Mono input, dual mono output
- DI output without AD/DA conversion (Pre Sim Out)
- Loaded from factory with 16 speaker simulations (guitar and bass, 8+8), internal memory capable of containing more than 32 different speakers.
- 8 microphones amongst the most used in studio
- One free speaker available to download on the website each month
- 5ms latency
- 24 bits, 192 kHz AD and DA converters
- 32 bits floating point, 96 kHz internal processing
- AES/EBU and S/PDIF input / output up to 96 kHz.
- Internal, AES/SPDIF or Wordclock sync
- Torpedo Remote software, PC and MAC compatible, driverless USB connexion to the VB-101
- MIDI handling (real time Program Change and Control Change)
- Optionnal Ethernet communication
- Optimised cooling system to guarantee total safety

The Torpedo VB-101 will be available this month at a retail price of 1499€.