Apogee Electronics is pleased to announce the release of a new Symphony 32 update. The Symphony 32 PCI card is part of the Symphony family of low latency, high performance audio interfaces for the Mac, which include the Symphony Mobile card and the recently introduced Symphony 64 PCI card. The Symphony 32 Update offers new features such as SBus connectivity with Symphony 64, Euphonix EuCon support, and several other improvements described in the Read Me document included in the update package. It is recommended that all Symphony 32 users update their systems.

New Features :

- SBus - Connect one Symphony 32 card to the second port of a Symphony 64 card.
- Euphonix EuCon support - Control the Maestro mixer from EuCon-compatible control surfaces.
- Symphony Source - enable and disable PCI cards from the Maestro Control window (or the OS X utility Audio MIDI Setup) without the need to remove them from your Mac.

Toontrack Music announces the first SDX expansion pack for Superior Drummer 2.0.

The very first SDX expansion pack dedicated to Superior Drummer 2.0, Vol.2 of the NY Studio Legacy Series, contains unique sample recordings from two legendary New York Studios - Hit Factory NY and Allaire Studios.

"The New York Studio Legacy Series Vol.2" altogether feature kits recorded with seven kick drums, thirteen snares and a wide variety of cymbals sampled in extreme detail to work Superior Drummer® 2.0.

The recordings at Hit Factory NY were the starting point for Toontrack in developing
Superior Drummer 2.0 and the decision to record samples at Allaire was a result of
wanting to capture the best studio rooms in New York.

Sadly, for the music and recording industry both studios are now closed. Thus the sub title "The Lost New York Studios". Toontrack is privileged to have been given the opportunity to record these great rooms in collaboration with the world class recording team of engineer and producer Pat Thrall (Glenn Hughes, Black Crowes, Beyoncé etc), producer Neil Dorfsman (Kiss, Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits and Sting) and drummer Nir Z (Genesis, Joss Stone and Chris Cornell).

"The New York Studio Legacy Series Vol.2 SDX" will be available world wide at the end of March 2009 with an MSRP of $179 / €139. Note that audio examples are already available at :

RME announces the immediate availability of a hardware and firmware update for its 8-channel microphone preamplifier and AD-converter Micstasy.

The new version 2.1 adds a test oscillator to the unit, switchable to one of the eight channels. With this feature, the routing in large setups can be checked and followed very easily. Additionally an optional Display Dark mode is now available for all displays on the front panel, especially useful in live and stage applications. Both functions are also remote controllable by MIDI. Owners of a Micstasy with firmware 1.6 or lower will also benefit from the additions found in version 2.0: Digital return path (MADI in to ADAT/AES out), remote support for Yamaha's M7C and PM5D, and optional constant Single Speed operation of the word clock output.
...

Myst Sonic announces the release of the Chinese Pipe-GuanZi and AC Clean Modulator Sample Instrument for Kontakt.

As part of Silk Road history, the GuanZi (also called Bili) has been a main double reed wind instrument since Zhou Dynasty. It often plays with depicted in early Western Regions nomatic poetry,and its sound can be quite colorful, sometimes soft, sometimes thick, and sometimes raucous, very wide range tone expression that changes dynamics.

The Chinese Pipe-GuanZi works simply by using the mod wheel to simulate multi expressions, it controls staccato, vibrato sounds, and crossfade between soft sound and sharp sound samples.

.Live play performance control design (just one assignable controller required).
.Using Mod wheel in multi controls.
‧Realistic expression ...

Puremagnetik has released a new Micropak for Ableton Live 7, Kontakt 3 and Logic 8 called Bender. This is, as the name implies, a sample set of circuit-bent Stuff. Bender includes over 100 circuit bent loops, 5 glitchy percussion kits and 2 multisampled instruments captured from modified electronic devices.

Bender for Ableton Live includes over 100 Live Ready audio clips, 2 instruments and multiple alphabet voice racks. Each preset and clip loads with dynamic effect racks for instant tweaking and sound manipulation. In addition, Puremagnetik has programmed multiple racks emulating the glitch and looping mechanisms of the original bent devices.

The Kontakt version of Bender comes with 2 menus of over 100 circuit bent loops, 2 multisample instruments and multiple alphabet voice presets. Each instrument has been uniquely programmed with a custom Kontakt KSP GUI for the ultimate in expression and tweakability!

Bender for Logic includes a collection of EXS instruments, multiple pre-programmed channel strips and over 100 Apple Loops.

Pricing : Basic Monthly Subscription: $5.75/Month Basic Yearly Subscription: $60/Year All Access Pass - $198/Year.