Vir2 Instruments announces two new Kontakt Player-based virtual instruments : Blue and World Impact.

Blue : Jazz Drums ($399.95) provides the essential backbone of jazz music production, featuring three of the finest jazz drum kits in the world, over a thousand jazz drum loops, and extensive control over each element, all packaged into one comprehensive Kontakt Player-powered virtual instrument.

Featuring a massive collection of varied percussion samples, World Impact : Global Percussion ($399.95) spans the globe featuring percussion instruments from large to small, west to east, north to south, and traditional to rare. Sampled in meticulous detail and programmed for maximum and instant musical usability, the collection includes hundreds of varied percussion instruments from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and more. A massive multi-gigabyte collection of Japanese Taiko drums recorded from multiple microphone positions forms a central part of the library. Each instrument has been recorded with numerous alternate takes and velocity layers, assuring realistic and dramatically expressive sonic results.

Both products are powered by Native Instruments' Kontakt engine and are therefore compatible with VST, AudioUnit and RTAS plug-in formats allowing them to work seamlessly within any major sequencer, in addition to standalone use.

Release dates have not yet been announced.

AcousticsampleS releases E-Pian which is is a Classic 73 Keys Electric piano from 1972 recorded with the direct output plugged into a tube preamp.

Features :

- 2,58Go sample bank, no loops, 24bits 44.1Khz samples
- 13 Velocity layers/note for the sustain
- Up to 26 Velocities for the release.
- 2 Types of release samples, on pedal up and on pedal down
- Additionnal pedal noise (up and down) that actually plays the pedal sound when you use it.
- Advanced scripting, especially for the releases when the sustain pedal is down.
- Really easy to play, just like a real piano, no more and no less.
- available in Kontakt 2 or 3 format

E-Pian is available now at an introductory price of €39 until February 12, then €49. It's a downloadable product, but you can also get a dvd shipped at a reasonable price.

The Nord Modular G2 OS and the G2 Editor have been updated to version 1.6. This update is also accompanied by a new universal XP- and Vista-compatible USB driver - v2.14. This driver can also be used with the Nord Stage EX, Nord Electro 3, Nord Wave and the Nord C1. The driver is digitally signed which allows users with a Vista 64-bit system to install it.

The 1.6 OS and Editor update brings Windows Vista compatibility to the G2 system. Macintosh users will benefit from a native support for the Intel-based computer models. The update and the driver is available here :

Focusrite has released the Liquid 4PRE's Pro Tools TDM/RTAS control plug-in. The plug-in can operate alongside Liquid 4PRE's standalone control application 'Liquid4Control', and provides integrated remote control via Pro Tools software and hardware, including Icon and Venue systems.

As a Pro Tools TDM/RTAS plug-in, it brings a host of other benefits, including comprehensive automation and session integration. This enables, for example, automated gain control of all four pre-amps and full recall of all pre-amp settings (including emulation choice), as part of the Pro Tools session.

The Liquid 4PRE four-channel microphone pre-amplifier utilizes the Liquid Channel's proven Liquid technology, marrying a hugely flexible analogue front end with cutting-edge dynamic convolution DSP to deliver the sounds of 40 vintage and classic microphone pre-amplifiers across all four channels.

The Liquid 4PRE Pro Tools TDM/RTAS control plug-in is available to download.

The Arabella is the latest in the BeesNeez Microphones "Studio Series", featuring a K47b Hand made Capsule, Telefunken EF12 Tube, huge Cinemag 2461NICO transformer, Multiple Patterns (9), 10db Pad and top end roll off.

This mic has been designed from the ground up not to be a clone microphone. It does share lineage with a few classics namely the Neumann U47 and M49 and has been designed to take the best of each and combine them together to make an extremely versatile microphone.

The Arabella is available now at a price of $1350 with Road Case, Power Supply, Elastic Suspension Mount and Lead.