EastWest unveils a lighter version of its Quantum Leap Pianos which includes 4 pianos : a Bechstein D-280, Steinway D, Bösendorfer 290, and Yamaha C7. Quantum Leap Pianos Gold Edition only offers the player-perspective mic position.

Quantum Leap Pianos Gold Edition is available now for a fee of €339 (excl. VAT). Note that you can upgrade to the full version at anytime for the difference in price.

The Modartt team is glad to offer to all Pianoteq customers a free add-on made of Easter bells coming directly from Roma! (following Easter tradition in some European countries)... Actually, it is a virtual copy of bells and carillons that were recorded at the European Bell Institute (and the birds are not physically modelled !

Modartt has also updated Pianoteq to version 3.0.2. This update includes some minor modifications to the C3 instrument sound: more punch in fortissimo, slightly longer notes and slightly longer harp resonance.

Brainworx has just announced the release of the bx_bundle which includes 8 hi-end M/S tools and all of their EQs.

bx_bundle contains bx_digital, bx_control, bx_solo, bx_hybrid 1.0 (mono), bx_hybrid 2.0 (stereo&M/S), bx_dynEQ (mono), bx_dynEQ (stereo&M/S), bx_boom!

The international net price for bx_bundle is €691,26 ($850), customers liable to German VAT pay €822,60 incl. 19% VAT (that's 691,26 EUR net as well, of course).

The Equation Audio F.20 is a 4th generation advanced solid state microphone. It uses head amplifier technology exclusive to Equation Audio, and has been tested and approved on tour and in the studio for over 3 years.

Coming with large retro swivel-mount, the F.20 features all-new, Equation-exclusive, advanced HR-2295, high-resolution head amp, a near 1-inch diameter (22mm) proprietary electret transducer and a new, exclusive multifaceted body and chassis design. Equation Audio claims that performance beta tests have demonstrated it has extraordinary frequency response, robust ballistic capability and exceptionally low self-noise.

Specs :

. Transducer type --- Condenser
. Frequency response --- 20 - 20k Hz
. Polar pattern --- Super Cardioid
. Open circuit voltage @ 1k(0 dB = 1V/Pa) --- 30 dB
. Pre-attenuation (PAD) --- 16 dB
. Nominal impedance --- 180 - 200 Ohm
. Load impedance --- 2G ohm
. Max. SPL --- 148 dB
. Signal to noise ratio --- 80dB
. Supply voltage --- 48V phantom power

The F.20 is available now for a fee of £534 (ex. vat).

"Dear Mailinglist_user ,

First off, my apologies for the lateness of this letter, I usually try to get this to you after the winter NAMM show in Anaheim. This year however, the time after NAMM has been so busy I simply haven't had the time to sit down to reflect on the past and the present until now.

Since the release of Superior Drummer 2.0 in June of 2008 we have worked on releases that have strengthened both the EZ and Superior product lines. The Funkmasters and Jazz EZXs, the first SDX for Superior Drummer 2.0, New York Studios Vol 2 and the latest addition to the Toontrack Software Tools,Drumtracker, our stand alone sound replacement software for drums.

Before the end of June of 2009 we will release one more SDX for Superior Drummer 2.0. Without letting too much information slip I think that Back To The Roots would be the right expression to describe this upcoming SDX...

With these products we have come to a point where we've finally fulfilled our initial vision of being able to offer a product line that encompasses all the needs you might have in producing, writing and playing drums and percussion.

This does not mean that we're done with developing our drum and percussion product line, on the contrary, updates and new products are in the pipeline. However, it does mean that we are expanding our vision of what Toontrack can develop. In the coming year we are unveiling and releasing products that will radically change the scope of what Toontrack is known for.