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.

Camel Audio has released two new soundbanks for their sample manipulation synthesizer Alchemy, which was recently updated to v1.12. They are also offering a free soundbank worth $59 to anyone who buys Alchemy in the next month.

Biolabs: Alchemy Labs covers a huge range of sonic ground from genetically enhanced synths to mutant machines, tapping directly into the subconscious with cyber-organic hybrids. An ambitious project from the fertile imagination of sound designer biomechanoid (aka Colin Fraser), its appeal straddles multiple genres such as ambient, electronica, film, glitch, and IDM. A full year in the making, this soundbank includes 150 presets, a 700MB specially created sample library and exclusive skin. Biomechanoid is a respected sound designer who has designed sounds for games and Hollywood movies, and is well known for his Absynth sounds.

Junkie XL: Future Oldskool is not a collection for the faint-hearted. From cone-shaking sub-basses to searing leads, journeying through animated loops, all the way to delicate breathy pads, and dark angelic soundscapes, these are not sounds to play to your granny. However, if you want your music to have rich squelchy filters, phat bottom end and uplifting sounds, look no further. The 150 presets and specially created sample library content incorporates classic oldskool synths, shiny and glistening pads and scary basses. Junkie XL is a talented producer and remixer who has collaborated with everyone from Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan to Gary Numan. His remix of Elvis Presley's 'A Little Less Conversation', became a #1 hit in more than twenty countries.

The Biolabs and Junkie XL soundbanks can be purchased from the Camel Audio website and cost $59 / €49 / £39. To take advantage of the free soundbank offer, simply purchase Alchemy from Camel Audio's website and select your free soundbank during the checkout process.

Brainworx has announced the release of bx_cleansweep V2. This freebie Hi-Pass filter and Lo-Pass filter plug-in features their "Anti Crush Technology" and offers analog-style filter curves, without the typical Nyquist problems, in a filter design taken from Brainworx's pro mastering EQ bx_digital V2. First order filters (6 dB) guarantee a musically sounding filter set and unique joystick control (taken from bx_hybrid) gives you fast and intuitive control.

Clever shortcuts (Alt/Shift/Ctrl) allow for detailed control over the X-axis and Y-axis of the joystick, and the EQ knobs can be set to precision mode by shift-click as well.

Brainworx claims that bx_cleansweep is the plug-in that should go into every mix channel as the first plug-in. This way you can filter out any unwanted hi-end and lo-end and the result is a clean and tight mix.

bx_cleansweep V2 is now available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, VST3, AU and RTAS plug-in formats.

"Ethnic Bagpipe" is a sampler instrument, made from an authentic Baltic bagpipe.

Main features:

• Two tonalities - C and D.
• Diapason: one octave + drone.
• Two articulations, selectable by keyboard velocity.
• Recorded multiple samples to recreate natural feel of the instrument. Each note of the articulation presented has 9 variations. Every time you press a single note, you will hear a different variation. There are 193 samples total recorded.
• As bagpipe can play continuously, all samples in this instrument are precisely looped.
• The sound is pure - you can add your favorite reverb or other preferable effects.
• Dedicated to: folk, neo-folk music composers, movie, theatre soundtrack producers and composers with special needs to add something unordinary and extra natural to their creations.

"Ethnic Bagpipe" is available for samplers EXS24 and Kontakt. Sample format - 24-bit/44.1 kHz @ aiff.

It costs €19.99 but is available for the introductory price of €9.99 until the end of March.

MOTU's Ethno Instrument 2 is now shipping. The Version 2 upgrade more than doubles the size of Ethno's included sound library of instruments, loops and phrases. Significant new features have also been added, including preset searching, microtonal scales, state-of-the-art time stretching, and much more.

To help users quickly find sounds in this 21 GB library, Ethno 2 lets users browse presets by geographic region or instrument category, or by a new search feature: users type in an instrument name or other text phrase and all presets with that text in their name instantly appear in the browser list. Users then simply click to audition sounds, without having to close the browser, for fast previewing and loading of sounds into separate parts. Version 2 now supports unlimited parts, so user ...