BIAS has announced SoundSoap Pro 2, a major upgrade to its professional audio noise reduction and restoration software plug-in for Mac and Windows operating systems. SoundSoap Pro combines four restoration tools - Broadband noise reduction ; Click and Crackle removal ; Hum removal ; and a Noise Gate.

SoundSoap Pro's intelligent broadband noise reduction is significantly enhanced in version 2 by new adaptive noise reduction (ANR) algorithms from BIAS. "SoundSoap Pro 2 provides 'super-intelligent' noise reduction", said Jason E. Davies, VP Sales & Marketing for BIAS, Inc. "Traditional approaches to broadband noise reduction require a selection of isolated noise in order to work effectively. In cases where the broadband noise changes over time — the results can suffer considerably unless t ...

Pettinhouse has released DirecBass 2.0 FREE, one of the 4 patches included in DirectBass 2.0 full for Kontakt 2 or 3.

DirecBass 2.0 FREE is a reduced version of the Mid+Neck Patch 16Bit 44Khz with one articulation ( Hammer-ons ). It has the same features of the full version .

Key Features :

• Low notes B-C-D
• 24bit 96Khz,
• Direct recorded for amp simulators,
• Full sustain,
• Natural decay (no loops),
• 5 velocity layers,
• Round robin for alternate picking

DirectBass 2.0 FREE is available now as a free download.

Lexicon introduces its PCM96 Surround Reverb/Effects Processor. The Surround version delivers 50 new and legendary Lexicon reverbs, delays and modulation effects, while at the same time offering more presets, configuration options and additional inputs and outputs. Designed for the modern studio, the PCM96 Surround can function as a control-only insert or FireWire streaming audio plug-in inside any Mac VST or Audio Units software.

Features :

• New Parallel Stereo and Surround configurations 

• Lexicon's new Surround Room algorithm, used to generate a vast array of room-related effects for music and post

• New pitch algorithms 

• 50 legendary Lexicon® reverbs, modulation, and delay effects

• Two models available :


. 6 XLR Stereo AES inputs and outputs

. Two DB25 6-channel analog I/O and one DB25 6-channel digital I/O 


• "Hardware Plug-In" feature with Mac VST® or Audio Units software

• Seamless automation and control via Ethernet or FireWire

• Over 2200 factory presets, including recognizable classics from Lexicon's immense library of sounds 

• External BNC Wordclock input

• Multiple sample rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz

• 32-bit floating point processing

• MIDI in, out, and thru

• 768 user presets

• Large front panel OLED display

• Compact Flash preset storage

• HiQnet compatible

Univers Sons / Ultimate Sound Bank introduces Jazzistic, a collection of authentic sounds, loops, kits, and instruments entirely dedicated to Jazz. It includes drums, double bass, jazz guitar and some typical electric keyboards.

The main part of Jazzistic focuses on drums, using different styles, tempo and drum sticks, offering you access to more than a thousand loops and phrases from the most basic to the most sophisticated jazz patterns :

- Swing
- Brushes
- Latino
- Herbie
- Funky Jazz
- Big Band
- Breakbeat and more

But that's not all, thanks to the UVI concept, you will also find instruments ready to play :

- 2 excellent sounding Double Basses
- Several variation of a pure Jazz Guitar
- Vintage Rhodes MK1
- Jazz selection of Hammond B3 sounds
- Drum kits

Supplied with the UVI Workstation, it is also the first UVI Soundcard to contain Kits and Patterns in BPM format, for an improved flexibility.

Jazzistic is now available for $149, and includes the full version of UVI Workstation.

Nexus by reFX is now available in 2.1 version.

Changes in v2.1 :

• New insert FX: Ringmod.
• All Delay-FX now follow the tempo without artifacts.
• Chorus-, Flanger- and Ensemble-FX parameter changes don't introduce artifacts.
• The FFT display is now more precise.
• Memory optimizations. Nexus now uses less memory than before.
• Added new internal features for the new expansions.
• OSX: Made Nexus more compatible with Time Machine.

reFX has also announced the release of two new expansions :

• Vocoder Expansion [€69.99 / $79.99]
128 vocoder / choir / vocal sounds for Nexus2. Typical Daft Punk basses, Kanye West Vocoder, Loveparade Vocoder Beats, Hollywood choirs of high quality and many funky vocals.

• NuElectro Expansion [€69.99 / $79.99]
Kraftwerk goes 2009... The NuElectro artist 'Rauschwerk' presents 160 presets that show you what is needed for true Electro music: warm basses, deep 808-like eDrumkits, spheric pads and textures, beeeps & boongs. Sampled from cult-synths of the Electro-era, this is an all-in-one package for the NuElectro style.