EastWest has released a significant upgrade of their PLAY software that includes the long awaited SYMPHONIC CHOIRS "WordBuilder Inside PLAY" upgrade.

EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP's revolutionary SYMPHONIC CHOIRS is the only software that enables words to be entered into WordBuilder for the choirs to sing, and PLAY 2.1.1 makes SYMPHONIC CHOIRS a lot easier to use, with WordBuilder now integrated directly into the PLAY software. No more complex setups, just plug and PLAY!

The PLAY 2.1.1 upgrade is FREE for current PLAY users. For customers using the previous NI version, the upgrade to the PLAY version with WordBuilder inside is $99/€75.

Prime Loops has released XXL Dubstep Drums.
Download this huge pack of 170 earthquaking oneshots, a comprehensive selection of the deadliest kicks, snares, claps, hats and explosions, tailor-made for the highest level producers on the scene. Each sound is processed and compressed by professional engineers to put your productions up there with the likes of Caspa, Skream and Benga, or even hardcore filth specialists like Noisia, Bar9 and 16bit.

Combined with one of our synth packs or your own hardware, these drums are all you need to join the race to the top of the dubstep charts. Cut clean from the highest fidelity sources, and expertly arranged into multi-patches for Kontakt, Halion, EXS24, Reason NN-XT and Cakewalk SFZ for even faster access, you simply drag, drop and skank out to the limit. With additional shakers, synth hits, cymbals and reverse fx, you can roll up a sick beat faster than ever.

The Harmona Forte is a keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. The sound of the instrument is produced by air being blown through reeds of different length. The air is provided by an electrical driven blower that produces a permanent wind noise. With this functional principle and its sound the Harmona Forte belongs to the Aerophones.

The Live Pack contains the 5 original sounds of the Harmona but offers more flexibility.
The stereo width and the levels of blower noise, key-on and key-off sound and the reeds are adjustable separately.
Furthermore the Harmona Forte Live Pack contains 14 instruments that base upon the sound of the original but go far beyond this. These 14 additional instruments are best suited as supplement for textural or rhythmical layerings.

The Harmona Forte Live Pack is now available for 4.98 Euro (subscription) or 6.98 Euro (instant buy).
Subscribers get a free download of the "Oberhof" Live Pack!

In the 1980s, Fairlight Instruments turned the music industry on its head by developing the first commercial instrument based on sound sampling. That company was wound up at the end of the eighties.n 2009, Peter Vogel, one of the founders of the original Fairlight, re-established Fairlight Instruments with the objective of developing musical instruments utilising the latest audio technology developed over the last decade by Fairlight.au.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the sale of the first CMI systems, the newly-formed Fairlight Instruments is producing a limited edition 30th Anniversary model, the Fairlight CMI–30A.

Just a little news (it's not really a news) to say to you: HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

All MacMusic staff join me to wish you all the best for this new year. We hope the year 2011 will offer you all the best!