Omnisphere is probably one of the most anticipated software synths ever, and now the wait is over - Spectrasonics has released it today.
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Wallander Instruments has announced the release of WIVI Collections version 2. Personally I’ve been waiting quite some time for this. I tried a demo of the AU version (v.1) a while back. I can’t really say much about the sound quality, but I thought the whole concept looked interesting and cursed Wallander for not having an RTAS version available. But now that has changed! I’ll try to find out later if its worth it’s salt.
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Toontrack has updated Superior Drummer to v2.0.1 and EZdrummer to v1.1.4. Below are the changes.
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The wait is over, Superior Drummer 2.0 is now finally shipping. The same day I asked the good people at Toontrack when it starts shipping I also happened to get a press release from Time+Space that it has started shipping.

Toontrack

Digidesign has announced that the full version of Transfuser is now available. Transfuser includes nearly 2 GB of loops and phrases to get you started with, but as you know if you’ve used the public beta you can also load your own loops to it.
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Modartt has released Pianoteq 2.3, a free upgrade, with improved reverberation.

Modartt also continue on their physically modeled piano add-ons to Pianoteq. The latest is a copy of a harpsichord by Grimaldi dating from 1697, copiedby Andrew Wooderson (Bexley, 2007).

From the Modartt press release:

Typical of a short-scaled Italian instrument it has a crispness of attack and transparency of tone that makes it ideal for continuo use, and is also well suited to 17th and 18th Century Italian and German solo repertoire. Its two registers can be played separately or combined together. The Grimaldi harpsichord is part of the KIViR project with the aim tocreate virtual copies of historical keyboard instruments.

As always it’s available for free to customers of Pianoteq.

Modartt

Ever heard of the UVI Workstation, or even the UVI engine? Yeah, me neither, but it’s very likely you’ve used the engine in any of the Spectrasonics or MOTU products out there. UVI Workstation is a plug-in currently available in a free RTAS (and AU, VST) public beta version. As far as I understand it will be free in it’s full version as well!

I’ll give it a go when I have the time. Please share your thoughts on it if you try it.

You can read more about UVI Workstation on the UVI Sound Source website.

I believe this was first announced back in January but Applied Acoustics Systems have now released Strum Acoustic GS-1, a acoustic guitar software synthesizer based on AAS own physical modeling technology intended for emulating both nylon and steel string acoustic guitars.
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Toontrack releases free updates for all existing EZdrummer EZX:s with more MIDI files and the addition of copy protection on the DFH, Vintage Rock and Latin Percussion EZX:s. The updates also include new mixer presets by Richard Devine who - according to Toontrack - is recognized for producing a layered and heavily processed sound, combining influences from old and modern electronic music praised for, among other things, a remix of Aphex Twin’s Come To Daddy.
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As promised, here’s my take on Transfuser. Yes I know it’s a little late, but I felt that it was necessary to give it more time, even if this isn’t a full fledged review.
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