Operator by 9 Soundware is a collection of presets for the EFM1 synthesizer within Apple Logic Pro. These settings harness the noise making capabilities of FM synthesis, a synthesis method often associated with the ubiquitous bell-like sounds heard in music from the 1980s.

The sound set consists of 30 inharmonic sounds and 20 tonal sounds. Examples include settings for impacts (e.g., Breakdancrrrrrrrrr.pst, Creepy-crawly.pst, Hair Metal.pst, and Piñata.pst), noise (e.g., Chop Suey.pst and Fluff Assasin.pst), and backdrops (e.g., Chernobyl.pst, Crop Circle.pst, and Snarl.pst), as well as those which are designed to be played with heavy use of the mod wheel (e.g., Country And Western.pst). Also included are a few presets which are characteristic of quintessential FM sounds (e.g., Mullet.pst and Menthol.pst).

The 0.2 MB download includes 50 .pst files.

Operator is available now for $14.99.

"Ethnic Panpipes" is a sampler instrument, made from an extended set of Lithuanian national panpipes. As in Soundprovocation previous release, multiple samples were recorded to recreate natural feel of the instrument.

The set contains 25 panpipes (2 octaves). There are three articulations recorded, selectable by modulation wheel - mezzo (normal), piano (soft & silent), sforzando (sharp & rude attack). Each note of the articulation presented has 9 variations. Every time you press a single note, you will hear a different variation. There are 675 individual samples total recorded.

"Ethnic Panpipes" is dedicated to ambient, 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 Panpipes" is available for samplers EXS24 and Kontakt. You can get it for the introductory price of €9.99 instead of €19.99 (Offer is valid until December 31). Here is a link to demo sounds and more info :

Superior Drummer v2.2.1, is now available free from the 'Downloads' section of your Toontrack account.

Version 2.2.1 includes the latest EZX and SDX kit pieces definitions support, including the upcoming Electronic EZX.

Fixed in version 2.2.1 :

• iMap MIDI preset offset fixed.
• The Memory Limit pop-up warning should no longer appear when the memory limit is off.
• The solo state of articulations is now fully restored when loading a project.
• Soft Vel and Pitching are now restored properly when loading a project.
• Setting a Time Correction value should no longer affect playback detrimentally.
• Changed the MidiNode broken link to all caps 'MISSING TARGET'.
• Drag and drop of MIDI grooves should now work even when UAC is on.
• Groove ...

Ueberschall announces the availability of Planet Trance.

According to Ueberschall, Planet Trance grants you access to the full range of Trance music, from the mid 90s up to now. The 30 Construction Kits deliver everything which is needed to achieve modern club sounds. Planet Trance is packed with harmonies, catchy melodies and highly atmospheric sounds. Delving a little deeper the 3.3 GB of hefty content brings a sizable amount of specialized samples and sounds, like drums, percussion, deep basses, synth sounds, atmospheric pads, strings, pianos and sound effects—to name but a few.

Highlights :
• Genre: Trance
• Elastik Soundbank for Mac/PC/AU/VST/RTAS/StandAlone
• Elastik Player included - no sampler required

Available now for €99.

Lexicon has launched the Omega Studio Bundle.

The Omega Studio Bundle is a completely integrated computer recording package that combines Lexicon's Omega Studio USB recording interface with Steinberg Cubase LE 4 multitrack audio and MIDI recording software, the Lexicon Pantheon VST reverb plug-in, and an AKG D 88 S lead vocal microphone and mic cable. It contains all the necessary hardware and software components to transform a PC or Mac into a 24-bit recording studio and allows the user to start recording immediately.

The Omega Studio Bundle is available now at a list price of $279.95 (estimated street price : $199.95).

Abletoncourses.com is a new website which features two online Ableton live video courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced level students, which has been designed and delivered by Ableton certified trainer Rob Jones.

The concept of this new internet business is to allow students of all abilities and locations to login and study online whenever they choose, getting professional instruction and support as modules are delivered.

Each course is presented in a modular format with each lesson lasting around 20 minutes and in total 26 modules are available which cover everything from initial setup through to advanced racks and performance techniques. Each module comes with comprehensive notes and students also follow a series of live sessions with Rob which are included in the course ...