FXpansion has announced the avaibility of the first official expansion kit for BFD2. Jex (John Emrich's XDrum kit) Expansion Kit features a high-end, custom hand-made kit from XDrum's Xotica line. The drums feature 6-ply Keller Maple shells with an additional ply of Sapeli Pommele running vertically, resulting in excellent, focused low-end. The finish is hand-applied tung oil, which leads to a very open tone.

This download-only BFD2 expansion kit includes the following kit-pieces, all played with sticks, mallets, brushes and rods. The kick drum was hit with both a wood and felt beater.

- Custom XDrum 18x22 inch kick
- Custom XDrum 8x8 inch tom
- Custom XDrum 8x10 inch tom
- Custom XDrum 8x12 inch tom
- Custom XDrum 14x14 inch tom

You also get a bonus download of a detail-reduced Ludwig Super Sensitive snare from the Jazz & Funk expansion pack. There are no hihats or cymbals included with this expansion kit.

Jex Expansion Kit is a download only product and is available now for all registered BFD2 owners at a price of €35 / $50. Note that Jex is only €20, $30 for all registered BFD2 owners who also have either one or more of the following expansion packs registered to their user account: BFD Jazz & Funk, BFD Percussion, or BFD B.O.M.B.

Univers Sons / Ultimate Sound Bank today announces the release of the IRCAM Solo Instruments, a collection of acoustic solo instruments.

In collaboration with the famous IRCAM research department, this brand new collection presents the finest solo instruments (Violin, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Flute in C, Oboe, Clarinet, Basson, Alto saxophone, French horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Bass tuba, Accordion, Guitar & Harp) played by the most talented contemporary musicians an captured in the very best conditions to ensure maximum fidelity.

This collection not only contains the usual sounds of these sixteen wonderful instruments, but also some very rare playing techniques that you will not find anywhere else: multiphonic, aeolian, hit-on-body, buzz, crushed... Carefully programmed with expressive key-switches and other crossfading techniques, each preset can be loaded and played instantaneously whatever your system thanks to the supplied UVI Workstation.

"Better than any words, we advice you to listen to the audio demos and you will understand why this collection is so unique, and don't hesitate to download the pdf included with the library, it will give you a better view of how deep the collection is." said Alain Etchart, Founder and Director of Marketing at Univers Sons / Ultimate Sound Bank.

IRCAM Solo Instruments is available now for $399 / €319, and it include the full version of UVI Workstation.

Let me introduce you to Audiotool from Hobnox. This free online electronic music studio lets you compose with two TB-303 Bass Line generators, Roland TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines and two banks of boss-like effects pedals including three delays, crusher, detune, flanger, reverb, a parametric equalizer and a compressor. Very simple of use, you just have to drag virtual cables between any output and any input to customize the setup.

Interested? Give it a shot !

Look at this vintage commercial about the famous Mellotron.

Watch this video...

Currently riding high with tours and engineers thanks to the incredible success of the Vi Series digital consoles, Soundcraft has launched a mid-market partner console in the Soundcraft Si3. This new desk is designed for live use on both touring sound systems and in fixed installations.

This compact footprint desk can directly handle 64 mono inputs, 4 stereo inputs and has full connectivity for all 35 output busses (24 Aux/Group, 8 Matrix and Left/Right/Centre mix buses). Add to this 4 Lexicon effects processors, 12 VCA groups, 8 Mute groups and bar graph metering for all 35 bus outputs and you begin to see what a package the Si3 is.

With the Si3, Soundcraft has revisited the control topology employed on the Spirit 328 and 324 digital consoles. The model is this - above each fader is ...

Livid Instruments has announced the arrival of the Ohm Limited Edition in color. Ohm is a real-time MIDI control surface designed to give digital audio and video performers an innovative interface for performance and presentation.

Features :

- 36 buttons centrally located
- a DJ style cross fader
- 8 faders with button triggers
- 10 rotary knobs
- 12 function buttons
- BPM tap button
- all of the controls are fully LED backlight for performance
- USB and MIDI connectivity

Customers can now order the hand crafted Mahogany wood controller in a vibrant red, blue, green, or deep black for $890. Other colors are also available for an additional fee upon request.