This tiny small sampler comes free from Yellow Tools, who is on the market already but now they want to hype their products. Independence Free is not a toy at all: plays samples direct from disk real time like the big ones, and the sound quality is stunning, just believe in me (forget the similar German Volkssamplersome years ago - IF is a real player!). Unfortunately there is no file import function so you will be closed into the 2 gigabyte of good quality samples coming with the product, but still worth downloading, isn't it? Works on PCs and Macs also, download it from here.

A bigger rack - says the promo line at every page of Propellerhead's site, adverting the new, version 4 Reason release. New features are: a completely reworked sequencing system which is now really a competitor of the big ones, the already-known supersynth, Thor, the groove wizard module, ReGroove, plus the intelligent arpeggiator. And millions of patches, signature patches and samples for all of them and the old modules. Costs 450 euro, or 100 euro if you own any previous version. Here.

M-Audio's new entry, KeyRig 25 is only 130 USD - this ultraslim design (Edirol and Behringer made it very successful) was not represented in the company's product line until now. The package is very attractive though not just because of the price: it contains four full-featured sound generator. A virtual analog polysynth, a GM-module, an organ and a stage piano pushes life under the dead keys, all of them operate with their own dedicated dual effect processor. Here is the product's page, and here is an other one, KeyRig 49, which seems quite similar but really, it's different. Size is four octave, action is full-synth (not the ultraslim like KeyRig 25), and there is no any rotary knobs - but the software package is still the same...

Music Tech magazine's readers will get a free copy of NuGen's Visualizer on the DVD of this month's issue. If you don't buy the magazine you can still download it from NuGen's website for free - go to the download page.

If you want to drop your LPs and SPs into a more convenient digital format, VinylStudio from AlpineSoft is an ideal, affordable solution. The package now includes a complete, non-destructive declick module to find and correct all the clicks and pops and LP has per definitionem, plus an intelligent dehiss module to remove background noise. Test drive is free with up to ten records, after that you have to pay 30 USD for the full version (or 20 USD if you don't need the processing functions). Find it here.

JazzMutant, an already-specialist of touch-screen controllers is shipping now Dexter, an intuitive surface for multichannel DAWs. Its price cannot be said cheap - around 2500 euro - but the product is really wonderful, check the product's webpage.

The next big event in this autumn's version upgrading came from Steinberg: They replaced the old multichannel audio post production editor version with Nuendo 4. The most important selling points are: renewed automation system, 38 pieces of very new, surround-compatible effect plugin with sidechaining if needed, all in VST3 format, network processing, integrated Media Bay, an intelligent media file browser with database already known from Cubase 4, a new sample editor, the Instrument Track type (also from Cubase 4) and many more, check them here. An interesting detail: a new expansion product is also on the shelves: Nuendo Expansion Kit: Cubase Music Tools expands the function set with music-oriented tasks from Cubase like notation, drum editor, VST instruments and so on. Cubase costs 1800 euro, and the expansion kit is 300 euro extra.

Burning Circuits is a sample package produced by leading UK producer AudioAndroid. The 420 megs set contains contemporary electro sounds like circuit-bending effects, robotic voices, toy keyboards and related - a total of 345 files, all wave format and acidized loops. It costs 59 USD, downloadable here at PowerFX.

New Kaoss products are coming from Korg: in the first picture is probably the smallest synth module of the world, Kaossilator. It deals with Korg's modeling sound generator engine, in focus with the Kaoss pad, which controls note and pitch on the X axis, plus cutoff, modulation and other parameters on the Y. It comes with 100 program presets, and a big table of microtuning parameters: 31 scales total. Kaossilator plays phrases as several Korg synthesizer does, and it records them with loop record function and layer more and more tracks real time. A smart arpeggiator is also in the set, so it is a perfect tool for the live electronic musician as it seems. Still no price announced, here is the official Korg product page in German.

Two DJ mixers are also debuted in these days: on the picture you can see the smaller, two-channel configuration, KM-202 - the bigger with four channel is called KM-402. Kaoss pad here insults the internal effect processor which can have 100 programs with ordinary effect types like reverb, delay, phaser, 6 types of EQ and so on. But it has smart features for supporting live performances: the best example is the FX Release function which keeps all the effect types with release intact while changing the effect program. No matter how badly do you push the effect selector buttons the result remains musical. The mixers are also fully digital inside with 24 bit resolution, and I have to mention an other nice selling point: the crossfader has several diferent characteristics. Check KM-202 here, or KM-402 here. We still have no price information.

After Logic 8's debut, Cakewalk also refreshes their sequencing system with Sonar 7. Released in two versions - Producer Edition for 620 USD and Studio Version for 370 USD - the new Sonar has several improvement over the previous version. Probably the biggest hit is the newly integrated Step Sequencer, a feature which has no match in the market in sophistication as the company says. They also introduce a new MIDI Display which shows MIDI activity in a colorful visual kind. Cakewalk also introduced Roland's V-Vocal technology, a smart pitch-to-MIDI technique which translates your vocal tracks to editable notes - monophonically as we suppose. Instrumentwise there are also steps forward: a greatly-named analogue/waveshaper synth, Z3TA+ has introduced, together with LE versions of Rapture and Dimension, Cakewalk's already-classic instruments. Cakewalk has invented software sidechaining in their effect bus system rather than the conventional send/return functions so effects now have multiple inputs if needed. For the mastering engineer they put LP-64 linear phase matering EQ plus multiband compressor/limiter. The system rips and burns CD-s of course. Here is the official info sheet.

Audio interface with two channels for 500 USD? Apogee takes the game serious: their interface, Duet, which targets the Apple-platform, arrives this month, at theis incredibly high price point. The box is so small that it needs a breakout cable set to suck out these few connections, but, we suspect, the user will be satisfied with the sound quality... Apogee has everything for this. garageBand and Logic Pro are already ready to handle all the functions of Duet, including the rotary controller found on the top. Read the product's web page for more info.

PreSonus has released FireStudio Project, a multichannel Firewire interface targeted for microphone applications. It can receive eight mics (or line level signal, too) and convert them up to 24/96 digital signals. The number of independent outputs is also eight, and it has S/PDIF and MIDI ins and outs. The most important bundle software is Cubase LE 4, and the package costs 700 USD. Find more info here.

As we predicted earlier, Sony's non-linear video system, Vegas Pro 8 hit the market this week. You can upgrade from any earlier version of Vegas for 135 USD if you are satisfied with the download version, or pay 150 USD for the box set - here is the upgrade page. Full version is 585 USD now, check it for features and more here.

ELS Vocoder from Eiosis is the king of the software vocoders, according to this month's issue of Future Music. This gadget is very sympathetic for the first sight and can be used both as virtual effect or instrument. Listen to the demos, the sound is really wonderful, warm, rich as the analog classics - with digital perfection. The most eye-grabbing feature is the 22-by-22 formant matrix, a very precise one of its kind. Another kind of useful function is the pitch tracker which determines the pitch of the incoming speech/vocal sound and plays the same notes on the internal synth. ELS Vocoder costs 220 euro, for PC and Mac, in VST, RTAS and AU formats.

Pacemaker, world's smallest complete DJ solution is on preorder now. As we wrote earlier, it is a small but versatile mps player for DJs, loaded with extremely useful real-time functions - you can manipulate the sound with the touch pads, pitching, filtering, adding effects or looping. Pacemaker comes with a Mac/PC software application that makes accessing all the functions easy. It also features a complete wave editor. When finishing, all you need is uploading the ready-to-mix performance settings and sound files into Pacemaker and going to perform. Price is 520 euro as promised, and the expected shipping date is November, order here.

Native Instruments has announced the availability the next version of the world's most popular sampler software. Kontakt 3 comes in 1st, October, and will bundle an immerse 33 gigabytes of sampling content, and you can tweak this huge library on a smarter and more intuitive interface. All the loaded instruments can have an own edit view in the rack which features tabs that unveils the most important editing parameters to reach simple. All the parameters now have online help, and a very effective free-text search will help to find the sounds you need. Kontakt 3 will rebuild database automatically, no need to use the manual Rebuild function any further. it also has new DSP effect algorhythms. A graphical envelope drawing is also on the feature list, check the product page here. Pricing is 400 euro for the all-new box, upgrade can be arranged for 130 euro from any previous version.

More Native news are the new package offers. Komplete Synths consists of the four NI synths, Pro53, FM8, Massive plus Absynth, and Komplete Classics covers Akoustik and Elektrik Piano, B4 plus Pro53. The full Komplete is also new: Komplete 5 means the present state of the NI line now. Guitar Rig will be also renewed in October, with version 3.

Apple has introduced finally the newest version of their sequencing package, Logic. Logic Pro 8 has numerous new features, but the biggest news is the completely redesigned user interface - simplicity is the key word now. You don't have to leave the Arrange window to cut, copy and paste digital audio with sample accuracy, or browsing media files, inserting MIDI notes, manipulating the mixer's channel strip. Another serious development area is the recording which is now much more comfortable than ever. One of the best news is the complete lack of the USB hard dongle - all the protection is a serial number. Logic Pro 8 reads projects saved in GarageBand, and has a rather sophisticated ReWire implementation. The mixer panel handles surround outputs up to 7.1. Bundled effects' number run up to 80, plus numerous soft synths, modeled instruments, 18,000 grooves and 1300 sampled instruments are also in the box. Price is 500 USD, order here.

Steinberg has released a tremendously cheap version of their flagship wave editor, Wavelab 6: the Wavelab Essentials is targeted to the home studio and podcasting arena with its price of 50 USD. The software based on the original Wavelab environment, with slight feature cut-down: 24/96 maximum editing resolution, file size limit at 2 gigabytes, 32 bit floating point internal resolution instead of 64, no spectrum editing, no save in the background, only one instance can run at a time, limited batch processing functions and so on. Check the features and the full comparison table here.

Yamaha's new wonder device, Tenori-On has launched in order this week, and its web site has opened fully also. It is still available in the UK only but the smart teaser campaign worked well: all the stocks were running out in some days. Price can't be said cheap, around 1200 USD, and inside is an AWM2 tone generator with 253 presets and a polyphony of 32. It can handle uploaded samples also, but this is not the most sophisticated feature of the instrument. It has six operation modes, which determines the functionality of the 16-by-16 LED matrix. Own sound is generated via a small speaker, and there is MIDI In and out, plus an SD card slot. Wish I could try it soon.

On the picture is a very new FM synth plugin, the Double Six. It has six operators, and has all the algorhythms the DX7 had, plus all the four-operator algorhythm the smaller DXs (DX21, DX27, DX100, FB01) had. All the operators can produce five diferent waveforms, and on the final signal a 5-mode filter is applied. After the final stage there are even three types of effects: chorus, stereo delay and phaser. It comes with 128 preset, and can be downloaded freely but the fully funtional state can be achieved by a donation sent to the author.

AudioRealism started to ship ADM, the ultimate vintage drum machine emulator. As we announced earlier ADM contains all the sounds came originally from 606. 808 and 909 drum machines, all modeled and expanded with extra parameters and full automation. It also has a programmable filter (PCF). Read more here.

Adobe's wave editor application, Audition gets a new high: version 3 handles VSTi plugins, multichannel support, multicore processor support, new effects, plus funny editing at spectrum view. Preorder for 350 USD here.

Sony tells in their recent newsletter that the next version of Vegas comes in 10th, September. Vegas 8 Pro has lots of new features like multicamera workflow, serious titling system, Blu-ray disc burning, 32-bit video processing, 24/192 audio resolution and audio mixer, and full support for HD cameras working with AVCHD compression. read more here at Sony.

As we wrote earlier, Music Forum Expo, a serious electronic music event opens today in Műcsarnok, Budapest. We have some exclusive photos of the installed Moog modular system which can be played there during the three days.

IK Multimedia refreshed their sampling workstation software, SampleTank with some serious features. The new 2.5 version includes a high quality reverb model from their top product, Classik Studio Reverb, and has a redesigned effect section with ordinary sends and returns. The package has an increased bundled sound set of more than 6 gigabytes, and the price is the same: 500 USD. Here.

Three new piano models for Pianotech can be downloaded freely from their website for all registered users. The pieces of the collection are: favourite instrument of Ferenc Liszt, work of Sebastien Erard from 1922, Carl Bechstein's model from 1896 and a Blanchet-harpsichord from 1733.