Prominy has announced V-METAL 2, the next generation of the original V-METAL (from 2011). Captured from an ESP Alexi Blacky with EMG humbuckers, the Kontakt library includes over 22 GB / 47,000+ samples. Key new features: Redesigned interface. Built-in amp sims & effects (250+ presets). Advanced polyphonic control (Strum/Arpeggio Key, String Skip, Forced Hammer-On/Pull-Off). Intelligent…

The dust has settled. The “Cyber Week” banners have finally disappeared from your inbox, and your bank account is slowly recovering from the trauma. But if you are like most audio professionals, you are currently staring at a hard drive cluttered with zip files, unredeemed serial numbers, and the vague recollection that you bought a…

Rast Sound has updated Transformer to version 1.5. The resonator effect now includes two new modes and expanded LFO capabilities. New in v1.5: Mode D (Muted/Pluck) — tight, controlled resonance for drums and percussion. Mode E (Shimmer/Ambient) — detuned strings and extended decay for atmospheric textures. LFO presets for quick modulation setups. LFO micro-randomiser. 20…

discoDSP has updated OB-Xd synth to version 3.14. OB-Xd 3.14 introduces polyphonic unison mode – a major enhancement allowing multiple notes to be played simultaneously with stacked voices per note, unlocking more evolving chords and complex textures. What’s New: Polyphonic Unison: Previously, unison forced monophonic behavior (one note at a time). Now you can play…

FX-Mechanics recently released version 0.1 of RhyGa, a simple yet versatile rhythmic gate effect for your DAW. RhyGa allows the user to create tempo-synced patterns by modulating the volume of an incoming audio signal. With per-step controls for level, pan, duration, and an auxiliary send, you can transform static pads into pulsating rhythms, create complex…

KVR Show Report: SF Music Expo 2025 SF Music Expo was founded in 2014 by Loic Maestracci to bring together local Bay Area music creators for education and networking. Originally held at The Chapel in San Francisco’s Mission District and later moved to SAE Expression College. After returning to in-person events post-Pandemic, the conference has…

Christmas and New Year’s Eve gigs are brilliant for your bank balance – you can easily charge double your normal fee for 31 December, for instance – but they come with unique challenges. You’re dealing with crowds who often never go out any other time of year, quite likely drunk people making increasingly unintelligible requests,…

Media Overkill (MOK) has announced the free upgrade to its wavetable synth plugin, Miniraze, bringing it to version 1.5. The update adds more waveforms, matching the full library available in the flagship Waverazor synth plugin. Miniraze 1.5 also introduces two new formant filters and 390 sounds, including new patches from synthesists Dash Glitch, Alex Reid,…