Best Sample Packs This Week: Virtual bass, hip hop drums and cinematic synths

This week's round-up includes a fantastic virtual bass guitar, a drum plug-in for throwback hip hop tracks, sounds for the Behringer Deepmind and a versatile piano sample pack from Muze.

Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 with triple voiced pickups for extra versatility

The Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 is a modern T-Style guitar that has a lot to offer, like a great Gotoh trem system or hard tail option, plus a set of super-versatile Fishman Fluence pickups.

Logic Pro X to get Session view clip-launching feature

Big news for Logic Pro X users! Session view is coming to Apple's Mac-exclusive DAW. The news comes from a very reliable source: the Apple Education Products webpage!

Dual and Quad VCA modules in “Kosmo” Eurorack from Look Mum No Computer

Sam Battle of Look Mum No Computer has released his latest VCA modules. The 1181 Dual VCA and 1183/1184 Quad VCA are available as PCB/Panel kits in the overlarge Kosmo Eurorack format.

TABØR: Analogue rhythmic car crash oscillator with a glowing orb of destruction

TABØR kicks off like some kind of steam-punk spaceship spluttering into life and pulsing sound and light at you as it screams and thuds its way into orbit. This is going to be epic.

Waldorf Quantum leaps to version 2.0 with FM and more

Waldorf's hybrid uber-synth Quantum gets a big 2.0 update including a whole new oscillator that brings in 6-operator FM and blows open many more possibilities.

Fantastic Voyage: a hot-rodded virtual 4-track Portastudio for Mac

Fantastic Voyage is a new plug-in modelled on old Tascam tape Portastudios. updated here with effects and functionality by developer Giorgio Sancristoforo.

Apple to unveil all-new Mac computers with ARM processors in 2021?

Apple wants to switch its computers to ARM processors. According to well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, this could happen as early as 2021. What's in it for us Mac users?

Tracktion releases Waveform 11, introduces Waveform Free

Tracktion has announced the availability of Waveform Pro 11. Simplifying its portfolio, the company has also introduced Waveform Free, an impressive free intro version of the DAW.

PER|FORMER open source DIY 8-track Eurorack sequencer

PER|FORMER is a stunning looking open source project from Simon Kallweit (AKA Westlicht). It's an 8-track step-sequencer for Eurorack designed for composition and live performance.

Apple Logic Pro X and Final Cut Pro X go on 90-day free trials

Apple is offering a free 90-day trial of Logic Pro X and Final Cut Pro X, so if you'd like to give either or both of these famed packages an extended try, now is the time!

Radial Engineering USB-Mobile: An active DI box for smartphones and tablets

Radial Engineering's newest invention is a high-end active DI box that connects to your mobile device to pipe audio into a mixer, console or PA - pricey, yes, but for some a godsend.

Cascade Pedals’ Hosstortion is based on the rare Ibanez MT-10 Mostortion

Cascade Pedals' Hosstortion is a fresh take on the of the short-lived and highly sought-after Ibanez MT-10 Mostortion pedal, using modern BiMOS chips to recreate that desirable tone.

Four premium guitars you’ll (probably) never be able to afford

You're in the market for a new guitar and money is no problem. But you want something special, something truly unique. If so, here's a list of guitars that might tickle your fancy.

Godin Stadium HT: A modern T-style with a vintage feel

Canadian guitar maker Godin has unveiled the new Stadium HT, a T-style guitar with a modern touch, yet one that still retains a vintage look and feel.

HoRNet TotalEQ: a USD 30 Pro-Q alternative for mixing and mastering

The USD 30 dollar equalizer offers pretty much everything you'd expect from a full-featured parametric EQ, including a real-time spectrum analyzer, 12 freely adjustable bands, and analog saturation.

Ouroboros Alea: A mysteriously West Coast 2-voice analog semi-modular

Ouroboros Electronics has revealed Alea, an intriguingly wooden, unlabelled and banana plug socketed 2-voice analog semi-modular synthesizer.

More Marshall for your living room: The Uxbridge Bluetooth 5.0 speaker

Fancy a bit of rock and roll for your Alexa home speaker? Marshall has a sweet pre-order deal on its new Uxbridge speaker: free Marshall Major III Bluetooth headphones while stocks last.

Dean NashVegas Series: A vintage design gets an injection of attitude

The striking Dean NashVegas Select Series is a T-Style guitar with twin SD humbuckers and comes in hard tail and Floyd Rose locking versions - a vintage design gets an injection of attitude!

Starling Via SYNC3, OSC3 and ATSR Eurorack modules emerge from shared hardware platform

Starling debuts three new modules in its "Via" family based on the same hardware platform exported from VCV Rack. They're complex, fascinating and full of possibilities if you can fathom them out.

Hypno: trippy voltage controlled visual oscillator for Eurorack or Desktop

Hypno is a complete digital video playground in a Eurorack module or little box that can generate seizure-inducing visuals for your modular performances.

FRMS: where granular and FM collide with subtractive

Imaginando has released FRMS the consonant free hybrid synthesizer that ties Granular up with FM and shoves it through a Subtractive sound engine.

Fender American Original Series now with new finishes

Fender has just added six new classic colours to its popular American originals range of guitars: Ice Blue Metallic, Inca Silver, Daphne Blue, Burgundy Mist Metallic and more on offer.

Get a free temporary Reaper license for social distancing

Cockos is offering free Reaper licenses valid until the end of June. This means that you can use Reaper while working from home, or use your time in isolation to give the DAW an extended trial run.