Aaron Rutledge, the guy behind Tweakbench synths, has announced that he’s updated all of his free VST synths and effects:
all the plugins have a point release, updating many little things, and keeping things up to date. all of the cycler series, and everything using any granular processes should perform a bit better now, and [...]

Audio Damage has introduced Kombinat - described as “a complete toolbox of sonic warfare” and “the single most annihilating effect available today.”
Description:
With seven different options in each of the three distortion engines (plus pass-through), Kombinat is capable of sophisticated and unique sounds. Want to add a ring mod to the low end, a mild saturation [...]

This little beast is Ooh La La’s Synth Mangler.
Oo La La is a boutique pedal shop that makes quirky effects. The Synth Mangler contains two Soda Meiser circuits in one box, each has its own volume control, hiss and chaos modes. The Synth Mangler’s joystick controls the horizontal and the vertical of each fuzz, blending [...]

IK Multimedia has announced that AmpliTube X-GEAR has been made available as a free download for AmpliTube 2 Live users and StealthPlug users.
X-GEAR is an expandable guitar amp and effects modeling software system, available as a plug-in and standalone version for Mac/PC, that allows mixing and matching between all the gear models in a single [...]

xelent’s Tape Delay Machine uses two Walkman type tape players, a Realistic Stereo Mate and a Memorex XB, to create a tape delay. It’s Frippertronics on the cheap!
A single tape loop runs through two modified cassettes (each which have had one of their left or right sides removed). The players themselves have had there walls [...]

Stretta got his hands on the new Tiptop Audio Z5000, a modular analog CV-friendly DSP effects processor, and says “Go buy one”:
What the world needs is a Eurorack-format DSP with CV control. Along comes the Tiptop Audio Z5000. First of all, it is in stock, you can buy it now. None of this, announce, wait [...]

Nice demo of using the Future Retro Revolution as an audio processor.
With an analog resonant filter, envelope, overdrive, and DSP effects, the Revolution makes a powerful effects processor. The Elektron is slaved to the Revolution’s MIDI.
via BigCityMusic

Tiptop Audio has introduced the Z5000 voltage controlled digital signal processor.
I’ve been talking for a couple months about how Eurorack is where the modular action is now at - and this may push me over the edge……
Description
The z5000 is an analog-controlled digital module with a powerful dsp engine running 16 fft algorithms of 24-bit digital [...]

Kammerl Audio has released a set of 5 free VST plugins for Win/OsX, complete with bizarro Goldfrapp-style synth babes:

Pitcher
Warm Distortion
Scratcher
Looper
Slicer

Let me know if you think the plugins are as disturbingly hot as their logos!
via AudioLemon

Behringer has released several stompbox collections, targeting different types of instruments and music. Each package includes 3 stompboxes, a pedal interconnect and patch cables.
Altogether, there are 5 available packages:

The Behringer MTPK985 Metal Trio Package includes the Super Metal SM400 distortion pedal, Multi-FX FX600 multi-effects (with 24-bit audio resolution and flanger, chorus, phaser, …) and the [...]

D16’s Devastor, is a multiband distortion unit that offers three blocks: dynamic-gain module, diode-clipper distortion and three filter sections.
Each of the filters can process the signal before or after the diode-clipper. The filters are not the peaking EQ type which are used in classic multiband distortion. They are like those found in analogue synthesizers (low [...]

 

 Root means square: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Devastor demo [1:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Eiosis has updated the ELS Vocoder to v1.6. This new version brings a smaller interface option which allows using the ELS Vocoder with laptop screen resolutions more comfortably.
You can now switch between both sizes with a simple option, and you need to reload the ELS Vocoder to apply the GUI settings. With the small [...]

I’ve kind of got a thing for cheap guitar effects - they usually sound pretty awesome on synths and cost almost nothing because guitarists buy them by the score.
Waves Audio’s iGTR Personal Guitar Processor puts the GTR family’s guitar amp and effects sounds into a snack-sized device. It offers a variety of Virtual Amps, variable-speed [...]

2008 Winter NAMM Show Update: BOSS announced the GT-10 Guitar Effects Processor.
According to Boss, the GT-10’s DSP engine provides a more natural and musical response. It also offers Phrase Loop,and Parallel Effects Chain, while new USB audio/MIDI capabilities add flexibility.
The GT-10 also offers the COSM technology found in many BOSS and Roland products, including the [...]

At the Winter NAMM Show, DigiTech introduced the Vocalist Live Pro vocal harmony and effects rack processor.
The Vocalist Live Pro can create multi-part harmony by analyzing a musical accompaniment signal. The Vocalist Live Pro accepts MIDI, so you can get musically intelligent harmonies just by playing in a natural accompaniment style.
You can choose harmony shifts [...]