The 88-key weighted Kurzweil PC3X. There's also a 76-key semi-weighted version, called the PC3.

Kurzweil PC3 and PC3X Now Shipping!
Finally! Keyboard Corner forum moderator Dave Bryce got his, and phoned tech editor Steve Fortner last Friday to rave, "That's the sound of balls . . . flying out of the park!" Check out our videos of the pianos, the vintage keys, and the pop sounds this beast kicks out.

New Spectrasonics Omnisphere Video
This soft synth was the talk of the 2008 Winter NAMM show, and Spectrasonics founder and sound design wizard Eric Persing just put the sixth chapter in a series of awesome videos online. The first five? They're here.

EastWest releases Best Service and ZP***'s Vielklang harmony software
We're intrigued - Vielklang uses voice-leading and harmony-progression intelligence to create brass or backing vocal sections of up to four parts, with unprecedented musicality. Check out the product page here.

Native Instruments offers 30% discount in "Komplete your DAW" promo!
Komplete 5 is the ultimate soft synth collection, and NI thinks it should be a part of your DAW rig. So, they're knocking 30% off the price if you own any one of the following programs: Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro, Cakewalk Sonar Producer edition, Digidesign Pro Tools LE or HD, Magix Samplitude Pro, MOTU Digital Performer, or Steinberg Cubase or Nuendo. Get your discount at authorized retailers or in the NI Online Shop, and get more info here.

TC Powercore X8 Sonnox Edition Now Shipping
Combining twice the DSP muscle of a PowerCore FireWire box with ultra-high end Oxford EQ and dynamics plug-ins from Sonnox, this bundle is sure to please your inner mixing engineer. More info from TC Electronic is here.

Don't miss Universal Audio's Sizzling Summer Sale!
Prices are melting in the UA Web Store this month! Ssave up to 50% on Powered Plug-Ins and 5% on DVDs and accessories. They're also offering a $20 coupon - when you check out, just type SUMMERSALE in the coupon code field to get an extra $20 off your total purchase!

B-3 organ legend Jimmy McGriff passes away
Keyboard's editors, contributors, and readers would like to celebrate the life of one of the greatest blues, jazz, and funk organists ever, and extend our condolences to his friends, family, and fans. Visit his official web site here.

From straight-ahead jazz to synth-saturated funk to his Grammy-winning homage to Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock IS virtuosity and innovation.

Herbie Hancock: Guts and Grammys
After winning two Grammys for his album River: The Joni Letters, the jazz piano and synth legend tells all to Keyboard's Michael Gallant. Learn to play like Herbie with exclusive beginner, intermediate, advanced, and full song lessons, complete with audio and MIDI files - sheet music is in the June 2008 issue!

Rockit Like Herbie!
Speaking of Grammy-winning tunes, without "Rockit" from Herbie Hancock's electro-funk album Future Shock, the '80s wouldn't be, uh . . . the '80s. Cop that classic synth lead sound here.

Why the heck are we writing about guitar amp simulator software?
Because it offers tons of tonal possibilities for keyboardists and computer-based music creators, from modeling the perfect vintage amp for your Rhodes sounds to outright mangling. Jedi gear master Craig Anderton rounded up 13 plug-ins, and you can read all about it here or in the June '08 issue.

Ocean Way Drums wins Key Buy!
For its amazing sound quality and flexibility, Ocean Way Drums Gold from Sonic Reality has won our coveted Key Buy award. Read Ken Hughes' full review in the June '08 issue and here.

BASS PLAYER LIVE 2008: LOS ANGELES NOVEMBER 1-2
Join us on the West Coast as BPL takes Hollywood by storm!
Confirmed exhibitors include: DR Strings, Markbass, D’Addario, Ampeg, Dr. Bass, Lace Music and others TBA! Confirmed artist clinicians include: Chris Chaney, Mike Elizondo, Steve Bailey, Alex Al, Neil Steubenhaus and more TBA! 2008 Bass Player Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:  Carol Kaye, Verdine White, Mike Watt. Details will be announced here! In the meantime, subscribe to the BPL Enewsletter for breaking event news! Subscribe here. 


Guitar Player's Guitar Superstar: Call For Entries!
SPONSORED BY EPIPHONE, ZZYZX SNAPJACK, MESA/BOOGIE AND MORE TBA

Presenting Guitar Player's fourth annual guitar competition! Ten finalists will compete LIVE before a panel of celebrity judges and a sold-out house in San Francisco on September 13. Only one will be named Guitar Player's Guitar Superstar 2008. Have you entered yet? The clock is ticking. . . Submission Deadline is June 30! ENTER here!


Presenting the Music Production Technology Webinar Series
Introducing a new series of FREE music production technology webcasts from EQ & Keyboard magazines that give you how-to tips and technique for the latest recording applications. In these one-hour web sessions you will learn how to maximize your music production with top software tools.

Digidesign Pro Tools LE 7.4
In this educational webcast, we share some choice tips and tricks for utilizing Digidesign’s Pro Tools 7.4 LE in the home studio.

Propellerhead Reason 4 
In this webcast Keyboard editor at large John Krogh takes an in-depth, real world approach to making music in side Reason 4, the premiere all-in-one software studio.

Native Instruments Kontakt 
Native Instruments’ Kontakt is the top soft sampler of choice for in-the-know songwriters and producers; Keybaord editor at large John Krogh shows you the ins and outs of making real-world music with this powerhouse.


The Music Player Network Artist Master Class Webcast Series
Ever wish you could have a private lesson with the pros? You can! Check out these webcasts: Keyboard's Jeff Lorber: The Art Of the Groove, Guitar Player's Larry Carlton: 335 Blues, Bass Player's Victor Wooten: Slap Techniques, and EQ's Master of Your Studio Domain with editor Craig Anderton. New! Check out the newly archived versions of our webcasts "Full Range Bass" with bassist Michael Manring and Keyboard Wizardry with Jordan Rudess.  Check it out here.

Coming Soon: Al Di Meola, Chick Corea, and many more to be announced soon!

UP NEXT: Billy Sheehan on Bass: Top to Bottom, Wednesday August 13, 6:00pm PST/9:00pm EST.