In anticipation of the release of Omnisphere (which, by the way, won't be for at least another five months), Spectrasonics has been releasing a series of videos to hype up the powerful synthesizer's debut. The fifth of these videos has just been released, launching the "Omnisphere Preview Remix Contest."

Registered Spectrasonics virtual instrument users gain access to a set of 45 new, special loops made from Omnisphere to be used in the contest. The latest episode of Spectrasonics' preview videos features some of the sound designers as they talk about the patches they've created for contest use. It really is some neat stuff.

There are three categories: Best Vocal Production, Best Instrumental Production and Most Creative Production. Anyone wishing to participate can enter as many tracks as they like, but nobody is eligible to win more than one category. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if they make an exception for my superior entries.

Here are the official rules:

• Contest begins April 22, 2008 and ends June 30, 2008
• Eligibility: Any Spectrasonics registered users of Stylus RMX, Atmosphere or Trilogy can participate
• FREE contest soundset is available to all eligible users and licensed for use in any music production
• 45 brand new loops are included in Stylus RMX, REX2 and WAV file formats
• All the loops were created using only Omnisphere and demonstrate some of its unique capabilities
• Spectrasonics users can download the special soundset, and submit tracks by logging in at the Contest Webpage.
• Awards will be presented in three categories: Best Vocal Production, Best Instrumental Production, Most Creative Production
• Participants can submit more than one entry, but can only win one award
• Winners will be announced in July 2008