Everyone likes a good buddying up, and Muse Research makes fast friends with Univers Sons / Ultimate Sound Bank, the Parisian makers of Plugsound BOX, a collection of six virtual instruments. USB Plugsound BOX is the latest addition to the new RECEPTOR 2 hardware plug-in player, and the deliciously magic plugin box just got that much more deliciously magical thanks to this pairing.

The six virtual instruments featured in Plugsound BOX offer a wide variety of sounds for the RECEPTOR 2 user that fit in a number of genres, from fretted instruments to synths to drums and percussion! Now with the RECEPTOR 2 PRO and PRO MAX hardware, players have a fast, efficient way to utilize these sounds both on stage and in the studio.

From USB Plugsound BOX, Keyboard Collection features acoustic pianos, honky tonk style pianos and even some modified pianos. It doesn't stop there: you get access to more organs than a kidney harvester, clavinets and electric grands. Fretted Instruments Collection covers acoustic and electric guitar samples in all styles. Hip Hop and R 'n' B Collection puts loops, kits and multi-sampled instruments at your disposal, sorted by tempo for the quickest beats in the West.

Moving on, Synth Collection is a museum of modern and classic synths with a wide load of pads and leads. Drums and Percussion Collection contains over 6,000 drum sounds that blanket a wide range of percussive instruments; even electronic ones. Finally, Global Collection / GM is the "ultimate General MIDI module" with a huge palette of instrument categories to choose from, organized in standard General MIDI layouts. For all six instrument collections, hundreds of presets loaded into the RECEPTOR 2 will get you going. For more, we hear from Muse Research VP of Marketing, Bryan Lanser:

"We're really excited to be able to offer the entire Plugsound BOX collection on every standard RECEPTOR 2 PRO and PRO MAX that we ship. The high quality sounds and efficient UVI engine really shine on Receptor, and let you start making great music in two steps: Plug-in. Play!"

Alain Etchart, Director of Marketing, Founder and Important Multi-Hat Wearer of Univers Sons / Ultimate Sound Bank added:

"It's an honour for our company to be associated with such a great product as RECEPTOR 2. The Plugsound Box is the best introduction to the Ultimate Sound Bank product range, and it's only the beginning of our collaboration with the excellent team from Muse Research."

The two then exchanged a jumping high-five in my mind. Nevertheless, RECEPTOR 2 is going to be even more of a monster with the USB instruments included.