The Native theme carried on today when I visited SoundToys in the E Hall. Their line of plug-ins is no longer exclusive to TDM and is available in AU format. I talked to Mitch Thomas about the future, and of course he wouldn’t spill about future “toys” but intimated that there’s some great stuff on the horizon. I also recorded an incredible blues player in a booth that had them stoppin’ in the aisles. Players at NAMM are like potato chips, but every once in while you find a diamond. You’ve got to hear this guy! Be sure to check it out in tonite’s Podcast.

Digidesign announced today that its Advanced Instrument Research Group (which recently developed Xpand, Hybrid, and Strike) is developing an RTAS-format sampler called Structure. The plug-in will read a number of sample formats including ESX24, Kontakt2, and SampleCell. It will also include sample content from EastWest, which has partnered up with Digi for this project. According to Digi, a public beta is in the offing. Check back at the Digi site for details.

At the end of the day Thursday, IK Multimedia announced Amplitube 2 Jimi Hendrix Edition. It’s a specialized version of IK’s guitar-amp modeling plug-in, designed to emulate the sound of Jimi Hendrix’s gear. It features models of 9 stompboxes (including wahs), 4 amps, 7 speaker cabinets, and 4 analog rack effects units–all based on the originals used by Hendrix used. It’s due out in April and will cost $249. You’ll also be able to get it bundled with IK’s Stealth Plug (guitar to USB cable) for $299.

Jonathan Little of LittleLabs is up to his old tricks again, making hybrid gear that always makes you go hmmmmm….. The LMNO Microphone Preamp ($1680) has the usual bells and whistles providing up to 74dB of clean gain, but also Low frequency resonance control creating a tune-able proximity effect without being in close proximity of the microphone. Wowsa! I’ve already got Mix writer Barry Rudolph on tap for a review, so stay tuned.