Maizesoft has announced the release of version 2.0 of Maize Sampler, a cross-platform tool for sound developers to create sample-based virtual instruments - it's a stand-alone application for Windows and Mac OS X that enables you to create (generate / export) VST and Audio Unit instrument plug-ins. It costs $89 (Maize Sampler 1 users can upgrade for $66).

Feature highlights:

• Group selections by key / controller / MIDI channel.
• Disk-streaming / Memory reading mode.
• Poly / Mono / Legato voice mode with glide time.
• LFO, ADSR envelope and reverb effect.
• Round-robin / Random overlapped sample trigger.
• Load EXS24 sampler format.
• Sample loop, Choke cluster, Release trigger.
• Big sample mapping area and sample table view.
• Export .mse compact instrument file.
• Generate VST and Audio Unit plug-ins.
• User defined UI background skin.
• XML defined knob, label combobox and keyboard.
• Serial number copy protection on exported instruments.

The Player Plug-in Generator is able to propagate a VST/Audio Unit plug-in with your own identity and a list of compact instrument files. You can even generate Audio Units on Windows or Windows VST on Mac OS X.

Note: To use the generated AU/VST plug-ins for MAC, users have to install a shared runtime library first. This library can be found on maizesoft website.