Muse Research, the owner of KVR Audio, is offering a "sneak peek" of their brand new, low-cost portable virtual instrument player called The MuseBOX in booth 6729 at the Winter NAMM show. The MuseBOX is based on the same MuseMachine software technology that powers the company's RECEPTOR 2 line of virtual instrument players and features a solid state drive for storing both the OS and many plug-ins, a CF card slot for removable storage of additional plug-ins or smaller "ROMPLER" libraries, and an option for installing an internal hard drive for storing large sample libraries.

The hardware I/O features 1/4-inch stereo line outputs, a 1/4 inch input, stereo S/PDIF output, front panel headphone outputs, a VGA monitor output, MIDI input, and a 2-line LCD display and rotary encoder similar to its bigger brother, the RECEPTOR 2. Like the RECEPTOR 2 line of music instruments, The MuseBOX is both a highly efficient and ultra-stable way to run virtual instruments and effects. The MuseBOX will retail well below $1000 US, and is expected to ship in late Q2 or early Q3 of this year.

The MuseBOX: The affordable plug-in hardware player
While countless professional keyboardists and guitarists rely on the RECEPTOR line of dedicated hardware plug-in players for running their favorite virtual instruments and effects both live and in the studio, many musicians only need to run a couple of plug-ins at a time and don't require the massive sample libraries that run on the RECEPTOR 2 line. To that end, Muse Research developed The MuseBOX, a highly affordable and compact "table top" instrument that runs VST virtual instruments and effects in a high performance, portable, stable, and affordable package.

The MuseBOX is based on the 80 man-years of software development that has been critical to the success of the Receptor line of hardware virtual instrument and effects devices. Based on a compact and highly-optimized version of Linux, The MuseBOX runs Muse Research's proprietary MuseMachine host environment that makes your virtual instruments and effects perform and feel more "real."

Of course The MuseBOX includes many of the same features that make Receptor so versatile, like the ability to edit and control the unit entirely from the hardware control panel, to connect a mouse, monitor, and keyboard directly to the unit for editing, or to control the unit remotely through Ethernet from your Mac or PC.

The MuseBOX also has the same fast boot / fast reboot features of Receptor as well as an advanced preset structure that lets you quickly and easily get to the task at hand: making music! The MuseBOX features support for Pace dongle-protected plugs, and will support the Native Instruments Service Center for running NI-based plug-ins.

The MuseBOX comes in two configurations
Muse Research knows that some customers may want to run large sampled instruments on The MuseBOX and includes a CF card slot for storing smaller sample libraries up to 32GB in size using a customer-supplied CF card flash memory module. In addition, The MuseBOX Plus model has a high performance SATA 2 hard drive built in that allows you to stream sample libraries from virtual instruments like Ivory, making The MuseBOX a great way to bring the unbeatable sounds of large sampled instruments to your gig.

RECEPTOR technology at all price points
With the addition of The MuseBOX to the Muse Research product line, customers will be able to have access to Receptor technology at a wide range of price points: Below $1000 for The MuseBOX, $1999 for RECEPTOR 2, $2599 for RECEPTOR 2 PRO, and $3199 RECEPTOR 2 PRO MAX. As customers require additional processing power, they are able to move up through the line and maintain the same efficient performance, optimized workflow and comfortable working environment that has made Receptor the number one choice of touring bands, performing artists, Broadway shows, Houses of Worship, and recording studios the world over.

"We're obviously very excited about offering Receptor technology to a whole new group of customers with The MuseBOX," says Chris Halaby, President and CEO of Muse Research. "We want to broaden the use of software instruments and effects to people who previously had not considered it. The MuseBOX will be extremely stable and efficient, and a great way to incorporate the incredible variety of sonic possibilities that virtual instruments and effects deliver to live performances and recordings," he concludes.

The MuseBOX will be available from major music retailers and online providers in late spring or early summer of 2009.