Sonivox has announced Playa (Mac/Win; $149 MSRP, $99 Street), a hip-hop virtual instrument plug-in featuring sequencing, beat construction, hands-on remixing, a professional sound set, and a graphical user interface. According to the manufacturer, Playa''s user interface bridges the gap between MPC-style beat creation and the computer-based virtual instrument environment. Playa lets you interface MIDI pad controllers and controller keyboards directly with it.

The virtual instrument offers more than 400 Sonivox instruments, 16 user programmable and assignable pads, over 50 pad presets, customizable layouts, MIDI Functionality, onboard effects, a graphic equalizer, and more. Playa works as a standalone instrument and as a plug-in in VST, RTAS, and AU formats.

Sonivox expects to release Playa on February 1, 2009. For more information, please visit sonivoxmi.com.