Ilio has announced that Synthogy''s Ivory-Upright Pianos (Mac/Win; $299) virtual instrument will be shipping this week. Ivory-Upright Pianos features the Ivory piano engine and the sampled sound of four instruments, including the sound of every key in up to ten Velocities.

The four pianos included are a Yamaha U5 upright, a 1914 Hume upright, an early 1900s tack piano with genuine tacks in the hammer felts, and a 1915 Packard Honky-Tonk piano. According to the manufacturer, this virtual instrument was designed to appeal to musicians interested in alternative rock, pop, country, folk, blues, and period music.

Upright Pianos also features more than 5,000 samples and over 50 GB of content; custom upright soundboard emulation DSP; a separate, selectable creaks and clunks layer for added realism; Velocity- and time-sensitive release samples; a full EQ and effects section; and more.

The virtual instrument works as a standalone instrument and as a plug-in for VST, RTAS, and AU hosts. Expect it to ship on August 25, 2008. For more information, visit ilio.com.