Just waiting on the formal announcement. Announcement here http://www.kvraudio.com/f...c.php?f=1&t=463600
The downloads are posted http://www.synthmaster.com/downloadupdates.aspx
 
From the kvraudio link above:
https://youtu.be/JB69dov8sHk
The list of new features in this update are:

• 4 new filter categories: Ladder, Diode Ladder, Bite and State Variable filters all based on "zero delay feedback" (ZDF) topology. All the new filter categories also have an Acid button. When turned on, this couples the resonance to the cutoff frequency so that resonance decreases with decreasing cutoff frequency.
• Analog ADSR envelope type: This new envelope type is modeled after a well known analog synth's envelopes. The attack/decay durations are between 1 milloseconds - 9 seconds.
• Dual LFO type: In this new LFO type, you can choose two waveforms and crossfade between them to create a variable shaped LFO. There's also bitcrush and sample&hold available in this mode.
• Drag-n-drop modulation: Now you can create modulation matrix entries by dragging a modulation source displayed on the new modulation sources tab and dragging it onto any know on the user interface. When you click on any knob, the modulation matrix is filtered to show only entries for that target. Similarly, when you click on any modulation source on the modulation source tab, only targets for that source are displayed and modulation amounts for targets are drawn as rings around the knobs.
• Layer Effects on a single tab: Prior to v2.8, layer effects were scattered in 3 different tabs. Now in v2.8, they are displayed on a single tab in the order they are inserted. The ordering of the insert effects can be easily changed by dragging an insert effect and dropping it onto another one.
• Multidimensional Polyphonic Expression (MPE) support: Starting with v2.8, SynthMaster now supports multichannel MIDI input. New generation keyboard like the ROLI Seaboard generate MIDI messages in different MIDI channels for each key pressed, allowing each key to have separate modwheel, pitch bend, etc. values. To suppor ROLI further, we also added a new global parameter called "Map CC74 to CC1" so that the CC74 messages generated by Roli can be change to CC1 to take advantage of presets using CC1 modulation.
• New Drum Kit: Our first factory drum kit, recorded at Mars Productions / Professional Recording Studios by Mehmet Uğur Memiş and Atalay Ant is finally available in this update. The drum kit features percussion instruments with multiple velocity regions. Our product manager Gercek Dorman (who also happens to be a multi-percussionist!) created 50 drum patterns/presets as factory presets in this update.
• DrumKit Mode for the Arpeggiator: A new mode called "DrumKit" has been added to the arpeggiator. In this mode, you can easily write drum patterns for a selected drum kit. Drum kits can be created in plain text files, where percussion instruments are mapped to specific MIDI notes. Each drum kit can have up to 16 percussion instruments defined.
• Recording Mono/Poly (Chord) Sequences directly from MIDI:Starting with v2.8, now it's possible to record mono or poly (chord) into the arpeggiator in "Sequence" mode.
• New Factory Presets: We added 150 new factory presets in this update. Arksun, who is a well known sound designer amongst KVR users, has contributed to our factory library with 50 awesome presets!
• Standalone Format: On Windows we bring back the standalone version of SynthMaster, and also SynthMaster Player!

about time, it has been a long wait. thank you for the info and links.

Thanks - updated.  One of my favs.

Cheers scook.

Love it.

Thanks Scook! Downloading now

added release details

This is an awesome free update. The filters are great, it's easier to use, the vocoder is workable now. In the last 12 months Synthmaster has really started to step it's game up. With its crazy low price and incredible features, it's hard not to to recommend this first when people ask "what synth should I buy".

http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/tech/kv331-audio-synthmaster-2-8-638295
 
This is a video demo and review of synthmaster 2.8 by musicradar.

FYI, that is the same video in the youtube link provided in my initial post.