Mac and Music News

At the Winter NAMM show, Apogee introduced Big Ben, a 192 kHz Master Word Clock that offers some innovation. For example, using proprietary Apogee technologies, the all digital C777 clock and "Adaptive Loop Filtering", Big Ben is able to intelligently minimize jitter to previously unattainable levels. With other features such as real-time format conversion, fail safe lock to external sources, termination sensing, an optional Firewire card and a wide range of I/O choices including 6 word clock outs, Big Ben is poised to create a new standard for studio digital clocking in the industry.

In France, some dealers announce 40 % and 50 % drop in price of EMU Products. Due to the lack of global Dealer in France, EMU decided to work directly with Music shop. Emu Product should be nearly affordable at a factory price and with a normal warranty.

Following the success of Mini-Me, Apogee is excited to offer the latest addition to their Mini Series, Mini-DAC. This 192kHz D/A converter, is the ultimate portable and compact solution for studio playback, reference monitoring, USB connectivity to your DAW, and premium home audio systems.

All our fellow using bass guitars will be happy to learn that a new technology of MIDI conversion was demonstrated at NAMM as our fellows from NAMModdities pointed out: the Bass2MIDI from Limex. The system is claimed to be four times faster than previous available ones.

Now available

- only 2 kg
- shock resistant for field use
- 24 bit 48/96kHz A/D D/A converters
- 4 inputs and 2 outputs
- digital bus so units can be cascaded
- AES/EBU output for connection to other digital equipment
- DSP permits menu driven set-up
- stores in memory settings for a particular job
- processor-controlled heater ensures high accuracy of the LCD for all locations

The release of a new innovative instrument which combine the advantages of an hardware instrument and the innovativeness of software plu-in technology.

Noah comes as a compact 19" rack module. It features a 2x40 character display. Regarding audio inputs and outputs, Noah is equipped with stereo analog input and output, eight individual digital outs in ADAT format, Wordclock for the synchronization in digital setups, headphone output, MIDI In/Out/Thru, USB port and a slot for Compact Flash data storage.

Six spectacular instruments, over 1000 inspiring sounds : Minimax (Moog Minimoog), B-2003 (Hammond B-3), Six-String (guitar), Vectron Player (the Prophet VS), Lightwave, Sequential CircuitsTM Pro-One. All instruments are polyphonic, and equipped with sounds created by top sound design ...

The fellows from Macosrumors gave this weekend some hints (rumors I say! ;) on a few Mac hardware issues for 2003:

- An update for Ipods on the way for March maybe.

- An update of the current PowerMac lineup around April with Firewire 2, new graphic cards and superdrives, and dual 1.4 GHz

- An update with the "G5" whatever it'll be in september, I may add, at last a major release in Paris'Apple Expo ? The features listed are drool material…

- and last: a dual processor powerbook later…

Well if it's verified, it won't be rumors but news, and if it comes sooner, it'll be a dream :)