Mac and Music News

Antares Audio Technologies have released Tube RTAS and VST for OS X. The RTAS version requires Pro Tools 6 TDM or LE and Mac OS 10.2.3 or later. The VST version requires an OS X compatible host application that supports the VST plug-in architecture and version of OS X as required by your host. Tube RTAS and VST for OS X are free upgrades to current owners of Tube.

Pro Tools|HD compatible versions of Antares Microphone Modeler TDM and RTAS for Mac OS 9 and OS X are now available. The new versions, which support 88.2 kHz and 96kHz sampling rates on Pro Tools|HD systems, are available as upgrades to registered owners of earlier versions of Mic Modeler TDM or RTAS.

Digidesign announced the release of the Hi-Resolution Parametric EQ plug-in for Pro Tools|HD created by acclaimed audio expert George Massenburg of Massenburg DesignWorks (MDW).

As a result of countless hours of critical listening and design by George Massenburg, one of the industry's foremost authorities, the MDW Hi-Resolution EQ provides Pro Tools users with a high-end EQ plug-in solution.

At NAB, Apogee Electronics Corporation unveiled its latest multi-channel converter the Rosetta 800. With standard 96k and optional 192k sampling rates, the Rosetta 800 bundles some of Apogee's most celebrated features, found in its flagship unit the AD 8000 and the Rosetta AD, with the latest in high-definition digital audio.

The Rosetta 800 offers such Apogee attributes as 'SoftLimit', 'UV22HR', and 'Intelliclock'. These features combined with converters that are the benchmark for the digital audio industry and optional Firewire connectivity make the Rosetta 800 an ideal choice for those seeking a high-definition, professional solution at a project studio price.

A translation of a french article from our member Domz, concerning Mastering, originally written by Dominque Blanc-Francard, a top french engineer.

Digidesign is pleased to preview the Pro ToolsŪ 6.1 software, an update to the recently released Pro Tools 6.0 software for the Mac OS X platform that added a powerful set of new features and improvements for Pro Tools TDM and LE systems. Now, with the Pro Tools 6.1 software, Windows XP users can enjoy the enhanced Pro Tools functionality added in Pro Tools 6.0 for Mac OS X systems, as well as take advantage of a host of other exciting new features.

Along with a streamlined new look for the Mix, Edit, and Transport windows, Pro Tools 6.1 software brings to the table the powerful DigiBase file management utility, enhanced MIDI functionality (including high-resolution groove templates!), additional Beat Detective features, new Import Session options, plug-in functionality enhancements, MachineControl additions, a host of new enhancements to Pro Tools LE, and much more.

Due to strong request the Germany based company propagamma / usb-audio.de released the Mac OS X public beta version V0.8b of their USB audio driver. This driver connects external soundcards with audio applications via CoreAudio. ASIO support will be added as soon as it's available on Mac OS X.

The commercial version of the driver supports Digidesign Mbox (currently only digital input), Edirol UA-1A, Edirol UA-3, Edirol UA-3D, Griffin iMic, Opcode DAT-/SonicPort (optical), Onkyo MSE-U33, Onkyo SE-U55 and Roland-ED UA-30.

Since a numer of companies licensed this driver it will also be available soon for Apogee MineME, ESI U24, Sound Devices USB pre, Swissonic USB Studio, Media-Assistance USB One, Yamaha UW500 and others.

According to the company the latency is still high but will go down with V0.9b. A demo version is available.

Bias Inc. unveiled Peak 4, a major new version of the leading stereo waveform editing application for Macintosh. Peak 4 offers a wealth of new features and enhancements, including support for Audio Unit plug-ins - Apple's new audio plug-in standard for Mac OS X, Multi-processor support, Redbook CD burning from directly within the Peak application, a host of new DSP tools, and many other enhancements. In addition, Peak 4's graphic user interface has been streamlined, and sports a new elegant brushed metal look that Macintosh enthusiasts will surely feel at home with. Finally, Peak 4 is now a Mac OS X-only application, enabling it to take full advantage of the OS X-only services within OS X.

FXpansion announced the VST to AudioUnit Adapter. It's a simple wrapper for VST plug-ins so they can be used in AudioUnits software (like Logic or the announced update of DP that will support AudioUnits).

The plug-ins tested successfully with it by FXpansion are coming from: Steinberg, Waves, TC-Works, Prosoniq, LinPlug, MDA, reFX, Ohm Force, Synapse Audio, DSound, PSP, Waldorf, INA-GRM, Elemental Audio, Arturia, AAS, Bitshift Audio, Bitheadz, DMI, GMedia, Green Oak, Rumpelrausch Taips, Spectrasonics, Swar Systems, Yellow Tools, Silverspike, Destroyfx, Antares, DigitalFishPhones.

Release date TBA but preordering possible, price $75

Yamaha has released the latest USB drivers for the 02R96, and DM2000 consoles and posted them for immediate download. The drivers are available for OS9 and OSX.

ECHO the digital audio company, just announce the final touch on their new driver, making all their products fully compatible with OSX (Core Audio and Core Midi).

The souncards Gina, Layla 24, Mona, Mia and Mia Midi are now ready to run under OSX.

Native Instruments announces that all new NI products as well as the existing catalogue will be outfitted with the RTAS interface.

NI is currently working intensely on equipping the entire product line with RTAS support. All new products coming out in 2003 will support the RTAS interface (Windows, Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X), while support for the existing products will be implemented in future updates of the products.

RTAS will soon be the new standard for integration of NI products into ProTools and completely replace DirectConnect. With RTAS support the integration of NI software synthesizers, samplers and effects into ProTools systems reaches a new level of quality. Soon all NI products will offer ProTools users complete automation, total recall, and remote control of all plug-in control elements via Digidesign hardware controllers.

A schedule for upcoming RTAS support, as well as further information, can be found on:

The Digidesign Core Audio driver allows your third-party applications supporting the Apple Core Audio standard to utilize your Pro Tools system for audio input and output.
This initial version of the Core Audio driver requires some embedded Pro Tools components. As such, it is a requirement that Pro Tools 6.0.1 must be installed for correct Core Audio driver operation. A stand-alone version is annonced for the coming weeks. Beware, the Digidesign Core Audio driver can only work with one application at a time, and is not able to support playback of system sounds.

Cycling'74, the editor of Pluggo jitter and Max-msp has just released RadiaL, a software for realtime loops' treatment, optimized for playing live, composing, designing...
RadiaL is based on loop channels represented by circular displays, each with its own performable multi-filter and pitch shifting/time scaling. Almost every aspect of the system can be configured for live performance, studio recording, or sound exploration, controlled from a variety of sources (control surfaces, MIDI, keyboard or mouse). RadiaL features complete multi-channel audio I/O support, audio and effects routing, and support for VST plug-ins.