Mac and Music News

As we predicted 3 month ago ;-), Digidesign released a firewire audio interface, based on the Digi002 features, without the control surface. This 2U rack interface is compatible only with MacOS 10.2.5 (and up) and provides 18 channels of I/O and 2 MIDI out ports. Protools LE v6 is obviously included with Digi002 Rack.

This week's Mac Help Radio show will feature one of industrial music's pioneers, cEvin Key from the legendary Skinny Puppy. Skinny Puppy has been using Macs to create their music almost from the beginning and have worked with other bands such as Tool and Ministry. We will be talking to cEvin about how he uses the Mac in the studio and what kind of technology they have used over the years.

We'll be talking about how to start producing music on your Macintosh. Dru, Robert and Louis will discuss the basics and how to get started. We will demystify some of the technologies like Midi, what software to use and how to put together a song.

We hope that we can do justice to a topic that you guys here at MacMusic.org talk about on a daily basis. Enjoy the show.

LIVE: 8pm US Central time - archived within 5 hours of broadcast.

Noah is a "modeling expander of physical instruments", a really polyvalent expander: Sound generator, effects, step sequencer and arpegiator are available as modules generated in real time, thanks to the DSP. The Noah is available as normal version (7 DSP's) or in "Ex" version (11 DSP's).

PSP VintageMeter is a FREE metering RTAS plug-in for Mac OS 8,9 and OS X. It provides professional VU and PPM metering for mono and stereo tracks.

PSP VintageWarmer is a high-quality digital simulation of an analog-style, a single or multi band compressor/limiter. It combines warm analog sound with a straightforward user interface, and comes with a rich library of presets. The plug-in processor is highly flexible and can be used for both single and multi-band compression, as well as brick-wall limiting. This makes it an essential tool for mixing and mastering engineers. Careful attention has been paid to PSP Vintage Warmer's overload characteristics with the processor being capable of generating saturation effects typical of analog tape recorders. PSP Vintage Warmer also incorporates professional VU and PPM metering together with accurate overload indicators thereby assuring professional quality results.

Following months of development, the OSX driver for the LynxTWO and L22 192 kHz PCI interface audio cards is now available in a beta version from Lynx Studio Technology, Inc. The OSX driver offers extended functionality, such as the ability to install multiple Lynx cards in a Macintosh and to use more than one application simultaneously. The final OSX driver will be released summer 2003.

Gallery UK announced a special introductory discounted price of US $299 for their new LibraryLoader application which is now shipping. LibraryLoader allows owners of Sound Effects and Production Music CDs to quickly and easily transfer them to hard disk, building them into an on-line, networkable SFX Library to be catalogued and accessed by the new DigiBase management system included with Pro Tools 6.

Version 1.1 of Numerology Level 1 is now available for download at the Five12 website. It includes fifteen major new features and several smaller enhancements and fixes. Prominent among the new features are Gate Division for sequencing complex rhythm patterns, a MIDI Learn mode for remote control via MIDI CC, and new modules for processing control signals.

Numerology is a modular MIDI sequencer for Mac OS X that is oriented for live performance and experimentation. It uses sequencing techniques first established by analog sequencers in the 1970's, implemented within a virtual studio environment built from the ground up for improvisation and experimentation. Whether you are a new to music making or an experienced performer, Numerology offers a unique and powerful environment for extending your compositional boundaries.

From inside sources… Machfive, the virtual sampler from MOTU, will be available in 2 weeks, that is: beginning of June. Enjoy! :)