Mac and Music News

Just a quick note to anyone who has been as eager for this as I have - I have tested ProTools 6.1 and found that FINALLY the same installation can be used with either the Digi002 or the MBox... no more need for multiple installations on different partitions/drives. Didn't seem to work with both simultaneously...

In the installation process, I just chose first to install ProTools 6.1 for MBox, then installed ProTools 6.1 for Digi002 (which was very fast). Now I can plug in whatever hardware I want and go!

Ableton releases Live 2.1, a new update of their award-winning sequencing instrument. Live 2.1 brings full ReWire support to Mac OS 9 and now Mac OS X and features that allow integration for Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Nuendo, Digital Performer and Reason users. The software update is now available as a free download for registered Live 2 users.

If you think that the Apple Cube was (and is) a pretty good computer to make music (so compact, so silent and and with firewire connexions), you must discover Kemplar.com. They sells cutomized Cube: G4 at 1,2GHz, 120G HD, 1 Go Ram, GeForce3 Video card, Superdrive (in option)... Stock is limited!

The original Muon Tau Bassline has now been completely overhauled and re-released as an entirely new product: Tau Bassline mk2

Tau Bassline Mk2 features:

- 64-bit 2x oversampling waveform oscillators with rich analogue-like sawtooth and square waveforms
- improved 18db/octave lowpass filter
- Glide function
- Accent mode.
- Additionally, all controls can be automated with MIDI CC controllers. Users can define their own CC mappings with the integrated and easy-to-use MIDI learn feature. CC mappings are saved in patches and songs automatically too.

Mac OS9 and Mac OSX VSTi versions of Tau Mk2 are now available from the Muon online shop at the reduced price of $17.50. The price will rise to $20 after August 31st.

Demos for all platforms and audio demos are available.

Kenton will shortly be releasing several new products :

- LD2 - MIDI level display
Designed primarily as a MIDI volume level indicator for synth/keyboard players, particularly those using a foot pedal for volume control. However, this handy little device can be used in any situation where a clear, accurate level display is required.

- XC5 - 'Hands-free' control hub
This box has 2 inputs for switch pedals, 2 inputs for variable pedals and a breath controller input. Intended to add lots of control possibilities to your performance.

- Wireless MIDI system
The system consists of a transmitter, which is a small battery powered pack intended to be worn on the belt and has a MIDI In socket for connection to your keyboard or MIDI guitar, and a receiver unit, which has a MIDI Out socke ...

5 well know, high quality and praised OhmForce products for only 345 Euros (saved 120 Euros) up to July 29th. Featuring in this Audio Units bundle :
- Ohm Boyz : delay
- Predatohm : disto/booster
- Hematohm : freq-shifter
- Mobilohm : phaser
- Quad Frohmage : filter bank

This is a time limited offer, so hurry up!

The one drooling over the classic Ursa Major racks can spin in joy and sing all day long, one of the "reverberators" himself Mr Christopher Moore re-release the Ursa Major Space Station SST-206.

Based on 150MHz 24 bit Motorola DSP chips, and using the original algorhythm the original sound should still be there, along with AES-EBU I/O, and of 24 bits 44.1 or 48 khz audio. The unit itself is no more a 3U rack but what looks like a remote with knobbies.

With the power available from the Motorola chip, Moore says that he was unable to resist the temptation to pull out all the stops and render a stunning new reverb program he simply calls "room." The reverberator is controlled by twelve potentiometers that provide instant, intuitive access to all the important parameters.

Price $1195.00. Note, the SST-206 is not CE approved yet.

While we happily roast (at least in Europe ;) TFPRO (Ted Fletcher, the guy behing the ex Joemeek line) is still busy like ants and prepares a rack (still unnamed, go with an entry below and win a P3 if yours is chosen ;) dédicated to EQ in mastering.

So what's this beast? It's a developement of the Trident-MTA "A" line, based on a Barry Porter design. Specs as of today are:

The P9 features, 2 channels of...
- NO POTS! All switched settings (rotary and toggle)
- 4 bands
- 12 EQ gain stages
- boost/cut per band (24 gain positions in total)
- Mid Q shaping (2 bands)
- 11 input and output gain settings
- All inductor based EQ
- 3 way high pass filter
- 3 way low pass filter
- input clip meter
- post EQ 9 LED meter
- eq bypass switch

Price and availability TBA

Emagic softs and products can be now purchased on the Apple Store.

Granted Software released ReMIDI 1.0, a handy MIDI performance assistant featuring automatic chord generation and arpeggiation. ReMIDI is a tool that enhances keyboard performance to by automatically changing notes into chords and chords into arpeggios or strums.

The Chord Assistant includes 27 different chords.
There are two Performance Assistants: the Arpeggiator and the Strummer. The Arpeggiator plays the chords in a variety of ways and supports a variety of tempos, intervals and durations. The Strummer addresses a major keyboard performance problem - getting a realistic strum effect.

ReMIDI 1.0 is directly downloadable from the Granted Software website. Registration is only $14.95 (U.S.) per single-user license. ReMIDI requires Mac OS X 10.2 and higher.