Mac and Music News

Emagic has announced it is renaming its USB audio interfaces, formerly the 2|6 and 6|2m, as the A26 and A62m. No other changes are being made to its hardware line other than the rebranding. Same box with a new name, in other words.

John Keane, a prolific TV composer for such shows as the US CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, is interviewed today on the Native Instruments website as a frequent user of the German developer's products. Dig down and you'll see Mr. Keane is a full-time Mac user. He has also been interviewed by Emagic as a Logic user. You can check out Mr. Keane's record, as well, on his website. (Warning: incompatible with Apple Safari.) Hopefully Mr. Keane will join us on this site, too!

It's not the iTunes Music Store, but it's an event in the little world of electroacoustic and contemporary music : the Canadian Electroacoustic Community set up the SONUS project.

SONUS is an online listening library (jukebox) of electroacoustic works, electronic or contemporary music works. For the very first time, about 1000 contemporary music works in full time version, are available for free listening.

Native Instruments is now shipping the 1.1.1 update to FM7, its FM synthesis virtual instrument, with new Mac OS X support and cross-platform RTAS Pro Tools support on both Mac and PC. Like previous OS X releases from Native, full support for AudioUnits, RTAS, VST, and standalone operation with CoreMIDI and CoreAudio is included, so you can use FM7 on its own or in whatever host software you prefer. The update isn't free: Native is charging US$29 for the update as a download (US$59 bundled with FM7 Sounds Vol. 1), US$49 for a CD (US$79 with sounds bundle).

In september, a french tribunal judged that a locked CD with a anti-copy system (against audio piracy which make it inaudible with certain equipments), is affected by a hidden defect and must be refund.

Someone must have been anxious to get Cubase SX 2.0, the latest upgrade to the only remaining cross-platform MIDI/audio workstation, because Steinberg's website was dead in the water yesterday. The site is back up today, and the news is official: Cubase SX 2.0 is shipping. Here's a look at what's new.

Virtual signal routing capabilities make up some of the most interesting improvements to Cubase. Under the hood, version 2.0 has "true multi-channel" surround capabilities throughout, so that the entire signal path can hold six channels, not only in audio tracks but sends and inserts, as well. "Full latency" compensation promises to finally resolve timing issues introduced by effects and instruments. FX return channels now provide full rturn channels for each send effect, automatically, wi ...

A 1.05 updater for The Grand has been released, adding OS X support to Steinberg's concert grand VSTi (previously only available for OS 9 and Windows). The Grand is more than just a sampled piano instrument: there are lots of editable parameters, too, for sound and playing style. Watch this space for a review. Download 1.05 Updater

Mackie should announce the production of an USB audio interface (24bits/96kHz). The name should be "XD-2". And this interface could be released before the end of 2003. The price should be close to 419 $.
AND a special pack (named "spike") should be bundled with the XD-2 including two bonus software : "Tracktion audio recording" and "Ableton Live Mackie".

Features expected :
- 2 micros preamps Mackie (preamp/micro/line/instrument)
- SPDIF I/O,
- MIDI I/O
- Monitor stereo output
- front jack input for earphone (with volume controller)

Is it a rumour ?...or Mackie really made a MBox....? ;-)

We had announced it 4 month ago ... Cantar X will be available on october 10 th. It will be introduced at the IBC in Amsterdam (stand 6108) from sept 12th to 18th 2003. Have a look on the link below...

Apple also updated its iMac line. New features include:
- Up to 1.25Ghz PowerPC G4
- Cinematic 3D graphics
- High-speed USB 2.0
- Up to 160 Go Hard drives
- Airport Extreme and Bluetooth ready

> the new iMacs

Apple just enhanced its iPod line, improving the hard drives capacities. The news models were updated to 10Go (lower price), 20Go and 40Go HDs.

I want one ! ;-)

> the all-new iPod

The X Lab has published Troubleshooting Mac OS X, a new e-book dedicated to preventing or resolving common problems with Mac OS X. The e-book format enables the reader to quickly find the solution to any of the numerous Mac OS X problems addressed in the 300+ pages of Troubleshooting Mac OS X. The book is extensively hyperlinked and cross-referenced, both within the book itself and to some of the best Mac OS X troubleshooting information on the Internet. Pricing begins at US$15.00 for a single-user license.

The Sound Guy announced the release of SFX Machine RT 1.02 for Macintosh, a real-time version of the award-winning SFX Machine audio effects plug-in. SFX Machine RT is available in Audio Unit format for Mac OS X, as well as VST format for Mac OS 8/9/X. The 1.02 update adds a Randomize button, optimized audio processing and other enhancements... SFX Machine RT comes with hundreds of presets, including conventional effects like choruses and flangers as well as a wide variety of unique effects. Many of the presets include a pitch tracker or envelope follower, allowing the effect to respond intelligently to the input signal. The plug-in also allows automated parameter control via a simple "MIDI Learn" interface.

According to our friends at SonicState, the brand new MPC 1000 from Akai should be launched on september 16th.