Mac and Music News

Happy visitors to the coming Apple expo in PARIS : Let's come and see us on the MacMusic stand (F 14). You'll get the opportunity to save money and to become an active members for 50 euros only for a new or a renewal subscription (cash or cheque only). We're looking forward to meet you on the MacMusic Stand.

On Monday, Inside Mac Radio is launching the first and only daily Mac radio show, with a summary of news and interviews with Mac experts and luminaries Monday through Friday, in English. The show, based in San Francisco, has an exclusive partnership with MacMusic.org, so I will be checking in with Scott weekly to talk about the latest in the world of Mac music and audio. Listen via the web or download archives to your iPod and listen on the bus/train! Other partners include Bare Feats, DV Guys, MacDesign Magazine, MacFixIt, MacMinute, MacSec, MacTech Magazine, MacUpdate, MacWindows, Macworld UK Magazine, Mugcenter, O'Reilly, OSXFAQ, and PowerPage. English-only for now.

Digi has announced ProTools HD ACCEL at the IBC Show in Amsterdam today. The ACCEL card appears to be a super dsp card replacement for the HD Process card. The new card is twice as powerful - but has a list price only $500 higher. HD2 and HD3 ACCEL systems will include the new card instead of the Process cards previously shipped with these systems. The other news is that ACCEL is shipping immediately.

After the warm reception for its first mixer, the TAPCO 6306, the new Mackie branch is releasing the S-5 Studio Monitor. The high quality S-5 has impressive sound and is solidly built, all for just US$560 (for the two monitors).

The S-5 is a bi-amplified compact monitor. It features two high-precision amplifiers with 120w overall (60W for the Boomer and 60w for the tweeter). The 5.25-inch boomer delivers punchy bass and a detailed middle. The 1-inch dome tweeter is coupled to wave guidance intended to deliver precise and less aggressive treble.

On the back side of the S-5 are a bass boost and treble (+/-) switch for further adjustment. The S-5 also features TRS jack, XLR asymmetric and asymmetric RCA inputs.

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...