Mac and Music News

The new AES16 audio card from Lynx Studio Technology is now available. The AES16 Multichannel AES/EBU Interface is a half-size PCI card that provides 16 channels of 24 bit AES/ EBU digital audio at a 192 kHz sample rate. The AES16 is controlled by its own software application and is compatible with Windows and Macintosh operating systems.

Two models are currently available : the AES16-XLR (with XLR cables for a retail price of $795.00) and the AES16 (without cables for a retail price of $695.00).

PowerFX presents ProScore, two specially produced DVDs for use with Apples Soundtrack software. Each disc contains over 2200 pre-formatted Apple Loops that are organized into folders by category & genre. The material can be indexed & searched direct from the DVDs via Soundtracks Media Manager window which saves users valuable hard disk space. The titles are as follows:

DV Composer's Toolkit is a complete musical composition library with everything from urban & cinematic themes to Asian & Indian flavors. It features Soundtrack arrangements, ambiance textures, and hundreds of assorted instrument loops. This collection was created for scoring, audio vignettes, sound logos and general music composition.

Massive FX is designed to create authentic audio backdrops for film, video or docume ...

Taking advantage of the latest FireWire technology, the new IF-FW/DM adds 24 inputs and 24 outputs from a computer DAW to TASCAM's DM-24 Digital Mixer. For under $3,500*, a studio can add the DM-24 and IF-FW/DM to their DAW system, providing powerful mixing, automation and processing capabilities to virtually any computer recording system through a single FireWire connection.
he IF-FW/DM is an expansion card that follows the same design as the ADAT, AES/EBU, TDIF and analog expansion cards for the DM-24. Other features include:

* 24-channel input and 24-channel output when used with the DM-24
* 16-channel input and output when used at 88.1kHz or 96kHz sample rates with the DM-24
* Adds 8 inputs and 8 outputs when used with the TASCAM SX-1 or SX-1LE, up to two cards can be installed
...

OWC Mercury, FirewireDirect, LaCie updated their firmwares and made them available online in order to eradicate Panther's bugs that seems to make firewire HD datas vanished while installing. Here are the direct links:

OWC Mercury - FirewireDirect - Lacie

These companies seem to agree on the fact that their solutions work for their products only. True or not ? Apple is very discreet on this issue.

Emagic just released Logic Audio 6.3.1 and Logic Gold 6.3.1 avalaible on the Emagic website. The Logic 6.3.1 Updater/Installer installs the Space Designer and the demo presets (including impulse response files).

PowerFX have launched a new section of their website dedicated exclusively to users of Apple's Soundtrack & Final Cut Pro 4 software. The new section features custom "Apple Loops" Sample Packs which are pre-formatted for use with Soundtrack and are organized into different styles. Each Sample Pack contains various instrument parts that can be arranged & mixed as desired. There are also streaming demos which preview each collection. Also available in the Apple Zone are the ProScore sound effect & music composition libraries. The series consists of 2 separate DVDs each containing over 2200 "Apple Loops" and are available only from the PowerFX website via free, worldwide shipping.

Native Instruments has announced the new version 2.5 of Traktor DJ Studio. Traktor is a software solution for DJ mixing, live remixing and mix recording using tracks in MP3, MP4 (AAC), WAV, AIFF, and Audio CD format. The new version 2.5 available November 10th in stores and for US$199 on the NI Online Shop.

Ed: We'd reported this was coming; new in this version -- high quality time stretching engine with up to +/- 30% tempo and pitch shifting without audible artifacts; full-length, easier-to-read track display; new auto-gain to adjust perceived volume; optimized control surface and screen presets; OSC sync with other apps (even over a network!); plus Final Scratch Database support, automatic tempo recognition for folders, seamless looping, full ID3 and iTunes support, and lots more. This is a really big update for a "point-5". Enjoy! -PK

Over the last week we've covered lots of compatibility issues and feature updates with OS X Panther; now here's your exclusive music-centric guide to upgrading, all in one place. The good: better audio, lots of updated software from MOTU, Tascam, Edirol, BIAS, and others, including new features and new functionality from MOTU enabled by the OS the day of the release! The bad: FireWire 800 drive problems, roadblocks with compatibility. The ugly: Digidesign users are advised to stick with Jaguar for the near future.

Steinberg announced at AES Convention in New York the latest Nuendo 2.1 version which now includes all functionality from Steinberg's Cubase SX music production software. Cubase SX has now reached version 2.01, with a free update now available for download.

These two upgrades are available for Nuendo 2 (on Mac OS X 10.2.5) and Cubase SX 2.0 (on mac os 10.2.3) users.