Mac and Music News

Eric B. from Apple has posted a message explaining all the differences of Soundtrack and GarageBand -- an issue I discussed on today's Inside Mac Radio show audio feature and here on MacMusic.org, but didn't discuss in detail.

Following last week's announcement that the company is shipping its flagship Finale 2004 notation software for OS X, MakeMusic! today has announced its interactive music practice system SmartMusic is also shipping with support for OS 10.2 and higher. SmartMusic is sold on a subscription plan, so current subscribers can receive a CD-ROM with the 8.2 update on it for the cost of shipping. The release also includes Mp3 saving and new contest repertoire plus compatibility with restricted access accounts and other enhancements. Individual users can subscribe for as little as US$90/year with discounts for educational institution installations. (Check the website below for complete pricing.) The combination of Finale and SmartMusic on OS X means you can both create (with Finale) and play back (with SmartMusic) accompaniment files without booting OS 9.

At 2004 NAMM Show, The Sound Guy, Inc. has announced an RTAS upgrade path for SFX Machine RT. SFX Machine RT is an audio multi-effects plug-in, available in Audio Unit format for Mac OS X and VST format for Mac OS 8/9/X.

With a new purchase of SFX Machine RT for 99 euros, users will receive an offer for a 1/3 discount from FXpansion on purchases of the VST to RTAS Adapter.

In what has to be the best NAMM roundup I've seen, Barry Wood has compiled his NAMM Oddities. Barry writes "It's that time of year again and all that's left of the Winter NAMM show is a dull ringing of the ears. That means that there is a new edition of the NAMM Oddities. For those of you are might not be familiar with the NAMM Oddities, they are a collection of all the weird and wonderful things that I found lurking in the corners of the NAMM show."

I've got a gig to get ready for this weekend, but I'll have to respond with MacMusic's own NAMM wrapup -- that is, if the MacMusic staff can dig itself out from under the rest of the crucial NAMM press releases!

The huge NAMM show has come to an end in California -- ah, the memories. Well, okay, virtual memories as the MacMusic crew is holed up in places like New York and Paris instead. Apple has posted an enormous wrap-up of the festivities with galleries, press releases, and more. It's a little more Apple-centric than usual, not too surprising with big Emagic announcements and Garage Band. But the Mac Music ecosystem, from Cycling 74 to MOTU, makes an appearance, too, and check out that nice motorcycle and accordion.

Vintage synths and misc instrument icons for OS X that can be used for audio set-ups as well! Ed: Fire up Audio MIDI Setup and pop in these beauties! Gorgeous -PK

Avid Technology, Inc. announced that its audio division, Digidesign, will receive an Academy Award of Merit (Oscar statuette) from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The statuette, which will be presented at the Scientific and Technical Academy Awards on February 14, 2004, will recognize Digidesign for the design, development, and implementation of the Pro Tools digital audio workstation, which is renowned "as the standard for creating and editing motion picture soundtracks."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents Scientific and Technical Awards to the creators of devices, methods, formulas, discoveries, or inventions of special and outstanding value to the arts and sciences of motion pictures. In the 76-year history of the Academy, only 42 Oscar statuettes have been awarded for scientific and technical achievements. The award presented to Digidesign is the fifth Oscar statuette to recognize innovations in sound technology.

In the "blast-from-the-past category," it's the sequencer/audio program Metro, now owned by Sagan Technology. Here's the latest from Sagan. -PK

Due to repeated request, Sagan Technology has released Metro 6 LX. This is the middle sibling in their product line. Bigger than Metro SE yet much more compact than the full version of Metro. This product, like their others, is available for download only. However, unlike the other products, LX is an OS X only product. The price is currently $129.99 and upgrades from Sagan Technology's SE product are just $49.99. (more)

PowerFX has announced the release of a new collection of CD-ROMs entitled Apple Disc Jams. These Apple Loops libraries are optimized for use with Apple's Soundtrack & Garage Band applications. The first 3 titles of the series are available for $49 USD exclusively from the PowerFX website. The new products are:

- Invincible Dance: A fresh collection of Club & Dance oriented loops featuring everything from bass & drum loops to synth pads and FX loops.
- NuJazz House: Authentic acoustic & electric instrument samples in the Jazz vein that include drums, bass, electric piano, minor 7th chords & much more.
- Electro Clashmatic: A Neo-Retro combination of classic Vocoder & Electro style beats & bass as well as modern synth & FX one shots.

Ed: Garage Band users, tried these out yet? Apple's Jam Pack? Write a review if so. -PK

The Continuum Fingerboard shown at NAMM 04 is a different take on the traditional keyboard. But, as the name implies, your fingers are still involved. Lepetitmartin reports.

This controller offers a surface roughly similar in size to a traditional keyboard and can be played with the 10 fingers (sorry if you have 6 fingers per hand, it can only manage 10 notes simultaneously). Finger pressure controls tremolo (ask a violonist or a clavicordist) and glissandi.
Pitch (x axis), timbre (y axis) and dynamics (z axis) are controlled by finger position. Total pitch ambitus is 8 octaves. The unit is compatible with Kyma and any MIDI device with MIDI In/Out/Thru and supports a direct Firewir connection.

Ed: Just saw this fantastic device via a contributor to the U&I list. Looks tremendous. I hope to try one in person soon! -PK

Not to be outdone by Apple's Emagic Logic, MOTU's got some tricks up its own sleeve for the future of Digital Performer, the company's flagship DAW MIDI/audio environment. At NAMM, MOTU demonstrated several new features being worked on in Digital Performer, including a consolidated preferences window and enhanced MIDI arpeggiator. MOTU also previewed Digital Performer's Beat Detection Engine . This new audio processing technology examines the transients in waveform data and applies artificial intelligence to determine beat locations and the overall tempo of the audio, even when the audio file is not trimmed to measure or beat boundaries. This core engine has been deployed throughout Digital Performer, allowing users to manipulate the beats and tempo of their audio and MIDI data. That's without using predefined loops, so this is a major feature for DP that could set it ahead of the pack.

Digidesign announced the acquisition of Bomb Factory Digital's Assets, including their brand name and their catalog of 27 renowned plug-ins (those shipping as of December 29, 2003). Acquired Bomb Factory plug-ins will continue to be supported on Pro Tools|HD Accel, Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools|24 MIX, and Pro Tools LE in TDM, RTAS and AudioSuite formats, and on the Apple Macintosh OS X.

Edirol has announced the PCR-1, a compact 24-bit/96kHz audio interface and keyboard controller made for the traveling musician. The PCR-1 features 25 full-width keys, 25 assignable controllers, RCA input & output, S/PDIF output and pitch & modulation controls. This very slim keyboard is USB bus-powered and needs a Mac PowerPC G3/233 MHz or higher on MacOS 8.5, 8.6, 9.x, and OS X.

Ed: Now the main decision for folks is whether to buy this or the similar product from Midiman. Want to weight in? Hit comments. -PK

The website formerly known as GBUsers.com has announced that it will now be known as MacJams.com. MacJams.com is one of the leading GarageBand communities, featuring news, information, and user discussion about Apple's popular music software and related topics. Users are asked to update their bookmarks prior to February 2, 2004, our former domain name will become inactive. Ed: Sounds good to me -- GB sounds too much like "Great Britain"!