Mac and Music News

After the creation of the new entity Creamware Audio GmbH, Frank "Franckie" Hund, founder and CEO, let out a few words that are puttings product powerusers a bit on the downside. A short list of the questions and answers on PlanetZ, a specialised into Creamware independant forum:

This fabulous looping software is online since Feb. 5th, free for registered users of the 2.0 CD and for sale for owners of earlier versions or 2.0 users without CD (US$17-76). This software is also part of the bundle you get with Reason adapted (a light version of reason). Register and download Reload for free for compatibility between Akai samples and both Reason and ReCycle. The new release adds Mac OS X compatibility and 24-bit audio file support.

Editor's Comment: Enjoyed those REX loops in Reason and want to make your own, for use in Reason, Logic, Digital Performer, and others? ReCycle is the way to do it. Load audio, chop it up in ReCycle, and play with the REX files. REX is a more flexible format with features Apple Loops doesn't have (and no reason you can't use both!). ...

VirSyn has upgraded its CUBE additive synth to 1.5, adding the ability to resynthesize stereo samples of virtually unlimited length. Sound morph between up to four sources, or add time warping envelopes, on top of the software's already-unique additive synthesis approach. The new version also adds (get the part of your brain that knows about DSP theory ready, readers!) WAV/AIFF import for resynthesis, FFT sound analysis, 512-partial decomposition of samples with internal envelopes for frequency, level, and pan, analysis and resynthesis of notes, loops, or even entire pieces, 64-breakpoint time warp envelopes for movement through the resynthesized sample, formant analysis, solo function, global level for source, microtuning, and more. An unusually powerful tool: we'll be back soon with a review.

A demo version is available for download for OS 9 standalone/VST and OS X standalone/AU/VST. 1.5 upgrades are free(!) for registered users; check the support page.

Mondays will normally be Mew and Zach Day, but Macboy has given us a special Post-Super Bowl edition.

Korg has released the Triton Extreme, a new version of its flagship workstation. The Extreme is loaded with 160 MB of waveforms, 1344 presets and 1280 combinations. The unit also features 120-note polyphony, double arpeggiator, and 2 USB ports to connect to your computer, or to a hard disk or CD-ROM. Data can be saved on CompactFlash cards or Microdrive. There's even a tube circuit (12AU7 dual-triode) for use in both effects and sampling -- a real breakthrough in this type of keyboard!

Gleetchplug proudly announces that today you can download (free, as usual) Cosmo, a custom-made plugin for Teradélie new music artwork.

Cosmo is a spectral delay + granulizer that works for VST/MAS and RTAS applications. OS 9 only, though OS X versions of all the software are scheduled. It transforms non-ryhthmical signals into huge drones or pads: try it with voices or long transient sounds. On the same page you can also listen to a Cosmo sound sample made by Teradélie herself from her forthcoming CD. Enjoy!

Breakbeat scientist bitshift has created 40 MB of exclusive Apple Loops, available for free download, perfect for GarageBand and Soundtrack. And since Apple Loops are plain AIFFs, of course, you can load them into non-Apple Loops software like Ableton Live and loop them there, too. Best news: if you saw this item a few days ago, just tried the download and thanks to a new server it's downloading nice and fast! Opt-in for their mailing list and you'll get free software instruments, too. Enjoy!

Drums on Demand has released its Vol. 1 loop CD in Apple Loops format for use with GarageBand and Soundtrack. The collection includes nearly 900 live, acoustic drum loops organized into 41 "Song Sets" -- the song-based organization is includes as many as 33 verse, chorus, fill, bridge, break, intro, ending, and other loops, so that you can use the samples to easily build a song structure. Royalty free, with rock, pop, and country styles, 72-170 bmp, 24-bit 44.1Khz; list US$49.95.

In February 2004 the Traktor Final Scratch 1.1 software by Native Instruments will receive an update to version 1.5. This update includes important optimizations for Mac OS X , brings new drivers that have been specially optimized for Mac OS 10.3 "Panther" and Traktor FS 1.5 now offers the high-quality timestretching functionality of TRAKTOR DJ Studio 2.5.

This update will be available in February. For a limited time, it will be offered as a free download to all customers who purchased FS 1.1 after January 1st, 2004. All other customers can get the update as a 49 Euro direct download or an update CD for 79 Euro.