Mac and Music News

After the decision by TC to discontinue further development of Spark , BIAS Inc. announced that Peak 4.1 would now be offered at a substantial discount to users of TC Works and TC Electronic's Spark and Spark XL audio software.

Yamaha and Steinberg have just formed a strategic alliance to bring to musical products developers some protocols in Open Source. The aim is according to Charlie Steinberg "to establish multiplatform protocols, free to all developers, be they hardware or software". mLAN is clearly on the Yamaha roadmap and already some means of communications for Yam digital mixers are available into Nuendo directly (EQ, dynamics… ), the goal is Total Recall in the end. Hints are that moving some operations from the DAW to the mixers is in the drafts, and the "maybe" from Yamaha's engineers sound a lot like "we're working on it".

MX4 from MOTU features a unique, hybrid synthesis engine that combines several forms of synthesis, including subtractive, wavetable, frequency modulation (FM), amplitude modulation (AM) and analog emulation. MX4's flexible programming and advanced modulation architecture provide the intimacy of a vintage synth, the flexibility of a modular synth, and the innovation of a virtual synth. The plugin is available for MAS, RTAS & Audio Units

Digidesign has announced the release of Pro Tools 6.4, a new version of its professional audio editing solution for use with Pro Tools|HD and Pro Tools LE systems. Pro Tools 6.4 includes features such as Automatic Delay Compensation, TrackPunch (on-the-fly track arming/punching), TrackInput (track-by-track input switching), 23.976 fps support for HD video, +12 dB fader support, Foley "input mute" mode, and more. Pro Tools|HD customers can purchase an upgrade from Pro Tools 5.x or 6.x for USD 150. Pro Tools 6.4 comes with all new Pro Tools systems and is a free upgrade for registered owners of Pro Tools LE 6.0 or higher.

Enhanced drivers for RME audio cards : with Jaguar 10.2.8 and Panther, and classic 8.6 and up:
- Hammerfall DSP MADI,
- Hammerfall DSP,
- Hammerfall
- Digi96.

On the link below :

Yamaha releases its new software Studio Manager for OSX to manage the Yamaha 01X.
- graphic display of the 24 channels, 4 aux, patchbay editors, and internal FX
- internal midi port via firewire
- bi directional automation (Soft <-> Hard )
- mouse drawing and editing of EQ or Compressor curve (with real time effect).

It's a first version that should be improved and enhanced very quickly.

Developed and created by reFX founder Michael Kleps, Vanguard represents years of investment in knowledge and experience and is destined to replace your old 19" rack mounted unit, giving users a warm and rich sounding synthesizer plug-in, with all the benefits of modern digital technology

Equipped with 31 different types of oscillators, including rarely found digital oscillators with new modulation options, Vanguard also includes 13 filter types with different slopes and includes a new kind of combined dual-filter variations. Along with a delay and reverb, Vanguard features the Trancegate and Arpeggiator tools. Trancegate is a 16-step gate allowing you to create rhythmic gated patterns while the Arpgeggiator features inspiring patterns and several play modes.

Cycling 74 has just put on line a 3.1.3 update of Pluggo (their famous plug-in collection). This version is intended to previous version customers and requires a G4 with OS 10.2 minimum. Cycling 74 did not published any infos about this update, so you will discover it when instaling it...

This new version adds compatibility for OSX 10.2.7, Panther and G5 Macs. Updated drivers include MOTU FireWire Driver Version 1.07 and MOTU PCI Driver Version 1.03. Both updates support all MOTU FireWire and PCI interfaces, including the original 828 and 896 FireWire interfaces, as well as first- and second-generation PCI-324 and PCI-424 systems running under Panther.
In addition to Panther compatibility, these FireWire and PCI audio driver updates introduce significant new features: input/output names, control surface support for CueMix DSP, the latency-free monitor mixing feature found in their latest FireWire and PCI audio interfaces, default stereo input/output and Talkback capabilities!. The new FireWire audio driver also introduces the ability to resolve (slave) to another CoreAudio driver.

Yamaha announced at Musik Messe a new "Mid-Priced Digital Console" that combines features of DM2000 and PM1D. The new PM5 D features 64 input channels, 24 mix outputs , 2 stereo (ST A and B or L-C-R), 8 matrix, 8 Mute groups and 8 DCAs (Digitally Controlled Amplifiers). Customers have a choice of two front-end configurations. Model PM5D includes 48 XLR/balanced TRS analog mono inputs based on the circuitry found in the Yamaha DM2000, and Model PM5D-RH with recallable mic preamps, identical to the head amplifier design of the Yamaha PM5000. The PM5D includes eight internal stereo multi-effects processors, 100 mm motorized faders, a cascade port o function in tandem with Yamaha PM5D, or with DM2000 or 02R96 mixers, and a Mac compatible Editor Application software is included for online control.

A new update (1.2) for the Tascam FW-1884 driver has been released. New features inlude:
- New informations about the soft
- FE8 support with LCD software
- Enhanced compatibility with Logic Audio and Digital Performer Plug-ins
- Pan bugs fixed
- Better stability (during Midi transfer with DP)

A patch for G5 users is on the way (to avoid midi/audio cut off).

Frankfort Musik Messe is just open and native Instruments annouces a new range of software..and hardware products :

- Guitar Rig : is a software solution and foot controler for guitarist on stage or at home, including emulations of classic and modern amplifiers, speakers and effects.

- Elektrik Piano : unites the four most beloved E-pianos of all time into one software instrument : Fender Rhodes MK ITM and MK IITM, Hohner Clavinet E7TM, and the Wurlitzer A 200TM.

- The B4D drawbar controller is of course a hardware controler for the B4 organ virtual instrument and allows users to control rotary speaker, vibrato/chorus, percussion, recall presets on the fly, and change the volume.

- The Xpress Keyboards is a three software music instruments wich includes N.I. XPRESS versions of ...

Paul the developer of ZoeOS, a full editor for EMU samplers (E4, E4X, E4XT, E4K, E6400, E64, E5000 and above, see this news) is announcing a subscribtion scheme to ensure the issuing of its editor ZoeOS under OSX. He needs to be sure there is enough customers for the work to be meaningful.

The new sound design company Digital Media Dreams BVBA (DmD) announces the release of their first sample CD "SoundXperience". SoundXperience is a multi-sample library containing high quality synth sounds patched up for Reason's NN-XT and Native Instruments Kontakt 1.5.2. DmD is a new company which has the goal to produce and release sample collections on CD-ROM and in the form of downloadable "SoundPack's". DmD was founded by the founders and administrators of the Reason orientated website "Reasonfreaks".

Content of SoundXperience: 125 Multi-samples (1243 Wav. files), 344 NN-XT Patches, 252 Kontakt 1.5.2 Patches. The various category's of sounds included in SoundXperience: Arp, Bass, Drums, Keys, Leads, Mono, Organs, Pads & Strings, Sound Scapes

In total there are almost 600 patches ...

Steinberg announced version 3 of Halion - the well known soft sampler - that will soon be available. Based on version 2.0 engine, this new version 3 will use Steinberg RAMsave technology that will allow an easier management of bigger size samples. Moreover the effect section will be enhanced with a choice of 27 effects that you'll be able to apply to every sample, program or bank. New features also include a file management tool and support of Kontakt and Kurweil samples. Halion should be available soon for 399 euros.

VirSyn (designer of Tera and Cube ) has just announced at the release of a new vocal synthesis software : CANTOR, an eight parts vocal soft (G4/400 minimum with OS X). You'll have to insert your text in english and cantor will sing it following your midi keyboard. The soft will allow you to edit the voice and the phonemes. Cantor will be available in may 2004 (Mac OS X, Stand Alone, ReWire, VST, AU et RTAS.)

At Frankfort Musik Messe, Native Instruments presents NI KOMPLETE 2 ,his comprehensive software solution for the musicians and producers who want to have it all. This package includes the full versions for mac OS X : ABSYNTH 2, REAKTOR 4, B4 Organ, FM7, PRO-53, KONTAKT 1.5, KOMPAKT, INTAKT, BATTERY, VOKATOR und NI-SPEKTRAL DELAY. NI KOMPLETE 2 will be available in June 2004 for a suggested retail price of $ 1149 / 999 €.

At the 2004 Musik Messe, IK Multimedia and Sonic Reality have announced their next collaborative effort, StudioPhonik, the first Studio Instrument Module. This virtual instrument plug-in is dedicated to reproducing the diverses sounds and instruments of full bands in high-end recording studios. With a wide selection of custom, vintage and top of the line drums, percussion, guitars, bass, keyboards and horns, the user can produce an realistic and professional sounding virtual band in their sequencer, all from one plug-in.

StudioPhonik is expected to be released within this summer and will be available as a plug-in for every sequencer platform including RTAS, VST, MAS and Audio Unit on MacOS. The MSRP will be $/Euro 399.

Paperweight Software inc. is the reincarnation of AFSoft, the former Andrew Logan 's shareware company. Audiophile2.0 Public Beta is the next version for OS X of the popular Audiophile Dj application from Paperweight Software, with new features : Easy to Use 2-channel interface, Auto-fading, 2 Band Equalizer and more. Audiophile is downloadable as a beta version and is an open-source application.