Mac and Music News

IDrum by Bitshiftaudio is a rhythmic sequencer for Mac OS X. The design of this virtual drum machine is based on a single axis: the simplicity of use. Useable as fully integrated plug-in for GarageBand, Soundtrack and Logic, Idrum is also available as a stand-alone version and is delivered with several hundreds of samples.

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.