Mac and Music News

Refuse Software is releasing an update of Refuse for OS 9. This software allow to connect Pro Tools and Reason using a rewire link. This new version fixes a bug with the sampling frequency and enhance the user's interface. This 1.1 update is free for all registered users.

Happy 1st Birthday to the iTunes Music Store today! To celebrate, Apple has launched iTunes 4.5, with playlist publishing, radio charts, movie trailers and music videos. There's also "Party Shuffle" mode which is a huge boon for those of us who like to take our whole library and hit shuffle: the new feature lets you designate either a library or specific playlist, make changes to the order on the fly, and even save random plays. Here are features I'm even more excited about, though: iTunes 4.5 automatically converts Microsoft WMA files to AAC, and adds Apple Lossless, with CD quality audio in half the size. This could be iTunes 5, as far as I'm concerned.

In other news, iTunes has sold 70 million songs in its first year, short of Apple's 100 million goal but impressive nonetheless (and some of us still haven't redeemed all our Pepsi caps yet!) So, celebrate the 1 year birthday by downloading a free Foo Fighters tune, courtesy Apple -- the first of a series in which one new free song is released each week.

Ed: Yep, we're a day late with this one. Blame latency. -PK

Have a look at the new Creamware WebSite. SFP4 is downloadable (with lot of bugs fixed) and attractive prices for their latest plug-ins.

Applied Acoustics Systems announces the release of Tassman V4 for Mac OSX (CoreAudio, VST, RTAS, AudioUnits), its synthesis and sound design modular studio based on physical modelling. Besides the compatibility with Panther, Tassman offers a reorganized "performance" mode along with a function allowing to use it in real time and comes with a new sample collection.

Registered users can get an update for 99 euros. This update is free for users of versions bought after January 1, 2004. The full version is available for 399 euros (download) or 499 euros (CD version).

The long-awaited Finale NotePad 2004, the free version of MakeMusic's flagship music notation software Finale, is here. NotePad is the best free tool available for making simple scores, with a number of basic features borrowed from its sibling Finale. It's also critical to compatibility, since users who don't own Finale can open any file made with a Finale-family program in NotePad. Delays to an OS X version had crippled the usefulness of the free version and made it impossible to open Finale files downloaded on the web natively. The new version also boasts enhancements to playback, entry, layers, and lyrics. A must-have download if you need Finale compatibility or want a free, simple tool for printing scores.

Cycling '74 has released MODE plugins, which "combine classic synthesis and effects technique with state-of-the-art performance control. MODE features user-friendly arpeggiators, integrated synth effects and simplified control of complex systems." The suite, built using Pluggo technology, includes five primary plugins: POLY (polyphonic synthesizer), MONO (synth with a dual 2-op FM engine), BANG (FM and analog percussion voices), SPIN (time-synchronized effects) and WASH (delay-based effects processor) as well as 18 plug-in "modules". It is available for $200 for Mac OS X (and a host that supports VST, AU or RTAS plug-ins).

Ed: Cycling `74 has a reputation for plugin value thanks to their DIY development environment, Max/MSP. And look at the new, beautiful interfaces. Can't wait to try these out! -PK

IRecord Music the recording utility from Bitcarel has been updated to version 1.3. This version fixes some bugs, and allow to record in mp3, mp4-AAC format; to schedule your records with iCal; to record simultaneous audio flux; and supports the RealAudio and QuikTime applications. iRecord is listed at $20 and can be downloaded from the Bitcarel website.

It's a vocal synthesis double-header today! First Voxynth, which is designed more for synthetic sounds and formant filtering and morphing, was updated; now the wizards at VirSyn have released Cantor, a new vocal synth that can actually "sing" from text lyrics. That's right, with Cantor you can finally turn those lyrics into vocals without involving a human being, with a sonic effect ranging from weird to . . . weirder. Check out the details below from our team on MacMusic Soft.

MHC has released version 2.0 of its Voxynth AudioUnits plug-in (on Mac OSX). As the name implied, the plugin is designed for synthesizing vocal sounds. Central to Vocynth are lots of formant-based filtering and morphing options for creating wild, synthetic sounds. This update has a new graphic interface, 18 new additional filters and 192 new presets. Voxynth 2.0 belongs to the MHC studio bundle (price 99 euros). A 30-day demo is downloadable on the link below.

NAB has wound up being a blockbuster show, not just for video people but audio people, as well. I've talked to a number of people coming back from Las Vegas with drool all over their shirts from all the new gear. One of the drool-afflicted is our friend Scott Shepard, who sends us galleries full of lust-worthy photos!

Gallery 1: Apple presentation; break out the champagne!
Gallery 2: HP's Fiorina keynote (with Oprah!), Apple booth, Digidesign console
Gallery 3: Did we mention this show is HUGE? Show floor, with the future MacMusic News Truck
Gallery 4: Console, workstations, and mics galore, from Tascam to Audio-Technica
Gallery 5: Show floor, with the future MacMusic Helicopter
Gallery 6: Vegas strip (Hey, is that the Eiffel Tower?)
Gallery 7: Digidesign ICON Dream Setup

Developers are beta testing since a week the future 10.3.4 release of OSX. Be aware that despite retouching bugs here and there, Apple is making changes into important parts of the OS and, most of all, important parts for us: Core Audio, OpenGL, Graphics, Core OS, High Level Toolbox. It also corrects things on SCSI drives, iPods, USB flash media (think USB keys) and PCMCIA cards management. And last: updates to Audio FireWire and USB 2.0 connectivity for the iPod. It seems to me to be on the cautious side of thing. The update is supposedly a correcting one, but as it touches a lot of stuff you may use, some for work, try before you switch! For the release date, ask Apple, they are bug chasing now ;)