Mac and Music News

ReVibe is a powerful room-modeling TDM plug-in exclusively designed to take advantage of the supercharged processing capabilities of HD Accel PCI cards. The 96 kHz-optimized ReVibe provides nine reverb algorithms combined with hundreds of room reflection models. With its intuitive user interface and detailed controls, ReVibe handles nearly any reverberation task with ease.

ReVibe supports up to 5.x Pro Tools multi-channel formats, and includes independent reverb, early reflections, and level controls for the rear channels. Rear-channel reverb controls may also be used in mono or stereo instances, providing more presence and density to the reverb character.

Revibe works only on HD Accel systems and is not compatible with previous TDM system. Approximative price : $995

Just a few weeks after Pro Tools 6.4 LE, it's time for Pro Tools 6.4 TDM. This update is targeted at ownes of HD 1, HD 2, HD 3, HD 2 Accel, and HD 3 Accel hardware, on Power Mac G4 and G5, under Mac OS 10.3 Panther (officially only 10.3.2 is supported; 10.3.3 has not been fully tested).

This version features:
- support for ICON
- Command|8 and AVoption|V10
- automatic delay compensation
- TrackPunch and TrackInput functions,
- +12 dB gain on RecordLock faders
- Hierarchical plug-in menu
- numberings of tracks
- New Clip Meter Features
- 23.976 fps support
- improvement in the feet + frames display
- option of stopping Recording Monitoring on stop.

The update is listed at US$150 for registered Pro Tools|HD owners; the LE update is free for users of 6.x.

Audio Ease has released Altiverb 4.0, a major update to their convolution reverb plug-in. Altiverb Version 4 provides tail lengths of 15 seconds and more, multi-channel surround processing, ultra-low latency, and most importantly, a 3x increase in G5 processor efficiency, and a nearly 2X increase in G4 processor eficiency. In a 48 kHz session on a single processor G5, you can run 8 full stereo Altiverbs with 6-second reverb tails.

IR SRL has announced the release of DSP Quattro version 1.5.1. This audio editor offers effects, reverbs, delays, filters, parametric and graphic EQs but also real-time pitch shifting and time stretching features. The Mac OS X version allow CD burning and conforms to the Redbook standards.

This version 1.5.1 comes as a free update for registered users; the full version of DSP Quattro is available for sale at 99 Euros.

Ed: As I said, I'm a few days behind on some of the news, like this one, but DSP Quattro is a unique enough program that it deserves extra menu. -PK

'Andy's OSX Music Software' has released an enhanced version of GRBand Assistant. It now includes the GB DrumLoops package. GRBand Assistant is a collection of software utilities designed to enhance the functionality of Apple's GarageBand product. There are three software titles in this suite:

Filipe Barroso has released MacTermen version 1.5 for Mac OS X. This monophonic sound generator allows the user to control the sound's color and tone by simply moving the mouse. Version 1.5 adds MIDI handling, for control of the main parameters (stereo image, vibrato speed, etc.) by the Mac's keyboard or an external MIDI keyboard.

MacTermen 1.5 is US$10 shareware; a fully-functional demo version is available for download.

The latest from Europe: while Apple is still negotiating licensing to open their iTunes Music Store for Europe, Virgin yesterday launched their Windows-only "Virgin Music Online Store." 300,000 songs would be available at 0,99 or 1,1 Euros/song. The site requires Windows and Microsoft's WMA format, so means little for us Mac users, but it's a blow for Apple as Cupertino tries to fight the onslaught of inferior stores running proprietary Microsoft audio technology. We'll keep you posted regarding a Windows-compatible store.

Clouvel and pesji contributed to this report from MacMusic's ubiquitous Paris Bureau. -PK

The Vanguard ReFX plugin (previously VST-only) is a synth featuring 13 filters including dual mode filters, delay and reverb settings, an arpeggiator and a trancegate to build rythmic loops (16-position), plus 3 LFOs and 2 ADSR envelopes. ReFX is now available in AudioUnit format (a free update for registered users). By the end of this year the entire Vanguard line should be available as AU.

Ed: ReFX is a very cool plugin in terms of the whopping amount of stuff they've built into a compact little package.

Word of warning: I've run a bit behind editing news translated from the French side so we're not quite as close to "breaking news" as possible - my apologies. Stay tuned for more news from the densely-packed beginning of May! -PK

MOTU has released updates for MOTU Audio System (MAS) and MAS AudioUnit (AU) support for Digital Performer 4.12, its flagship Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software. This downloadable upgrade improve MAS and AU support, disk I/O performance on single- and dual-processor G5 Power Macs, compatibility with the Tascam 1884 Firewire audio interface in 18-channel mode, and compatibility with Native Instruments Reaktor (version 4.1 and higher).

This upgrade requires an authorized and installed copy of DP 4.12 on your Mac.

Ed: Just to clarify, DP 4.12, some will remember, was released in January. This installer updates the audio system support in DP. If you haven't upgraded to 4.12, you need to do that first. We've included a direct download link below. -PK

Apple has released a 1.1 upgrade to its entry-level music creation software GarageBand. According to Apple, the release "addresses isolated performance and stability issues, allows per-track Echo settings similar to other effects, supports loop libraries in other disk locations, supports importing unprotected AAC audio files in addition to AIF and MP3 files, and addresses issues with ReWire support, moving GarageBand songs between different computers, Help support, fixing the timing of individual notes (as well as entire regions), and dragging entire tracks in the timeline."

ReWire improvements are welcome, but the ongoing lack of MIDI export remains a frustration. Let's keep our fingers crossed for 1.2. Update via Software Update or using the link below.

Sweet summer: warm weather, lazy days filled with electronic music, beach parties and dancing, and the chance to hunt down MacMusic's English editor in person to find out why he hasn't updated the news. Yes, that's right, summer is the chance for the MacMusic community here in the U.S. to meet up face-to-face. Coming up: Appearances at Macworld Boston, MacMusic New York, an East Coast Tour and a call for ideas for a MacMusic World Tour. Check it out:

Propellerhead Software is offering the ElectroMecanical ReFill CD bundled free with Reason 2.5 now. The ReFill contains Rhodes pianos, Wurlitzer pianos, a Hammond Model A organ, a Hohner Clavinet and a Hohner Planet for the NN-XT sampler. These are really high-quality samples, some of the better I have heard in this writer's opinion. The Refill contains variations on each of the instrument samples from slight adjustment to the extreme using the NN-XT parameters, as well as expected details like Leslie control via the mod wheel. Also, a number of demo songs and "cut-and-paste" setups are included in the Refill to get you started right away. For those users who already own Reason 2.5, the Props haven't forgot about you: the ReFill is available as a free download for registered users.