Mac and Music News

Mac OS X v10.3.4 Update is now available. These are some of the enhancements that are delivered with the Mac OS X v10.3.4 Update : improves compatibility with mass storage devices, includes recent Mac OS X Security Updates, improves FireWire audio compatibility and more..

This update is available via "software update" in mac OS X pref panel.

With the departure of our beloved Peter Kirn, who is leaving his Editor-in-Chief role, there now exists a big hole in the MacMusic News section. Clouvel (Editor-in-Chief on the French side) and I will do our best to replace him in the meantime, but as English is not our native language, our contributions will be lacking perfection.

Here is where you can help: we need more news posters from the English side, and one of them should eventually become our new Editor-in-Chief. So don't be shy - share your writing talents with the MacMusic community and start posting news articles. Then, if you find that you enjoy it, and if you are willing to spend approximately 10 to 30 minutes each day to edit and validate pending news items, then please propose your Editor-in-Chief candidacy by sending me an email.

Le Synthé, by french Pierre Couprie, is an emulator of the famous "Synthi AKS" from EMS. This new version fixes several bugs. Le Synthé v3.1 will soon be translated into english.

Arturia's team (from Grenoble, France) has released STORM version 3 for OSX, adding a complete midi support, a new audio sequencer and a new GM synthesizer. Ergonomy has also been improved (full project in one screen and revamped console). Storm Music Studio costs 149 Euros. It is free for customers who bought it after Nov 1st 2003.
This software will be available from may 28 th.

All McDSP's products are evolving : Analog Channel 3.3 , FilterBank 3.3, Mc2000 3.3's OSX/Panther compatibilities are improved ; Chrome Tone 1.1 is now RTAS ; CompressorBank 3.3 has got new presets and emulations ; Synthetizer One 3.1 , their killer synth has been improved, got MIDI enhancements, more than 500 presets and a RTAS compatibility.

These updates are free and downloadable for all registered users.

Bias began shipping SoundSoap Pro, an audio restoration plug-in for Mac OS X. SoundSoap Pro uses an integrated interface that allows the user to access any tool from within a single plug-in window. Tool navigation tabs are labeled "Hum & Rumble," "Click & Crackle," "Broadband," and "Noise Gate".

SoundSoap Pro is available at a suggested retail price of $599 US and SoundSoap customers may upgrade to SoundSoap Pro for $499.

Apple posted a Mac OSX update to address a theoretical vulnerability in the Help Viewer application that could have been exposed when browsing the web. The update is available automatically to all users through Apple's free Software Update service or by going to:

Digidesign, who distributes it, announces that Echo Farm goes to version 2.2. This effect plugin for Pro Tools TDM (HD Accel, HD, Mix) on mac OS X adds these new features : support for Pro Tools|HD Accel, tempo Lock feature allowing Echo Farm to automatically lock to the tempo of the Pro Tools session, support for D-Control, internal clip detection, support for Stereo 96 kHz sampling rate (HD Accel required) and support for 192k Hz sampling rate (HD Accel required).

Echo Farm 2.2 is a free update.

3 EQs are coming to complete URS's A and N series, and URS presents the S serie :
A 10 : digitally recreates the sound of API's 550B vintage 4 band equalizer ;

N12 : digitally recreates the classic sound of Neve's 1073 vintage equalizer as a 12 band graphic ;

S Serie : a six band equalizer with four bands of EQ and low and high pass filters. Each band offers overlapping frequencies panning 4 to 5 octaves.

The S serie invention allows URS to update all plugins : I/O Plasma style VU metering, completely variable Cut/Boost to 0.1db increments, completely variable Input trim to 0.1db increments, numeric display/entry Windows for 0.1db increments.

All the series make the URS EQ Bundle 2.0.

With AudioUnits and hosts multiplying practically daily, users with growing collections of both soon want to be able to specify subsets of AudioUnits to be loaded with particular hosts. AudioUnit Manager comes on 1.0 version and provides a simple way to organize AudioUnits into sets so users can load just the AudioUnits they need for a particular application.

Audiounit Manager 1.0 is a donationware.

Steinberg anounce the interface "Phase 88" from Terratec Producer, this audio digital PCI and rack interface include eight analog input/outputs (converter 24 bits/96khz), a 20 channel console, one coaxial input/output S/PDIF, AC3 or DTS compatible and 16 MIDI channels input/outputs.

Available for Mac OS 9.1 and Mac OS X core audio, Phase 88 is listed at 420 euros.

In this second part of our article "The Equalization", we will talk about mixing: how our ears react to the combinations of sounds, the various representations and spectrum analysis, and if it is necessary to add or remove frequencies.... What a task!
(Translated by Dominique Zbiegel.)

Augustus Loop is a looping device software made by Expertsleepers. it essentially offers a very long delay effect rather than the ability to overdub and undo. The key features of Augustus Loop that make it more than just a big delay effect are: Really long maximum delay (3600 seconds - that's one hour), and Virtual tape : the delay simulates an old-style tape delay, meaning you can change the tape speed (i.e. pitch up and down).

Currently in beta, this AudioUnit plug-in is expected to be released some time in June.

Steinberg is really busy updating as there Cubase SL is also up to version 2.2. Same new features as Cubase SX 2.2: Mackie Control Extender support, a new "Use System Timestamp" option, two new virtual instruments: Monologue and Embracer, a new VST plug-in: Tonic (analog modeling multimode filter) ...

You'll find more informations about these updates in the MacMusic Software Section.
Thanks to June Bug!

Steinberg's Cubase SX is up to version 2.2. It now offers: Mackie Control Extender support, a new "Use System Timestamp" option, two new virtual instruments: Monologue and Embracer, a new VST plug-in: Tonic (analog modelling multimode filter) plus a few little new things.

Rogue Amoeba announced Audio Hijack Pro 2, slated for release in July of 2004. Just like the original Audio Hijack Pro, version two will allow users to record and enhance any audio played by their Mac. Audio can now be recorded to the AAC and Apple Lossless audio formats, in addition to MP3 and AIFF. Using the all-new Output Bin allows for quick and easy organizing, previewing, burning, and exporting of recorded files. And the already-powerful effects processing has been enhanced with parallel effects processing and support for VSTi and AudioUnit synths.

Hello everyone. With some regret, I wish to thank the readership of MacMusic for the past year and announce I will no longer be acting as Editor-in-Chief. I've enjoyed working with the talented team here at MacMusic and the unique experience of bridging cultures and languages at the only truly multi-national / multi-lingual Mac site on the Web. However, balancing my life as a composer, teacher, graduate student and technology instructor - consultant has become too much for the daily job of editing, so I will leave to devote more time to other activities. One of those activities I am very excited about -- a book on computer music -- and once I can I'll send details of that to the community here. I've missed the opportunity to write more in-depth, personal takes on the Mac music world, so I will spend more time on that. Be assured I'll stay in touch during this endeavor.

With my departure, of course, the MacMusic team is looking for a new English Editor-in-Chief. If you're interested, please contact the webmaster, Francois Dechery. I wish the entire team best of luck and will keep my MacMusic family informed!

Propellerhead Software anounces a special offer for registered users of Reason Adapted. From May 21st to June 31st they can update to the full version of Reason 2.5 for 289 euros.

This offer is available in retail stores and on the Propellerhead website.