Mac and Music News

Steinberg has today announced that the latest version 3.0 of its sampler HALion is
now being delivered to resellers and dealers worldwide. This new version features a new file browser, a new Insert and Send Effects section, support for more file formats and a new intuitive user interface.

The update price from earlier HALion versions to HALion 3 is €99.00, and the full version is €399.

Since beginning of March and until June 30th 2004, Digidesign proposed an exchange offer for the Pro Tools|24 and Pro Tools|24 MIX registered users. The saving cost will be of 2000 $ (for migrating to Pro Tools|HD 2 Accel et Pro Tools|HD 3) or 1500 $ (for migrating to Pro Tools|HD 1) compared to the normal list prices.

After July 1st the prices will be back on their original values.

Bad Cable is an AudioUnit plugin made by Sound Consulting which attempts to simulate a bad audio cable. The result is a form of waveform distortion. This minor update 1.2 features primarily performance enhancements. Sound Consulting advices users to remove Bad CableUnit 1.0 because version 1.2 will install new BadCable component.

Bad Cable is available as a free download.

The Thermal Pack 1.0 by Levelground Media bundles three AudioUnit plugins : CrunchEQ 1.0 (10 band graphic equalizer & 5 band parametric equalizer), Fattenizer 2.0 (which "fattens" audio signals and enhances audio tracks) and Vintasion 2.0 (which adds vintage style character to your individual tracks or mixes).

Thermal Pack bundle costs 52.85 euros (intro pricing until 7/5/04).

Universal Audio today added support of the Digidesign Pro Tools platform with the 1.2 software release of UA plugins. Universal Audio announces ProTools HD Accel support for all UA plugin : 1176SE Limiting Amplifier, 1176LN Limiting Amplifier, LA-2A Leveling Amplifier Emulation and Pultec EQP-1A (Cambridge EQ and DreamVerb coming soon).

TDM v1.2 is a free upgrade for existing Universal Audio customers who already own one of UA's classic TDM plug-ins. TDM Version 1.2 is also available as a free 14-day demo download.

I am an owner of a MAC G5 DP 2.0

After experiencing a lot of serious probles, including the DESTRUSCTION of a 200 G FW ewt HD, I wrote to M-audio, end on 18 of june, M-audio released this letter:
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You are receiving this bulletin as a registered owner of an M-Audio FireWire product.

Attn: IEEE 1394 "FireWire" Users

Thank you for purchasing an M-Audio FireWire product. Reports have come to our attention of isolated problems when hot-plugging IEEE 1394 (aka "FireWire") devices. (Hot-plugging refers to making 1394/FireWire connections when one or more of the devices--including the computer--is on.)

When hot-plugging, there are rare occurrences where either the FireWire peripheral or the FireWire port on the host computer is render ...

Mackie posted an update 1.5.1.16 of its Mackie Tracktion software. This new version fixes a large list of bugs : M-Box Fix, Hypersonic Fix, fixed a problem that could make the mouse get 'stuck' after right-clicking some VST interfaces, fixed a midi input bug on the Mac, fixed a bug that could make the cursor get stuck, and more...

Scarbee Imperial Drums (S.I.D.) is now available in Kontakt format (version 1.5.3 and DFD extention are required). Now every tom drum has its separate output allowing the end user for a more precise control of such drums in the mix. Scarbee Imperial Drums is recorded in 24bit/88 khz high definition resolution and provides nearly 30,000 individual drum samples on 3 DVDs.

S.I.D. costs $369 (ex VAT) and the S.I.D. in Kontakt format is a free update for registered HALion 2 version users.