Mac and Music News

M-Audio announced that Keystation 49e and Keystation 61es Midi keyboards are now shipping. These two models are Usb compatible, with 49 and 69 notes, and Mac OS 9.1/Mac OS X compatible.

Keystation 49e costs 119 euros and Keystation 61es costs 199 euros.

Lynx Studio Technology has announced the final release of the OSX Core Audio drivers for their LynxTWO, L22 and AES16 products. More than a year in development, the final release allows the Lynx products to utilize the power of Apple Computer's popular Core Audio protocol, and operate with all G5 model computers. The OSX driver is now shipping with all AES16, LynxTWO and L22 interfaces.

Current owners can download the driver free of charge from the Lynx website

BIAS Inc. announced that the Spark to Peak spring cross-grade promotion first launched at this year's Musikmesse, will be extended until August, 31st 2004. The "Spark to Peak" cross-grade will be offered from now until August 31st through the worldwide network of BIAS resellers and distributors for $299 US.

This month RecordingMusicien (july/August) propose for free a light version of the fully usable small brother of Tera2. It is available as a Mac/PC, Vst/AU format. In addition the journal propose four pages on a detailled analysis of this soft, including some unbelievable presets.

Quite a hit, better follow this magazine !

Arturia's products are mainly used in conjunction with hardware interfaces. In particular, the Moog Modular V, minimoog V and CS-80V need proper MIDI keyboards for optimal performance. In that context, and following some concerns raised by customers, Arturia is interested in knowing more about the way you work - or plan to work - with MIDI keyboard controllers.

Thank you for taking their brief on-line survey.

IK Multimedia is proud to announce that T-RackS 24 analog modeled mastering software for MacOS X is now shipping. T-RackS is dedicated entirely to audio mastering with actual physical models of tube circuitry. It offers a complete workstation made of 4 discrete processors. This standalone version for Mac OS X features :new Authorization Wizard and an easy step-by-step guide to authorizing.

T-RackS 24 for MacOS X is now available at $/€299 MSRP. Users that bought T-RackS 24 after 1st December 2003 can download it for free from the user area on www.t-racks.com Users that have purchased it previously can upgrade for a price of $79/€89 online.

SoundFont Synth is an Audio Unit plug-in designed to make the synthesis of natural instruments using Sound Fonts, available to GarageBand or any other Audio Unit compatible host. SoundFont Synth has been updated to v1.1.1 and now features :handndles 'All Notes Off' correctly and can now be placed in ~/Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Components as well as /Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Components.

SoundFont Synth is shareware and costs $15

A new resource package on editing GarageBand loops was launched today by the GarageDoor. It includes the GarageBand Scales Catalogue, which contains over forty scales in GB format to play and analyse. These scales, ranging from the common major, minor and blues to colorful scales like Hungarian Gypsy, Neapolitan and Balinese, can then be used to modify regular GarageBand loops and expand the user's loop library with exotic variations.

The GarageDoor - Tips & Tricks for GarageBand users contains tips & tricks, home recording ideas and links to new sounds and loops. The GarageDoor aims at desktop musicians from beginner to intermediate level, and has pages on live & Midi Recording, effects, mixing and mastering, music theory and GarageBand desktop equipment.

The Scales Catalogue and exotic loops tutorial can be found on thegaragedoor web site.

Bitcartel announces an update to iRecordMusic 1.3, bringing it to build 27. This update provides localisation in 8 languages: Catalan, Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Spanish.

Registered users can upgrade for free and free copies are also available for those who can help translate the software.

Apple previewed Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger," the fifth major version of Mac OS X that will ship in the first half of 2005. Tiger continues Apple's innovations with more than 150 new features including Spotlight, a new way to instantly find any file, Safari RSS, Core Image and Core Video, QuickTime support for MPEG-4 video codec H.264, 64-bit processes, and more...

Mac OS 10.4 Tiger will be available in the first half of 2005 for a suggested retail price of $129 (US).

Juke Box Limited announces that the Solid State Logic's AWS 900 is available for sale. The AWS 900 is a compact SSL console that offers 24 ultra low-noise/double-impedance mic preamplifiers, 24 channels with a 4-bands/dual-curve parametric EQ, noise gate, expander, compressor/limiter as well as a direct access to all of the main mixing, editing and automation parameters, a colour FFT screen and much more…

The AWS 900 SSL is distributed by Juke Box Limited and costs 74000 euros (ex VAT).