Mac and Music News

Apple today announced that iPod mini, the smallest portable music player ever to hold up to 1,000 CD-quality songs, will be available internationally on July 24. iPod mini offers music lovers the ideal combination of ultra-portable design, style, song capacity, ease-of-use and audio performance. iPod mini is the world's smallest portable music player to hold up to 1,000 CD-quality songs, weighs just 3.6 ounces and is encased in an ultra-portable, lightweight anodized aluminum body, available in five color.

iPod mini will cost 279 euros.

A new ReFill "summer pack" is available for Reason 2.5. The Harry Morse ReFill project carries on with a summer ReFill. Guitars, sax, percussion and "body rythm" is up for grabs along with the previous five ReFills.

ReFiils for Reason are available on download for registered users.

The full version came yesterday, and today Native Instruments announces that a demo version of Guitare Rig is now available. The demo version offers the full functionality of the latest 1.1 software version, with only a general time limit and several limitations on file import and export.

This demo is available on download on the N.I. web site.

Native instruments announced that the GUITAR RIG software 1.1 is now available. The update includes a fourth amp module based on the famous Vox AC-30, three outstanding new effect units and several further enhancements. This version features various minor improvements, cosmetic changes and fixes.

The 1.1 update is now available as a free download for all registered users.

Apogee Electronics Corporation announced today that the X-HD expansion card is now available worldwide through authorized dealers, and distributors. With the X-HD card installed in an AD-16X, DA-16X, Rosetta 800 or Rosetta 200, users can connect directly to a Pro Tools HD or Accel system core card, with no other hardware required (connect using standard DigiLink cables).

The Apogee X-HD Card costs USD 595.

'Andy's OSX Music Software' are pleased to announce the release of 'GB Midi Import for GarageBand. GB Midi Import facilitates the import of midi information from a standard midi file into GarageBand. Other products which claim to perform this function, simply convert the midi information into sound which may then be imported. GB Midi Import copies the actual midi data into GarageBand which can be rendered using it's internal software instruments.

GB Midi Import is Shareware and is available for US$15.00.

The Finale 2004c updater is downloadable from the Finale web site.
The main reason of the update is the integration of the export function in the EPS format.

The Recording Industry Association of American has announced that it will award Gold and Platinum status to downloaded music. The RIAA will require sales of 100,000 copies for Gold Award and 400,000 downloads for Platinum Award.

M-Audio announced the release of Mac OS X driver for its audio and Midi FireWire interface FW 1814. This driver is the initial release of the 1814 OS X Driver.

More info and download on MacMusic soft section.