Mac and Music News

MusicLab announces that Real Guitar is updated to version 1.5.1, in AudioUnits format. Registered users can download this update. A fully functional demo version limited to only one guitar patch is also available for download.

Info on the musicLab web site.

Swar Systems, a Switzerland-based music software company specialised in virtual Indian instruments has released an Audio Units version of their SwarPlug plugin, also based on the CronoX 2 sampler. From now on, the SwarPlug product will contain both the VSTi and the AU plugins, along with thousands of MIDI rhythms and melodies from the Indian subcontinent and a Librarian software to browse them.

Registered SwarPlug clients will get this new AU plugin free.

RTGS-X is a Real-Time Granular Synthesizer that can be used to generate brand new sounds or to manipulate and distort existing sounds. It is very useful in generating dense sonic textures, which can evolve quickly or over long periods, to create alien soundscapes. It is also useful for creating short sound effects or sonic motives, which could be used in musical or theatrical situations. This new 1.4 version fixes dual processor crashing problems and miscellaneous bugs.

Info & download from our softs section.

Ableton has just updated Live to version 4.0.4. This new version fixes a lot of bugs (select clip crash, some VST plug-ins are not VST conform, crash when dragging an audio file into the "empty" space in the arranger, and more..) and now features better performance with LinPlug RM IV when triggering a pad in the GUI and better support for MIDI files with invalid data.

Info and download on the Ableton web site.

AES is coming, and Digidesign will unveil two new versions of Pro Tools. Pro Tools TDM 6.6 software brings professional quality video playback via Avid Mojo to Pro Tools|HD on Mac OS X, providing a uniquely integrated post-production solution with Avid video. With Avid Mojo and the DigiTranslator option. Pro Tools TDM 6.6 can open OMF/AAF sequences created with Xpress Pro or Avid Media Composer, play back video via an external monitor, tab from cut to cut in the Pro Tools video track, and export finished audio for re-integration into the original Avid sequence.

The audio and MIDI feature set in Pro Tools 6.7 has been greatly expanded to deliver tempo-dependent audio and automation, improved drawing and management of tempo curves and meter changes, MIDI step input, enhanced support for instrument plug-ins, MIDI Detective and Beat Detective for Pro Tools LE.

IK Multimedia announces that new Piano, Organ and Guitar sounds are available for download along with the special Free version of the workstation plug-in SampleTank 2. SampleTank 2 Free is a fully working version of SampleTank 2 plug-in with certain limitations and a range of free instruments published monthly. This combination of sounds and software can be used in your music with no polyphony restrictions or any time limit.

Info and download from the SampleTank web site.

Synchronic is a new RTAS plug-in that enables you to easily manipulate audio. With Synchronic, you can easily create rhythmic modifications and in-tempo effects with individual beats and beat subdivisions within a loop. Synchronic's modular configuration forms the foundation through which you work; each module combination can be edited, stored, and recalled through presets accessible via the plug-in:

Greenoak updates its semi-modular synthesizer Crystal to version 2.4.9b, which is now compatible with Logic 7. Crystal is a semi-modular software synthesizer featuring both subtractive synthesis and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. It offers abundant modulation control with over 60 parameters which may be modulated, multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors, extensive tempo sync of envelopes/lforates/delay times, built-in effects for chorus/flanging/comb filtering/echoes, and a band splitter for effects processing by frequency band.

Info and download from our Softwares section.

TerraTec announces Phase 24, a FireWire audio and Midi interface with 24-bit/192kHz analog conversion. The Phase 24 features two analog mono 1/4" inputs, two analog mono 1/4" outputs, 1 analog stereo output (1/4" jack), and a break-out cable providing digital I/O (24-bit/96kHz) and MIDI input and output connections.

Phase 24 is bundled with a full version of Native Instrument's Traktor DJ and costs $249.

Apple posted a Logic Pro 7 Audio Units compatibility list which provides a list of compatible Audio Units plug-ins. The Audio Units plug-ins of this list have passed the Apple Audio Units Validation Tool in their current version. AU plug-ins that have passed the Audio Units Validation Tool have demonstrated compliance with Mac OS X standards and are allowed to use the Audio Units logo.

M-Audio announced the Fast Track USB. This compact audio interface is USB bus powered and features 24-bit/48kHz audio, two audio channels (XLR input with gain control and 1/4" input for instrument-line), 2 RCAs outputs and a front-panel 1/8" stereo headphone jack.

The Fast Track USB is compatible with Mac (Core Audio) and costs $129.95.

Tera, Cube..and now Cantor of course is updated by VirSyn to version 1.0.3., which features : AudioUnit version updated for Logic 7 compatibility, AudioUnit automation problems fixed and Problems with Numerology fixed.

Info on VirSyn web site. Updated demo versions will be available on Tuesday the 12th of October

VirSyn releases Cube v 1.5.2 . This new version fixes bugs in mac OS X :AudioUnit version updated for Logic 7 compatibility, AudioUnit automation problems fixed and Problems with Numerology fixed. In addition to this bugfixes VirSyn released a new preset bank.

Info on VirSyn web site.

VirSyn has released a version 2.1.0 of TERA with new features (internal sequencer outputs MIDI notes for further processing in host) and bugfixes ( AudioUnit version updated for Logic 7 compatibility, tempo sync and automation problems with Sonar fixed, AudioUnit automation problems fixed, Arpeggiator didn't worked correctly with monophonic presets and Problems with Numerology fixed).

Info on VirSyn web site.

RME announces that a Mac OS X driver for its Fireface interface is now available. This version 1.0 is an initial release. It includes Core Audio, Core MIDI, and TotalMix.

Info and download on the RME web site.

A few days after the release of version 1.4 comes OUTI 1.5. This free live audio looper comes with a brand new interface (based on comments) and a MIDI learn function.

InTime by Circular Logic is a Midi utility. With this software, musicians play freely, and the computer follows their tempo changes in real-time, allowing natural expression in computer-assisted live performance, composition and recording. Musicians are free to improvise because InTime does not need to know in advance what the user intends to play.

Now inTime 1.0 is OS X compatible and available from the MM Softs section.

Logic 7 is here and it's time for plugins updates. Now Gmedia announces an update to v 3.0.1 for M-Tron (simulation of Mellotron) and an update to v 1.0 for Oddity (Odyssey ARP simulation). These two plugins pass Apple AU validation and are now compatible with Logic 7. The impOSCar AU version should be updated soon.

Updates available from the MacMusic softs section.

Wizoo announces two new virtual instrument packs. Darbuka features 2GB of Arabic and Middle Eastern style sounds and authentic instruments (darbuka, douhola, bendir, riqq, sagat, tura, bongos and shaker). Latigo features 1GB of Latin American multitrack groove performances.

Darbuka and Latigo are compatible with Mac Audio Units, VST and RTAS, for $299.95 each.

Audio Ease has updated its convolution reverb plug-in Altiverb to version 4.1.7. This update features : fixes impulse response menu misbehaved, resolved problems when showing two Altiverb interfaces (RTAS or HTDM) in Pro Tools or fixed a problem with the mute directsound button, and more.

Info on Audio Ease web site.

Music software and soundware publishers, retailers, publications, and industry professionals have come together to form the International Music Software Trade Association, an advocacy organization to pursue their collective interests. The group's charter is to fight software theft through education and create awareness of the impact illegal software use has on the industry and on the advancement of technology.

You can visit www.imsta.org for more information and application for membership.


 

Lucifer VST is a repeat/scratch effect plugin for Mac OS X. This new 1.21 version features : graph/buffer length is now adjustable, loop-offset keys, animated line now shows graph position, PingPong key, Blend Knob, Hyper Knob: Hyper- a multi repeat where the loop is played at 2x speed and 4x speed. The 1x is Lowpassed, 2x is bandpassed, 4x is hipassed. The knob controls the cutoff frequency.

Lucifer and other devilish plugins are available in the MacMusic softs section.

Rootsolutions announces BandAid 1.2. BandAid is the perfect tool to track activity of bands and musicians. Keep track of gig dates and payments, view contact information, keep promo shots, and print lyrics and setlists.

A fully functional demo can be downloaded from Rootsolutions.de and single user license costs US$ 28.00.

MacAudioGuy.com releases a free 17 MB package of music loops in the Apple Loop format for use with Apple computer's GarageBand and Soundtrack music software. The package of 18 music loops was produced by award winning producer and author of "The MacAddict Guide to Making Music with GarageBand" Jay Shaffer and features several musical styles. The Apple Loops file format is optimized for Apple's GarageBand and Soundtrack products, the loops will "time stretch" to the tempo and key of songs in GarageBand and Soundtrack. Users of other audio software packages can enjoy the loops, too, as Apple Loops work in any application that supports AIFF audio files.

MacAudioGuyAppleLoops Volume One is available for free download at macaudioguy web site.

Korg announces an update to version 1.1.1 for "Korg Legacy Collection" which is now compatible with Logic 7. This new release also fixes a problem with standalone performance using Digidesign audio interfaces running CoreAudio driver 6.5. and the auto-setting of audio buffer sizes has been added.

Of course you can download this update from our Softwares section.