Mac and Music News

Apple members can downlowd 300 JamPack loops for GarageBand. You can find them in you iDisk under software --> members only-> GarageBand JamPacks (over 300 Mb !)

New objects for sound spatialization are available on the CICM web site. These objects are developed by Rémi Mignot and Jean-Baptiste Thiébaut. Most of them are available for Macintosh : ambipan (ambisonic techniques for a surround panning up to 16 loudspeakers), ambicube (a 3-dimensional version of ambipan), vbapan (vector based amplitude panning for a surround panning up to 16 loudspeakers) and trajectory (an intuitive abstraction for drawing trajectories.The coordinates may be send to ambipan and vbapan to localise up to 16 independent sounds).

More info and downloads on the CICM web site.

Designed for seamless integration with D-Control, Channel G delivers the big board sound with unprecedented flexibility. Channel G is comprised of four TDM plug-ins featuring separate EQ and Dynamics sections, a Console Strip, and a 5.1 Compressor.

Channel G 1.0 by MacDsp will be available in November. More info in our softwares section.

Guitar Rig by Native Instruments is a complete solution for the modern guitarist. It combines highly advanced software and a sturdy hardware foot controller: "Rig Kontrol". The Guitar Rig software offers first-class emulations of classic and modern amplifiers, cabinets, microphones, and effects. This new version (1.1.2) features : time stretching for the Tapedeck can be globally turned off, minor cosmetic enhancements, new default component templates (name: INIT) and improved Audio Units compatibilty. Since some instabilities may occur in Logic 7 which are not completely isolated yet, Native Instruments is in close contact with Apple/Emagic and is working on further updates to ensure their products run smoothly in Logic 7.

This update is free and is of course available from MacMusic Softwares section.

Basement Arts have released the Mac OS X version of their Beat Slicer plug-in, Reflex, available as a VSTi. Reflex combines intelligent beat slicing with a powerful and easy to use graphical interface. It detects the tempo of your loop, pitches it to the host tempo and maps the slices to your keyboard. The library system allows you to instantly change a loop without annoying open sample dialogs. The online library system enables you to download new loop content via an internet connection.

A demo version is available and Reflex costs 189 euros (CD version and library) or 149 euros (download version, without library).

Princeton Digital has taken the the Reverb 2016 rack-mountable reverb and squished it down to fit inside a Digidesign Pro Tools TDM plugin. It features : three independent reverb plug-in effects in one package, natural, characteristic soundn simple UI, novel position control, decay time, pre delay, EQ and diffusion controls, smooth decay tail and mute button for quick effect audition.

Info and download from the MM Softs section.

ICompositions, a web site for users of Apple's GarageBand, has posted the internet's first complete listing of Jam Pack 3: Rhythm Section's contents including loops and software instruments. This ariticle is a resource for potential buyers of any of the GarageBand Jam Packs.

Sonic Studio announces an update to v1.6 for NoNoise, which includes TDM and AudioSuite plug-ins that perform the following functions: broadband noise (hiss) removal, manual and production declicking, decrackling and High-Resolution Filters. This new version includes bugfixes : DeCrackle was not properly processing audio, Hi-Res Parametric Filer was cutting/boosting signals when set to 0 dB and Hi-Res Filters version 1.6 and higher now provide full support for ICON.

NoNoise needs Pro Tools|HD systems with Pro Tools 6.2 or higher.

The guys from Jazzmutant designed a really new generation of musical interface. It was presented at the Résonance festival of the IRCAM in Paris the 10/08/04. Lemur is a flat panel, responding to touch, to multiple touches in fact. You use a software to design you interface (balls, sliders, faders, keys…).

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.