Mac and Music News

Ultimate Sound Bank announces that demo versions of Charlie, Ultra Focus and X-treme FX are available in Audio Units, MAS, VST, RTAS plug-in formats. Plug-in demo versions include between 90 and 130 MB of sounds.

Each demo is valid for a 15 day period.

Jean Piché from the Montreal University annouces a new version of Cecilia, a graphic user interface for the sound synthesis and sound processing package Csound. This new version 2.5.2 features : all modules revised and streamlined to offer a consistent interface, and a myriad of module bugs fixed.

WayOutWare announced that the demo version of TimewARP 2600 is now available. TimeWarp is the software synth version of the ARP 2600. All of the original control features from the ARP 2600 are there, but this plugin version features : 8 voice polyphony, extensive patch manager, real-time performance, and more...

The full version costs $249,00.

Massenburg DesignWorks has updated High Resolution Parametric EQ to version 1.4. The Massenburg DesignWorks High Resolution Parametric EQ for Pro Tools|HD is the result of countless hours of design and critical listening by George Massenburg, the creator of the parametric EQ. This new release fixes a bug where support for control surfaces was lost when using Pro Tools 6.3 or lower.

More info and download in the MacMusic softwares section.

Propellerhead Software today announced version 3.0 of their software system Reason. This update focuses on live playing and this new version will take Reason from the studio realm to the stage. Reason 3 introduces a new module, the Combinator, which allows users to build elaborate chains of Reason devices-instruments, effects, pattern sequencer etc and save as a Combi patch. Additional new features include : Remote (instant out of the box integration with most major control surfaces), new soundbank, new browser, and MClass (a mastering suite comparable with any hard or software units).

Reason 3 is expected to ship early 2005. An upgrade discount will be available for Reason owners.

PG Music announced an update to v12b22 for Band In a Box. This update is a general maintenance release. Band-in-a-Box automatically generates a complete professional quality arrangement of piano, bass, drums, guitar and strings in a wide variety of popular styles.

More info in the MM softwares section.

RME posted an update for its driver for Hammerfall DSP System which supports PCI card, CardBus, Digiface, Multiface, HDSP 9652 and HDSP 9632. This update fixes bugs in Hammerfall DSP Settings, fixes MIDI error for HDSP9632/52 (repeated MIDI note at the MIDI output).

MP3 Trimmer is a mp3 files editor which lets you cut off portions of MP3 files, fast and easy, without re-encoding. You can then save them as new MP3's, always leaving your original files intact. New in this version : improved & more flexible file import, user-controlled Update Checking, customizable VU/EQ-displays, new preferences window, new function "Move In-point -> Out-point", improved ID3 tags parser, save inverse Trim selection and some bugs fixed.

Dropsound is a sound-playing app, made for digital music-makers (and co-developed by one). It is an attempt to fill the void left by SoundApp, which did not move on to Mac OS X along with everyone who used it. This 2.80 release features : a problem that prevented continuous playing and "quit when done" is solved. Dropping a folder works again. Several code simplifications. And note that OS 9 support is gone.