Mac and Music News

Yamaha announces that the Motif synthesizer will be available in 1U rackmount format from spring 2005. The Motif Rack ES will feature 16 simultaneous parts and 128-note polyphony working off a 175MB wave ROM, with 768 preset and 384 user sounds. It also will have an effects section featuring 20 reverb types and 49 chorus & delay programs.

Waves have released version 2 of their convolution reverb IR1, and two new variants : the IRL, a simpler and less CPU-intensive 'light' version, and the IR360, which offers reverb convolution in 5.1 surround. IR1 v2 and IRL are compatible with Mac OS X in HTDM, RTAS, VST, MAS and Audio Units formats, and the IR360 is currently only compatible with Pro Tools HD systems.

More info on Waves web site.

Plogue announced a bugfix release v0.7003 for its virtual modular creation studio Bidule. This version fixes crash whith some plugins using CurrentPreset when changing presets, main window shows up with the titlebar under the menu bar, number of samples isn't set correctly for some buffer sizes, and more.

Details and download in the MM Softs section.

LinPlug announces an update to v2.2.2 for Alpha in both Audio Units and VST, featuring a new look and design for the GUI. The Alpha Synthesizer features an easy to learn subtractive design with special attention being paid to recreating the warmth and feel typically found in early-1980s analog synthesizers.

Info and download in the MacMusic softwares section.

Want a free distortion with a twist? Andrew Garber who did the infamous MD Machine Lab just released his Warp Drive AU (guess the plug-in format? ;) A freeware distortion with a little something, as said: "completely non-conventional" is the algorithm.

Pro Tools 6.7cs6 update for Pro Tools|HD 6.7 systems is now available for download on Digidesign web site. This Pro Tools 6.7cs6 version fixes : errors in delay compensation for mute automation when using plug-ins on master faders (Item #57447), and when using delay compensation, using a plug-in on a master fader would cause mute events to play back out of time.

General Vibe announced VectorSector. This VSTi software synthesizer is the recreation of the wavetable synth Sequential Prophet VS. VectorSector features 4 oscillators (126 waveforms or white noise for each), 4-pole (24 dB/octave) lowpass filter with resonance, up to 16 voice polyphony, 2 LFOs per voice and modulation matrix.

Vector Sector will be available from February (Audio Units and VST version for Mac OS X) and will cost $199.

Digidesign has officially qualified Mac OS 10.3.7 for use with the following systems:Pro Tools 6.7 software with Pro Tools|HD Accel and Pro Tools|HD. For LE systems, Digidesign has officially qualified Mac OS 10.3.7 for use with Pro Tools LE 6.7 software with Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack and Mbox.

Art announces a new MicroPre USB Audio Interface for Mac OS X and OS 9. The USB Micro PRE is a USB audio interface with a standalone phono preamplifier, analog inputs (witchable between phono and line level signals), optical output and input, and line output jacks. The USB Micro PRE can be powered by either an external power source or directly off the USB port.

The USB MicroPre is $99.00 and will be available from April 2005.

Griffin Technology today announces the Griffin Lapel Mic. This multipurpose lapel microphone offers quality stereo audio input for recording interviews, lectures and other events. An iPod equipped with the Griffin iTalk voice recorder instantly becomes a mobile recording unit. Griffin Lapel Mic features a standard 3.5mm stereo mini-jack and a swivel clip.

The Griffin Lapel Mic is priced at $14.99 USD, and is available immediately.

We have more info about the new Minimoog RME (Rack mount Edition). The RME is five units high and RME's rear panel delivers all of the same extensive input/output resources that are available on the Voyager via its MIDI IN, THRU, and OUT connectors, four audio input and output jacks, and two accessory port connectors. Presets from the Voyager are useable in the Rack Mount Edition, and multiple RMEs can be chained together with MIDI to achieve polyphony.

The Rack Mount Edition sells for $2,195.00 and production will begin in March.

XP Sound will unveil its new XP202 USB audio interface for Mac at NAMM. It will offer 24-bit/96kHz conversion, a built in equalizer, two adjustable microphone pre-amps, two stereo line inputs, a stereo headphone amp, and mix/balance control.

The SP202 will be available in Q2 2005 for $199.

Celemony Software is presenting its new audio editing software 'Melodyne uno' for Mac OS X at the NAMM show. This small version of the audio software Melodyne works in a similar fashion to a sample editor — except that it offers characteristic Melodyne functions and is therefore the ideal tool for pitch correction, vocal production and the editing of melodies.

Melodyne Uno for Mac OS X costs around $199 US (169 euros) and should be available from March 2005.