Mac and Music News

Prosonus has released an update for the AudioUnit version of The Orchestral Collection which improves Apple's Logic 7 compatibility. This update is available as a free download.

Full version of Orchestral Collection costs $249.

It looks like a Mickey who would have lost its 2 ears on windy day. This head has 8 microphones which allow you to record a multicanal signal. As usual, you have classical right canal, left, center, right and left surround, LFE, but also center rear and top (for IMAX for example).

One canal for $750, so go and get your roaring boat !

SFX Machine RT is a real-time version of the company's award-winning SFX Machine audio effects plug-in, and is now updated to v1.0.4 in both Audio Units and VST formats. This new version features mono to mono processing, parameter values in the Audio Unit version are now expressed with meaningful values in "generic" views, and several presets are more stable.

More details and download in the MM softs section.

Clavia announces that a demo version of its Nord Modular G2 software is now available for mac OS X. In this demo version, polyphony is limited to one voice while the hardware has a maximum of 32 voices per sound, the demo can only play one sound at the time while the hardware is 4 part multitimbral, a couple of modules are disabled and the demo does not support audio in and MIDI out.

Amadeus II is a sound editor which support the Mp3 and Ogg Vorbis formats, support of VST Audio plugins. This new version features cmpletely redesigned sound window, support for the FLAC file format, new parametric equalizer specially designed for restoring old vinyl recordings, addition of an "Open recent" menu item, automatic version checking and full Unicode support.

Amadeus is available in the MacMusic softs section.

Presonus announces that its audio interface FireBox is now shipping. The FireBox is a compact 24-bit/96k FireWire recording interface that fits in the palm of your hand. The FireBow features two high quality PreSonus microphone/instrument preamplifiers, 24-Bit/96k sample rate and Steinberg's Cubase LE 48-track recording software.

Presonus FireBox costs 415 euros.

Rondo midi player has been designed from the ground up to be simple, uncluttered and easy to use. Rondo has many innovative features including a vertical piano roll with live scrolling and a pull down playhead with a piano that will play along with the music.

Rondo 1.0 is available in the MacMusic softwares section.

Unique Recording Software has released the Classic Console Equalizer Bundle VST versions for Mac. The VST versions support Steinberg's Nuendo and Cubase v3.x and v2.x, Bias Peak v4.x, Abelton Live, and Mackie's DX8 200 console

The VST versions will be a free upgrade for all URS Classic Console EQ Bundle owners both TDM and Native. A demo (iLok) is also available.

Metro, the MIDI, Audio and Video sequencer has been updated to 6.2.3. Among the many new features there is now a batch conversion utility allowing many kinds of audio conversion, including MP3, MP4, Apple Lossless, AIF, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, etc.

Metro LX and Metro SE have been similarly updated.

Crest Performance announces two new 4-BUS CPM 24-4 & CPM 32-4 Mixers. They both feature 32 (or 24) low noise XLR inputs, three-band EQ, six aux sends, two fully assignable stereo returns with low cut, four sub groups, separate mono bus, and seven XLR balanced outputs.

CPM 32-4 costs $2899.99 and CPM 24-4 costs $2299.99. They will be available second quarter 2005.

MOTU has unveiled Version 2.0 for its instrument plug-ins MX4 which now features more built-in effects, more factory presets, new pattern gate function, arpeggiator, envelope follower, new invert and transform functions.

MX4 v2.0 will be available first quarter 2005 for $295

And another symphonic plugin ! Motu unveis its Symphonic Instrument plugin that gives users access to an 8 GB library of orchestra sounds for composing, sequencing and rendering realistic orchestral performances. Instrument highlights include strings, brass, woodwinds, orchestral percussion, tutti (complete orchestra), choirs, pipe organ, piano and "historical instruments" (strange name for harpsichords and viole).

Symphonic Instrument will ship in first quarter 2005 at $295.

Tascam announces its new digital console DM-3200, which adds more busses, effects, auxes ans USB compatibility. Up to 6.1 surround panning is available and the DM-3200 features 48-channel digital mixing at resolutions of up to 96kHz / 24-bit, 32 channel inputs and 16 return inputs, 16 busses and 8 aux busses, 4-band full-parametric EQ and dynamics on each of the 32 channel, 4 stereo effects or two surround effects (8-in/8-out), 17 touch sensitive 100mm motorized faders, USB 1.1 connection to computer for data backup, companion software for Mac OS X, 16 XLR balanced mic/line inputs with phantom power, 2 XLR AES/EBU and 2 S/PDIF digital I/O.

MOTU has unveiled Version 2.0 for its instrument plug-ins MachFive, which now features : stand-alone operation, unlimited parts, full-screen preset browser, enhanced Giga and EXS24 library support, expanded envelope editor, expanded sample editor, built-in mixer, new LoopLab function and real-time time stretching.

MachFive 2.0 is of course not available now, but will ship in second quarter 2005 and should cost $395.

Alesis announces the IO|2 USB, a 2 channel portable 24-bit-96k USB interface with mic-pres, phantom power. Channel inserts are provided for outboard processing. The unit even has 2 XLR plus 2 1/4" balanced line inputs, MIDI input/output and S/PDIF I/O, and is USB bus powered.

The IO|2 USB will be available first quarter of 2005.