Mac and Music News

Solid State Logic announces an automation system for AWS 900 console. This popular console will be shown for the first time with its own automation system (AWSomation) and the recently launched Total Recall software, at NAB 2005, Booth N3211, Las Vegas, 18th-21st April 2005. SSL's C100 and C200 digital consoles will also be shown with major new feature upgrades. Powerful new functions include the ability to cross-fade set-ups and DAW integration.

Our friends from hardmac.com have these last days found some clues Apple has modified some developer tools to support way more than 2 processors. It leads even to think that we're talking about more than one core into the processor, and more than 2 processors. As OS X and G5 (and future G6) are made from the ground up to support multiprocessing, a coherent way to propose even more power when clock frequency increase is in a stale state is to move forward more CPUs and/or more cores (which are CPUs integrated on one chip).

Apple is brewing something maybe, and it means more power for us to use, yummy! ;)

Native instruments announces that a demo version of Absynth 3 is now available. This software sampling instrument and synthesizer now features an optimized user interface, surround sound, 256 new presets, a new stereo input, a unison mode, oscillator waveforms can be fractalized in real-time, a Free-Run oscillator mode, 2 new effects (Echo, Effect Resonator), and more...

The Absynth 3 demo is now available as a free download for Mac OS X on the NI website.

It's new and no press release from Apple, which has posted a trial version for its Logic Express audio and music software. This free download trial version works without limitation, exepted a 29-day trial period.

Sony offers two Oxford plugin promotions :

- the purchase of any Oxford TDM bundle will entitle customers to an Oxford Reverb plugin at no additional charge on the Sony Oxford web site;

- purchasers of the Sony Oxford RTAS plugin or bundle will also receive their choice of an Oxford Inflator or TransMod plug-in on the Oxford site for free.

These two promo offers will end on March 31, 2005.

Apogee Digital announces that AMBus HD Card is now shipping.The Apogee AMBus HD option Card allows for direct connectivity between Pro Tools HD systems and the Trak2 or the AD-8000, with no other hardware required (connect using standard DigiLink cables). Apogee also announces that AMBus 400 FireWire Card will be soon available (spring '05).This card gives you the convenience of a direct connection to any FireWire equipped computer.

Lucifer is a repeat and scratch effect VST plugin for Mac OS X. Divine Machine has updated it to version 1.5, which now features : added an Incarn graph and Incarn Record option, the Loop Offset notes have been replaced by Pitch Change notes, the Distortion graph has been renamed the FX graph, added a new VOL>XF graph, Filter Type setting is now individual to each graph set, added a new Dry Thru knob, addes a choice of two Crossfader actions, added a new End button ('all notes off'), the FX effect can be switched to be placed before or after the Filter, and much more !

Lucifer costs $66, and a demo version is available.

Digidesign has updated DigiDelivery Server Software to version 2.0. This update enables Server-to-Server Relay, adds the sender's username to the deliveries list, fixes a bug with workorder entries, and has other minor fixes and improvements. All DigiDelivery administrators should update to this version and download.

Please note that updating to this version of server software will force users of your system to update their client software to version 2.0 as well.

M-Audio announces a new driver for the FireWire 410 interface, which now features :improved MIDI Sys-Ex Handling , fix and issue where Logic preferences would become corrupt, resolved an issue with audio monitoring in control panel, improved ASIO support for Logic and Cubase, improved Performance with Bias Peak, improved OMS Support, and improved external SPDIF lock with 96 KHz devices.

All drivers are available in the MM softwares section !

Patterns by Ron Miller is now updated to version 1.7. This release features : ddded a save as MIDI file, mainly to import the file into Sibelius for archiving, or to be converted into an AIFF file for use with Garage Band, by-passed the QT instrument name database so all instruments are displayed and added more harmonization options.

Patterns is available in the MacMusic softwares section.

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) today announced that Apple will become a member of the consortium's Board of Directors. Apple has been a leader in driving consumer adoption of DVD authoring since January 2001, with the introduction of its SuperDrive, the industry's first high-volume CD and DVD-burning drive. The BDA was created to broaden support for Blu-ray Disc, the next generation optical disc for storing High Definition movies, photos and other digital content.