Mac and Music News

Elemental Audio Systems today announced a name change for its new peak limiter and the availability of updates for all of its commercial audio plug-ins. Formerly known as Finalis, Elemental Audio Systems' limiting plug-in and newest product has been renamed Finis. The plug-in updates, released for Firium, Eqium, Neodynium, and Finis, address several issues and offer improved user experience and audio quality. All supported plug-in formats, including Digidesign RTAS, Steinberg VST, and Apple Audio Unit (AU), are affected by the updates.

The new versions are free to all current, registered customers.

Avid Technology will aquire Pinnacle in a cash and stock transaction deal valued at $462 million or a 30% premium over Pinnacle's closing stock price of $4.97. Avid said that Pinnacle's professional products will enhance its end-to-end broadcast production pipeline and that the company's consumer video business will form the basis for a new consumer video division. "We see this acquisition as the next logical step in our long-term strategy. Just as our acquisition of M-Audio in 2004 brought us into the consumer audio business, by acquiring Pinnacle's consumer video business, Avid will be able to tap into the next generation of video editors while they are still learning their craft."

Audio Ease has updated Altiverb to v4.2.7. Altiverb is a sampled acoustics processor that offers realistic one, two and four channel sampled acoustics of real halls, cathedrals, bathrooms — and virtually any acoustic environment. This new releases features : fixed problem with loading Altiverb 3 settings in all hosts, HTDM version fixes a problem with plug-in shuffling, bypass is automatable in HTDM and RTAS version, and HTDM and RTAS improvements according to latest Digidesign specifications.

Natives instruments has updated Vokator to version 1.1.1. Vokator defines a new standard for vocoding transparency, detail, and smoothness. In addition to an exceptional vocoder, it boasts a sophisticated synthesizer and a granular sampler. This new 1.1.1 release feature : supports MIDI FX, now works as an effect in DP 4.5 and Logic Pro 7 (in AU version), MIDI node fix in RTAS version and enhancements for all platforms.

Novation are announces the release of the eagerly-awaited Bass-Station 1.4, an improved and updated version of the original classic software synthesizer (emulation of the Bass-Station Keyboard / Rack). This brand new release includes numerous bug fixes, enhanced compatibility and simplified registration.

DiskDriver by Visual Steel is a webware application that allows you to share high quality MP3 songs and tracks you develop with the World easily. A light and free version, DiskDriver Mini, is also available.

Info and download in the MacMusic softwares section.

Digigram will introduce its first professional 24-bit/48 kHz USB audio interface specifically designed for broadcast at NAB 2005. The UAX220 features 2/2 balanced analog I/Os on Neutrik XLR connectors, 1/4 inch (6,35 mm) Neutrik headphone output, is powered through USB port and is Core Audio compatible.

Macjams.com and Tune Media have announced the availability of a free collection of Apple loops called Tune-Up Mini for users of GarageBand, Logic, or other compatible programs. The collection is an extension of Tune Media's Tune-up for GarageBand series of loops. Tune-up Mini contains over 100 loops composed and recorded especially for this package and not available anywhere else. Anyone can download the Tune-up Mini loops for free at MacJams.com (free registration required).

Numerology by Five12 is a modular sequencing and audio plugin environment for Mac OS X. This new release includes : MIDI and Signal switcher modules, new CC control over panning and aux sends, nested menu support for AU Preset files and directories, improved clock sync, and the usual slew of fixes and minor updates

ReFX has updated Vanguard to v1.2. This release adds an "ignore MIDI-CC" option to setup-page and fixes a graphic-bug that affected a small number of Mac users. Vangard is a synthetizer equipped with 31 different types of oscillators, including rarely found digital oscillators with new modulation options.

Edirol annouces that its R-4 portable digital recorder is now shipping. The R-4 is a four channel recorder which includes support for Broadcast Wave Format file (BWF). The R-4 can record at audio resolutions up to 24-bit/96kHz on all four channels, and features a built-in limiter, 5 different dynamics processors, 4 XLR/TRS combo microphone jacks with phantom power, RCA analog output, S/PDIF Coaxial Input and Output, built-in stereo microphones, built-in speakers, and a USB 2.0 connection.

Edirol R-4 costs $1,895.00.