Mac and Music News

A new beta version 0.9 of Prosoniq's own ASIO driver is available from the downloads/drivers page of Prosoniq Web site. This ASIO driver enables sonicWORX to play back audio files in OS X Classic more smoothly than with the Steinberg SoundManager ASIO driver that is selected as a standard when you install sonicWORX. This driver is only needed if you're running sonicWORX in OS X Classic

RME announces a new version of the Hammerfall Multiface II, unveilled at MusikMesse. This interface stays fully compatible with the current model's firmware and driver, and offers the same set of features, but improves the Hi-power headphone output with volume knob, and the analog input and output stages (the reference level of the analog inputs and outputs can now be changed with two separate switches on the front panel).

More info on the RME web site.

Tap.Tool 2 for Max/MSP/Jitter is now available. Tap.Tools version 2.0 has over 150 "externals" objects for Max, MSP and Jitter, and introduces a number of features, including the extensive use of attribute arguments to objects, as introduced in Max 4.5. This allows the objects to be directly tapped by the new pattr system in Max 4.5 with no extra effort. It also makes it easy to read patches and understand the arguments to any given object.

Tap.Tool 2 costs $65 and $99.

Silverspike has released an OS X version of R2 Reverb in VST plugin format. This release features room simulation and reverberation (with rooms of variable size), frequency response fully adjustable, optimized DSP code for low CPU consumption and sample rates from 32 KHz up to 192 KHz.

R2 Reverb VST for Mac OS X costs $99.

Native Instruments unveils that Guitar Combos will be available in strores on May 9th. The Guitar Combos series consists of the Twang Combo, the AC Box Combo and the Plexi Combo. The Twang Combo is modelled after the Fender Twin Reverb and delivers a wide range of clean and crunch tones suitable for Pop, Jazz, Blues and Country styles. The AC Box Combo is modelled after the Vox AC-30 and delivers a wide range of clean and crunch sounds that lend itself to Pop, Rock, and Alternative styles. The Plexi Combo is modelled after the Marshall JMP50 and delivers a wide range of crunch and overdrive sounds, which makes it the first choice for various flavors of Rock, Metal and Psychedelic.

Guitar Combos will be available for $79 for each combo. Furthermore, a bundle version with all three combos will be available for $199.

Apple unveiled a most powerful Power Mac G5 line, featuring dual 64-bit PowerPC G5 processors running up to 2.7 GHz and including Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger". The new range comes now with :

- G5 1,8 GHz (512 Mb Ram, 160 GB Serial ATA, 8x SuperDrive) at $1,449.
- Dual 2GHz PowerPC G5 (512 Mb Ram, 160GB Serial ATA, 16x SuperDrive double layer) at $1,999.
- Dual 2.3GHz PowerPC G5 (512 Mr Ram, 250 GB Serial ATA, 16x SuperDrive double layer) at $2,499
- Dual 2.7GHz PowerPC G5 (512 Mb Ram, 250 Gb Serial ATA, 16x SuperDrive double layer and ATI Radeon 9650 with 256Mb memory) at $2,999.

We also note that Apple reduces the price of the 20-inch cinema display model to $799 and the 23-inch model to just $1,499.

I had a chance to fastly test the latest Mac OSX 10.4 aka Tiger. Apple introduced some really cool features that was emerging in panther and seems now mature in Tiger. One of these features is MIDI networking! On previous OSX versions, we could view a basic network device in AudioMidiSetup. But does it ever really worked? On tiger, there is a full network configuration window allowing to create Network sessions, connecting multiple computers together to build a shared MIDI network.

I did not got a chance to test is yet, because the bad news is that it seems that my beloved StealthPort (a nice serial-port adapter from GeeThree allowing to use serial MIDI interfaces) is no longer available in Tiger. The current installer refuse to install the driver. Geethree, any plans for Tiger? Please keep us informed.

Back to Midi Network... Here is what the AppleHelp page says about sending MIDI device information over a network:

VirSyn Software announces Cube 2, the successor of the spectral morphing resynthesizer Cube. In Cube 2, every sound can be decomposed in a sine spectrum representing the harmonic and inharmonic partials and a residual noise spectrum for the noise components. The spatial character of a sound can be represented by a pan spectrum. The temporal evolution of these three spectra is a very convenient way to describe every sound. Cube 2 now features :

- Improved Spectral analyzer with selectable algorithms optimized for different sound types
- 600 ready to use presets
- Graphical editor for direct manipulation of the spectral and spatial structure of the sound.
- Improved morphing algorithm
- Residual noise generator
- Volume envelope now independent from the Morph envelopes
- Switch off morph envelopes for manual morph control
- Modulation range for morph modulation added
- New modulation sources "Breath" and "Expression"
- Editor for MIDI assignment of user interface controllers
- Legato mode for monophonic sounds
- Reset function for source edits and resynth sources.

Cube 2 for Mac OS X costs 279 euros.

McDSP launches LE versions of three plugins : FilterBank, CompressorBank, and Chrome Tone will be available as RTAS and Audiosuite formats, and will work in the same way of the full versions. FilterBank, CompressorBank, and Chrome Le versions will be available on May 9th.

These plugins will cost $195 each.

Alphakanal announces an update for its substrative synthesizer Automat to version 0.1.6. which adds stereo-delay settings, adds new random preset generation types (Random, Shuffle, Evolution) and fixes : pitch wheel error, filter stability problem and adds minor GUI changes.

EchoBoy TDM, made by SoundToys (formerly Wave Mechanics) is an echo/delay plugin for Pro Tools systems and the latest tool in the SoundsToys line of plug-ins for Digidesign's Pro Tools systems. EchoBoy TDM is loaded with over 300 presets and features dual, ping-pong and rhythm modes, dynamics control, 3-band EQ, stereo imaging control, advanced analog mode and true TDM (not HTDM) support on Pro Tools HD and HD Accel systems. EchoBoy TDM works in Digidesign's TDM, RTAS and AudioSuite plug-in formats and supports Pro Tools HD, LE and HD Accel.

EchoBoy costs $495, and for a limited time (until May 23rd), EchoBoy TDM will be available for $295. A 14-day demo version is also available.

Apple has just updated its popular music software Garageband to version 2.0.1. This update addresses issues with duplicating tracks, playhead snapping to grid, joining software instrument regions on adjacent tracks, making precise adjustments to volume and pan settings, and converting Software Instrument Apple Loops based on drum sounds into Real Instrument Apple Loops. It also addresses an issue where recorded Real Instrument regions may not properly adjust to changes in the project key.

Native Instruments announces that Synthetic Drums 2 is now available in stores. Synthetic Drums 2 is the latest addition to the NI soundline range is loaded with 36 drum kits that offer material for all contemporary and upcoming styles of electronic music - including various flavours of techno and house,hiphop, R&B, ambient, two-step, drum&bass, tech funk, IDM, breakbeat, electro, industrial,electronica, big beat, downbeat, experimental and avantgarde.

Synthetic Drums 2 (Battery 2 and Kontakt formats) is available for a suggested retail price of $119 or 99 Euros.

Prosoniq today announce the immediate availability of SonicWORX Artist, Studio and PowerBundle along with all bundled SonicWORX plug ins as a free download. SonicWORX is a versatile sound editing program for MacOS 8 and 9 and Classic in OS X up to 10.2.8 which has been discontinued on January 1st, 2004. The software is now obsolete and will no longer be updated or ported over to MacOS X.

SonicWORX is available as a free download from the Prosoniq Downloads-Freebies web page.