Mac and Music News

Announced at MusikMesse, Digitalmusician.net will be available as a free service in August 2005 with a standard account (real time audio and MIDI recording via internet at 128k/bit mp3 compression). A premium studio account will also be available (256 k/bit mp3 equivalent compression) and starts from €24 a month. DMN is web site for musicians and audio professionals that works along with a VST plug-in to allow real-time, distributed music production via the Internet. Musicians can team up for joint music projects or simply help each other out. Music projects, capabilities and preferences together with demo songs and photo material can be presented on an individual Artist & Studios homepage.

Mac version of the Digital Musician Link VST Plug-in is now available for public beta testing.

Logiconizer is a new application that stores in it's database, manages, imports and installs Logic icons (Logic Pro 6 and 7 and Express). The free app is useful to create icons sets visually, without guessing where will they appear in the menu, and without the need to rename them (i.e. 324.png), because Logiconizer does it all automatically. It's useful to backup your Logic icons sets and to share them or even port them to other studios alongside your projects.

Logiconizer is free to download.

E-LAB announces version 1.5 updates for the Mac OS X VST, Audio Units and RTAS versions of Foundation and Obsession. These new versions add many improvements (file selector, librairy button, auto Play Sound box, MIDI CC learn, engine voices). Obsession is a RNB & Hip-hop Loop Player and Foundation is a sampler featuring 3.7 GB of Funky Cracklin' HipHop Breaks, mixed with Jazzy Basses, Horns & Flutes, Chords and more.

Native Instruments announces that Reaktor 5 is now available in stores worldwide. Furthermore, Reaktor Session customers can now take advantage of a special time limited upgrade offer to the full version of Reaktor. Reaktor 5 introduces the new "Reaktor Core Technology". The Reaktor Core layer offers up to 64 bit internal resolution, and now instruments in Reaktor 5 now also come with their own custom user interface, thanks to extensive new panel customizing options. All panel elements in the new version of Reaktor are completely "skinnable", which includes faders, knobs, buttons, and even meters.

Reaktor 5 is available for $579 or 499 euros. Upgrade from v.3/4, and for Reaktor Session users (valid until August 31st 2005) is available for $169 or 149 euros.

Steinberg today announced that its latest VSTi product, Virtual Bassist, is now shipping worldwide. Based on real performances by studio bass players, Virtual Bassist offers a range of bass phrases, grooves and styles and covers musical styles ranging through rock, pop, reggae, metal and hip hop to name but a few.

Virtual Bassist is available for €239.00. Virtual Bassist requires an installed Steinberg USB copy protection device (or Steinberg Key).

LinPlug announces that a demo version of Crono X3 is now available for Mac OS X (AudioUnits and VST versions). CronoX3 is a sampler synth which features: A new "Free Filter" with modulatable filter-types(lp/hp/bp/br continuously adjustable and modulatable), Full 5.1 support, Increased quality of all generator algorithms, 4 generators now available simultaneously, loop sampler now has a much bigger preview window and up to 64 samples per generator (velo-crossfade/split and keysplit), new modulation sources and destinations, and a sophisticated Albino-type arpeggiator.

PSP announces that PSP EffectsPack is now available as to HTDM format for Mac OSX. PSP also updated AudioUnit, VST and RTAS versions of the PSP EffectsPack for Mac OSX. PSP EffectsPack consist of three plug-in effects: Lexicon PSP 42, PSP 84 and PSP Nitro.

TerraTec Producer announces that Phase X24 audio interface is now shipping. The Phase X24 is an audio FireWire interface, featuring two analog inputs (line, microphone, phantom powered), four analog outputs, headphones, S/PDIF, effects inserts and two gain knobs.

Terratec also announces that Phase 24 line is now MLAN compatible.

Digidesign today announced the new ICON exchange program, which offers owners of Digidesign ProControl or Control|24 control surfaces the opportunity to exchange up to an ICON D-Control or D-Command worksurface. The ICON exchange program includes a variety of exchange options that enable ProControl and Control|24 owners to experience the power of ICON environment while saving up to $6,000.

More details about this program on the Digidesign web site.