Mac and Music News

With new version 4.9 of iTunes, Apple is now taking podcasting mainstream by building everything you need to find, subscribe, manage, and listen to podcasts right into iTunes. Publish your podcast to iTunes is now simple and easy. Apple publishes on its web site a "podcasting" guide and a large tutorial about podcasting. Please note that a beta version of "Chapter Tools" is also available and allows you to easily insert chapter markers, pictures and web links into your podcast episode.

updated July 1st : Apple announces that in just two days iTunes customers have subscribed to more than one million Podcasts from the new iTunes Podcast Directory.

Peter Mcilwain just released Matrixsynth V2 for Mac OS X. This software synthesiser is designed for the purposes of training students in basic analogue style synthesis techniques. The highly flexible nature of the matrix that was employed in the original VCS3s is used here to assist in visualising the signal pathways that are used in sound synthesis.

Sagan Technology has updated Metro and Metro SE to version 6.3.1.1. These releases add several improvements (such as the support for plug-ins dragged from the plug-ins window to the graphic editor) and fix a large number of bugs. List of bugfixes and improvements in the MacMusic Softwares section.

Remember Lemur ? The Lemur is a sleek portable controller for live performance computer music applications featuring a 12" LCD display and a proprietary touch screen interface that can simultaneously track multiple fingers. The Lemur's interface objects can be customized with JazzMutant's "physical" properties that include friction, smoothing, and fade-in and fade-out.

Firt Lemur units are leaving the factory,..for just $2495.

TC-Helicon announces that VoicePro, its voice-processing unit, is now shipping. VoicePro features include TC-Helicon's 3rd generation VoiceModeling, Hybrid Shifting and Flextime algorithms. The application based user interface centers around a 320 x 250 color TFT display. VoicePro becomes a vocal palette with 250 factory presets (250 user) that include four assignable parameters for instant tweaking.

VoicePro is shipping at 2495 euros (ex.VAT).

The See'n'Sound/X-spat boX bundle permits sound designers the quick and easy synchronization of movie subjects' depht and elevation movements and 3D spatialized audio sources, thanks to a new feature called "Ghost Window"that can be used with Pro Tools, Nuendo and any DAW software. See'n'Sound version 1.6, offers Tiger compatibility, scrub and frame-by-frame control through MIDI Machine Control plus a new background for the Ghost Window hosting video in real time from betacams or digital videocameras.

Native Instruments announces that a User Library for PRO-53 is now online. This convenient database allows registered users to freely exchange their own sound creations for the virtual analogue synthesizer on the NI website - similiar to what users of Reaktor, Guitar Rig, Kontakt and Absynth have been enjoying for some time now.

AudioEase has updated Altiverb to version 5.0.6 in order to add some improvements and bugfixes. 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.

Wizoo has just released new version for Wizooverb as Audio Units, VST and RTAS versions. W2 allows creating stereo room emulations either based on impulse responses or by a proprietary algorithm – and even allows for arbitrary combination of both technologies. A new demo version is also available.

More info in the MacMusic softwares section.

Digidesign has posted an updated version 6.9.1 for Pro Tools TDM. This new release adds support for Media Station|PT 1.6.1 on Mac OS X 10.3.8. The Pro Tools TDM 6.9.1 updates replace the previous 6.9 TDM updates. Pro Tools TDM 6.9.1 is a free download for all Pro Tools|HD and Pro Tools|HD Accel owners with Pro Tools TDM 6.4 or higher software.

Is the iControl a fake ? Is M-Audio business manager lazy ? Does M-Audio really want to sell the iControl ? I'm not sure : only two poor pictures, no press release, nothing about it from M-Audio ! So as usual here is today rumor : iControl will ship on the Apple Store this week at $178,95. The iControl is a controler for GarageBand. USB powered, it packs transport controls, a jog wheel, 8 encoders assignable (control volume, pan, aux bus sends or effects), 7 mode assign buttons, 8 sets of buttons for Mute, Solo, and Record-enable… The icontrol include also a MIDI In for a keyboard.

Native Instruments announces that a demo version of Reaktor 5 is now available. 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 now offers powerful multi-stage envelopes similar to those in Absynth and FM7, and complete with tempo grid, slope control and looping functions; a large number of new modules for extended data storage, voice routing and MIDI functionality.

URS releases of URS MIX EQ as Audio Units and VST plugins for Mac OS X. URS MIX EQ is a seven band equalizer featuring five bands of fully parametric EQ plus High and Low Pass filters with variable slope. Each band offers overlapping frequencies spanning 4 to 5 octaves.

URS MIX EQ costs $249.99 for RTAS/VST/AU versions and is also bundled with the URS Everything EQ Bundle v4.0 and the URS S series MIX EQ bundle.

ReflexAudio announces Sonia, a compact size MIDI control surface. Sonia features 12 soft-touch assignable knobs and 5 buttons that can be set up to send transport controls or other MIDI controller message. This very small unit also includes 22 programmable memory banks and 25 preset memory banks.

Sonia is now available and costs $109.

Plogue announces an update to version 0.86 for its Bidule. This new release adds OSC Client implementation, new modules (HDSR Envelope, Basic AHDSR Envelope, Graphical Envelope, Graphical Envelope (Synced), MIDI File Recorder, MIDI Map and others) and fixes several bugs. Bidule is a realtime modular creation studio aimed mainly at artists seeking a new creative environment to experiment with. With Bidule, you create your own live music creation environment, inserting audio and midi devices, ReWire Devices, Au and VST instruments and plugins.

Wwaym announces that NWRCFil lowpass filter VST effect is now available for OS X. NWRCFil is an easy to use classic lowpass filter VST effect from WWAYM. NWRCFil is based on classic hardware filters where simplicity and the warm sound is most important. The effect uses selectable 2-pole and 4-pole filter algorithms developed by WWAYM. The characteristics of the filter can be adjusted by 10 RC parameters.