Mac and Music News

M-Audio announces the release of the new JamLab virtual guitar system for Mac. The JamLab system consists of a simple, compact USB interface designed specifically for guitarists. The JamLab hardware connects easily to a PC or Mac computer via an integral USB cable, and features a 1/4" jack for guitar input. An 1/8" jack can be used as either a line or headphone output, allowing for practicing in complete privacy. Volume control is handled using the JamLab driver control panel. The interface delivers 24-bit fidelity at 44.1 or 48kHz.

JamLab is expected to ship in early July at an MSPR of $79.95 USD.

Just updated CronoX to version 3.0.2 , fixing issues with surround sound in some hosts and improved support of loop points in WAV files. CronoX is a sampler synthetizer. CronoX's modulation matrix offers more than 200 modulation routings. So you can route velocity, Aftertouch, controller and internal sources like the powerful LFOs or Modulation Envelope to whatever destination you want. And in CronoX you can modulate many parameters that are not accessible in other synth! So you can modulate the pitch and time base of a sample independently of each other.

The new keyboard set for Cubase / Nuendo has just been released by Editors Keys.com. The Cubase keyboard set transforms your standard keyboard into a fully functional audio editing keyboard for Cubase.

The keyboard set is fully compatible with all versions of Cubase and Nuendo (except vst) including Cubase SX, SL and SE.

PG Music posted a general maintenance release, adding styles descriptions to its Band-In-A-Box software. This automatic music accompaniment software automatically generates a complete professional quality arrangement of piano, bass, drums, guitar and strings in a wide variety of popular styles.

The version 2.2 of Albino ready to test for registered customers. While you will only see one new feature, the ability to route FX unit 1 directly to the output, internally a lot has changed. Albino 2.2 will also be available as RTAS version and is a 30% reworked instrument, prepared for the next big step, be one of the first to test drive it!

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.