Mac and Music News

Bias announces a time-limited pre-order special as the release of Peak Pro 5 and Peak Pro XT 5. Rules are note really clear : Customers who own or purchase a new retail copy of the Peak 4 Mastering and Restoration Edition can pre-order a copy of Peak Pro XT 5 for $299 and receive a free DDP file export extension (a $399 value). Customers who purchased new retail editions of Peak 4 before 4/1/05 can pre-order Peak Pro 5 now for US $179, and customers who purchased Peak 4 after 4/1/05 can pre-order Peak Pro 5 for $39.

Remember that with Peak ($500,00), the only "big" audio éditing software on Mac in the 21st century : you can not copy and paste from the right to left side of a stereo audio file !!!

Steinberg unveiled future versions of Cubase SX3 and Cubase SL3. These upcoming updates will offer new features and capabilities including full integration of external hardware instruments and effects including Studio Connections Audio integration, support for Steinberg Dolby Digital and DTS Encoders and expanded editing and mixing functions.

These updates will be available for download in August 2005.

A new version of ValveTone - v1.20 - is now available. This release changes : fix audio clicks under at the begining of the first crossed region, in host that make use of dynamic CPU managment), Plugin Delay Compensation now behave properly, fix error when recalling output level setting, fix error that losed the mono setting when bypassing or recalling the plugin, fix a reported error in the frequency response of "smokin' 2" (at 2 specific gain setting), improved GUI loading, new EQ presets and versioning now is featured in the GUI.

Apple has posted Mac OS 10.4.2 update for its "Tiger" operating system. This release includes fixes for:

- file sharing using AFP and SMB/CIFS network file services
- single sign-on authentication and reliable access to Active Directory servers
- autologin for managed user accounts
- AirPort and wireless access
- Core Graphics, Core Audio, Core Image, including updatedATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers
- Finder updates including finding on Kind and using Slideshow
- synchronizing your iDisk with .Mac
- installation reliability
- managing Dashboard widgets
- Address Book, Automator, iCal, iChat, Mail, Safari, and Stickies applications
- compatibility with third party applications and devices

Swar Systems announces the release of the first Mac OS X version of their Indian music software, SwarShala. This application is a complete Indian music software that will allow you to learn about, practice and compose Indian music over up to 49 perfectly sampled instruments. With SwarShala you can create custom rhythms and melodies and export them as MIDI files to your preferred sequencer. Are also included 2 complete multimedia tutorials on Indian classical music and a Practice pane to jam along virtual musicians.

SwarShala for Mac OS X ships at $250,00.

Edirol announced that it has updated it's USB MIDI Interface line : UM-1EX, the UM-2EX and the UM-3EX. The most unique new model is the new UM-3EX 3-In/3-Out MIDI Interface that features a built-in USB hub that allows for the connection of two additional UM-3EX for a total of up to 9-In/9-Out. The UM-2EX replaces the UM-1SX and adds an additional MIDI out port. The new UM-1EX replaces the EDIROL UM-1X and adds a new MIDI Thru switch

Suggested Retail Price of the UM-3EX is $89.00, UM-1EX and UM-2EX are $49.00. All three new interfaces will be available in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Sound designers Spectral Suite AudioUnit Mac OSX version is now available. The Suite includes the following plugins : Spectral Morpher, Phat, Phat Pro, PitchShift multiband and daBomb. Spectral Suite is fully compatible with FXpansion VST to AU and VST to RTAS adapters.

Spectral Suite AudioUnits costs $99,00.

At last, Access Music posted an update to version 1.1 for its Virus Powercore system. This version 1.1 contains loads of improvements and bug fixes. The free software update is available at the TC Electronics support website.

Bidule is growing to version 0.8501, which adds set position dialog when double-clicking on a point ans adds some improvements is MIDI Note Transposer. 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.

Edirol announced a new version of it's UA-1 series USB Audio Interface. The new UA-1EX replaces the EDIROL UA-1X and adds support for ASIO drivers and 24 bit / 96 kHz audio. The UA-1EX continues to feature Core Audio support for Mac OSX. Inputs include RCA pin, input for plug-in powered electret condenser type stereo microphones and S/PDIF optical in. Outputs include RCA pin, 1/8" headphone jack and S/PDIF optical output.

The UA-1EX will ship at $99.00 in the fourth quarter '05.

Researchers of the Georgia Institute of Technology have created a mechanical guitar playing robot,"Crazy J". This robot is composed of two mechanical systems that interact to play a range of 29 musical notes. A plucking mechanism with six independently controlled picks is mounted over the body of the guitar and a fingering mechanism with an array of 23 fingertips is mounted over the first four frets of the fingerboard.

That's a good news !

Propellerheads has updated Reason to version 3.03. This new release adds support for wireless Frontier Design Group TranzPort controller, support for M-Audio Ozonic, track mute and solo for selected track now controllable from Remote, and several bug fixes.

Details and download in the MacMusic software section.