Mackie announces that its Tracktion software is now compatible with Mac OS 10.4 - aka Tiger - operating system. Tracktion is an audio/midi workstation - giving you a clean, intuitive, and clutter-free interface without losing the features you find in software costing much more.

MacMusic doesn't make a habit of relating information in connexion with private life in this section, however the sad news has been confirmed for several weeks : Robert Moog is sick. The famous "Bob", to whom musicians owe so much, is suffering from an inoperable brain tumor. Bob Moog's condition seems to change from day to day. His family has just put online a site and a visitor's book to collect messages from friends and from the musical community.

MacMusic pays all its sympathy and support to Bob Moog and his family.

Native Instruments presents Kontakt Experience, the first instrument collection specifically designed for Kontakt 2. Kontakt Experience includes 128 new instruments that cover a wide range of musical styles and include lead synths, bass, vocal sounds, drum kits, pads, guitars, various construction kits, and much more.

Kontakt Experience ships on a single DVD and is exclusively for use with Kontakt 2. It will be available in August 2005 for $119 or 99 Euro.

Sony Oxford announces their upcoming newest plug-in, The Oxford Limiter. It uses logarithmic side chain processing with innovative adaptive timing functionality. It features a new dithering functionality with selectable and variable depth noise shaping which ensures first class mastering output quality in either 24 bit or 16 bit modes.

Oxford Limiter TDM will be $530 and Oxford Limiter LE $350 .

Digidesign introduce the Pro Tools Method One training DVD. Designed specifically to help Pro Tools users make the most of their Digidesign Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools LE, or Pro Tools M-Powered system, the Pro Tools Method One training DVD can help users get familiar with the vast capabilities of the industry's most popular digital audio workstation. Composer Eddie Heidenreich explains core concepts and Pro Tools techniques in a simple, straightforward manner that is easy to follow.

Pro Tools Method One DVD ships at $49,95.

Berklee College of Music announces a new service for students "Berkleemusic Radio". Now you can get your music off your computer and onto the airwaves with Berkleemusic's new student-only online radio station! All current or past Berkleemusic students are welcome to submit a high-quality track of their original music for consideration.

Pamelia Kurstin lives in New-York and is one of the best Theremin player in the world. MacMusic is very proud to publish in its article section an interview of this famous performer.

Thanks to Pamelia. Enjoy your reading !

Rogue Amoeba adds support for Automator to its Audio Hijack software. This update version 2.2.2 also fixes several bugs. Audio Hijack can record audio from any app that outputs audio on Mac.

This update is available in the MacMusic software section.

Digidesign posted an update to version 6.9.1cs1 for its Pro Tools TDM software. This update for Pro Tools|HD and Pro Tools|HD Accel systems with Pro Tools TDM 6.9.1 software features :

- Fixed: Legacy Peripherals Attached to a 192 I/O or a 96 I/O (with Firmware Version 4.3) Would Exhibit Incorrect Gain at Their Inputs (Item # 59048)

- Fixed: Reduced Track Counts In Record On Any Hard Drive (Items #49090 and #53842).

ProSessions Premium Instruments by M-Audio are new professional 24-bit ReFills. This instruments includes EXS24, HALion, Kontakt, MachFive and Reason's NN-XT formats and contains five volume : Premium Acoustic Guitar, Premium Grand Piano, Premium Electric Pianos, Premium Studio Drums and Premium Vintage Keyboards.

ProSessions Premium will be available in August '05 at $99,95 ou 99 euros each volume. Hey M-Audio, $1=1 euro..are you sure ??

Steinberg announces the anticipated update to its HALion String Edition VSTi. HALion String Edition 2 offers a total of 9GB of solo and ensemble strings, and integrates Steinberg's HALion sampling technology with a specially recorded sound library. Samples are recorded in 24-bit and using top grade recording equipment. Included are solo and ensemble strings in a large variety of articulations including, crescendo, trills, up and down bowing, portamento and many more.

HALion String Edition 2 will be available in August 2005.

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