Mac and Music News

Digidesign introduced MassivePack 4 and MassivePack 4 Pro plug-in bundles for Digidesign Pro Tools|HD systems. The MassivePack 4 plug-in bundle is also available for VENUE live sound environment systems, and features :

- Phoenix, by Crane Song
- ReVibe, by Digidesign
- Smack!, by Digidesign
- Fairchild 660 and 670 Bundle, by Bomb Factory
- Pultec Bundle, by Bomb Factory
- H3000 Factory, by Eventide
- Quadravox, by Eventide
- Channel G, by McDSP
- MC2000, by McDSP
- Oxford OXF-R3 EQ, by Sony Oxford
- Speed, by SoundToys (not available for Venue systems)
- Master X3, by TC Electronic
- A10 Series, by URS
- N12 Series, by URS.

MassivePack Pro 4 includes a Pro Tools|HD Accel card in addition to all of the plug-ins in the MassivePack 4 bundle.

Waves in association with Paul Reed Smith Guitars announces Waves GTR system, a new system designed for guitar digital recording. The system contains the Waves/PRS Guitar Interface, a hardware guitar impedance and level matching unit, Waves Amp, a plug-in which offers 7 emulated amps, and Waves Stomp, a plug-in featuring 23 classic and new guitar effects. Waves GTR is compatible with both Native and TDM systems .

As often, no release date but prices are $600 Native, $1,200 TDM.

Alphakanal has released version 0.3.0 of Automat, which adds New GUI and DSP code. This new version is not preset compatible with previous versions and it now requires Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and Altivec. Automat is a substrative synthesizer featuring subtractive synthesis, 3 antialiased oscilators, filters and amplifier, 2 ADSR's for filter and amplifier and 6 modulators with tempo sync.

According to several web sites and other sources, it seems that Apple will update its iBook range, with only two models at $999 and $1,299. The Mac mini range will be also updated early next week alongside the iBook. Three new Mac mini configurations will be available at $499, $599, and $699. The new $699 model will feature AirPort Extreme, BlueTooth, and SuperDrive standard, sources said.

just wait...

At NAMM, M-Audio announces the Fast Track Pro mobile audio/MIDI interface. This pro version of the Fast Track USB is USB bus powered and features :

- 24-bit/44.1kHz audio interface with dual mic/ instrument preamps
- 2 front panel mic/instrument preamp inputs (Neutrik XLR/ ¼" TRS)
- 2 balanced outputs (¼" TRS), 4 unbalanced outputs (RCA),
- S/PDIF and MIDI I/O
- ¼" headphone output with level control and A/B source switch
- Kensington lock port

Fast Track Pro is Mac OS X 10.3.9 and higher compatible. it will be available in August at $299,00.

Ableton annouces at NAMM that Live 5 is now shipping worldwide today. In addition, an update to version 5.0.1 is also available. Live 5 features :

- clip freeze
- plug-in delay compensation
- launchable arrangement locators
- Mackie Control support
- mp3 and automatic tempo-matching
- new 'complex' warp mode
- new clip transport
- new 'live clip' format
- better browsing
- new preset management
- device groups
- new library
- new instruments and effects : beat repeat; phraser and flanger; auto pan; saturator; arpeggiator; simpler updated.

Live 5 is now available for 499 euros or USD. For customers who purchased Live 4 between May 1, 2005 and May 31, 2005, downloadable upgrades to Live 5 will be available for 49 euros or USD. All customers who unlock Live 4 for the first time from June 1, 2005 until the final release day of Live 5 will receive a version 5 serial number on release day at no charge.

Art Vista Productions has released the Art Vista Virtual Grand Piano. This virtual piano plug-in is based on Native Instruments' Kontakt Player recreating the 1960 Hamburg Steinway "B" Concert Grand Piano. It features 200 presets, including emulations of recording styles from the most famous piano recordings in all genres from the 1950's through 2005.

Virtual Grand Piano is available in VST, AU, RTAS and Stand Alone formats and costs $120 (introductory price of US$99 until 16th August).

Native Instruments announces at Summer NAMM its new Akoustik Piano, a sample-based software instrument. It includes three famous Grand pianos that have been at the heart of countless classical concerts and recordings for many decades - the powerful and dynamic Boesendorfer 290 Imperial, the crystal-clear and versatile Steinway D, and the gentle Bechstein D 280 with its subtle harmonic overtones.

Akoustik Piano will be available in September 2005 for for $349 /299 euros.

As MacMusic announced on july 15th, the new Oxford Limiter plugin is now shipping. The Oxford Limiter is a very high quality programme limiter, which employs logarithmic side chain processing, with innovative adaptive timing functionality, using look ahead techniques. Whether seeking general transparent level control, programme loudness maximisation or heavily applied artistic effects, the Oxford Limiter provides outstanding flexibility and world class performance.

Sony Oxford limiter is available as TDM and RTAS versions.

Edirol has introduced the world's first professional Hi - Speed USB (USB 2.0) multi-channel audio support for Apple Mac OS X Tiger using it's UA-1000 and UA-101 USB 2.0 Audio Interfaces. This eagerly awaited Mac OS X support is made possible due to advances made in Tiger.

A preview beta version of the Tiger driver is currently available for download at the Edirol site, and a preview beta version of the Tiger driver for the UA-101 is also available for download.

Alesis unveils 2 new "reference" studio monitiors. The M1 Active 520 features a 75-watt amplifier coupled with a 5-inch low frequency woofer, and the M1 Active 620 features a 100-watt amplifier and 6.5-inch low frequency woofer. he M1 Active 520 and 620 are both magnetically shielded.

M1 Active 520 costs $499 per pair and M1 Active 620 costs $599 per pair.

Numark announces the iDJ Mixing Console for iPod portable music players. Featuring large iPod navigation controls, this two-channel mixer provides 3-band EQ with gain control for each channel and a dedicated microphone input with tone and level control. Each channel also provides phono/line inputs for adding additional devices. This feature-packed mixer also provides USB connectivity.

The iDJ will be available Q3 of 2005 at $399.

Miroslav Philharmonik orchestra and choir sound workstation will start shipping in August. Miroslav Philharmonik is an integrated Orchestral Workstation plug-in combining 7GB of samples and over 1,200 sounds of the legendary Miroslav Vitous Orchestra and Choir sample collection masterpieces with dedicated, plug-in instrument.

Miroslav Philharmonik will have an introductory price of €419/$499. After the introductory price period is over, the price will be €499/$599 for the full version and €329/$399 for the cross-grade.

IK Multimedia announces that AmpliTube UNO, guitar amp and FX software, is now available as a free download from the IK Multimedia product website. AmpliTube UNO is a stand-alone single amp application using the same technology derived from the full version of AmpliTube.

At NAMM, Roland introduces the new SP-404 sampler. Built on the SP-303 sampler, the new SP-404 offers more features, more voices, more pads, and more memory. It features battery-power compatibility, a CompactFlash slot, and a built-in microphone. The SP-404's onboard pattern sequencer allows up to 8,000 notes to be recorded. Up to 24 patterns, each 1--99 measures long, can be stored in the internal memory simultaneously.

Antares announces AVOX, an interesting new vocal processor. Antares has combined five vocal processing modules : THROAT Physical Modeling Vocal Designer, CHOIR Vocal Multiplier, PUNCH Vocal Impact Enhancer, DUO Vocal Modeling Auto-Doubler and SYBIL Variable Frequency De-Esser.

AVOX will be available this fall in RTAS, VST and Audio Units versions.

That's a good news if you're a M-Audio hardware user. Divers for Ozone, MobilePre USB, Omnistudio USB, Quattro USB and Sonica Theater audio interfaces are now compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.

These updates are free and are available in the MacMusic Software section.

At Summer NAMM, Tascam debuts DP-01FX/CD digital portastudio. This new portastudio features a built-in CD burner for under. Based on the best-selling DP-01 and DP-01FX, the new DP-01FX/CD makes CD recording simple. Like the DP-01FX, it features eight tracks, two XLR inputs with phantom power, a pair of digital effects processors, eight 45mm Faders plus a dedicated Master fader, S/PDIF Digital Optical output, USB 2.0 port for computer backup and a simple-to-use interface. It also adds a Built-in 40GB hard drive

The Tascam DP-01FX/CD ships at $799.

Digidesign has updated its Pro-Tools M-Powered, which now adds Mac OS X 10.4 "aka Tiger" compatibility. Qualification of Pro Tools M-Powered software on Mac OS X 10.4.x has taken much longer than anticipated due to unforeseen technical issues. Please note that this new 6.8r2 version is not "bug free". The fully qualified version of Pro Tools M-Powered is anticipated for release within a few weeks

Today is a very special day for all musicians. The summer NAMM '05 has just started in Indianapolis, USA. With around 500 exhibitors and lots of events, this fair is going to last three days. As usual, the whole MacMusic team and myself are on the alert to keep you up-to-date. You can read about the NAMM either in this special report or in the daily news section.