Mac and Music News

Yamaha announces that two new portable digital audio worksations will be available fall 2005. The new AW1600 will feature eight combo inputs (all with Phantom power), USB 2.0 drag-and-drop capabilities for moving files onto your computer, 24-bit recording and a new Pitch Fix algorithm for correcting the pitch of vocal tracks, 40 GB hard drive and effects. The second one, the AW2400 will include 24 simultaneous tracks of playback, motorized 100mm faders, and the same expansion slot found on Yamaha digital mixing consoles.

AW1400 will cost $1495, and AW2400 will cost $2495.

Glaresoft has posted version 1.0.3 of iDrum for the AudioUnit format. This update addresses incompatibilities with the latest version of AUVal, and allows iDrum to run in Logic 7.1 verified. You can grab the update from the downloads section of your my.iDrum account. Customers using iDrum with ProTools do not require an update for Tiger compatibility. Customers using pHATmatik PRO do not require an update for Tiger compatibility

Way Out Ware's TimewARP 2600 virtual emulation of the classic ARP 2600 analog synthesizer, already available in RTAS format for Windows and Mac, will soon be available in VST and AudioUnit formats. It can also be used standalone. TimewARP 2600 replicates every detail of this classic instrument popularized by music pioneers such as The Who's Pete Townsend, Weather Report's Joe Zawinul, Stevie Wonder and Edgar Winter, while adding features that make it even more user friendly. A classic ARP 2600 sound without the headache of maintenance.

ps Clouvel : TimewARP from Way Out Ware is expected to ship in July at an MSRP of $249.95. M-Audio is the exclusive worldwide distributor.

Apple announces its new "recording deal". If you buy Logic Pro 7 with a PowerBook, Power Mac, or Xserve between July 25, 2005, and October 25, 2005, you'll save $500, after mail-in rebate. This offer appears to be a good deal, but it's a strange deal indeed : Apple runs Logic Pro 7 on Xserve and not on new iBooks ?

Yamaha and Arturia announce they have signed an exclusive distribution and marketing agreement. Yamaha will now be the sole distributor Arturia products in the United States. Arturia,maker of virtual software synthesizers based in Grenoble, France is well known for creating realistic sounding virtual recreations of vintage analog synthesizers (minimoo, Moog Modular V and...CS-80).

Smartelectronix.com announces a preview version of LiveCut. LiveCut is a plugin dedicated to breakbeat Cutting inspired by Nick Collins library for SuperCollider called BBCut.

This preview version is available as download in the MacMusic software section.

The Lone Roger announces that MultiVST Shell is updated to version 3.2. This release supports ReWire - it can be used to host VSTi's and play them into Pro Tools, for example, and its built-in arpeggiator can be synced to an external sequencer. It also sports an improved VST fx matrix. VST shell is a shell for VST instruments, to enable you to use them outside of your usual VST host. Multi VST Shell is a multitimbral version, enabling 4 VSTi's to be played at once.

Apple announced enhancements to its mac Mini line, with 512MB of memory standard in every model and prices starting at just $499. The Mac mini also features built-in wireless networking with AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth starting at just $599, and the ability to burn DVDs with a SuperDrive for $699. Three new models are :

The 1.25 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $499 (US),
includes: 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 processor; 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, expandable to 1GB; 40GB Ultra ATA hard drive; Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive; ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32MB video memory; one FireWire 400 and two USB 2.0 ports; 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet networking and 56K V.92 modem internal support for AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth; DVI or VGA out .

The 1.42 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $599 (US), includes: 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 processor; 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, expandable to 1GB; 80GB Ultra ATA hard drive; Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive; ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32MB video memory; one FireWire 400 and two USB 2.0 ports; 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet networking; built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth; DVI or VGA out (adapter included), composite/S-video out with optional adapter; and built-in speaker and headphone/line out.

The 1.42 GHz Mac mini, for a suggested retail price of $699 (US), includes: 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 processor; 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, expandable to 1GB; 80GB Ultra ATA hard drive; SuperDrive (DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive; ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32MB video memory; one FireWire 400 and two USB 2.0 ports;10/100 BASE-T Ethernet networking; built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth; DVI or VGA out (adapter included), composite/S-video out with optional adapter; and built-in speaker and headphone/line out.

Apple today enhanced its iBook G4 line with faster Power PC G4 processors running up to 1.42 GHz, 512MB memory across the line, higher performance graphics and built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. New models are :

The 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 iBook, weighing just 4.9 pounds, has a suggested retail price of $999 (US) and includes:

- a crisp 12.1-inch (diagonal) active-matrix TFT display;
- 512MB DDR SDRAM expandable to up to 1.5GB maximum memory;
- a 40GB Ultra ATA hard drive;
- AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400;
- VGA video out, S-video and composite video out support;
- 56K v.92 modem, Ethernet (10/100 BASE-T); and
- a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) drive.

The 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 iBook, weighing just 5.9 pounds, has a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US) and includes:

- a brilliant 14.1-inch (diagonal) active-matrix TFT display;
- 512MB DDR SDRAM expandable to up to 1.5GB maximum memory;
- a 60GB Ultra ATA hard drive;
- AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400;
- VGA video out, S-video and composite video out support;
- 56K v.92 modem, Ethernet (10/100 BASE-T); and
- a slot-load SuperDrive (DVD+/-R/CD-RW) drive.

Rogue Amoeba has updated its famous audio streaming software Nicecast to version 1.8. Nicecast 1.8 brings with it support for UPnP (Universal Plug-And-Play) and NAT-PMP (Network Address Translation Port Mapping Protocol) routers, which will automatically be configured as needed. Most new LinkSys, Netgear and Apple routers support one of these protocols, so users can get down to the business of broadcasting without worrying about their network setup. The new version also brings broadcasters enhanced security and control, with the ability to kick listeners and password protect that stream.

Nicecast 1.8 is a free update for all previously registered users. New users are encouraged to test Nicecast out and then purchase it, for $40.

Apple has posted an update to version 2.0.2 for Garageband. This release improves Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger compatibility, and addresses issues with time signature handling, Apple Loops authoring, and locking tracks. This update is available via "Software update" control panel or on the Apple support page...

...and of course in the MacMusic software section !

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.