Mac and Music News

Steinberg announces that Studio Case II is now shipping worldwide. This new pack includes new version of Cubase SE sequencer, and six entry-level versions of Steinberg VST instruments : Groove Agent, HALion, The Grand, Virtual Guitarist Electric Edition, D'cota and the new Virtual Bassist SE.

Studio Case II costs 279 euros.

MacMusic announced it on August 5th, and a few weeks later, Avox is now shipping. Avox Vocal Toolkit by Antares is 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.

Avis is available in RTAS, VST and Audio Units versions for $599,00.

Apple has posted the new 5.0 version for iTunes. It features a streamlined look, and you can find stuff faster with the new Search Bar, control kids' access with Parental Controls and hear more of what you love with Smart Shuffle.

iTunes 5 is available via "software update" utility, or on the Apple web site.

What a news !! Apple announced, at last, the first mobile phone with iTunes support, the Motorola ROKR. This cell phone can store up to 100 songs (yes ONE HUNDRED songs !!!), and pauses music automatically when a call comes. The Apple RokR phone is available for $250.

What's more to say about this Apple special event...nothing.

Apple today introduced the iPod nano, a full-featured iPod that is thinner than a standard #2 pencil. The iPod nano features an ultra-portable, lightweight design with a color screen, Apple's Click Wheel and the ability to hold 1,000 songs or 25,000 photos, and works seamlessly with the iTunes Music Store.

At just $249 for the 4G and $199 for the 2GB iPod Nano, both models are available in a stunning white or black designs.

Digidesign unveils several details about the new MBox USB 2 :

- TRS inserts have been removed (place is used for the MIDI ports);
- Mic preamps are not Focusrite but technology used by Digidesign gives the preamp nearly 4 dBu of equivalent input noise (EIN) improvement over the original Mbox.
- the handle can be removed and switched to use the other piece included (Mbox 2 comes with two faceplates, which are easily swapped using the included hex wrench);
- the MBox 2 replaces the discontinued MBox 1.

VSTunnel Plug-in behaves like an effect Plug-in. Simply place the Plug-in to the "Master Insert" of the sequencer. Instead of modifying the audio, like usual effects do, VSTunnel transmits your local production to all paticipants of a session. It also mixes the received audio so that it can be heard. You can download the VSTunnel Plug-in for free. In the free version, all saving functions are disabled, the maximum song length is limited to 1 minute and the download quality cannot be adjusted.

If you get your registration code for 69.00€/$85.00 all features are available.

SeqCon is a software designed for live performances (theater, dance, circus, mime...). SeqCon is a sequencer not linked to time : the sequence steps are linked to conditions defined by the performance.

It is now available as a freeware on Mac OSX, in MacMusic software section.

Steinberg announces a free Nuendo 3.1 update. It offers a variety of new features which are mainly targeted at post production for film and television. Additionally, this version of Nuendo provides significantly optimized workflow and performance features; it is also the first which is capable of interfacing with Euphonix hardware control by means of the Euphonix EuCon protocol. This release also adds a new Audio Pull up/down function, supports HDTV Frame Rates, support of Mac OSX Quartz 2D, and adds video Thumbnail Pre-Cache option.