Mac and Music News

Wwaym announces the release of the Mac OS X version of their virtual analogue VSTi synth, nWSynth. This synth features 2 filters, 2 oscillators with various modulation options, unison, portamento, distortion, echo, presets (with 2 additional preset banks), and full MIDI automation with MIDI learn.


nWSynth costs 95 euros and a demo version is available.

 

CDxtract has released Samplit, a new solution for recording and converting your MIDI instruments to sampler instruments. Samplit sends the midi notes to the midi hardware, records all the individual sounds and create ready-to-play Sampler instruments with a few mouse clicks. Samplit can also be used to record non-MIDIfied sounds such as real instrument, human voice, special effects, noise, etc. Samplit has already been used to record the Bösendorfer piano included in the MOTU MachFive standard library.

Samplit is available for Mac OS X (multi-format version $239, mono-format version $99). Demo versions are available.

Digidesign just announced they are in the last qualification stages for PCI Express versions of their Pro Tools|HD cards. They should be available before the end of the year. In fact, Digidesign has been collaborating with Apple for some time already to bring the HD system to PCIe on the new G5 range as fast as possible, including the G5 Quad coming in november.

So you can expect the new cards in the forthcoming weeks. Check the compato page at Digi website.

Luxonix announces an updated version (1.1.3) for its LFX-1310. This release now works correctly with Logic 6 series, fixes a crash on some dual CPU systems and fixes the crusher effect bug. LFX-1310 is a plug-in multi-effector including 24 types of algorithm and 3 serial slots.

Myriad Software announces that Melody Assistant is now available as version 7.1.9, and that Harmony Assistant is available as version 9.1.9. Melody Assistant is an application for writing and composing music, with a friendly interface and many powerful features, is a lite version of Harmony Assistant.

List of new features, improvements and bugfixes are available in the MacMusic software section.

Lexicon announced the Lambda, a new USB desktop recording solution including the Lambda Studio USB interface, Cubase LE and the Lexicon Pantheon reverb VST plug-in. The Lambda Studio interface features two XLR microphone inputs, with TRS inserts and switchable +48V phantom power, two TRS balanced 1/4" line inputs, two TRS balanced line outputs, a 1/8" front-panel mounted high-power headphone output jack, a front-panel ultra-high-impedance instrument input, and MIDI input and output.

Lambda Studio will be available for $199.99.

Mackie annouces a version 2.0.2.8 of Tracktion, which now features : international language support for GUI display, folder grouping for built-in effects plug-ins, custom naming ability to audio outputs, new group soloing functionality, and new render track dialog with options.

Plogue announce the release of Bidule version 0.9, which now works as VST/AU plug-in (only for registered versions), allows audio monitoring of inputs/outputs of a bidule, and adds spanish support. This release fixes several bugs and adds new modules :Key Sender, MIDI Aftertouch Value Filter, MIDI CC Value Filter, MIDI Channel Pressure Value Filter, MIDI Note Closer, MIDI Note Velocity Filter and MIDI Pitchbend Value Filter.

Molecular Bytes has released a pre-release demo version (Windows only) of Membrane. This very new multi-track sample sequencer allows users to easily edit, adapt and change audio data like samples, loops and sequences under the heading 'elastic-audio'. Membrane is based on the concept of Melodyne and allows you to graphically easily edit audio data, and will work with both monophonic and polyphonic samples.

Membrane will be available for Mac OS X as standalone application and as VST/AU versions. ReWire will be also supported.

During its third conference in less than a month, Apple today unveiled its new PowerMac G5 desktop line and enhanced its PowerBook G4 line of notebook computers.

The new PowerMac G5 line features the Power Mac G5 Quad, providing quad-core processing with two 2.5 GHz dual-core PowerPC G5 processors. All Power Mac G5 models now feature dual-core processors, a new PCI Express architecture and higher performance graphics options including NVIDIA's Quadro FX 4500.

The new PowerBook G4 line adds higher-resolution displays and up to one hour more battery life on the 15- and 17-inch models. In addition, every new PowerBook now includes a DVD burning SuperDrive. The new PowerBook also offers a 100GB (7200 rpm) hard drive as a build-to-order option!