Mac and Music News

Digidesign and M-Audio announce that new Pro Tools M-powered version 7 is now available. Pro Tools M-Powered is designed to work with select M-Audio hardware peripherals. With Pro Tools M-Powered, M-Audio hardware enthusiasts have access to the recording industry's most popular audio/MIDI production software for recording, editing, and mixing music. Pro Tools M-Powered 7 is a free update for all registered Pro Tools M-Powered owners with the Pro Tools M-Powered 6.8 iLok authorization. To download your update, please go to the following page:

EASTWEST announces the availability of all three PRO XP (Expansion) versions of it's Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra series. The Professional Expansion packages, when added to the original versions (which are required), add up to 400 new instruments/articulations to the original library and approximately doubles the size of each version. Further, improvements have been made to the original library also using the PRO XP players. New expansion packs feature :

- EWQL SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA PLATINUM & PLATINUM PRO XP
24-bit samples, recorded from 3 phase-locked mic positions, chromatic sampling, 138 gigabytes of samples, release trails, Qlegato, bonus Steinway B Grand Piano.

- EWQL SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA GOLD & GOLD PRO XP
16-bit samples, one mic position, chromatic sampling, 36 gigabytes of samples, release trails, QLegato, includes all instruments and articulations that were not included in the original Gold Edition from the original Platinum Edition, bonus Steinway B Grand Piano.

- EWQL SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA SILVER & SILVER PRO XP
16-bit samples, one mic position, 5.4 gigabytes of samples, QLegato

Details are available on East West web site.

Native Instruments announces that the new version of its drawbar organ, the B4 II, is now available in strores. The bass pedal section of the B4 II has been extended with a Pedal Bass Legato function, and now even includes a special "String Bass" option. Th new B4 II comes equipped with a new selection of models, ranging from a number of B3 organs of different age and condition to Vox Continental, Farfisa and Harmonium models. The rotary speaker section, the crucial element in achieving the signature Hammond sound, has also received a complete overhaul that brings both its authenticity and versatility to a new level.

B4 II is available for $229/199 Euro and an update for existing B4 owners is available for $99/79 Euro.

Nagra announces from Switzerland an upcoming Nagra digital portable recorder. The Nagra "Ares-M" will feature 1 GB internal memory, a USB port, .wav recording (20 Bit A/D & D/A conversion at 8 to 48 kHz PCM) or .mpeg recording (64 to 384 kb/s), mini jack microphone input, mini jack line input, jack 3.5 mm stereo line output, and headphone output. It will come with an integrated microphone, and a USB cable. The Ares-M is powered by 2 x "AA" cells with a 10 hours atonomy.

It will cost 1,200 CHF (USD$ not available yet).

AudioRealism has announced Bass Line Pro, an enhanced version of its Bass Line virtual instrument. Bass Line Pro features a full range oscillators with no aliasing, 32-voice polyphonic mode, non-linear filter with self oscillation and VCF tracking, stereo Delay unit with modulatable delay time, patch cable system that allows additional CV routing, and more than 500 preset patches and sequences.

Bass Line Pro will be available soon in VST Mac OS X with an Audio Units version to follow

Announced on October 6, the new Project Mix I/O, a FireWire audio interface and motorized mixing surface, is now shipping. This new M-Audio product features 8 powered micro/line inputs (1/4, XLR, peak led), 8 ADAT inputs and outputs, one S/PDIF in/out, one high level instrument input, 4 outputs (1/4), MIDI In/Out, 2 headphones outputs with level control, Word Clock In/Out, 8 motorized faders, 8 assignable encoders, 1 master fader, a Jog Wheel, LED screen, locators, support for Mackie Control-Logic Control-HUI protocols. This interface is total compatible with Pro Tools M-Powered, Live, Logic, Cubase, Digital Performer and SONAR.

M-Audio Project Mix I/O ships at $1,299.95.

TC Electronic introduces two new PowerCore plug-ins, Fabrik R and Fabrik C, which feature user interface called MINT, Meta Intuitive Navigation Technology. MINTTM allows the user to respond intuitively to any audio material with just a few simple knobs. The first two MINT-flavored plug-ins are Fabrik R, a swiss-knife reverb tool with four high-quality TC reverbs, and Fabrik C, a high-resolution channel EQ, de-esser, and 3-band/full band compressor in one single plug-in.

Fabrik R and Fabrik C are expected to ship in December, 2005 at 299€ (ex. VAT).

Metric Halo announced that ChannelStrip (eq, compressor, etc.) version 2.1 for TDM and RTAS has been released simultaneously with Digidesign's release of Pro Tools 7. The new version of ChannelStrip is a compatibility update that now includes support for operation within Pro Tools 7 TDM, LE, and M Powered. Users should note that ChannelStrip version 2.0.3 f13 is not compatible with Pro Tools 7, and should update to the new version before or at the same time as running the Pro Tools 7 update to avoid any interruption in the operation of ChannelStrip. The 2.1 f02 update is compatible with previous versions of Pro Tools (6.x), and can be safely installed by any OS X based customer.

Registered users can visit the Metric Halo website to download an updater package.

Akaï announced the release of its new wind controler, EWI 4000S. This expressive musical instrument incorporates several improvements in the development of MIDI/Synth instrument capabilities. There are several improvements to the design as well, such as having a built-in sound module, direct MIDI IN and Out, and other updated operating functions. These features make playing the EWI4000S easier than any other electronic wind instrument.

The EWI4000S will be available at the end of January 2006 for 900 euros.