Mac and Music News

Arturia announces that its full line of virtual instruments is now compatible with new Digidesign Pro Tools 7 software :

- Arturia CS-80V (Yamaha CS-80 emulation) is available as 1.5 PT 7 version;
- Arturia ARP 2600 V synthesizer as PT 7 version;
- Arturia Minimoog V is available as 1.5 PT7 version;
- Arturia Moog Modular V is available as 2.0 PT 7 version.

These updates are available as RTAS versions.

Native Instruments announces that its new Traktor DJ Studio 3 is now available in stores. This new version provides a host of powerful creative features, including four playback decks, a suite of performance effects, an analog-modeled mixer section, a customizable user interface and more. TRAKTOR DJ Studio 3 also allows DJs to browse and purchase the latest club music releases from within the software by giving access to the full catalog of Beatport, the leading online store for club music. New features include : Four full-featured playback decks, Beatport online store integration, Professional 4-channel DJ mixer emulation, Beat-synchronized DJ effects , New customizable user interface, Performance-oriented parameter control, and advanced track collection and library functions.

Traktor DJ Studio 3 is available for $279.

Ueberschall today announced the availability of Liquid Guitar, the 3rd Instrument from the Liquid Instrument Series for Mac for usage with VST, Audio Units or RTAS compatible host applications. Liquid Guitar offers the collected power of the entire guitar universe ready to use for individual compositions. Liquid Guitar (L.I.S. Vol.3) contains a broad stylistic spectrum of guitar licks recorded with acoustic (nylon/steel) and electric guitars. From Funk, RnB, Pop, Rock, Blues, Fusion, Jazz, Western, Beat all the way to Sound FX. Liquid Guitar contains rhythmically and soloistically played licks and phrases recorded as: Clean-direct input and Real Amp Recording with crunch, distortion including feedback, tremolo and Wah-Wah sounds.

Liquid Guitar (L.I.S. Vol. 3) is available for $200.

Metasonix the infamous and overdrived manufacturer of weird tube effects for synths and guitars is currently finishing the last jobs on an all tube synth based on his own designs. It's not the first time Eric Barbour is going along the synthesizer way but it's his largest to date : 2 all tubes VCO, a waveshaper, a multimode VCF (Low Pass, treble/mid bandpass, and bass bandpass) all tubes (there must be somme idea behind that), 2 enveloppes A(S)R and AR, which can be combined as ADSR, a VCA featuring a Pentode, 2 LFO, and 2 modulation busses, a joystick and multiple patch points as the S-1000 is half-modular.

Korg has announced that microKONTROL and KONTROL49 USB-MIDI controllers are now being bundled with a variety of popular software products suited for dance music creation and performance — Ableton Live Lite 4 Korg Edition; SampleTank 2 Korg Edition; Korg MDE-X effects; Reason Adapted for KORG and UVI Korg Edition — collectively known as the Creative Kontrol Pack, Volume 2.

This promotion is valid for all new microKONTROL and KONTROL49 units purchased from November 15, 2005 until March 31, 2006

Garritan has announced that 'Jazz and Big Band Garritan Collection' is now shipping. Garritan Jazz and Big Band Collection features Trumpets, Trombones, a Comprehensive Saxophone Collection, Keyboards, Rhythm Section and more (over 50 individual instruments), all accessible via the included Native Instruments Kontakt Player in VST, AU, DX, RTAS and standalone formats on Mac OS X.

Garritan Jazz and Big Band Collection is now available for $299, but you can save some bucks with the introductory price of $259 (but order soon!).

If you want a bit of fun in your studio, LaCie in collaboration with designer Ora-Ito, has just released a new range of USB hard-drives looking like Lego bricks. Four models are now available : 160 GB (in white) for $119.99, 250 GB (in red) for $149.99, 300 GB (in blue) for $199.99 and 500GB (in red) for $399.99. Please note that Ora-Ito is a French designer, with prestigious collaborations like L'Oréal, Vogue Magazine, Heineken, Adidas, Kenzo, electronic musicians AIR, Honda, Guerlain, Swatch and Nike.

I'm waiting for the FireWire version...

TC Electronic today started shipping the VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb for Pro Tools. The new plug-in is a genuine and original reverb directly ported from TC's System 6000. VSS3 is a Stereo Source Reverb, which uses Virtual Space Simulation (VSS) to accurately recreate the natural characteristics of acoustic spaces.

VSS3 Stereo Source Reverb costs 795€ (ex.VAT) and is now available as a TDM plug-in.

M-Audio announces the limited availability of the GForce Future Retro Pack collection of GForce virtual instruments. The GForce Future Retro Pack combines all of GForce's emulations of vintage keyboards in one package. These software instruments —Minimonsta-Melohman, The Oddity, impOSCar and M-Tron —bring back the sounds that defined an era — the Minimoog, ARP Odyssey, Oxford OSCAR and Mellotron, respectively. They can be used alone or with most popular host software (in VST 2.0, RTAS and Audio Units).

This is a limited-edition collection that is only available approximately through the holidays. GForce Future Retro Pack costs $449,95.

Cakewalk announces the release of its new Dimension Pro v1.0 VST synthesizer. It combines real instruments with advanced synthesis, giving you endless sound possibilities. Dimension Pro offers an abundance of vital, usable sounds that range from pristine realistic acoustic instruments, thumping basses and cutting leads, to complex, evolving atmospheres. This wide tonal range can be attributed to both advanced sample mapping and a powerful sound-sculpting engine with analog sound generation that lets you mutate and recompose any sound you might imagine.

Dimension Pro costs $359,00.

Herman Gillis, the belgian designer of the acclaimed Sherman Filterbanks 1 and 2, and the infamous Quadfilter is preparing a version 3 ready by the end of the year. This wako all analogue filter will be a a mix of 2 actual filterbanks. For more details, extra features, looks and price, you'll have to wait for some weeks still…