Mac and Music News

TC Electronic today announced the PowerCore 2.0 software upgrade, which includes several helpful improvements to the graphic interface and demo versions of plug-in licenses. The new interface design provides an overview of CPU power and RAM, as well as the status of plug-in licenses and all PowerCore devices running on the system. PowerCore 2.0 enables a fully functional 20-hour trial version of a number of optional TC plug-ins. These plug-ins will be included with the installer in all future versions and simplify the download procedure when buying optional PowerCore plug-ins. With PowerCore 2.0, users will also be able to transfer optional plug-ins between PowerCore units. Only PowerCore FireWire, Compact, mkII and Unplugged users will be able to benefit from the trial version and license transfer facilities of the version 2.0.

All PowerCore users are automatically eligible for a free upgrade to PowerCore 2.0, which will be available in January 2006.

Native Instruments has updated its synthesizer, sampler, and effects processor Reaktor to version 5.1. This new release adds and updates several ensembles, instruments and macros, adds cross-platform compatibility of plug-ins, and Pro Tools 7 compatibility. At last, a number of optimizations have been made to ensure a smoother, more efficient running of Reaktor.

The full list of new features is available in our Software section.

Celemony announced that both update and full version of Meldoyne 3 are now shipping worldwide. This new version offers a new algorithm that allows any type of audio material to profit from Melodyne's unique editing functions and sound quality; in other words, Melodyne is no longer limited to the editing of melodies but can handle homophonic and polyphonic textures. Melodyne3 also offers fully automatic analysis of the audio material, powerful macros for the correction of intonation and timing errors, and numerous improvements in the user interface.

Melodyne 3 studio (full edition with polyphonic time stretching) costs 699 € and the Melodyne 3 Cre8 is 319 €. Upgrade to Melodyne 3 costs 99 € for Cre8 users and 149 € for Studio Edition users. The upgrade is free for purchases registered after the 1st September 2005. A last a demo version will be available on 23th December 2005.

Apple has updated SoundTrack Pro to version 1.0.2. Soundtrack Pro 1.0.2 waveform editor now includes innovative action layering and intelligent repair and restoration functions that let you accurately manipulate audio while retaining total creative flexibility. SoundTrack Pro supports video formats up to HD resolutions, full multitrack editing and mixing, over 50 professional effects plug-ins, and thousands of included Apple Loops. This update also provides improved reliability and performance.

SoundTrack Pro 1.0.2 is available as a free download from the Apple web site.

Listen right now : audioMIDI.com is taking their "not just a reseller, but a resource" attitude one step further with the introduction of a weekly Podcast geared towards musicians and music professionals. The audioMIDI.com Podcast debuted in June of 2005 as the first Podcast geared toward music technology. Since its inception the audioMIDI.com Podcast has received 500-1,100 downloads a week and growing. The weekly Podcast covers industry news, manufacturer spotlights, interviews, audio tutorials, and music. Thus far the audioMIDI.com Podcast has featured interviews with product specialists from Ableton, Native Instruments, as well as other companies. There is also a "Tutorial Minute" that covers topics such as AD/DA conversion, synthesis, and choosing the right microphone.

VirSyn has just released version 3.0 of TERA, its modular software synthesizer based on five different synthesis technologies. This major update features Multi sampling, Terrain filter, Arpeggiator, Stereo routing, four multi-segment envelopes in TERA can now be used in a new "free" mode, Spectrum oscillator, new generation process (wavelet synthesis, walsh function synthesis, operator synthesis), new VCA working like a ring modulator, new Modulation sources, new modulation matrix, 8D morph control, RTAS version, 256 new presets and more...

Tera 3 costs $299. Demo version and upgrades are available.

Db audioware has released Aura Pro, a premium virtual guitar amplifier with classic British roots.

Aura Pro offers guitarists complete musical versatility, featuring warm and gutsy valve tones as well as crisp solid state sounds. To achieve the authentic sound and feel of a good analogue hardware amp - in software - Aura Pro was traditionally designed, then refined in live audition sessions by musicians using db audioware's QFX audio technology.

Two of our members have again been scammed thru our classified system. Please, be cautious, especially when looking for expensive stuff there. We do our best to keep these guys out, we deletes classified we know or think are scams or illegal but we cannot avoid some to be still around.

- Don't believe into "to good to be true" classifieds, they are usually not true.
- Trace the real origin of the contact, if he's in Kamtchatka when he's supposed to be in London, be sure it's for a reason: your money. If you have a doubt, ask me (lepetitmartien) I'll trace him for you.
- Never use Western Union, money transfers, you have NO protection whatsoever using these. For Paypal you have only warranties within certain limits.

Digidesign announces that its very new Pro Tools 7 LE software has been updated to version 7.0 cs2. This new release adds compatibility with Apple power Mac G5 Quad computers, fixes possible crash when lauching or uninstantiating a plug-in, and fixes instability problem when using three or four processors set for RTAS.

This update is availabe as a free download.

As announced, Digidesign is now offering two versions of its Pro Tools|HD systems, in PCI version and PCI Express version. By continuing to provide the existing PCI version and releasing a PCI Express (PCIe) version, Digidesign is ensuring continued compatibility of its Pro Tools|HD systems with a wide range of PCI, PCI-X, and PCIe-equipped computers. Existing Pro Tools|HD systems are designed to work in PCI and PCI-X slots only and are not compatible with PCIe technology. Regarding the PCIe :

- Digidesign has qualified Pro Tools|HD systems for PCIe with the new range of Apple Power Mac G5 computers;
- initial Digidesign support for PCIe-based Pro Tools|HD systems is limited to a maximum configuration of three cards ( beyond three cards you will need to use the PCI cards with the new HD expansion chassis);

PCIe-compatible Pro Tools|HD systems are the same price as their PCI counterparts and Digidesign is offering a crossgrade program for PCI users who want to transition their Pro Tools|HD system to a host computer with PCIe slots.