Mac and Music News

Cycling '74 today announced revision software 1.3 for the JazzMutant Lemur Multi-touch control surface. New software features in version 1.3 allow the Lemur to be reconfigured in powerful ways from a host computer via the OSC (Open Sound Control) protocol. The Lemur is a hardware controller for new media applications featuring a proprietary LCD touch screen for which users create their own user interfaces. The Lemur sends OSC messages to a host computer over 100-base T Ethernet. The new version 1.3 software expands the repertoire of OSC commands the host computer can send back to the Lemur, allowing any of the eight types of user interface objects to be changed on the fly. This allows the Lemur to be used both as a controller and a status monitor.

The forthcoming update will be available via download for all current Lemur customers.

In less than 24 hours, the winter NAMM will open at the Convention Centre in Anaheim, California. The prestigious NAMM Show will gather over 1,400 exhibitors from 19-22 January, they will undoubtedly be very keen to unveil their lastest items to a public made of musicians and visitors growing more and more avid for innovations. As usual, the whole MacMusic team will take it in turns to cover this event, in real time or so this year with our team on the spot.

The major news will be available as soon as the show opens, both in the News section, and in our "special Namm report".

In this report, we will try to gather all information about audio software compatible with the new Intel based macintosh. Indeed, software need to be recompiled as Universal Binaries, to support both PPC and Intel processors.

Don't hesitate to comment or post a news article if you are aware of something we missed! ;-)

Audiofile Engineering has updated Wave Editor to version 1.1.5. which adds support for true multichannel output, native support for Core Audio Format files, choosable output device and more. Wave Editor is an audio editor featuring direct editing of AIFF, WAVE, Sound Designer, ACID , Apple Loop, and µLaw audio files , Partial support for Recycle files, Supports any sample rate or bit depth, Supports any number of channels, Supports interleaved and split channel files...

Details and download in the MacMusic software section.

Celemony announced Universal Binary versions for all Melodyne products. New version 1.5 for Melodyne Uno and Melodyne essential will be released at the end of January, and Melodyne Cre8 and studio will be updated to version 3.1 in spring 2006. These new versions will be of course compatible with new Intel Core Duo processors based Macintoshes.

These updated versions will be available for free for resistered Melodyne users

Audio Damage release Phase Two plugin, a recreation of the Mutron Bi-Phase vintage phaser unit. Phase Two features two separately controllable phasers, and like the original unit, these two phasers can be routed in series or parallel, for everything from subtle stereo washes to full-blown alien attack. Using the extra CC feature, which takes the place of the "Opti-Pedal" in the original unit, you can manually sweep the phaser frequencies with a MIDI controller, such as a mod wheel or aftertouch.

Phase Two is available as an AU/VST effect for Mac OS X and costs $49 (download version).

Green Oak announces an update to version 2.4.9c for Crystal, in order to add support for new Intel-based Macs. Crystal is a semi-modular software synthesizer featuring both subtractive synthesis and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. It offers abundant modulation control with over 60 parameters which may be modulated, multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors, extensive tempo sync of envelopes/lforates/delay times, built-in effects for chorus/flanging/comb filtering/echoes, and a band splitter for effects processing by frequency band.

Native Instruments today announced its development plans regarding the newly announced Intel-based Macintosh computers. The company welcomes Apple's move towards new, powerful processor technology and is already working on enabling its products for use on the upcoming iMac and MacBook Pro computers. As part of Native Instruments' commitment to the new platform, all future product releases will include "Universal" versions that will take full advantage of the new Intel-Mac platform while maintaining compatibility with PowerPC-based Macintosh computers.

Existing NI products will be updated to support Intel-based Macs within 2006. Updates will come in the form of either a dedicated Intel-Mac update that will be made available for a small fee, or as part of a major product update for all platforms.