Mac and Music News

M-Audio announces that new Oxygen 49 and Oxygen 61 MIDI keyboards will ship soon worldwide. The Oxygen 61 model features 61-note velocity-sensitive keyboard, and the Oxygen 49 is a 49-note velocity-sensitive MIDI keyboard. Both models feature a total of 35 controllers—including 9 sliders, 8 knobs and 15 buttons— can easily map to any MIDI-assignable parameters in your hardware and software rig. While easy to program, the Oxygen's complete MIDI implementation will also allow you to go as deep as you want to go. Store 10 different setups in on-board non-volatile memory, plus manage an infinite number with our free Enigma software for Mac.

Oxygen 49 ships at $229,00 and the Oxygen 61 at $279,00.

Apple invited selected press members to a special event which will take place at Apple's company campus in Cupertino. Several sources report that Apple will unveil new Intel-based Macs (new iBook models and/or new MacBook models), and probably a new iPod with a larger display. Other sources report that Intel is beginning the production of a single core Solo processor, which could find its way into the iBook or Mac mini successors.

Just wait...

An update to the free Impromptu audio-visual environment has been released. Impromptu is an OSX programming environment for composers, sound artists, VJ's and graphic artists with an interest in live or interactive programming in the Scheme (Lisp) langauge. The new version includes a number of new features especially with regard to its graphic capabilities along with stability and performance enhancements.

Full liste of major additions 0.95 and download are available on the Impromptu web site.

Antares announces that Auto-Tune has been updated to version 4.3.9 for Mac OS X in TDM, RTAS, Audio Units, MAS, and VST formats. This new release adds optimizations for Pro Tools 7 (TDM and RTAS version) and fixes some minor bugs. Auto-Tune by Antares is a pitch correcting plug-in working in two modes : The Automatic Mode corrects the pitch of a vocal or solo instrument in real time, and the Graphical Mode displays the performance's detected pitch enveloppe and allows you to draw in the desired pitch using a variety of graphics tools.

Zygoat today announces the immediate availability of Doggiebox 1.3, an update
to its percussion sequencing software for Mac OS X. Version 1.3 introduces some significant features and improvements, including:

- velocity adjustment is now possible,
- a new floating inspector window provides control over time signature and tempo, default velocity, etc, new commands to insert and delete beats.
- changing time signature now preserves a bar's structure,
- zooming is now adjustable for individual bars, and is persistent,
- Playback tempo is now adjustable in real time according to inbound,
- Many other bug fixes and usability enhnacements.

Doggiebox is available at $39. Updates from previous versions are free for all current users and a free evaluation version is available for download.

ReNOVAtor, previously released for PC–based DAWs, is now available for Mac users of Pro Tools' AudioSuite platform. reNOVAtor is a high resolution processor. It can remove unwanted disturbances without audibly affecting the original program, even if the impairment overlaps desired material. reNOVAtor works when all other conventional audio tools and editing tricks fail.

The Mac OS version of reNOVAtor for Pro Tools AudioSuite is available now for 2490 euros...

GearJunkies reports that Motu will unveil a new mobile FireWire audio interface, designed for use with both Mac-Intel based Macs and PowerPC based Macs. The UltraLite audio interface ( with a "micro lite" look) will feature 24-bit/96kHz, two mic preamp, 8 analog inputs, and 10 TRS outputs. The MOTU UltraLite interface will be bus-powered and expandable via FireWire.

Motu UltraLite will cost $595,00.

Now at version 2.1, RaySpace is a completely new acoustic room simulator. This reverb introduces the new DBT engine that creates surround-sound atmospheres. The characteristics of the room shape, height, positions and materials can all be adjusted in real-time. Combined with the 3D view and the parametric equaliser, the user is given the complete audio and visual feedback of room designs. With full automation, source and listener positions can be 'walked' though the rooms, ideal for patching dialogue in radio plays or films.

This updated also fixes several minor bugs.

Some may have marked some thread types were missing… Well they are not far away. in fact, you'll even find them back in our brand new forums dedicated respectively to Cubase, Digital Performer and Garageband. Watch out for the next ones! Another small step in the big rework we have underway for the site and the forum mkII…

Enjoy! :)