Mac and Music News

It seems the time for the iBooks is coming near. Asustek won the market to manufacture the future macintel iBooks and shipping is supposed to be in June…

The AES Pro Audio Expo & Convention returns to Paris in 2006 and for the first time, will be held at Paris Expo, the leading French exhibition centre and the 4th biggest complex in Europe. AES says "France is considered as the figurehead of Europe for entertainment. The country is also a cultural melting pot, housing a vast number of theatrical and musical festivals, generating work for the contingent of light & sound companies located all over the country. Furthermore, France has always been a receptive field to innovation (the IRCAM and the "Grand Stade de France" being the perfect examples of impressive achievements for audio technologies."

The 120th AES will take place from May 20 to May 23, at Paris-Expo Porte de Versailles.

TerraTec Producer will unveil a unique keyboard - AREA 61. Based on an unprecedented design, AREA 61 is an expandable keyboard system for studio and gigging musicians. It is a genuine musical instrument with freely selectable, integrated sound generators (optionally available DSP soundboards) that may also serve as a central control unit for all software sequencers and virtual instruments in computer-based music studios. AREA 61 is the first keyboard to come with an integrated USB 2.0 High Speed Audio and MIDI Interface. Appointments such as an advanced low-latency architecture, 24-bit/ 96-kHz resolution and discrete power amps ensure high fidelity and assertive sound in the studio and on stage. In addition, keyboardists can equip AREA 61 with optionally available sound modules for use as a classic synthesizer, that is, without a computer. To this end, TerraTec Producer now offers KOMPLEXER, a synthesizer that runs as a VSTi plug-in and as a standalone DSP application.

The AREA 61 Controller Keyboard will be available in stores in Q 3/2006, retailing for 599.00 euros.

An update to Mac OS 10.4.6 Apple's operating system is now available, via Software update utility, and on the Apple Web site. This update includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following applications and technologies: login and authentication in a variety of network environments, file access and byte range locking with AFP file sharing, network access when using proxy server automatic configuration files, connecting to Cisco VPN servers using IP/Sec, using Bluetooth wireless devices, searching iWork '06 and Microsoft Office documents with Spotlight, saving Word documents automatically when using a network home directory, creating Automator workflows for iPhoto 6, synchronizing contacts and calendars to .Mac and mobile phones, mounting and unmounting iDisk volumes, compatibility with third party applications and devices and previous standalone security updates.

The Mac OS X 10.4.6 Update (delta) updates Mac OS X 10.4.5 to version 10.4.6 on both Intel-based Macs and PowerPC-based Macs.

Waves today announced Universal versions of its complete line of plug-in products for Intel-based Macs. With the creation of the new Universal Plug-Ins and the proliferation of new applications being developed for the Intel-based Mac systems, "Waves is fully behind the new Intel-based Mac platform and transitioning to Universal applications using Apple tools was easier than we had expected," said Waves CEO Gilad Keren. "We will continue our commitment to the greatest possible compatibility by offering Universal versions of all our products while continuing to develop next generation plug-ins for use with all industry standard platforms."

If you are serious about creating truly realistic sounding guitar for your songs, RealGuitar is just what you need. RealGuitar is a sample-based virtual instrument with an innovative approach to guitar sound modeling and guitar part performing on a keyboard. RealGuitar is now equipped with a powerful multi-functional built-in Pattern Manager letting you use the RG MIDI Pattern Library for creating guitar accompaniment parts in the whole new and convenient way :

- Pattern Tree view, allowing to find/select rhythm patterns right from RealGuitar.- Pattern view, graphically presenting guitar 'Strokes' contained in the current rhythm pattern (differently colored 'Piano Roll' type bars allow to easily visualize Up/Down, Up/Down Muted, Slow Strums, individual string Strokes, etc.).
- Auditioning selected pattern by simply pressing chord on the external keyboard without starting your host sequencer, even with RealGuitar standalone run. Total synchronization with host's tempo, start/stop, beats, loop, time signature, etc.
- Drag'n'Drop selected pattern from Pattern window right to your host's MIDI track (pattern is automatically multiplied by the assigned number of measures).
- Real time pattern arranging (dramatic changing pattern performance on the fly).

The RealGuitar 2L upgrade will be available as a free download for all customers registered with MusicLab after October 3 2005.

Recorded files could end up earlier on the timeline than where they were recorded ? Renaming a surround file results in file channel suffixes being ordered incorrectly ? You could not always copy time code values from region ? When using Expansion|HD, instantiating a plug-in during playback could result in an DAE -6031 Error ?

So it's time to update your Pro Tools HD to version 7.1cs6 right now !

Cwejman as we already wrote it some months earlier has started to issue modular synth modules in eurorack form factor. The Cwejman family gets bigger:
- VCO-2RM, dual VCO (7 waveforms) with ring modulator
- VCEQ-3 3 band VC parametric EQ
- MMF- 1 multimode filter, 7 sorts, 12 and 24 dB, cut off from 16 Hz to 16 kHz
- D-LFO, multi-function dual LFO, 7 waveforms…
- VCA-2P, stereo panning VC amplifier
- ADSR-VC2, dual VC transient generator
- VM-1, voice module, a not so digest VCO/VCF/VCA/ENV
- RM-2S, stereo ring modulator
- M-CV master voltage controller
Each modules has some unique twists and extensive modulation capabilities

Price and availability TBA. Check the Cwejman website later, it is "belly up" for a few days.

Wave Idea which makes the Bitstream controllers announced its factoring partnership with CME, the control keyboard and audio interfaces manufacturer. CME will build and distribute from now on the Wave Idea product line. The first product concerned is the Bitstream 3X. We await eagerly the fruits of the collaboration of both crews!

The Persephone, the ribbon analogue monosynth from Eowave is now available in a desktop or a suitcase form. It mixes both an all analogue synth with one oscillator, one filter and LFO modulation, and a CV/MIDI ribbon controller. The VCO has a 10 octaves range, and issues waveforms ranging continuously from triangle to sinus. The filter is a 12 dB Low pass. On the controller side, you have a ribbon (1,2,5,10 octaves selectable) sensible to position and pressure and an expression key controlled by an optic sensor. The four play modes offer each a different hierarchy of control between the pitch, the velocity, filter modulation and the LFO. The Persephone has CV out and MIDI In/Out.

Express yourself! Desktop version EUR 660. Suitcase version EUR 860.

A recent internal MIT newspaper, reveals that one of its audio Labs in cooperation with Fraunhofer international has just developed a system which allows to produce a "negative delay". It's still a sensible industrial secret but nevertheless the Einstein relativity theory doesn't seem to be refuted. No more details for the moment. This negative delay seems to reach 0,333 s with 20 kHz. What an amazing perspective to finally reduce and compensate latency generated by our audio interfaces....

Futur industrial developments are evocated in this great article ...

It may the first of April… but some rumors were tickling in my ears lately and now the Waldorf website has just been updated. After 2 years in the void and darkness, Waldorf, one of the most innovative and respected names in the synth business is back. Stefan Stenzel, Frank Schneider, Michael von Garnier and Wilfried Eckl are reviving the wavetable masters. Welcome back the red button synths!

ReNOVAtor, the Algorithmix solution to clean live recording of unwanted ring tones, professional coughers and other dainties is at last available for OS X. It work in 80 bit internally, handling up to 384 kHz sampling rate, uses multiple automated tools beside your hears, multiple resynthesis and interpolation methods…

Mac G5 1,8 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 1440x960 pixels resolution, ProTools HD, Mix, LE 6.0 or above for OSX, iLok USB hardware dongle is required. Price EUR 2490

Elysia presented at the Musikmesse a high end compressor the Alpha. Build from the beginning to end with top component, innovative solutions, and sound integrity and quality in mind. It goes from a luscious power supply, an all discrete circuit design, to a specific MS job for the compression: the stereo is split into its middle and side informations unlike post compressor (they mostly use a stereo link). It leads to unprecedented fidelity and some rare features like compressing adequately drums in the middle while keeping stereo information intact… interesting!

Neumann announced the return of the K49 large diaphragm capsule with the TLM 49. Used in the M49 and U47, it will certainly raise some interest… here it is set as to optimise its use for vocal performance, with a slight boost around 2 kHz and the capsule is protected only by a large mesh not interfering with sound. The circuit inside is low noise and tranformerless, it is also suspended to further prevent transmitted rumble. The TLM49 stands up to 114 dB of pression and provide 102 dB of dynamics.

The EA 3 shockmount is included. Available in April/May 2006, list price $1699

Fostex has planned to change their PM series monitor. The PM series MKII comprise now the:
- PM-2 MkII 200mm woofer / UFLC soft dome 25mm tweeter, 240 W
- PM-1 MkII 160mm woofer / UFLC soft dome 25mm tweeter, 120 W
- PM0.5 MkII 130mm woofer / UFLC soft dome 20mm tweeter, 70 W
- PM0.4 100mm woofer / UFLC soft Dome Tweeter 16mm 18 W (desktop/portable use)
- PM0.5-Sub MkII 200 woofer, 110 W
Models are bi-amplified, have "high-gloss" fronts to look classy (bring the polish!). The PM-2 mkII has separate HF gain control, overall volume control and a 0dB/-3dB/+3dB switch for the LF unit.

Price and availability TBA