Mac and Music News

Ueberschall announced updates to version 1.0.1.3 for Elastik Instruments Series. This update fixes Loop eye graphic bugs, "inactive ports" bug, and other minor bugs. New versions will also be available for Liquid Instrument Series The Voice Vol.1 (end of July), Liquid Instrument Series The Voice Vol. 2 (end of June) and Liquid Instrument Series Horn Section (beginning of June).

The Elastik Instruments Series for Mac AU, VST, and StandAlone versions are now Universal Binaries.

MacMusic proudly invites you on the MacMusic booth (#1220) at AES Show in Paris. You will discover in "live" conditions the Digidesign VENUE on our booth. The VENUE live sound environment consists of the D-Show mixing console, FOH mix engine, a Stage Rack I/O unit with recallable, remote-controlled preamps and a multi-channel digital snake. The system is highly expandable, allowing up to 96 mic inputs to be mixed to 27 busses. You will also discover the new 2.0 version of the D-Show software, which adds several key features plus support for upcoming hardware options, significantly increasing the efficiency, depth of control, and flexibility of the VENUE live sound environment. For more information you can contact the Digidesign Pre-Sale manager for Europe : Phone +44 1753 658535 or by email : al_mckinna[at]digidesign.com.

Paris, May 2006: The finishing touches are being put on the preparations for the 120th AES Pro Audio Expo & Convention, which opens its doors in less than two weeks. Many exciting new features have been added in the past few months alone, making this year's convention a real standout in both the number as well as the range of new convention elements. "This year visitors can expect a much greater number of presentations for all of the various subjects covered in the convention", says Roger Furness, Executive Director of the AES. "Attendees will see an expansion in all areas of the convention – from the workshops, to the new Application Seminars, to the comprehensive Paper Sessions as well as the Exhibitor Seminars."

The Application Seminars are creating the biggest buzz at this year's convention. "They will focus on one important topic per day, each having been selected for its relevance to the practical daily work" explains Gisele Clark, who is responsible for organizing the Application Seminars. "They will be held in a specially-built auditorium directly on the exhibition floor, easy for everyone to reach. What's more, visitors will be able to take part in these new seminars at absolutely no cost!"

Apple posted an update to version 7.1 for QuickTime. QuickTime 7.1 is an important release that delivers numerous bug fixes, support for iLife '06, and H.264 performance improvements. This update is highly recommended for all QuickTime 7 users. Please note that a new Mac OS X Security update is also available.

Theses updates are available form the Apple web site and via the Software Update utility.

Native Instruments has updated its Elektrik Piano to version 1.1, with enhanced stability, enhanced performance in ProTools 6.9 (but not optimized for Pro Tools 7) and support for Native Instruments Kore.Elektrik Piano unites the four most beloved E-pianos of all time into one high-performance software instrument, which reproduces in exacting detail the sounds of the Fender Rhodes MK ITM and MK IITM, Hohner Clavinet E7TM, and the Wurlitzer A 200TM.

Focusrite announces its new Saffire LE audio interface. Housed within a sleek Black and Silver casing and mirroring the original Saffire's desktop design, Saffire LE features :

- Ultra-low latency Firewire 400 interface
- 24-bit, 96kHz integrated A-D/D-A
- Six inputs; Two Focusrite preamps, two balanced Line I/Ps and SPDIF I/Ps
- Eight Outputs: Six balanced analogue outputs for creating separate headphone/monitor mixes or 5.1 surround monitoring and SPDIF Output
- Suite of saffire plug-ins; Compression, EQ, Amp modeling and Reverb
- SaffireControl LE – Comprehensive level and monitoring control
- MIDI I/O and MIDI Thru
- AC3 and DTS compatibility.

Saffire LE will be shipping at the end of May, at a price of £239 including VAT (yes..pounds sterling...so approx. 348 euros or $440 ).

Zero-G announces the release of TOTAL REX, a collection of professional REX files in a single product, featuring over 15,000 of loops selected from over 40 different Zero-G products. Over 10 Gb of groove inspiration! Over 15,000 drumloops, instrument grooves & riffs, breakbeats and awesome rhythmic inspiration for use with: Spectrasonics STYLUS RMX (Total Rex is "Stylus RMX-optimized" for fast accurate loading), Propellerheads REASON, Steinberg CUBASE, Apple LOGIC PRO, Motu MACHFIVE, Motu DIGITAL PERFORMER, NI INTAKT, NI KONTAKT, Cakewalk SONAR, Image-Line FL STUDIO, and more....Note that the REX files are accessible individually (not packed into a REFILL).

Recommended Retail Price: $169.95 or 149 Euro.

Digidesign announces that its new Pro Tools custom Keyboard is now available. It let users work faster by providing direct access to primary Pro Tools transport and editing functions. Pro Tools Custom Keyboards use the same symbols and color coding system as the keyboards on the ICON D-Control worksurface surfaces while retaining all the conventional alphanumeric labels that appear on standard computer keyboards. All three versions of Pro Tools software share most of the same key commands. However, Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered users should be aware that some key commands are available in Pro Tools HD software only.

Pro Tools Custom Keyboard is $119.00 for the Mac version. (our photo : the old version of the Digi custom Keyboard).