Mac and Music News

Digidesign releases Pro Tools LE 7.1.1 and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.1.1 software, offering compatibility with Apple's new Intel-based iMac, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini computers.

Along with Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.1.1 software, Digidesign has also released Intel Mac–compatible versions of all Digidesign and Digidesign-distributed RTAS® and AudioSuite plug-ins, plus all software options .

Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.1.1 are separate software downloads, available free to all current, registered users of Pro Tools LE 7 software (version 7.0 or higher) and any version of Pro Tools M-Powered software.

The Compressor digitally characteristics of a transformer input and a specially designed 1975 VCA gain reduction amplifier. Warm and Aggressive! The EQ section digitally recreates select bands from three different analog consoles. URS selected the critical frequencies for today's Hip Hop, R&B and Rock.

The Compressor and EQ sections are totally independent of each other : The Compressor section is selectable between Pre/Post the EQ section. The URS Classic Console Strip TDM features 48-bit Double Precision Processing and URS Classic Console Strip Native features 64-bit "Double Precision" floating processing.

Price
TDM special $399.99 - Special offer expires June 30, 2006
RTAS special $199.99 - Special offer expires June 30, 2006

AudioEase has released a version 5.4 of Altiverb. This update features : problems with "load as Aux" and "load resets...", improved PT interface, improved MAS interface, improved VST interface, and several bugfixes and minor improvements. Altiverb is a sampled acoustics processor that offers realistic one-, two- and four-channel sampled acoustics of real halls, cathedrals, bathrooms — and virtually any acoustic environment.

Bonneville announced the release of a full and free version of CPS. CPS is a realtime interactive programming environment for audio, MIDI and other media & I/O. Patches are build by placing objects and making wires between them. Areas of interest are sound design, algorithmic composition, DSP, electronic/computer music and education. CPS can be used in any realtime situation where sound plays a role.

CPS is available as download for free (it previously costs $150).

Soundhack announces :

- a public beta version of the Freesound Bundle, which contains five plugins in Audio Units versions, now for both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.

- the Universal Binary version 1.1 of Spectral Shapers collection of plug-ins in both AU and VST formats. SSH is a collection of 4 plugins based on processes from the program SoundHack.

The Paris AES show was a great opportunity to discover the real faces that hides behind the MacMusicians nicknames and other pro audio geeks that were around. We now have the proof that these guys ARE aliens (as if we didn't know)...

Garritan announces free online orchestration courses. The free Interactive Edition of "Principles of Orchestration" is based upon Nicolay Rimsky-Korsakov's celebrated text. In this Interactive Edition you will be able to simultaneously hear and see examples from Rimsk'y-Korsakov's own works realized with Personal Orchestra.

This course will be offered free of charge at the Garritan web site.

ApulSoft announced the version 2.3 Audio Units and VST for apTrigga, the first Universal Binary version for both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. This new version also features :

– Now uses pop-up menus for trigger mode and multi mode selection
– AU compatibility improvements
– Serial entry now included in plug-in
- Bufixes

apTrigga is an audio sample trigger plugin (shareware) available in the MacMusic software section.

Sagan has updated its Metro sequencer to version 6.3.5.5. This pre-release version adds new sub-menus for plug-ins by category, and fixes several bugs : offline effects now work, or panning automation problem fixed. Metro is s a fast-operating, easy-to-learn high-powered sequencer for the design of professional audio projects. It stands alone as a complete and integrated MIDI, audio and video production system. Metro's audio system supports up to 64 audio tracks. Each track can have its own effect chain. Eight aux busses are also supported. Each with their own chain.

This update is free and is available for download.

Dash Signature released an updated version 2.00.05 for its EVE (stands for 'Electronic Vintage Ensemble'). This release adds new synthesis features, several enhancements and is still compatible with Eve 1.0 presets. EVE was made to recreate in the virtual world of softsynths the exciting and immediate experience of the early age of electronics in pop, rock and jazz music from the 1960's and 1970's.

EVE 2 is the first version of EVE to be available for Mac OS X (VST, Audio Units), and costs $75.

Studio Electronics is on the way to launch a new analogue rack synth the CODE, it'll be declined as CODE 2, 4 and 8 (regarding the number of voices and the number of filterbanks). All share SEM and diode filters, MIDI control and sound much like cut down/twisted version of the Omega family. Price and availability TBA. If the only available information on the code is on the site of Nova Music, this shop sells a limited edition of the SE-1X too, the SE-1x ne, featuring an amp overdrive, an ultra fast enveloppe, modified extended range filters, sine waves generator and a special soundbank and two new looks.

Available now for $1699.

Applied Acoustics Systems announced its new Lounge Lizard Session, a new virtual electric piano based on the Lounge Lizard EP-3 sound engine. Offering four different types of pianos and a great selection of effects, Lounge Lizard Session is the perfect solution for anyone in need of the legendary Rhodes and Wurlitzer sounds in their sonic arsenal. It also features tremolo, distortion, chorus, flanger, phaser, vibrato, wah, delays, and reverb.

Lounge Lizard Session (standalone, VST, AU, RTAS) ships for $99.

On the Audio Addict booth at the AES, Olivier Bolling ex-technical director of the studios Plus XXX was showing two compressors under the new brand AL SO. Both are high end transparent designs in 2U racks of rugged and solid metal. The DYNAX has 4 modes: limiter, compressor, brickwall and antidyna (parabolic curve). There's a bass drive function, a low frequency filter in the side chain preventing these frequencies to start up the compressor action. The EZAX is a subtler/less heavy handed DYNAX for easier tweaking or slight touch operation. If there was a buzz on compressors at the AES, it was on these beauties, some top heads came in to have a hear or two of them…