Mac and Music News

Linplung announces two new versions for RM IV and Albino :

- The RM IV is a flexible and easy-to-use drum machine that combines analog-style percussion synthesis with a fully featured, intelligent percussion sampler. The new version 4.1.3 features : ten new acoustic multi-sampled drum kits, MacIntel compatibility, AIF loading improvement and bugfixes.

- Albino synthesizer is available as version 2.2.3, now compatile with Intel-based Macs computers.

Digidesign has launched a completely redesigned corporate website using the latest technologies to deliver a superior, media-rich experience. The result of careful research and development, the new Digidesign.com website features an improved navigation system and media-rich content designed to get you the information you need with a minimum of clicks. Whether you want product information or the latest software upgrade, you can find it quickly and easily. There are several new features introduced with the site that make browsing more enjoyable: My Digi section, 360° Product Views, ICON Empowered Studios, Interactive Console Overviews, and more....

AudioEase has updated its reverb Altiver to version 5.4.1 for Mac. This release fixes some crash in HTDM and AudioSuite, [ fixes a memory allocation problem with Pro Tools, and an offline processing bug in MAS.

This update is available as a free download on the AudioEase web site.

Digidesign announces that the two new plugins by Trillium Lane Labs: TL Drum Rehab and TL AutoPan are now shipping. The first one, TL Drum Rehab, is a drum track fix utility providing engineers and mixers with precise enhancement of drum tracks in real-time, regardless of performance, equipment or recording limitations in the original track. The seconde one, TL AutoPan, is a stereo and surround panning plugin for Pro Tools. Borrowing the flexible tempo synchronization, trigger, and envelope detection features from TL EveryPhase phaser plug-in, TL AutoPan offers rhythmic, musical panning effects ranging from the subtle to the extreme.

Apple introduced the new iPod U2 Special Edition as part of a continued partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group (UMG). The new U2 iPod is based on the fifth generation 30GB iPod and holds up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 photos or over 75 hours of video and features a distinctive, all-black stainless steel enclosure, red Click Wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures. U2 iPod customers will also receive 30 minutes of exclusive U2 video downloadable from the iTunes Music Store.

The new U2 iPod is available immediately for $329 on the AppleStore.

Digidesign announces that TrooTrace plug-in by Troodon Technologies will be included with all VENUE Pack 2.0 promotional bundle. TrooTrace is a TDM plugin for tuning, equalization and time-alignment problems. It contains ten essential audio analysis and system alignment tools that run directly on VENUE's DSP mix engine.

Please also note that Venue's owners who purchased their systems before April 14, 2006 are entitled to receive $100 off when purchasing the TrooTrace plug-in bundle at the regular $495 price.

M-Audio announces three Wirelss MIDI devices : the new MidAir 25 is a 25 key controller featuring the new MidAir receiver, eight MIDI-assignable knobs, mod&pitch bend wheels, assignable sustain button and a pedal input. The MidAir 37 features 37 and nine assignable faders. At last, the MidAir receiver is a 2.4GHz wireless USB-MIDI interface working on Mac .

The MidAir 25 ships now for $249.95. The MidAir 37 will ship in July ($299.95) and the MidAir wireless MIDI interface will ship in August (price TBA).

Sonic Studio today announced a new driver for their Series 300 hardware that includes a Sonic equalizer. Running in the +DSP environment of the Series 300 hardware, the new Sonic EQ carefully recreates the minimal phase equalizer that first appeared in the original Sonic System. The Sonic EQ is a proprietary implementation of equalizer that includes 12 different topologies, including multi–order parametrics, multi–order shelves, multi–order high/low pass, multi–order bandpass/stop, infinite notch, DC removal and de–emphasis for both AES/EBU emphasis and RIAA pre–emphasis.

The new driver that includes Sonic EQ, is available now to all current Series 300 owners by direct download on Sonic Studio's site.

Swar system announces that both SwarShala and Swar Librarian have been compiled as Universal Binaries and therefore run natively on both Intel and PowerPC (PPC) computers. Swar also announces the release of two new updates :

- improved Swar Librarian : BPM control, drag&drop and more..
- SwarShala Pro update : drag & drop sequences to your sequencer.

Ueberschall released a new version of the Liquid Instruments Series engine. This version 1.1.0.7 mainly features :

- All Mac version except the RTAS version are Universal Binaries (Mac Intel)
- VST version supports VST 2.4
- RTAS version supports RTAS 7.0
- RTAS 7.0 (Mac Intel) is under development
- memory requirement optimized
- AU validation fixed
- up to 32 soundbanks possible.

Moog Music announces that its Little Phatty is still on schedule for summer delivery and it is "looking and sounding great! ". The Little Phatty is a monophonic analog synthesizer designed for performance, with 100 user editable presets, 2 VCO, 1 VCF, 2 ADSR, 4 waveforms LFO, and full analogue path 37 notes keyboard.

Little Phatty ships for $1475.00.

Arturia announces that its Brass virtual instrument is now available as version 1.2, compatible with new Intel-based Mac computers. Brass from Arturia is a new kind of virtual instrument that faithfully reproduces the trumpet, saxophone and trombone in real time. It contains an extensive performance-based riff library which is entirely configurable and expandable.

This updated version is available as a free download in the MacMusic software section.

Andy's OSX Music have released TimeStreach for Mac OSX. TimeStreach is an application for slowing down music without changing it's pitch. Main features are :high quality output, Handles .aif, .wav, .mp3 and .m4a files.

TimeStreach is shareware (US$15) for both PowerPC and MacIntel.

The L2007 from Massey Plug-Ins is a new mastering-grade look-ahead brickwall limiter. The L2007 will increase the loudness of your stereo mixes. Better yet, the full version is $89 for both TDM and RTAS formats. A fully functional demo that never expires is available on the website.