Mac and Music News

Just in time for the World Cup, Access Music announces the immediate availability of a public beta version of OS 1.1. for the Virus TI synthesizer. The new software suite, which has been developed over the last 4 months, not only updates the Virus Firmware, Plug-Ins and Drivers, but also contains several tutorials on how to work with the Virus TI in conjunction with Ableton Live, Apple Logic and Steinberg Cubase.

The new operating systems version can be downloaded free of charge on the Access Virus web site.

Wave Editor has been updated to version 1.2.2. This release adds a user options to add/save analysis data with files, Play from Selection Start & Play to Selection End actions in Keyboard Shortcuts, adds MS Encode to Channels bar, improved MS Decode, adds "follow selection" to the channels bar action menu, and fixes bugs. Wave Editor by Audiofile Engineering is an audio editor featuring direct editing of AIFF, WAVE, Sound Designer, ACID Apple Loop, and µLaw audio files, partial support for Recycle (REX, RX2 and RCY) files, supports any sample rate or bit depth, supports any number of channels and more.

MOTU announces that Ethno Instrument 1.0 is now shipping as a Universal Binary for Intel Mac and PowerPC Mac. Ethno comes with ith 4GB of of expressive ethnic instrument sounds combined with another 4GB of authentic world music loops and phrases. In a simultaneous release, version 1.1.2 of the MOTU Symphonic Instrument is also now shipping as a Universal Binary update (maintenance update) that includes enhancements and optimizations.

Symphonic Instrument 1.1.2 is now available as a free download for registered Symphonic Instrument users.

The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference will take place from from August 7 to August 11 in San Fransisco. Apple will organize 100 sessions and more than 35 labs spanning five technical tracks: Application Technologies, Graphics and Media, Development Tools, OS Foundations, Information Technologies.

Remember that registration is now open with a special price until June 23.

Spectre by Audiofile engineering is a multi-instrument real-time audio analyzer for Mac OS X. Designed in Cocoa from the ground up, Spectre proudly takes advantage of Quartz, OpenGL, CoreAudio, and other solid OS X interface features. Spectre focuses squarely on live audio analysis by offering 9 different multi-channel and multi-trace meters. It not only analyzes inputs from your audio hardware, but can also receive input from network sources by using Apple's AUNetSend/AUNetReceive Audio Unit pair. With this feature, you can analyze audio from any Audio Unit insert on your multitrack (or other AU host) to Spectre running on the same or on another computer.

Spectre is available for a special introductory price of $88 (retail price is $150).

Rogue Amoeba announces the release of Audio Hijack Pro to version 2.6.7. This update features : updated to Instant Hijack 1.3.3 with MacIntel support, MP3 now does stereo recording as well as joint stereo, 'minimize to menu bar' preference to place Audio Hijack Pro in the menu bar. Audio Hijack Pro is an enhanced version of Audio Hijack, you can use it to enhance or record the audio output of any application on OS X.

This updated version is available as a free download.

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.