Mac and Music News

Nicecast, the easiest way to broadcast music from OS X has been updated to version 1.8.4. This new release features :

- Updated to Instant Hijack 1.3.3 with full Intel Chip-Based Mac (ICBM) support
- Updated to Smart Crash Reports 1.2 with full ICBM support
- Now detects iTunes track changes instantly

This update is available as a free download for all users.

MacPips, a small, new, Mac-only developer, have released their first product: MacPips Loop Pack 1 for Garageband. This pack of 125 carefully crafted royalty-free Real Instrument and Software Instrument loops for Garageband contains a wide variety of music styles, with some great melodies and harmonies that you can adapt to your own compositions. From delicate piano lines, neat guitars, walking basslines, classical phrases to ambient beats, there's something here for everyone.

These loops are perfect if you're composing for games, iMovie and iDVD projects, film, radio jingles or podcasts. The full product may be purchased for $7.99.

Nomad Factory has released Essential Studio Suite plugin bundle as version 1.2 Universal Binary for both MacIntel and PowerPC, in VST, AU and RTAS/AudioSuite. The bundle includes Multiband Compressor, Essential Channel, Essential Graphic EQ, Essential Compressor, Essential Noise Gate, Multiband Loudness Maximizer, Loudness Maximizer, Tube/Tape Warmer, and Retro-Vox.

This update is free for registered users.

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Announced at Frankfurt MusikMesse, Steinberg HALion Symphonic Orchestra is now shipping worldwide. HALion Symphonic Orchestra features a 27GB library, integrated easy-to-use player, RealAmbience adjustable recorded reverb and range of playability features combine to form a new orchestral composition and production tool. Played by a leading European orchestra, the expansive 27GB HSO library encompasses a vast array of articulations for strings, woodwind, brass and percussion including crescendo, decrescendo, accents, half and whole tone thrills, bowing (where applicable), portamento, pizzicato, expressivo and many more. 1250 programs offer solo, ensemble and tutti sounds for almost every instrument, with innovatively programmed facilities like key-switches and crossfades providing easy use of complex sample groups.

Supporting VST, DXi, AU as well as ReWire for easy integration into Pro Tools, HALion Symphonic Orchestra also offers a stand-alone mode. it ships for €499.00. HALion String Edition 1 or 2 users can upgrade to HALion Symphonic Orchestra for €199 or €99.

BIAS announced an extension of their spring promotion with several customer incentives for new retail editions of five BIAS software products purchased from June 1, 2006 though July 31, 2006 :

- if you buy Peak Pro XT 5, you get Free DDP Export Extension
- if you buy Peak Pro 5, you get Free SoundSoap 2
- if you buy Peak LE 5, you get Free Freq-4 and Sqweez Plug-ins
- if you buy SoundSoap Pro, you get Free Peak LE 5
- if you buy SoundSoap 2, you get Free Peak Express 5

The free products offered in this promotion will be made available to qualifying customers via download after proper completion and submission of the downloadable BIAS Summer Promotion coupon (available on the BIAS Web site) accompanied by a valid sales receipt.

It's not a joke but a quick reaction from AudioEase : for the second time of the week, Altiverb has been updated. This new 5.4.2 version fixes : possible crash in drawing waveform, help display bug, instability problems, wrong presets and a display bug in waveform display.

This update is strongly recommended for all Altiverb v5.4.1 users.

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.