Mac and Music News

Mackie announces the release of its new C4 Commander virtual MIDI and hardware control software. Using an intuitive drag-and-drop visual interface, Mackie C4 Commander allows users to map parameters of popular MIDI hardware devices to the V-pots and scribble strips of the C4, for remote hands-on control and comprehensive visual feedback. Over 180 of the most popular MIDI hardware devices come preloaded into C4 Commander, while custom layouts are easily constructed with the visual interface.

C4 Commander software is a free download from Mackie web site.

Ableton announces a free upgrade to Live Lite 5 Enhanced Edition for current Live Lite Digidesign Edition and all Ableton Live Lite M-Audio versions. Live Lite 5 Enhanced Edition offers many features found in Live 5, including Plug-in Delay Compensation, MIDI remote control, full ReWire support, high-definition recording and rendering (up to 32-bit), Mackie Control support, Track Freeze, and the "Complex" warp mode for high-fidelity, on-the-fly time stretching.

These free upgrades are available on the Ableton web site.

Digidesign announces updated versions for Pro Tools HD, Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered to version 7.1cs8.

- Pro Tools HD 7.1cs8 fixes a problem with some international characters not allowed In Pro Tools 7 Sessions, a bug with Machine Control (item #75405) , an automation error in existing playlists when using "Import (Session Data): Overlay New on Existing Playlists" (Item # 63172), a volume automation problem from a control surface (Item# 75888).

- Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered 7.1cs8 fix a proble with some international characters not allowed In Pro Tools 7 Sessions (Item # 71269 and 76222).

Famous and avant-garde composer Gyorgy Ligeti has died aged 83, on June 12th 2006. Hungary born in 1923, Gyorgy Ligeti was forced to labor by the Nazis during the WWII. At the same time his parents and relatives were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Gyorgy Ligeti wrote in a variety of styles, including chamber music, opera, avant-garde ("Poème symphonique pour 100 métronomes" in 1962, "Glissandi" in 1957) and electronic music ("Artikulation" in 1958). His music ("Atmosphères" for example) was used in Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" or "Eyes Wide Shut".

Gyorgy Ligeti was awarded Sweden's prestigious Polar Music prize in 2004, and is survived by his wife, Vera, and his son, Lukas, a New-York percussionist.

URS Plugins announces the release of 1975 Classic Console Compressor in TDM and RTAS formats. This recreation of the 1975 VCA Compressor includes two different plugins, the Compressor/Limiter/Sidechain version and the Compressor only version. They feature high Res 48 bit Double Precision processing, Adjustable Knee control from hard to soft, Compressor and separate "Brick Wall" Limiter , Internal Side Chain with High and Low Pass Filtering, Stereo, Mono and Multi-Mono.

URS Classic Compressor Bundle can buy the URS 1975 Classic Compressor for $399.99 (TDM) or $199.99 (Native) until July 31st, 2006. Users of URS Everything EQ and Compressor Bundles will receive URS 1975 Compressor for free. VST and AU versions will be released soon.

As we announced on May 22, all Ohm Force plugins are now available as Universal Binary versions, compatible with both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. New Universal Binary versions includes :

- Frohmage, resonant low-pass filter
- Hematohm, Frequency Shifter
- Mobilohm, Phaser
- Ohmboyz, Delay
- Predatohm, Distortion
- QuadFrohmage, FilterBank
- Symptohm, Synthesizer

Nomad Factory announces the release of updated versions for five plugins : BlueVerb DRV-2080 to version 1.1 r1, Studio Channel SC-226 to version 1.1 r1, Program Equalizer EQP-4 to version 1.1 r1, Limiting Amplifier LM-662 to version 1.1 r1, and Essential Studio Suite bundle to version1.2 r1.

These new versions fix an AudioUnits minor bug and are available for free.

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.