Mac and Music News

Arturia announces that the demo version of Analog Factory is now available. This light version does not require a syncrosoft key, but has some limitation : only 137 presets available, Prophet V unavailable. From classic phat lead lines to crystalline digital pads, Analog Factory provides the contemporary musician with a broad, versatile and instantly striking sonic palette. The intuitive interface includes a smart Preset Manager that allows in just a few clicks to find desired sounds from within the huge preset collection. But Analog Factory is not only a collection of sounds. Since it is based on synthesis, all sounds are dramatically modifiable. A set of the most essential parameters provides the user with an efficient way to tweak and alter the sonic character of the sound. Presets all carefully selected from the Arturia Classic Synths (minimoog V, Moog Modular V, CS-80V, ARP 2600 V, Prophet V and Prophet VS).

Analog Factory will be available in July 2006 as Stand-alone, VST, Audio Units, and RTAS formats, for 199€.

Audio Damage announces the release of Discord version 2.0. This update includes Universal Binary version for MacIntel and features a new and easier-to-read user interface, a true stereo signal chain, with individual controls for every parameter, twin tempo-synced delays and MIDI Learn. Combining a stereo pitch shifter with digital delay lines and analog-style filters, this plug-in is capable of accurately simulating vintage digital pitch and harmonizing effects, as well as creating interesting sounds in its own right.

Discord v2.0 (VST, AU) ships for $49. Update from v1.0 or v1.4 costs $10.

Cube 2.1 brings the "Daddy of all additive synths" to Intel based Macs and to ProTools users with the long awaited RTAS interface. This new version also comes with an improved spectral analysis algorithm for more natural resynthesized sounds ! This update now features :

- RTAS plugin for Protools 7.x / Digidesign for all platforms including MacIntel.
- Universal Binaries for MacIntel platform compatibility.
- VST 2.4 compatibility.
- The spectral analyzer uses now improved algorithms for much better analysis of harmonic and inharmonic sound files.
- Bugfixes (Logic 7.1 stereo version working again, MIDI channels 10 and 14 now correctly shown in setup page, Occasional clicks when using the built in keyboard removed)

Already registered users will have e-mail notification automatically and it is free of charge.

Apple announces new (and lower) prices for Mac Mini, iMac and iPod nano on the Apple Store :

- Mac Mini Core Solo now ships at 619 €
- Mac Mini Core Duo now ships at 799 €
- iMac core Duo 17" now ships at 1299 €
- iMac core Duo 20" now ships at 1699 €
- ipod nano 1GB now ships at 159 €
- ipod nano 2GB now ships at 209 €
- ipod nano 4GB now ships at 259 €

FuzzMeasure Pro 2, a major update of the audio and acoustical measurement application for Mac OS X, has been released today. FuzzMeasure 2 now supports reverberation time measurements, and improved impedance measurement capabilities. Under the hood, FuzzMeasure Pro 2 has also received numerous improvements to its core signal processing components, which improve calculation precision and measurement capabilities. Existing features, such as microphone calibration and device correction, have also been improved to support automatic operation.

FuzzMeasure costs $250, and is a free upgrade for all 1.x customers.

Rogue Amoeba is working hard on a new major application, dubbed Fission. Fission is an audio editor allowing the cutting and trimming of pieces from audio files, as well as splitting files into multiple pieces. Perhaps most impressively, Fission edits MP3 and AAC files without re-encoding. It'll also work on AIFF and Apple lossless files. Not at all coincidentally, this is the quartet of recording formats Audio Hijack Pro supports.

Fission is now in need of testers. If you're interested in testing Fission, just visit the Rogue Amoeba web site.

Sonic Charge has released Universal Binary versions 2.0.2 in Audio Units and VST of its MicroTonic. Sonic Charge MicroTonic is a plug-in featuring a unique drum and percussion synthesizer combined with a pattern based drum-machine engine. You can use the µTonic as a sound module to play drum sounds from your MIDI keyboard or sequencer, or you can use the built-in pattern engine to play drum patterns in sync with your sequencer.

This free update is available in our Software section.

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.