Mac and Music News

M-Audio is offering Izotope Spectron free when you purchase the ProjectMix I/O or Firewire 18|14 before September 30th. Spectron is a spectral processing plugin. It uses the Spectron Engine to split audio into thousands of frequency bands, apply effects independently to each band, and then resynthesize the audio to create entirely new sounds. It can provide delay effects, but it adds the ability to selectively delay, feedback and modulate specific ranges of frequencies. It can sound like a flanger or chorus, but with additional spectral complexity and richness. It can filter signals, but unlike an EQ it has the unique ability to morph, modulate and harmonically filter sounds.

More information here :

Sweetwater is moving out! They must empty their warehouse by the end of the month, so they are extremely motivated to offer unheard-of deals on thousands of new, demo, and clearance items.

Digidesign just announces the release of the Mbox2 Pro. The Digidesign Mbox 2 Pro is a Firewire portable, high-definition audio/MIDI production system that delivers truly professional sound quality. Packing an impressive variety of connection options into a compact interface, Mbox 2 Pro puts powerful multitrack recording and mixing capabilities into your hands, so you can create wherever inspiration strikes. Mbox 2 Pro also includes Pro Tools LE software, over 50 effects and instrument plug-ins, and the Pro Tools Ignition Pack. MBox 2 PRO features :

- Powered by FireWire or included power supply
- Supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz resolution
- 4 analog inputs (2 XLR/1/4" TRS combo jacks & 2 1/4" TRS jacks)
- 6 analog outputs (1/4" jacks)
- 2 instrument DI inputs on the front panel
- 2 channels of S/PDIF digital I/O (RCA)
- Built-in phono preamp input (RCA) for direct turntable connection
- 1 MIDI input and output (16 channels in/16 channels out)
- MIDI Time Stamping (MTS) support for superior timing and accuracy
- BNC Word Clock I/O
- Low-latency monitoring
- Dedicated studio monitor outputs with volume control
- 2 stereo headphone outputs with independent volume controls
- 48V phantom power for condenser microphones

Mbox 2 Pro list price: $799, and Mbox 2 Pro Factory list price: $899.

Apple today announced that its entire iMac line now features the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor in every model, delivering up to 50 percent faster performance than the previous iMac. A new 24-inch iMac with a brilliant 24-inch widescreen display joins the 17- and 20-inch models. The new 24-inch iMac also features Firewire 800 port. iMac prices now start at just $999. Every new iMac includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing out-of-the-box; Apple's Front Row media experience; and iLife '06, the next generation of Apple's suite of digital lifestyle applications. The new iMac range now features four models :

- iMac 17-inch 1,83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo ($999)
- iMac 17-inch 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo pour ($1199)
- iMac 20-inch 2,16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo pour ($1499)
- iMac 24-inch 2,16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo pour ($1999)

The 4 iMac models are available on the Apple Store .

Line6 announces that its new hardware and software bundle Guitarport XT is now shipping. GuitarPort gives you everything you need at your fingertips to get the most out of your guitar, from jamming along to your favorite songs to building your soloing skills, or just playing for fun : 16 amp and cabinet models based on POD XT, 19 must-have Stompbox and Studio effects, Effects can be routed Pre- or Post- Amp, MP3, WAV and Audio CD playback, Looping and real-time half-speed without changing pitch, 24-bit converters & 32-bit processing, Line level and headphone outputs, Ideal guitar front end for other recording software, Metronome for practicing, Built-in chromatic tuner, and preset tone library.

GuitarPort XT ($139.99) also introduces the GearBox software ($99.99), for Mac OS X (Universal Binary version included).

Ueberschall has Released, Liquid Instrument Vol.5: The Voice Vol.2. A Male and Female a-cappella chorus colors (non-verbal) for pop, dance and RnB productions

This is something revolutionary new: Vocal phrases of a choir with independently editable voices. For the first time ever it is possible to change a single voice within a choir - independently from the other lines - and to adjust it to your own needs. You can create basically every vocal harmony and every chord progression you can think of. Only Liquid Instruments "The Voice" gives you total control over each single voice and melody within a choir, proudly announces Ueberschall... A miracle?

American ribbon microphone maker Crowley and Tripp are unveiling their new Recordist and Recordist Ensemble Stereo Kit at AES in San Francisco this October, adding a new voice to their established line of highest quality U.S. ribbon mics, and raising the bar for Blumlein ribbon recording. The Recordist is voiced for realistic reproduction of classical and jazz performances where a full-range, natural sound is desired. As with other Crowley and Tripp products, the Recordist's high output, low noise design excels with location recording devices and digital audio interfaces, without the need for special high gain ribbon mic preamps. The Recordist is priced at $1,295 each, and comes with its own low diffraction rotary mount for exact placement, a durable Pelican(tm) case for location gigs, and a three-year warranty.

Karlheinz Essl just released WebernUhrWerk, a generative music generator. It composes generative Carillon music based on the twelve-tone row of Anton Webern's last composition - which he was unable to finish - commemorating his sudden and unexpected death on 15 Sept 1945 as he was accidentally shot dead by an American GI.

This version 2.1 (released 4 Sept 2006) is a freeware for Apple Macintosh computers under Mac OS X 10.3 - 10.4.

Blue Cat Audio has released a new version of Digital Peak Meter Pro, a unique plug-in able to transform the audio signal to various types of controls. A special introductory price lets you get the Digital Peak Meter Pro for 27.3 EUR (USD $32.76) instead of 39 EUR (USD 46.8). Upgrade from version 1.x is 12 EUR only (USD 14,4).

New in V2.0:

- The plug-in is now 100% real time thanks to the MIDI output capability: generated envelopes can be used to control any MIDI hardware or software plug-in.
- Advanced MIDI control with customizable parameters curve response and MIDI learn.
- Skinnable user interface with Blue Cat's Skinning language V1.2.1 support.
- RMS envelope support.
- new parameters for total control of the peak envelope detection.
- Real time envelopes display.
- All parameters can now be fine tuned thanks to a text-edit popup window that appears when double clicking on user interface widgets.

Here's a newcomer in the R-Series microphone line designed by Royer Labs, the R-122V, which is the first commercially produced vacuum tube ribbon microphone available.

This compact, monaural and bi-directional microphone has a flat frequency response and just like its predecessors his ability to withstand high SPL levels makes it well suited for applications that were previously considered off limits to ribbon microphones.
By incorporating vacuum tube electronics into the same transducer system used in the R-121 and R-122 ribbon microphones, the R-122V provides an output of -37dB, which is approximately 13dB hotter than an R-121.

The new R-122V Vacuum Tube Ribbon Microphone carries a suggested retail price of $2,995.00 and is available now.

Surge is now available as 1.2 Universal Binary version, in Audio Units and VST formats, and adds support for new Intel-based Macs. Surge is an hypbrid synth, which combines wavetable and analog-style oscillators with a highly innovative filter array and an abundance of effects.