Mac and Music News

Nomad Factory is pleased to announce the release of the Liquid Bundle II. The Liquid Bundle gives you a variety of incredible effects plug-ins. The plug-ins in this bundle include Liquid Compressor II, Liquid Delays II, Liquid Gate II, Liquid Mod II, Liquid Phase II and Liquid Verb II. These tools are ideal for the sound designer, mixer and musician. And although this plug-ins provides intuitive and simple controls, the sound quality they deliver is full and warm. Plus, Liquid plug-ins operates efficiently to avoid over-taxing your CPU resources.

The Liquid Bundle II demo and full product files are available via instant download at :

MOTU has released an Universal Binary version of MX4, their multisynth virtual instrument for all platforms (MAS, AU and RTAS). Universal Binary MAS versions of Ethno Instrument and Symphonic Instrument are also available for download. This means those working in Digital Performer will be able to run those virtual instruments natively on MacIntel computers.

Blue Cat Audio has released a new version of its Phaser and Stereo Phaser directX and VST plug-ins, with a new user interface and MIDI control capabilities. These plug-ins reproduce the typical analog phasing effect and have been modeled after vintage analog circuits. New in these 2.0 versions:

-Brand new skinnable graphic user interface using Blue Cat's skinning language v1.2.2.
-Advanced MIDI control with customizable parameters curve response and MIDI learn.
-All parameters can now be fine tuned thanks to a text-edit popup window that appears when double clicking on user interface widgets.
-User Manual accessible from plug-in UI.

Stereo Phaser: special introduction price is 17 EUR (instead of 19 EUR) or $20.5(instead of $22). Upgrade is free for registered users.

Steinberg announces a new generation of its Cubase music production software range, Cubase 4 and its streamlined sister product, Cubase Studio 4. New features in Cubase 4 include:

- SoundFrame universal sound manager
- Control Room seamlessly integrates Cubase 4 within analogue monitoring environments
- Brand new VST3 plug-in set with over 30 new plug-ins including StudioEQ, Cloner, ModMachine, AmpSimulator and guitar tuner, new Multiband Compressor and many more, - New VST instruments: 3 new synthesizers: Prologue, Spector and Mystic as well as HALion One sample player with hundreds of new instruments based on Yamaha Motif waveforms
- New redesigned user interface with enhanced navigability
- Enhanced Score and Notation features
- New Instrument Track class
- support for Mac OSX Universal Binary

Cubase 4 and Cubase Studio 4 will ship in October 2006. Cubase 4 will retail for
€879.00, Cubase Studio 4 will retail for €399.00.

To celebrate the release of RiffWorks (v2) guitar recording software, Sonoma Wire Works is pleased to present the RiffRumble IV song contest. RiffRumble contestants have until September 27th to submit an original song created with RiffWorks. September 28th thru October 5th the public and judges will vote for their favorite songs. There is no entry fee or application process for this contest. There are 3 categories, so three people can win hundreds of dollars in prizes.

More information on the contest, prizes, and judges can be found on :

Rax has been updated to version 2.0.2 and now features :

- GUIs for Apple AUs don't stop updating anymore if a menu is open
- MIDI automation now works as intended
- Can now change Record Location
- MacBook iSight now works in OnStage
- MIDI file tempo in Rack mode improved
- Master volume with no sound after a drag'n'drop midi file is now fixed
- Module "view" button now makes Audio Unit's GUI visible
- Tassman now doesn't crash when its view component is closed
- Guitar Rig's (an effects plugin for RAX) "Open File" dialog box now displays correctly

Linplug announces an update to version 1.0.3 for Saxlab, which adds Universal Binary support, VST 2.4 compatibility and various bugfixes. The SaxLab is a flexible and easy-to-use saxophone synthesizer that combines samples and synthesizing techniques to an instrument full of expression capabilities. SaxLabs key features include an easy-to-use interface, a wide range of high-quality preset waveforms, an effects section that includes chorus and reverb, as well as extensive real-time modulation options. Special attention has been paid to making the performance controls as rich and responsive as possible, so that the instrument can be realistically played.

Eventide today announced version 5.2 software for its digital processor: the H8000FW.  Version 5.2 is designed to give engineers and artists alike additional tools for sound creation, and adds over 100 new programs, including many from noted sound designer, composer and remixer, Richard Devine, and broadcast and post-production guru, Jay Rose.
  
The addition of seven new modules brings the total number of effects modules available to 249. These modules constitute the building blocks for creating your own unique effects, either from the front panel, or with the supplied programming tools VSIG? and VSIG X.  These new modules include:

- Audiomux – an audio crossbar router designed for surround sound and other complex routings
- Compressor – a new compressor with enhanced performance c ...

Pro Tools HD 7.2.1 is a free update to Digidesign's Pro Tools HD 7.2 software that provides specific support for Mac Pro. If you currently own Pro Tools HD 7.2 and want to migrate to a Mac Pro, download Pro Tools HD 7.2.1 for free. If you don't have broadband Internet access, you can purchase a Pro Tools HD 7.2.1 update CD for $9.95 from the DigiStore.

Note: Pro Tools HD 7.2.1 does not include support for Avid Mojo. Digidesign will add Avid Mojo support in a subsequent Pro Tools HD software release in 2007. If you wish to work with Avid Mojo on a Mac, use Pro Tools HD 7.2 software with a qualified PowerPC-based Mac configuration.

After years of research into lossless editing of the MP3 and AAC audio formats, Rogue Amoeba Software is thrilled to present Fission, a brand-new audio editor. Fission is the first and only editor on OS X to provide lossless editing of MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, and AIFF audio files. With Fission, users can trim, split, and fade audio files, then save the result with absolutely no quality loss! With Fission, users can...

- losslessly edit MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless and AIFF files. No re-encoding or switching formats means perfect audio quality for your files!
- split long recordings into multiple files.
- archive audio for later listening, by removing unwanted audio such as commercials.
- fade audio in and out to create a pleasing listening experience.
- create MP3 and AAC ringtones for your cell phone.
- do all this and a whole lot more!

Fission's not just easy to understand, it's easy to afford. Aimed at the consumer market, Fission costs just $32.