Mac and Music News

Magma ExpressBox is an easy-to-use device for attaching a "desktop-only" PCI Express (PCI-E) card to a laptop. This capability allows a user to combine the power of a desktop and the mobility of a laptop into a powerful, flexible, mobile workstation. For example, a user can turn a typical, middle-of-the-road laptop into a powerful gaming, scientific computer or audio and video editing workstation by simply adding the right PCI Express card to ExpressBox then connecting to a laptop.
ExpressBox (Model EB1H) weighs only 2.8 pounds and supports cards up to 6.604 inches long". ExpressBox Pro (Model EB1F) weighs only 4.3 pounds and can support cards up to 12.283 inches long.

Features :

* Attaches to laptop through ExpressCard/34 module and PCI Express cable
* Supports full-size or sho ...

Guitar Pro, the famous multi-track tablature editor software for guitar, banjo and bass from Arobas Music, has been updated to version 5.1. It will be available at computer and music retail stores in USA and Canada with an estimated retail price of $59.95.
For more information, please visit eMedia's web site, the exclusive distributor of Arobas Music in the US and Canada.

No you are not dreaming, we were all waiting for this and now it's done, Sony Oxford has ported its range of plug-ins to Audio Units platform. Now with the launch of Audio Units versions, Oxford Plug-ins are available for Logic Pro, Digital Performer, Bias Peak and even video applications such as Final Cut Pro. The initial Audio Units compatible Oxford plug-ins are: EQ; Dynamics and Limiter. The remaining four products - Inflator, Transient Modulator, Reverb and Restoration Tools - will become available in early 2007.

Purchasers of Sony Oxford's Native plug-ins will receive RTAS licences for Pro Tools LE and M-Powered as well as Audio Units licences. Pricing of Sony's Native plug-ins start at $207 and move quickly North. For more information, visit their web site.

Audio Ease has just released Altiverb 6 for Mac OS X including Universal Binary compatibility and support for Pro Tools TDM hardware. Altiverb 6 features an improved user interface, an impulse response browser, adds 30 automation preset memories for total-recall and a wider set of automatable parameters than ever before.
Altiverb 6 Regular is the stereo, fully automatable VST / AU / RTAS / MAS reverb plug-in supporting up to (and including) 96 kHz sample rate. Altiverb 6 XL, the flagship product, adds Pro Tools TDM support, surround output up to 5.1, and sample rates up to 384 kHz.

To show off their Impulse Response (IR) library Audio Ease has released a screensaver that displays hires interiors of the spaces plus you can now approach all venues in Google Earth right from the Altiverb ...

Apple discreetly updated today the Airport Extreme to a new design like the Mac mini and the Apple TV and to the preview version of the IEEE 802.11n standard. The IEEE 802.11n bring up to 5 times more bandwidth and twice the range than previous g standard. This standard is supported by most Macs Apple sells today out of the box (use the enabler to access n standard). Note that not much is told about the future official "n" finalized standard save they work on total interoperability with Intel, Broadcom and Atheros, we can expect Apple waited until the pre-n chip were 100% final "n" compatible.

n-able macs:
- iMac with Intel Core 2 Duo (except 17-inch, 1.83GHz iMac)
- MacBook with Intel Core 2 Duo
- MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo
- Mac Pro with AirPort Extreme card option
(other models wil work with a, b and g standards)

Available now for $179

AraldFX has announced the release of DKS, a virtual instrument dedicated to drum synthesis. DKS was born after three years of studying the classic analogue drum machines, which were able to produce convincing drums sounds by simple electronic means. This synthesizer can accurately emulate many of the classic electronic drum machine sounds, but through its extra FM and the physical drum shell modeling can go much further, even giving an interesting acoustic touch to synthesized sounds. The built-in intelligent randomizers can give new life to your drums tracks. You can generate totally new sounds with a mouse click and hear them while your song is playing.

Main Features:

* 8 polyphonic generators with a powerful sound
* Each generator has: 3 oscillators, FM, Distortion, Bit Reducti ...

Devine Machine Software has updated Lucifer to version 2.1.0 which is also now available as an Audio Unit plug-in and offers Universal Binary compatibility on Mac OS X.

Main changes.

* Sampler Mode - a "loopslicer" mode that triggers the 16ths with adjustable offsets from MIDI notes.
* VSTSDK 2.4, Universal Binary.
* Audio Units version (thanks to Magnus Lindstrom/Symbiosis).
* Presets/Songs created on G4/G5 are now compatible with Windows/Intel-Macs and vice-versa.
* Incarn allows for reverse-segments (CTRL-right-click on Windows).
* GraphSets now contain the values of the loop modifier knobs (groove, spread, gate, hyper, etc.)
* Two octaves of UserKeys instead of one.
* UserKey menus now allow for an assignable destination value when applicable.
* UserKey menus now ...

After I Feel good of the late James Brown and some background about the Intel transition, Steve Jobs did some statements about the full health of the iPod and its 62% marketshare and leading sales on the ITMS, along with new iPod advertising. Next is the Apple TV, an Intel powered box to stream medias (videos, photos…) directly to your TV set from up to 5 computers (USB 2.0 Ethernet, Wifi b, g, and n; 40 GB hard drive, 720p "HD", controlled thru iTunes, $299 available in February).

Next, the iPhone! A widescreen iPod with smart controls, 3G. You just use your fingers (multi-touch screen) and you use OS X! (note this is something really important, there's an OS X running now on small devices) It's synched by itunes, has a 3.5" screen 160 px/inch, 4 or 8 GB, email and book marks support, 3 captors: proximity, ambient light, accelerometer, and a 2 Mpx camera. The iPhone is Quad-band GSM with EDGE, Wi-Fi, bluetooth. The screen feels when you put it on the side and change the screen orientation accordingly. 11 apps included like Safari, Mail, iPhoto, some widgets, google maps versions… You can resize photos using 2 fingers, load multiple web pages, use HTML emails (I hope they are _not_ the rtf kind we have to support still…) and POP3 IMAP exchange… mail servers, use Exposé if need be.

Battery duration: audio use 16 hours, phone use 5 hours. Price $499 for the 4 GB, $599 for the 8 GB (prices include a 2 years contract with Cingular).Cingular will be the exclusive operator in the USA. Available in june in the USA, 4th trimester in in Europe, Asia in 2008.

There's a partnership with Google AND Yahoo announced. And Apple Computer Inc. becomes Apple Inc.

Sweetwater announces their annual Red Tag Sale! You never know what you might find – a PreSonus EQ, ADAM monitors, a Marshall amp, a Mackie mixer, or a wealth of gadgets and accessories. But remember – quantities are limited to stock on hand, and the Sweetwater Red Tag Sale ends January 31. Don't wait to take advantage of these great deals!

Rhodes will announce 9 new models featuring state of art design and Mark 7 technology at the NAMM 2007.

Some teaser specs:

-Three different sizes: 88-, 73-, and 61-key sizes in passive, active, and active MIDI -configurations
-Lighter overall weight
-State-of-the-art design
-Mark 7 technology
-Modular format
-Passive-to-active capability with MIDI
-Pre-amp with hi-performance 3-band equalizer
-Tremolo and pitch bend
-LCD screen
-Dual-panel USB ports
-Custom Anvil cases
-Light, transportable, hi-performance neodymium speaker systems
-New stand design
-New pedal design
-Safety locking system
-Headphone capability
-Lighter overall weight
-Durable custom and soft-touch finishes

For more info, visit their web site.

TerraTec Producer has announced the AXON AX 50 USB, a guitar-to-MIDI-controller based on the AXON AX 100 MK II. The AXON AX 50 USB offers a USB port with four additional virtual MIDI ports. With its 32-bit RISC processor, the guitar-to-MIDI controller translates the vibrations from each string that you strike or strum and sends information about the pitch, dynamics, and tone duration to the connected MIDI sound generator. The MIDI sound generator allows you to transform the sound of your connected instrument to the sound of another instrument. The controller also comes with 128 multitimbral sounds based on Native Instruments' Kontakt Player.

Priced at $549 the AXON AX 50 USB will be available soon after NAMM 2007.

Some of you already know Hot Hand, the effects system from Source Audio that allows musicians to use hand motions to control key functions such as Speed and Depth in tandem with the company's proprietary motion-controlled Hot Hand Wah Filters and Phaser/Flanger effects consoles. The "Total Hot Hand" system available at this year's Winter NAMM offers an optional wireless solution with a lightweight motion sensor and plug-in RF transmitter, and powerful motion-controlled Wah Filters and Phaser/Flanger effects consoles.
Compatible with all Hot Hand systems, the Hot Hand Wireless Adapter can be used in addition to the wired sensor and consists of a wireless motion sensor ring unit and a small receiver that plugs directly into the back of the Hot Hand effects console in the Sensor In port. The ...

In cooperation with Chicken System, Yellow Tools has released the free Independence Convertor application for Mac OS X (Universal Binary) and Windows XP. This free utility for registered Independence owners converts Akai S-1000/3000 CDs and SoundFonts into Independence format.

Chicken Systems also offers a special Translator Independence Edition for $49.95. This can convert practically every sample format into Independence compatible format.

All registered Translator PRO users can download a free update on the Chicken Systems website that includes the Independence format translation.

Tone2 has announced BiFilter2, a stereo filter module offering dual multi-mode filters with 47 filter types, 8 additional distortion types, FM, AM, waveshaping and lo-fi effects. A high precision display shows the frequency response of the filter in realtime.

Features:

* 47 filter types.
* 8 distortion types.
* FM, AM, Waveshaping, bit crushing, resampling, comb filtering, vocal filtering, equalizing, reverberation.
* High precision, real time frequency response display.
* Smooth and click-free knob movements.
* "High-end quality" filter algorithms, anti-aliasing, oversampling.
* True stereo architecture, works in all sample rates.
* Easy-to-use interface.
* 100 presets.
* MIDI and automation support.

BiFilter2 costs $49 / €39 and is already available as a VST effect plug-in for Windows... but Mac OS X VST and Audio Unit versions are expected soon !