Mac and Music News

Waldorf will announce a new synth line at NAMM. The models are :

- Stromberg : a big aluminium 5 octave wavetable digital synth with optional plug-in modules adding analog filters and/or tube amplification.

- Blofeld : a desktop/rackmount analogue modelling synth with a nice big LCD display and an aluminium box.

- Zarenbourg : a Wurli-inspired stage piano using physical modelling rather than samples (a bit like a hardware Lounge Lizard), with built in speakers - clearly going after Clavia's Electro range but with a much more retro look.

- Phoenix Edition : a limited edition reissue of the Q, Q+ and Micro Q, in black. The Q+ has analogue filters, the Q digital ones, and the Micro Q is the simplified rackmount version.

See you at the end of the week for more details ;-)

A poor flash movie from Roland's web site announces a new V-synth on january 18th... it smells like NAMM...

MUTOOLS has released LUNA Pre-Release 5, featuring a vastly improved workflow thanks to the new Rack System. All kinds of plugins (both audio and MIDI) can easily be inter-connected, and used to full extent. Plus, many other detailed improvements have enriched LUNA's feature set.

For more information visit MUTOOLS web site.

Shure has announced the introduction of their new SE Series Sound Isolating Earphones at CES in Las Vegas. Based on the technology of their previous models with special tuning towards personal listening, the new SE series offers a flavor for every taste and budget.
The lowest priced entry is the SE210 priced at $149.99 ; a step up from there is the SE310 priced at $249.99, then the SE420 priced at $349.99, and the SE530 priced at $449.99.

The new earphones will be available soon from both Shure.com, and select retailers around the world.

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.