Mac and Music News

Apogee Electronics Corporation announced the release of a new version of the FireWire Audio Driver for Ensemble, Apogee's multi-channel, digital audio interface designed specifically for use with Apple Macintosh computers.

This Firewire Audio driver supports a single Ensemble used with any G4, G5 or Intel-based Macintosh in conjunction with OS X v. 10.4.8 or later, providing consistent sample accurate performance at all sampling rates. This version also features enhanced stability on supported Macintosh computers and resolves the few remaining issues associated with previous versions of the beta driver.

The new FireWire Driver Version for Ensemble is available immediately via :

Designed and implemented by Hidetomo Katsura in association with recording engineer Malcolm Cecil, ProPhase is a comprehensive professional digital audio software tool that displays detailed information on the phase, levels and mono compatibility of stereo audio signals in real time.

Features :

- Multiple windows (any two channels of any audio input devices)
- Resizable windows
- 30 frames per second responses

Phase Display
- Four different XY plot types.
- Line/Dots/Rainbow plot modes.
- Linear/Logarithmic scales.
- Gain control.
- Sample slice width control.
- Axis on/off.
- Grid on/off.
- Plot/Grid/Background colors.

Level Meter
- Peak and RMS level meters.
- Peak hold/decay.
- Sum/Difference meter.
- Correlation meter.
- Clip indicators.
- Label text.

ProPhase v1.0 is available now as a shareware for $99.

Faber Acoustical has announced the immediate availability of Electroacoustics Toolbox 1.1 which is a modularized, multi-channel multi-analyzer, offering real-time data acquisition and analysis of electrical, acoustical, and electroacoustic signals and systems. Version 1.1 includes two powerful new tools for spectral analysis, including a new octave and 1/3-octave spectrum analyzer and a new spectrogram analyzer with 3D data visualization capabilities.

Electroacoustics Toolbox is available for Mac OS X (UB). Version 1.1 is a free update for registered users.

Mandolane Ltd, developers of Plumstone and Mandolane MIDI SPI, are pleased to announced that the first beta version of their M3D 3D Audio Output mixer for Java has now been released.

This offers a low latency alternative to the standard Java Sound output mixer, with full 3D positioning of any sound source around the listener. The mixer simultaneously supports 32 Clips and 32 SourceDataLines. Separate controllers are available to individually position each clip or source data line around the listener using either Polar (Azimuth, Elevation, Distance) or Rectangular (XYZ) co-ordinates.

RME has updated the Fireface 400/800 driver to v2.57.

New in 2.57 (for Mac OS X 10.4.8 or higher)

- 64-bit addressing issue with MacPro fixed
- Bugfix related to the PCI dropout detection

Korg has announced the new ZERO4 Live Control Mixer and ZERO8 Live Control Console which they say are designed for the growing number of musicians incorporating real-time mixing, MIDI control and dynamic effects manipulation into their computer-based production and performance.
The ZERO Live Control products act as an all-in-one "core station," integrating a digital mixer, FireWire audio interface with support for up to 24-bit/192 kHz audio, MIDI control surface and effect processor in a single unit. A variety of input types allow the user to integrate their favorite tools with their laptop/computer, or digital/analog instruments via FireWire connection, delivering powerful and flexible performance options. The ZERO mixers are the perfect complement to DJ control software, real-time perfo ...

Steinberg Media Technologies has announced the distribution of a new mixing tutorial DVD-ROM series that supports users of DAW applications in creating powerful, balanced mixes using advanced software tools. Filmed in HD-quality, the two-part Internal Mixing series provides a total of 340 minutes of valuable advice and tips on all aspects of mixing using Steinberg's Cubase and Nuendo applications, and includes English, German, French and Spanish soundtracks.

For more information, please visit their web site.

Debuts the DM-Recorder. This standalone 16-rack audio recorder software is specially designed for live or time-delayed recording with several partners using an Internet broadband connection. Project owners can allocate single tracks to members of a joint project. The project's audio files can be securely swapped and stored on a central server allowing all involved to work with their own files independently. On top of that takes can be recorded in real-time with two instances of the DM-Recorder using DM-Link technology.

A public beta version of the DM-Recorder is immediately available for registered users as a free download. For more information please visit their web site.