Mac and Music News

SonicCore after buying the rights to the Scope technology (remember creamware?) announced today it will manufacture the synth baby of John Bowen, the Solaris. John is not unknown in the synth world as he was of the masterminds behind all the Sequential products, and one of the Wavestation and OASYS team (Z1 anyone?). The Solaris is a 5 octaves DSP keyboard, with plenty of knobs to chew on (40), 5 value displays plus a graphic one. The internals are based on SHARC CPU and a 96 kHz audio engine where new algorithms can be feed, as available thru software updates and expansion packs. l be a VA r anything else and is thought as "a modular system but easier to use". You can expect to see there part of the Scope DSP algorithms too and the thing to be very very deep…

Price and availability TBA

Celemony Software has announced the imminent release of version 1.8 updates for Melodyne uno and Melodyne essential. Version 1.8 offers new playback algorithms as well as a number of bug-fixes and improvements of detail. But the most important improvement is the new "Percussive2" algorithm for the editing of percussive material.

The version 1.8 updates will be free of charge to all registered users of uno and essential and will be available for download from the end of April from their web site.

Steinberg Media Technologies has announced the launch of Sequel, a new entry-level music studio designed for newcomers to music production.

Sequel's accessible GUI gives intuitive access to recording, mixing and editing features engineered for the first-time producer. Over 5000 loops that cover just about any modern musical style are supplied, and combined with over 600 instantly playable instruments on board. On top of that Sequel features discreet yet powerful audio warping functions that keep first-time users in key and in time. It also includes an accessible live performance mode, that allow Sequel songs to be rearranged, remixed and remolded live for performance on stage. Integrated FX including EQ and dynamics on every channel provide all the tools needed to produce outstanding mixes.

Sequel is available now in music stores worldwide, and costs €99.00.

MusikMesse 2007 sees the launch of nio 2|4, Novations latest foray into the interface market, offering a flexible 2 In/4 Out mobile interface solution designed with the modern music maker in mind.

Features :

- 2 inputs both on instrument jack and microphone XLR with phantom power
- 4 phono (RCA) outputs
- a pair of phono (RCA) inputs can be used to record a stereo signal
- USB connection and bus powering
- Direct FX technology with ultra-low latency allowing all of nio 2 | 4s effects to be used in real time (guitar amp simulations, filters, delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, distortion, EQ, Reverb, Tremelo, etc...)
- two headphone outputs
- flexible monitoring solution, with two dials close to hand and independent switching between three different monitor mixes
- MIDI i/o
- lexible metering
- class compliant with Mac OS X CoreAudio

The nio 2|4 is expected to ship Spring 2007 with price to be announced.

Native Instruments today announced KORE 2, the second generation of its advanced multi-functional host system. While remaining an open platform for all software instruments and effects, this new version significantly extends and refines the concepts introduced and established with KORE.

Thus KORE 2 now includes its own powerful sound capabilities, realized in a library of 500 specially designed studio-quality KoreSounds, each with multiple sound variations, covering all relevant musical styles and genres. Based on the integrated engines of Absynth, FM8, Guitar Rig, Kontakt, Massive, and Reaktor, this ready-to-use sound arsenal offers highly focused, musical sound shaping functions. KORE 2 also takes the acclaimed "Find sounds fast" paradigm of the system to the next level with a signif ...

Bias announces Peak Pro 6, a major new upgrade to their editing, processing, mastering and delivery software for Mac OS X with Universal compatibility for PPC and Intel-based Macs.

Features :

Advanced Playlist Editing & Mastering

* Mastering & "Classical Editing" Cross-Fade Modes: Overlap/Gap & Centered cross-fades optimize workflows.
* Volume envelopes: easily & precisely edit volumes across entire regions, fades & cross-fades.
* Custom Default Fades: create, save & load your favorite cross-fade shapes & apply them automatically.
* Controls: pre/post roll audition, insert new event at play-head, edit sync between source document and region & more.
* Playlist waveform zooming tools: zoom to sample level, auto-zoom to cross-fade, zoom out ...

Arturia announces the Origin Keyboard which combines their upcomming hardware synth Origin and a smart keyboard.

Features :

* • Create your own patch by combining innovative modules and modules extracted from the Minimoog, the CS-80, the ARP 2600, the Moog Modular and the Prophet VS.
* Use template patches: an Origin audio structure made by connecting independent modules, or the minimoog, the ARP 2600, the CS-80, the Moog Modular.
* • Up to 32 voices of polyphony for a typical patch
* More than 500 presets created by talented musicians and synthesizer specialists
* Superb audio quality with TAE® engine. 24 bits/96 kHz supported.
* Origin lets you open dedicated software on your Mac and PC and use it as an AU or VST plug-in. All the sounds are calculated on the ma ...

Cakewalk today releases Session Drummer 2 Hip Hop Pack Vol. 1, an expansion pack for Session Drummer 2 . This Pack was designed from the ground up to provide SONAR users with the fastest way to create realistic Hip Hop drum tracks.

• 33 Session Drummer 2 programs and 600+ unique samples
• Includes complete kits, kick combinations, snare combinations, cymbals, toms, percussion, special FX, and more
• 242 MIDI patterns allowing for thousands of unique beat combinations
• 16 standard drum kits and 400+ SFZ multi-sample maps for thousands of kit combinations
• Ideal for Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B, and other modern music styles

Pricing and Availability :

The Session Drummer 2 Hip Hop Pack Vol.1, expansion pack is available to registered SONAR 6 and SONAR Home Studio 6 XL customers direct from the Cakewalk online store for $59.00 U.S. For more information call 888-CAKEWALK, +1 (617) 423-9004 outside U.S. or visit Cakewalk on the web at :

Dangerous Music has announced to the European market D-Box, a new multi purpose hardware product for DAW users. This 1U rack-mount box combines 8-channels of the Dangerous Music analog summing technology and an integrated programmable monitor control section with analog and digital inputs, on board 24 bit/96KHz D-to-A converter, talkback, dual headphone amps, speaker switcher and more.

The D-Box will be available soon with price to be announced.

Alesis introduces the iMultiMix 8 USB Mixer with professional mixing and direct-to-iPod recording.

Features :

- Integrated iPod recording
- Four high-gain mic/line preamps (XLR and 1é4" balanced)
- 48V phantom power
- Built-in limiter to avoid distorted recordings
- 16-Bit / 44.1kHz and 48kHz recording to computer
- Two guitar mic/line inputs
- Aux sends and returns
- 100 on-board, 28-bit digital effects - Reverb, Chorus, Flange, Delay
- Three band per channel EQ with high/low shelving and mid band pass/reject
- Steinberg Cubase LE recording software included

For more info, please visit their web site.

Welcome to the MusikMesse vintage 2007 ! Once again a "tiny bitsy german town" well-known for its sausages is going to host the most gigantic music show in this good old Europe. Of course the whole MacMusic team is busy to get you informed about this major trade show in this "MusikMesse 2007 Special Report" and in the MacMusic Daily News Section.

GForce Software has announced that the Universal Binary update for impOSCar will be released tomorrow (March 28th). This update is free to users who purchased and registered their instrument after the 1st October 2006... If you purchased impOSCar before 1st October 2006, you will need to update to the Universal ImpOSCar via the shop for £13.99 (plus VAT), €19.99 (plus VAT) or $26.00.

NuGen Audio has announced the release of new SEQ Series (SEQ1 and SEQ2) Linear Phase mixing and mastering equalizers.

The SEQ series EQ's are designed to deliver transparent, scaleable, connective EQ without the phase warping and phase smearing artefacts common in traditional digital EQ, giving a clearer sound and sharper transients.

Metric Halo is pleased to announce that major updates for ChannelStrip|TDM and ChannelStrip|RTAS are now shipping. ChannelStrip 2.2 is a Universal Binary, and supports Pro Tools 6.4 - 7.3 on both PPC and Intel Macs. It also provides complete support for HD|Accel DSPs and PCIe cards on all Mac platforms.

New features include :

• Support for plug-in clip-light and system wide clip indicator reset
• Support for Accel chips and 192k on TDM Accel systems
• Complete page table support for all supported control surfaces
• Universal Binary support for TDM and RTAS
• 16/8/4 mono instances per Accel chip at 1x/2x/4x rates

Notable bug fixes include :

• Fixed Gate bug at 96k on Mix and HD systems
• Fixed lack of support of PCIe systems
• Fixed DSP chip allocation bug
• Fixed window resize bug

The 2.2 update is freely available to all registered OS X users of ChannelStrip.

Native Instruments has announced the TRAKTOR Tutorial DVD, a new multimedia workshop that enables DJs to get the most out of TRAKTOR 3 DJ software. With a comprehensive video tutorial (more than three hours of high-resolution video), artist interviews and special workshop content on the disc, the DVD allows TRAKTOR users of all experience levels to get to the heart of the software and utilize its advanced creative capabilities to the fullest extent.

English language version will be available in stores and from the NI Online Shop in May. For more information, please visit their web site.

FabFilter has just announced RTAS versions of FabFilter Timeless, Twin, Volcano, Simplon, and One. With this release, all plug-ins will also receive small bug fixes and updates for the AU and VST versions. In addition, FabFilter One will be extended with MIDI program change handling, improved knob behavior and interactive help hints.

The final release is currently planned for the end of April and it will be free for existing users. Note that FabFilter will demonstrate the new RTAS versions at Musikmesse (hall 5.1, D48).

After posting a demo of their software compression "Solera" and EQ "Epure", Flux offer us a freeware called "Bitter Sweeter" which is a dynamic processor who can deal with the transients.

Bitter Sweeter is available in VST, RTAS and UB formats, the Au support is still under development !

VirSyn has just released a new virtual synth called Poseidon. At first sight it looks like a simple structured analog "Oscillator-Filter" synthesizer with all controls visible at once... but the real power is working under the hood : the oscillator is the same as the spectral modelling sound generator of their CUBE and the variable slope Filter is a completely new design based on the unique F-domain synthesis.

Main features :

- Spectral modelling oscillator
- Time machine
- Timbre control
- F-Domain Filter
- Spatializer
- Resynthesis
- Effects
- Arpeggiator
- Standalone and plugin

Poseidon is available now for Mac OS X (UB) in VST, RTAS and AU formats for €199.

Sinevibes has just released the Space Oscillator Audio Unit plug-in for Mac OS X, which is a unique combination of a synthesizer and a sound processor. At its core, it has a unison oscillator with a spacious stereo sound, that can react to incoming audio in many exciting ways and is simultaneously controllable by a flexible step sequencer. Combined with many other interesting audio shaping tools, Space Oscillator allows to create new sonic textures from intergalactic strums to droid speech.

Features :

- Spacious stereo unison oscillator with wide detune range and variable frequency stepping
- Audio-triggered envelope generator
- Advanced step sequencer with lag processor
- Ring modulator, bit reduction and resampling
- Intuitive user interface
- Extensible collection of fa ...

The Amazing Rolo has just released the Wii Loop Machine software. Basically it's a system for using the wireless Wii remote to sync, control, and manipulate loops in real time on your Mac ! And you know what, it's free so if you have a Mac with OSX (10.4.8 or 10.4.9 recommended) and bluetooth and a Wii controller then you should give it a try ;-)