Mac and Music News

VertexDSP has released MultiInspectorFree, a 31-band spectral analyzer designed to be used in a multitrack environment providing an easy way for simultaneous spectral analysis of several audio signals.

The first instance of MultiInspectorFree behaves like a standard 31 band spectral analyzer. Additional instances automatically send their spectral analysis result to all other instances of MultiInspectorFree. Every editor window of MultiInspectorFree shows the same content. Therefore, after opening all necessary plug-in instances it is sufficient to leave just one editor window open. The width and the color of the level bars are adjusted according to the current number of instances. It supports up to 4 instances at a sample rate of 44.1 kHz.

MultiInspectorFree is available as a plug-in for Mac OS X (VST and AU, both Universal Binary). As the name implies, MultiInspectorFree is available free of charge.

Apogee Electronics Corporation has released Stand-Alone Mode firmware for Ensemble, Apogee's digitally controlled, multi-channel audio interface. Stand-Alone Mode allows Ensemble to function without being connected by FireWire to a Macintosh computer.

Ensemble's Stand-Alone Mode at a Glance :

- Maestro mixer and routing settings, now located in Ensemble's non-volatile memory, enable storage of settings in Ensemble.
- Allows the use of Ensemble as a converter from analog to optical, coax and optical, or coax to analog, as well as other possible configurations.
- Changes to routing or settings in Maestro still require connectivity to a Macintosh computer.

MacMusic in collaboration with the AES (Audio Engineering Society) is pleased to offer the following voucher coupon that enables all of our visitors to freely register to the 122nd AES convention that will take place in Vienna from May 5 to may 8, 2007.

The free voucher coupon gives access to the AES Show and all relative events (Exhibitors & Application Seminars). It doesn't give access to the AES conference program. This offer is only available for those who register online from the link bellow :

Voucher Code : JIC12210W

ReFX has updated Nexus to v1.2.0.

New features :

- Two LFOs have been added to the modulation-page.
- Four new modulation destinations have been added to the mod-matrix.

Fixes :

- Nexus was creating small "spikes" in CPU usage, especially on PowerPC Macs, but technically all platforms where affected.


IMPORTANT : In order to implement the LFOs, the file-format of the presets has been changed. Nexus is still able to load the "old" presets, but will only save in the new file-format.

With the next point update the ability to load the "old" presets will be removed to keep the source-code maintainable. Please make sure to load and re-save all your self made presets. This also applies to songs/projects saved when Nexus was used. Simply install this updat ...

Yesterday morning without much fanfare, Apple updated its homepage to announce the new 8-core Xeon Mac Pro ! We're talking about two 3.0GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors with up to 3TB of internal storage and up to 16GB of fully buffered ECC RAM... a dream... with a price, starting at about USD$2,499 and topping out at over USD$12,000.

If you can afford it, it's here.

IK Multimedia has announced SampleTank 2.5, a powerful upgrade for the sample workstation plug-in, SampleTank 2. It includes many new features such as an enhanced built-in effects system with auxiliary and master effects, the addition of a high-quality studio reverb, the ability to read all 'Powered by SampleTank' instruments and more.

New features:

- 5 AUX insert effects.
-5 Master insert effects.
-33 selectable effects, including a high-quality reverb derived from CSR.

SampleTank 2.5 is a free downloadable upgrade for all registered users of SampleTank L and XL and is expected to be available in May 2007.

Presonus has announced a new headphone amplification system called HP60. It features six ultra low-noise, high-output PreSonus headphone amplifiers. Audio inputs include two stereo main inputs (A and B), as well as external input for each channel allow the user to mix between three stereo audio streams (mix A, mix B, and external input "more me"). Stereo output is available on each channel to send line level channel mixes to additional headphone amplifiers or monitor systems. Channel controls feature headphone level, mix between inputs A and B, external input volume, mute and mono. The HP60 also features talkback via external XLR microphone.

For more information, please visit their web site.

Yellow Tools has announced the release of Independence version 1.5.0, a major update for the software sampler workstation. This new version contains new instrument Layers for the sophisticated MIDI file player engine "Arranger" with automatic chord recognition. Also new are three powerful modelers: The Mic Modeler, the Cabinet Modeler and the Preamp Modeler. Beside many more features, the performance of Independence's basic technology "A.I.T." (Advanced Instrument Technology) has been improved. In addition, the second Independence software extension - the Pro Surround Extension - is included in the update.

Independence v1.5.0 highlights :

* Universal Binary support for Intel-Macs.
* Pro Surround Environment: support all professional surround formats, like Pro Logi ...

MacMusic is proud to present the Avastor HDX professional FireWire, USB, Ethernet and SATA storage solution, proven to meet the performance demands of commercial and home studio users worldwide.

The entire HDX product line offers superior performance, unmatched reliability and the latest connectivity options. Preformatted and ready to go, Avastor external hard drives make it possible to add reliable, high-performance storage instantly to your Mac or PC. Using only 7200 RPM hard drives with 8 MB of cache and a high-speed bridge, this external hard drive provides maximum storage performance.

A must have if you care about your audio data...

Key Features :

- On-board 110/220V auto switching power supply, no external AC adapter
- Choose from storage capacities ranging from ...

Allen & Heath has introduced a fourth control surface to the iLive digital mixing console system, joining the existing iLive-122, iLive-144 and iLive-176. The new iLive-80 is the smallest in the range of control surfaces, designed for smaller applications such as theatres, churches and touring bands.

Providing 80 control strips grouped in 2 sections, each with 4 banks, there is an LCD display with multi-colour backlight above each fader for labelling and colour-coding channel information. The channel controls for preamp, filter and EQ are laid out across the top of the surface on rotary controls with LED indicators, while a colour LCD touch screen presents a graphical view of the processing and access to gates, compressors, limiter/de-essers, graphic EQ's and effects, as well as the au ...

Flux has launched the Spring Pack bundle which features Solera, Pure Compressor, Pure Expander, Pure DCompressor, Pure DExpander and Epure with 30% discount. SPring pack is online available for €889.

Hello Musicians -- Ready to take your work to the next level? These seminars at Manhattan Producers Alliance NYC will rock. This is the real thing. See you there! - Daniel Levy

April 21st: Let's Get Down To Business: Find Clients. Keep Clients - with Kevin Fetterplace, Kevin Joy, and Joe Carroll

May 12th: Get It Right!: Navigate the Sea of Information and Take Your Project Studio Pro - with Paul Special

June 9th: Advanced MIDI Orchestrating and Sequencing Techniques: How to Make Your Sequences Sound More Musical, Dynamic, and Expressive - with Richard Sussman

And of course, they're having schmooze parties on the Fridays before (April 20th, May 11th, and June 8th)...

For more details, please visit the link below :