Mac and Music News

Apple has recently discovered that some batteries used in its MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks may have battery performance issues. Apple is offering a software update that is designed to improve battery performance. This battery update should be run on all MacBook and MacBook Pro computers and extra batteries that were purchased between February 2006 and April 2007. For more information, please visit the link below.

Note: The factors causing the performance issues do not present a safety risk. You may continue to use your current battery.

Steinberg has announced Universal Binary updates to VSTis based on HALion sampling technology. The updates are now available for HALion, HALion Player, HALion Player OEM, HALion Symphonic Orchestra and The Grand 2.

The update adds compatibility with Apple's Intel-powered Macintosh computers and is available for download now to all registered owners of these instruments. The updates also offer the following enhancements (where applicable) :

- Support for Intel-based Macs.
- Kontakt 2 and GIGAstudio 3 file import support
- Performance improvements when using Waldorf filters
- Disk-streaming LED improvements and new peak function allows for better streaming analysis and User feedback
- Overlap Mode enhancements
- New Hybrid Rewire mode in standalone allows receiving MIDI from selected port instead of from Rewire connection
- Several smaller enhancements and fixes

Mstislav Rostropovich, cellist and conductor, human rights activist, has died today at 80 in Moscow from a long illness.

Audio-Technica introduces two stereo shotgun microphones aimed at the high-end broadcast and production environment. The new BP4027 and BP4029 Stereo Shotgun models are based on models that A-T originally developed for the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Designed for broadcasters, sound recordists and videographers, these phantom-powered models feature independent line-cardioid and figure-of-eight elements configured in an M-S (Mid-Side) arrangement. Each provides a switch-selectable internal matrixing system offering a selection of wide and narrow stereo (L/R) output or M-S output. A switchable low frequency roll-off filter helps minimize the pickup of unwanted low frequency noise. The models differ from one another primarily in length (BP4027 15" long and BP4029 9" long); they both feature a li ...

Today zplane.development announced the availability of vielklang, a plugin instrument for instant audio harmonization. vielklang generates up to four voices from a single voiced audio input. The progression of each individual voice is controlled by sophisticated harmony progression and voice leading models, resulting in musically meaningful harmonization without any configuration efforts.

Main Features :

- instant 4-voice harmonization of any single-voiced audio input
- integrated voice leading and harmony progression models, resulting in entirely natural-sounding automatic harmonization
- one-click modification of key scales and harmonies
- high quality, formant preserving, flexible pitch shifting
- audio-to-MIDI functionality for all voices
- customizable user interface

vielklang is available in AU and VST formats for Mac OSX at an introductory offer of €159 / $199 until May 31st, 2007. After that vielklang retails for €179 / $249.

Solid State Logic has also released version 2.0 of the Duende software.

New Features :

- Time limited trial version of Drumstrip included in installer.
- Mouse Wheel control of all Duende plug-in parameters.
- Duende DSP resources are released following a freeze command in Cubase and Nuendo.
- Multiple Duende GUIs now use shared host memory. This will improve host performance in some cases.
- RTAS installer is now separate from VST/AU/Driver in Mac OS. This simplifies the installation procedure.

Solid State Logic has released Drumstrip, the first optional plug-in for the Duende platform which is basically a drum processing plug-in.

Key features :

- Carefully selected collection of five audio processing tools.
- Transient shaper with Transient Invert to bring the attack phase of your drums to life.
- Transient Shaper Audition enables you to isolate and monitor the effect of the Transient Shaper.
- "Over-Easy" soft ratio compression characteristic for smooth transitions.
- Dedicated drum Gate with range and independent open and close threshold con.
- High Frequency Enhancer to invigorate top end.
- Low Frequency Enhancer to improve bass frequencies.
- The classic SSL Listen Mic Compressor with additional bypass function to alter the legendary band-limited compression to ...

Genelec announces that its Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM ) software with AutoCal for the 8200 and 7200 DSP Series Monitors is now also available for the Intel and Power PC Macintosh® OS X platform (existing users should contact Genelec Inc. directly for update discs). Additionally, AutoCal has been updated to include Symmetrical Placement EQ which allows AutoCal to design one set of filters to be used for both loudspeakers forming a sonically symmetrical pair, for example the Left and Right Front loudspeakers. The latest software revision is version 1.1.0 for both platforms.

Eiosis has updated ELS Vocoder to v1.05.

New features :

- ADSR envelope on the Synthesizer output VCA.
- LFO width added.
- Lo amplitude modulation mode for FM modulation.
- Output volume is now adjusted to the Q factor of the filter bank.
- More options for the modulation wheel assignation.

Bug Fixes :

- DC signals are now removed from input and output.
- Circular assignation of midi notes in polyphonic mode is now fixed.
- Updated Voice/unvoice presets.
- Updated Pitch tracker presets.
- RTAS bug on HD system is now fixed.

Allen & Heath has launched the XD-53 professional monitoring headphones. The XD-53's incorporate a circumaural isolation design, providing high level isolation from ambient noise, making them the ideal product for DJ's requiring immersive listening in loud environments. Comprising 53mm diameter drivers - the largest drivers currently available - with high power neodymium magnet design, 1500 mW of power handling, and high SPL capacity, these headphones deliver excellent sound reproduction. They also have rotating earpieces for easy one-ear monitoring, a coiled cable with convenient one-side exit, and a folding design for compact portability.

The XD-53 headphones will be available from May 2007. For more information, please visit their web site.

Sugar Bytes has just released Unique, a synthesizer specialized in vowel sounds and "mighty analog" keyboard sounds. Featuring an advanced vowel filter mode and internal multi-effects with two chained FX devices, Unique comes with over 160 presets and offers features like LFOs with internal envelopes for fading rate and intensity, polyphonic panning, a powerful internal controllers section and more.

Unique costs €139 and is available in VST and AU formats Mac OS X (UB). For more information, please visit their web site.