Mac and Music News

PSP Audioware has just released version 1.5.4 of its high fidelity stereo dynamics processor PSP MasterComp. This update includes Universal Binary compatibility for Mac OS X and is a free for all registered users.

Changes includes :

- Intel Mac compatibility added (OSX UB).
- Sidechain processing with external control signal allowed.
- Classic mode with alternate release phase response for more focused sound.
- Preset bar supporting preset list editing, bank and preset save/load and A/B memory cells.
- DirectX version has been discontinued.
- Session compatibility between PPC and Intel based Macs in AU version.
- RTAS version latency reporting fixed for delay compensation purposes.
- Other minor problems resolved.

We, at 440Network are proud to announce the launch of the long awaited community site PcMusic. Following our members requests and particularly those coming from our flagship site, MacMusic.org (70,000 registered members and over 30,000 daily visits), we have some time ago decided to follow up and make similar content available to the pro audio community that needs targeted information when facing PCs for their work.

Musicians, DJs, composers, sound engineers, producers, distributors and most of all, PC addicts throughout the world will enjoy finding on a surf friendly web site, recent news items, articles, unbiased reviews, user comments, software updates and drivers, freeware downloads, useful documentation, links, and of course, dynamic forums sent by mail to subscribers via a clean daily mailing list.

ReFX has updated Nexus to v1.3.5 and released two new expansions, Stratosphere and Bass, in its sound shop.

New features :
- Filter- and Amp-Modifier can now also be locked and switched off globally, just like the master-filter, the master-delay and the reverb can.

Bug fixes :
- The voice-stealing was too conservative which resulted in clicking. The new approach is absolutely click-free, but could increase performance usage slightly.
- The trance-gate was prone to clicking in certain cases.
- Internal optimization and minor bug fixes.

[CodeOperator] has released IIR-Reverb which is the first plug-in in its new URSonic series. IIR-Reverb is a colorful reverb effect with a high density. It comes with a 5-Band full Parametric Graphical based Equaliser that you can edit the reverb tail in every frequency you like. You can form every space you need, especially Drum Rooms.

IIR-Reverb is available now for Windows and Mac OS X (UB) in VST, AU and RTAS formats via the Pluggo Runtime and costs $199. Note that audio examples and demo versions are also available.

Steinberg has just released a hotfix update for HALion 3.3, HALion Symphonic Orchestra 1.3 and HALion String Edition 2.3 as well as both the HALion Player 3.3 retail and HALion Player 3.3 OEM versions. The new version updates functions within the underlying HALion 3 sampler engine shared by all these products. These include enhancements when recalling tempo settings in standalone mode, with zone display in the Key Zone Editor as well as program change functionality.

For more information, please visit their web site.

Zoom has announced that the H2 Handy Recorder will be available... soon... maybe at the end of this summer...

Features :

- W-XY mic patterns with 4 mic capsules and signal processing allows Front 90° cardioid, Rear 120° cardioid and 360° polar patterns
- Built-in USB 2.0 interface for data storage and audio interface
- Records in WAV 96kHz/48kHz/44.1kHz at 16-bit or 24-bit, MP3 to 320kbps and Variable Bit Rate (VBR) data formats
- Time Stamp and Track Marker functions in Broadcast WAV Format (BWF)
- 512MB SD memory card included
- Accommodates up to 4GB SD memory cards
- Auto Gain Control (AGC) for pristine recordings
- Auto Start function means you're always ready to record
- Low-cut filter eliminates wind noise
- On-board chromatic Guitar/Bass tuner

The H2 will be widely available for a street price of $199.99. For more information, please visit the link below :

Sibelius Software has released Sibelius 5, a major upgrade to their music notation software. This new version is packed with many new features, including :

- Ideas Hub, a powerful tool to capture, tag, find and bring together musical ideas
- Sibelius Sounds Essentials, a 2GB collection of sounds selected from top-name libraries by Garritan, SonicVox and Tapspace
- Full VST & Audio Units support
- Playback handled by Kontakt Player 2
- Panorama - instead of being chopped up into systems and pages, the music is shown in a single, infinitely-wide strip – far easier to read and navigate around
- Easy cues & instrument changes
- Complete and easy layout control
- Reprise, an elegant new music font which is offering a realistic simulation of hand-copying
- Over 80 plug-ins including t ...

Native Instruments is excited to announce that AUDIO 8 DJ is now available in stores worldwide. The AUDIO 8 DJ is a performance-optimized USB 2.0 audio interface specifically designed for TRAKTOR 3 and other professional DJ software.

Features :

- Professional 96 kHz, 24 Bit Audio Interface. Ultra high quality Cirrus Logic AD/DA converters
- Aluminium cased, super-robust, mobile design (slim size) specifically for DJs
- 8 hi-gain outputs (RCA)
- 8 inputs (RCA), 2 optional phono preamps with high impedance input mode
- 1 alternative microphone input with input gain control and input level meter (XLR)
- Headphone output with visual level control
- Low latency ASIO / CORE Audio / DirectSound driver.
- USB 2.0 bus powered
- MIDI I/O
- Over 20 individual channel status LEDs for i ...

Avlex Corporation is pleased to introduce the Superlux E531/BCS M/S Stereo Field Recording Microphone.

Features :

- mid-side configured microphone
- battery-powered by a single 1.5 Volt AA battery that is capable of providing upwards of 200 hours of use
- 3.5 mm stereo mini plug
- two coverage patterns at the flip of a switch: 90 degrees and 120 degrees
- frequency response of 100 Hz - 15 kHz
- On/Off switch
- microphone stand clip and foam windscreen included

The new Superlux E531/BCS M/S Stereo Field Recording Microphone carries a MSRP of $49 and is available now.

MixVibes has just released DVS Pack MKII which combines the DVS technologie (Digital Vinyl Software), which allows a real time mix feel of your digital media files on vinyl or CD decks, with their new U46MKII sound interface. This bundle is the perfect solution for Deejays who wish to scratch or beatmatch there digital files without loosing the genuine vinyl/CD feel.

Main Features :

- Scratch, Needle Drop, Master Tempo(+-100%)/ Pitch Shifting (+-24%)/ Speed (+-100%), Waveform Display, Auto BPM Counting, Seamless Loops, effects, Auto Beat Matching, Vinyl Effects
- High-Quality Vinyl Sound
- Low Latency : 3 ms with ASIO
- Real Vinyl/CD Feel
- Many audio formats supported: Wav, Mp3, Wma, Ogg Vorbis, Audio Cd

For more information, please visit their web site.

Audeon has announced the pre-release of its UFO synthesizer built upon Audeon's proprietary "TransModal Synthesis" technology. Its oscillator model is controlled by perceptual attributes such as Periodicity, Brightness, Noisiness or Chaos, etc., lying on 2D controllers. Programming a sound simply consists of balancing these attributes by placing dots on the controllers and modulating them graphically by drawing arrows, thus making sound design particularly easy and offering great expressiveness.

A preview demo version of UFO for Mac OS X in VST format is now available for download. The full version will be released shortly.