Mac and Music News

Livid Instruments introduced today Cell, a real-time video software designed for instant playback and performance. Cell provides users an intuitive, touch-screen friendly interface with stunning effects and control, making video performance incredibly simple. Features include, real-time effects, live video input, large clip libraries, and playback manipulation such as; scrubbing, speed, loop, and reverse play. MIDI integration allows it to be controlled with almost any MIDI device on the market.

Available for both Mac OSX and Windows XP, Cell can be purchased now directly from Livid Instruments for $99. Note that a demo version is also available.

Crysonic today announced the release of Spectraphy LE, a highly optimized look-ahead brickwall limiter and loudness maximizer based on it's bigger brother SpectraPhy. SpectraPhy LE has been designed to be used for tracking, mixing, Mastering and Live use or when ever a large quantity of limiters are required per project. Just as in the original SpectraPhy the proprietary Crysonic physics based approach is employed at the core DSP level, ensuring a very transparent sound with maximum loudness and no digital-overs.

Main features :

- Proprietary Physics based Peak Limiting and Loudness Maximizing
- Look-ahead Brickwall limiting with no overshoots, less then 0.2 ms Delay
- Individual Left / Right Channel Limiting with Linking ability
- Graphical Spectrum and Attack / Release Display
...

Universal Audio and AMS-Neve in partnership announce the release of UAD Nevana X2 , a double DSP system with 2 PCis cards (one for each DSP) which includes UA's Neve emulations (1073/1073SE EQ, 1081/1081SE EQ, 33609/33609SE Bus Compressor and 88RS Channel Strip) and 14 plugins from UA Mix Essentials (with VST, Audio Unit and RTAS support).

With an additional and special promotion (200 $ value to get more plugins), UAD Nevana X2 should be available at the end of august : Price : 1 499 $

Zero-G has announced Carnival Drums, over 2,000 samples and 1.4GB of the exciting sounds of the Brazilian carnival. This library features the main drums of the Brazilian Samba Baterias (samba percussion ensembles), which perform every summer at the Rio Carnival. For this project, 10 professional Brazilian percussionists, who perform annually at the carnival, were recorded at a state-of-the-art studio with close-mics, stereo overheads and distant stereo room mics to capture the true essence of these exhilarating performances. The 10 drummers were recorded playing every rhythm in unison, creating the power and force of a large carnival band when multiple loops are combined. Carnival Drums provides users with the versatility of over 1,400 drum loops in four mic positions. In addition, the col ...

KEL Audio has announced the HM-2d, an affordable large diaphragm condenser mic voiced "in the tradition of a high quality dynamic mic". Recommended for rock and roots vocals, guitar amps, piano, outside kick drums, harmonica, horns and more the HM-2d features a specially tuned capsule and circuit to produce a frequency response that varies only about 2 dB over most of its range, producing a tight, full, sonic profile free of the peaks and thin sound associated with many budget condenser mics and popular dynamic sound reinforcement mics.

The HM-2d will ship early September and will be available direct from KEL Audio website for $149 USD including shipping. A pre-order price of $129 will be offered until September 30th.

Roland has released its new flagship SP-555 Sampling Workstation for its popular SP Sampler lineup. The SP-555 comes complete with 16 velocity sensitive pads, 37 Fantom-quality effects, a new Loop Capture function, beefed up internal sample memory, and total computer integration with USB MIDI/AUDIO connectivity.

Features overview :

- Ultra-easy sampling with innovative Loop Capture feature
- Versatile sampling through Line input, phantom-powered Mic input,USB audio streaming, and WAV/AIFF import
- Dozens of killer performance effects, including Super Filter and DJFX Looper
- Audio interface capability with any DAW or DJ audio application (Cakewalk SONAR LE included)
- Large Sample Memory via CompactFlash (up to 2GB)
- Bundled Wave Converter software (Mac and PC) for importing and exporting WAV/AIFF files
- Infrared D BEAM controller and V-LINK compatibility for high-impact performance

For more information, please visit their web site.

CME has just announced that the new UF series master keyboards is now shipping. This 2nd generation series include a built-in USB plug and play interface, a MIDI in added to the expansion slot, and even a built-in full duplex wireless MIDI interface with error detection and 262 ft range.

Features :

- 49, 61, or 76 key semi-weighted action keyboard with aftertouch (UF50 / 60 / 70)
- 88-key hammer-action weighted keyboard with aftertouch (UF80)
- Built-in duplex wireless MIDI interface
- Over 20 user template, non-volatile memories
- 8 assignable control knobs with preset functions
- 9 assignable control faders with preset functions
- LED data display
- 6 assignable shortcut knobs
- 6 sequencer remote buttons
- Panel page and layer button, data adjustment knobs.
- 1 MIDI-out ...

Freeverse and Felt Tip Software recently announced "Tuna Pitch", a free app and widget to help you tune your guitar or other instrument. With five built-in presets including the standard EADGBE tuning, reference tones, and the option to set all six strings to any note, Tuna Pitch has everything you need to stay in-tune!

The Tuna Pitch app features a high-contrast, expandable window so it's easy to read, while the widget version is small and won't clutter your Dashboard. Both the app and widget are 100% free and are available for download from Freeverse's new website.

Steven Massey has just released the TD5, an analog tape delay plug-in. Simply put, the TD5 sounds and acts like a "real-life vintage tape delay, deep, thick, gritty, and three dimensional". The TD5 has up to 2 seconds of delay time, can sync to the Pro Tools tempo map, and provides a number of tonal options.

The TD5 plugin is priced at $79 and comes in both RTAS and TDM plug-in types. Note that a demo version with no limitation is also available. For more information, please visit the link below.

Alesis has introduced the Performance Pad tabletop and kit mountable drum pads with a built-in drum machine. It features eight velocity-sensitive drum pads, a built-in electronic drum machine, inputs for a bass drum pedal, hi-hat pedal, and a Line-level input to connect a CD Player, iPod®, computer, or other audio device so that percussionists can play along with nearly any recorded mix. Built-in rhythm patterns are also included to compliment playing.

Features :

- 8 natural feeling, velocity-sensitive drum pads with Dynamic Articulation
- Built-in professional drum machine so you can record and play back your own beats
- 50 Preset / 50 User drum kits with 233 sounds assignable to any pad
- Built-in rhythm patterns to complement your playing
- Large LCD display with easy-to-navi ...

Yamaha has released version 1.1 updaters for Pitch Fix, Final Master, Vocal Rack and 01X Channel Module. These updates bring compatibility with Mac-Intel (Universal Binary).

RME has announced the new HDSPe MADI card to be shipping. RME further expands the "e"-line of Hammerfall DSP recording solutions for the PCI Express bus found in current Apple OS and Windows based desktop computers. With higher data rates the PCI Express bus enables high channel counts associated with lowest latency options.

The HDSPe MADI card offers a 128 I/O-channel computer connection, all 64 input and 64 playback channels can be routed and mixed independently to 64 physical outputs. For even higher channel counts several MADI cards can be combined. Compared to the standard PCI HDSP MADI card, the new PCI Express version offers several advantages :

- support for higher sample rates up to 192 kHz
- Lowest latency – down to 1 ms!
- Sync to Time Code with RME's Time Code Option Mo ...