Mac and Music News

Grooveboxmusic.com has just released a new video tutorials series called "Music Production with Logic 8". Presented by Apple Certified Logic Trainer and Logic virtuoso Doug Zangar, you'll get a behind the scenes look at how a true Logic master builds a song from the ground up in Logic 8. Many new Logic 8 features and functions, keyboard shortcuts as well as customization tips and tricks are revealed in this new Logic 8 video series.

Over 2.5 hours of tutorials from the collection are available immediately and many more will come every 2 weeks until the collection is finished. You can view all the tutorials in the growing collection as many times as you like, right now with a monthly subscription of $14.99.

Schaack Audio Technologies has just released Transient Shaper v1.0 which is a dynamics plug-in that allows "shaping" of the Attack and Release phases of the sound with 2 knobs only. The effect ranges from gate-like to compressor-like. Transient Shaper is aimed to be used with percussion, but can also be used to process individual channels or loops.

Features :

- Makes your sound louder, gives it more expressiveness and more punch.
- Ideal for individual or summed drums/percussions shaping.
- Unique two-knob manipulation characteristics, not obtainable with any other type of gear.
- Gate replacement (sounds smoother than a gate).
- Processed sound ranges from gate-like to compression-like.
- Resizable GUI (minimized by clicking in top left corner).
- Low CPU Usage (typically less than 1% on half-decent systems).

Transient Shaper is available now as a VST plug-in for Windows and costs €49 (+VAT). Apple OS X AudioUnit version will be available before the end of February. Note that audio samples and a demo version are available at :

[CodeOperator] has just released PlugAdmin Pro for Mac OS X. PlugAdmin Pro now makes administration of many different types of plug-ins possible, including audio, graphics and operating system plugins.

The number of plugins installed on computers is increasing rapidly. It occurs often that a plugin runs smoothly with one host software, but causes problems with another host software. PlugAdmin Pro enables you to administrate all plugins that are installed on your computer (e.g. activate/deactivate). The new Pro version also offers you features such as creating plugin groups and backup your plugins for data security. PlugAdmin Pro now supports the management of audio plugins as well as Adobe Photoshop plugins, Illustrator Plugins and InDesign plugins. OS plugins such as Input Manager and ...

Nady Systems has announced the introduction of their latest ribbon microphone : the RSM-8A. The new, neoclassic RSM-8A intends to provide the warmth and natural sound of a classic Nady large ribbon mic plus the higher gain of conventional studio microphones and the selectable features offered by proven ultra low-noise FET active circuitry and transformer output.

The RSM-8A has low-tension 50mm long, 2-micron thick aluminum ribbon (velocity) design for characteristic "large, mellow" ribbon audio reproduction with smooth, natural extended low and high ends. Other features include: Over 40db higher gain than most non-active ribbon microphones so easier to use with any mic mixer or preamp; -10dB pad and Low Cut filter selector switches for attenuation and elimination of stage rumble; unmatc ...

Faber Acoustical has just announced version 2 of the SignalScope and SignalScope Pro real-time signal analysis software. The major upgrade makes both products Leopard compatible.

SignalScope's brand new interface places each signal analyzer tool in its own window, allowing users to multiple data displays simultaneously. Each analyzer display offers hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics for fast on-screen drawing, and Quartz graphics for high-resolution off-screen drawing to PDF files or the printed page. Advanced cursor options enable users to zoom and pan data displays, in addition to pinpointing specific data points within a display for further inspection.

All analysis tools within SignalScope and SignalScope Pro offer more advanced measurement configurations, which can all be saved ...

Ueberschall has just released Minimal Techno, its new Elastik Player-based sample loop library that accentuates the resourceful minimalist approach to synthetic club productions.

This 1.6 GB library is comprised of compacted/subtracted club grooves which capture the latest spectrum of sound frameworks used in the scene. Other highlights are devious sound anomalies and robust soundscapes. Minimal Techno offers the user 75 construction kits, 250 instrument loops, 75 drum kits and 234 knock-out one-shots.

Minimal Techno is available for Mac OS X and Windows in VST, AU and RTAS formats at a price of $119 / €99.

Togu Audio Line has just announced the release of TAL-BassLine v1.0, a free virtual analog bass synthesizer especially made for bass, acid sounds and effects.

Features :

- Band-limited oscillators (saw, pulse).
- Sub-oscillator: square -1 oct., square -2 oct., pulse -1 oct, pulse -2 oct.
- -18 dB/octave low-pass filter (resonant/self-oscillating).
- LFO (frequency: 0,1 .. 30 Hz, waveforms: sin, tri, saw, rec, noise).
- Very fast nonlinear envelope (A: 1.5ms..4s, D: 2ms..10s, S: 0..100%, R: 2ms..10s).
- Simple Arpeggiator (up, down, one octave mode).
- 2x Unisono Mode.
- Panic button.
- MIDI automation for all sliders and pots.
- Precise fader control while holding down the "Shift" button.
- Supports all sample-rates.
- 2x oversampling.
- 23 presets.
- Tutorial PDF.
- ~2.5% CPU (Intel Core 2 CPU 6700, 44.1KHz, 24Bit, buffer-size 1024 Samples).

TAL-BassLine is available as a VST instrument plug-in for Windows and Mac OS X Universal Binary and it is free.

Apple has just released the long awaited Mac OS X 10.5.2 Update which is recommended for all users running Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.5.1 Leopard. It includes general operating system improvements that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.

More details available here.

Db audioware has released Vocal Intensifier, a new "Advanced Vocal Intensifier" plug-in - the first in a new series of "Studio Specialist" plug-ins.

Basically Vocal Intensifier aims to add punch and presence to your vocal tracks, to make them stand out in the final mix. It uses an advanced studio technique called "parallel compression" (also known as "New York compression"), often used for drum tracks but here specially tuned for vocals. The advantage of this technique is that it boosts the loudness and presence of the vocals without destroying the dynamics of the original performance.

Features :

- Advanced algorithm boosts vocals without loss of detail.
- Efficient user interface saves valuable studio time.
- Uses parallel compression technique, tuned for vocals.
- Encapsulate ...

Toontrack has released EZdrummer 1.1.2 which provides bug fixes in various areas of operation but specifically its purpose is to provide Windows Vista compatibility and improved syncing for ProTools users. It also features a leaner workflow for access to the main parts of the program.

On top of that Toontrack has also announced that EZplayer Pro will ship in april, Superior Drummer 2.0 in the shift between May and June, and Drumtracker in July or in early fall.

Bismark has just released bs-0, a freeware software playback sampler which can load and play SoundFont 2 and DLS files.

Features :

- Loads 1 SoundFont / DLS file.
- 1 (mono) output.
- 4 voices :

* Oscillator/Amplifier/Filter.
* Modulation LFO (to Osc/Amp/Fil) and Vibrato LFO (to Osc) supported.
* Volume EG (to Amp) and Modulation EG (to Osc/Fil) supported.

- Supports MIDI note on/off, CC, Program Change, pitch bend , system exclusive (Universal realtime / non-realtime, Roland GS compatible).
- Internal Effects: Reverb and Chorus.

bs-0 is available now for Windows and Mac OS X Universal Binary in VST 2.4 and Audio Units plug-in formats.

Note that Bismark has also released the final (i.e. non-beta) versions of bs-1 / bs-16 v4.0 and bs-spectrum v1.3.

Nine Volt Audio has released a 10-minute video which is a step-by-step tutorial showing Stylus RMX users how to combine a few simple techniques to create dramatic sounding affects, all of which can be controlled in real-time.

In this video you will learn how to use Stylus RMX's MIDI Learn function to control a multitude of effect parameters with a keyboard's mod wheel and also how to create and save custom "Morphing" effect presets for use in any project. At the conclusion of the video users are given a link to download the "Morphing" preset created in the tutorial, along with seven other "Morphing" presets. A link is also provided where users can download eight "Morphing" presets, including the main one demonstrated in the tutorial.

The tutorial can be viewed at the Nine Volt Audio web site and clicking on the "Tutorials" link. Note that Nine Volt Audio is not endorsed or affiliated with Spectrasonics.

Wave Arts is pleased to announce the 5.40 update for their Power Suite 5 product line, which features TrackPlug external sidechain improvements, including support for VST.

A new VST plug-in called TrackPlug 5 ExtSC allows external tracks to be routed to TrackPlug as sidechain signals in hosts such as Cubase 4 and Sonar 7. External sidechaining allows one track's dynamics to be controlled by the signal of another, for example, engaging a compressor on a bass track whenever a kick drum on other track occurs. External sidechain is now supported in Audio Unit, VST, RTAS and MAS formats.

The update is free for registered v5 users.