Mac and Music News

Waves has decided to offer Producer/Mixer Jack Joseph Puig's personal presets for his favorite Waves tools as a free download.

Puig is the latest Waves user from its extensive roster of artists to serve up his own presets for download. He has worked with countless hitmakers, including Green Day, U2, Sheryl Crow, the Rolling Stones, Black Eyed Peas, John Mayer, Counting Crows, No Doubt, Mary J. Blige and many more.

In order to download those presets you just need to log on to the Waves website, enter your User Name and Password and then click on the JJP feature icon.

Dangerous Music has announced the shipment of their first units of the DAC-ST, a mastering quality, stereo digital-to-analog converter option for their Monitor ST controller. The DAC-ST is the first available option in the line for the new Additional Switching System (A.S.S) one-rack space expander which can house up to two banks of two cards each, adding four additional functions switchable directly from the ST-SR remote.

Offering mastering quality on-board stereo D-to-A conversion and digital source switching for Monitor ST, the Dangerous DAC-ST option delivers superbly accurate D-to-A conversion, instantly accessed from the Monitor ST remote control. Integrated digital source switching allows the user to monitor all digital sources through the same converter, which is crucial for critical listening, confidence monitoring and level matching.

The DAC-ST suggested retail price is $1199 / €925, and includes the integrated power supply unit and expansion chassis with an extra space for a second user-installable option.

PreSonus is pleased to announce the official public release of the FaderPort native driver for Logic Pro and Logic Express versions 7 or later. The new functionality includes mix/edit/transport window view, write and latch automation as well as improved performance.

The FaderPort is a desktop USB automation and transport controller for computer recording. For more information, please visit their website.

Brainworx has updated its mastering plug-in bx_digital to version 1.1.0 which provides AU compatibility.

bx_digital is a digital mastering processor that provides you with a mastering class 5-band equalizer, De-Esser, Mono-Maker and intelligent Bass- and Presence-Shifters. bx_digital works in up to 3 modes including a sophisticated M/S mastering mode.

bx_digital is available for both Mac and PC in TDM, RTAS, VST, SCOPE and AU formats.

Prominy has released SC Electric guitar, a new Kontakt Player based electric guitar sound library instrument featuring the sound of a Fender Stratocaster. According to Prominy, SC Electric Guitar enables you to compose and create natural guitar tracks that imitate real guitar playing.

Features :

- Over 64 gigabytes - approximately 123,000 samples.
- Real-time playability - SC SPM (Super Performance Multi).
- All five pick-up positions can be reproduced.
- Real chords - extensive number of the 'real' pre-recorded chord samples.
- Auto Stroke Detection.
- Feedback.
- Assignable Key Switch.
- Double-Tracking.
- The lower note samples (low C - low D#) are included.
- Direct signals from the guitar.
- Perfect sampled sounds of all fret positions on every string.
- Picking noises are recorded in multiple forms on all frets and strings.

SC Electric Guitar is available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU, DX, RTAS and stand-alone formats via the included Kontakt 2 Player, it costs $399.

Alesis announced the immediate availability of their SR-18 drum machine with integrated FX engine, battery operation and cutting-edge percussion sounds.

Features :

- Large, 32MB sound set with percussion bank and bass synth
- Built-in Effects - Reverb, EQ and Compression
- Battery Power for maximum portability
- Pattern Play Mode enables different patterns to be triggered from the pads directly
- Mute/Solo Function for parts - Drums, Bass and Percussion and per pad within a bank

The Alesis SR-18 is available now with an MSRP of $399.

Physical Music has announced that Audio Unit versions of TimeFreezer are now available (both instrument and effect). Since it was in beta in January a few minor bugs have been fixed. It is now included with the existing VST-Mac version at no extra cost.

Also, the manual has been translated into French and German.

Eiosis has just announced the E²Transienter, a new plug-in designed to bring a unique, simple and powerful approach to transient processing.

The E²Transienter is based on a patented architecture and parameter combination, which allows detecting and processing transients independently. You can quickly get a wide range of settings, from simple attack enhancement, to complex mix adjustments thanks to the advanced parameters. The numerous included presets let you easily and immediately get the settings suited to your needs. You can then adjust the parameters to get exactly the sound you are searching for.

Features :

- Separate attack detection and attack processing
- Precise and reactive, level independent attack detection
- Sidechain filter with Low Cut and High Cut filters, or a Bandpass filter
- Numerous presets for easy and efficient instant use

The E²Transienter will be available in May 2008 in the Eiosis online shop, in TDM/AU/RTAS formats for Mac (Pace iLok required) and VST/RTAS/AU formats for Mac and PC (Syncrosoft eLicenser required). Pricing has not yet been announced.