Mac and Music News

ASK Video Interactive Media announces the imminent release of a new 4-part tutorial DVD series for Logic Pro 8 music production software.

In Level 1 of this 4-part series, musician and Apple expert Tony Wallace returns to provide all the knowledge needed to start using Logic. Everything from basic setup to editing and looping regions is covered, giving newcomers a great starting point. Long time Logic users will find this DVD perfect for quickly learning any layout changes and where all of their favorite features have been moved to.

Logic Pro 8 Tutorial DVD Level 1 will be available June 13, 2008 for $49.99 (pre-order before June 13 for $39.99). Note that video examples are available at the Ask Video website.

FabFilter has just announced the release of FabFilter Volcano 2, the successor of the Volcano filter effect plug-in. More filters and routings and practically unlimited modulation possibilities make FabFilter Volcano 2 much more powerful. Yet at the same time, the "revolutionary" new 'what-you-use-is-what-you-see' interface makes it also far easier to use.

Features :

- Four multi-mode filters, with panning, delay and more than 10 unique characteristics
- Ultra-flexible filter routing, including per-channel and mid/side modes
- New interface, using FabFilter's innovative 'what-you-use-is-what-you-see' concept
- Endless modulation options, with all the 16-step XLFOs, envelope generators, envelope followers and MIDI sources you will ever need
- Easy drag-and-drop modulation with 24-slot modulation matrix
- Large interactive filter display
- Modulation source signal visualization
- Stereo and mono plug-ins available
- Side chain input
- Highly improved MIDI Learn
- Almost 300 presets
- Unique per-component presets
- Undo, redo and A/B switch features
- Extensive help file with interactive help hints

Volcano 2 is available now in RTAS, VST, VST 3 and AU formats for Mac OS X and Windows at a price of €119 / $179 / £94. Bundles with FabFilter Volcano 2 and other FabFilter plug-ins are also available.

Note that existing Volcano users can upgrade to Volcano 2 for €39 / $59 / £29. All other FabFilter customers that own Timeless, Pro-C, Twin, Simplon or One can crossgrade to FabFilter Volcano 2 for €79 / $119 / £59. These upgrade and crossgrade offers last until July 31, 2008.

Last but not least, a fully fonctional 30-day trial version is also available.

Tellini has announced the release of Tablatures v1.7. Tablatures is the first and only Mac OS X editor for PowerTab tablatures. PowerTab is a well-known and widely adopted tablature editor for Windows systems and thousands of transcriptions in this format are available on the net.

Version 1.7 expands the configuration of the application with a couple of options requested by users.

Other general features of Tablatures include :

- Export tablatures in MIDI format for playback or use in other applications (e.g. GarageBand).
- Advanced playback of the tablature: follow the playback on screen, loop over selected parts, slow the tempo down for practice sessions.
- Create beautiful prints of the tablature.
- Share your music even with those members of your band that don't own a Mac: Tablatures and PowerTabEditor share the same file format.

Tablatures is available for a fee of €39. Registered users are free to upgrade to any 1.x version of the product. The trial version is available on the website.

Apple has just released the much-anticipated Mac OS X 10.5.3 major bugfix update, which is available via Software Update or as a standalone installer from Apple's Software Download site.

As usual this update is recommended for all Leopard user, and includes general operating system improvements that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac.

AudioWarrior has just announced the release of the Studio Rhodes Plug-in. Basically this is a 24-bit stereo sample library of a vintage Rhodes piano powered by Steinberg HALion Player. Note that a Steinberg Key is required.

The Studio Rhodes Plug-in is available now in VST, AU and Standalone versions for both Mac OS X and Windows at a price of $49.

TC Electronic announces immediate shipping of Desktop Konnekt 6, an easy-to-use desktop FireWire audio interface with dedicated monitor control features including a tracking reverb, an ergonomic volume knob and a 3-mode high resolution meter for intuitive and instant control while recording. The IMPACT mic preamp and the true Hi-Z inputs should ensure top-notch sound quality recordings of vocals and guitar.

Desktop Konnekt 6 is available at a suggested retail price of €249.

Drawmer has also announced the new Kickbox 4x4 which is an 'all terrain' 4 in/16 out mic/line signal splitter.

Inputs :
- 4 studio grade mic/line preamps
- independent input bargraph metering
- 66dB of variable gain
- 48V phantom power
- mic/line switching
- headphone listen facility

Outputs:
- 4 outputs per channel
- optional transformer isolation
- transformer loaded LED status
- isolation transformers In and Out

The Kickbox 4x4 can be configured as following : 1 In/ 16 Out, 2x1 In / 8 Out, 1 In / 12 Out and 1 In / 4 Out as well as 4x4 In / 4 Out.

Avaibility and pricing TBA.

Dynaudio Acoustics has just announced that the Air 12 monitor is now shipping. AIR12 is the latest addition to the AIR family, a wide range of networked studio monitors for stereo, 5.1 and up.

The 1.1" Softdome tweeter offers a 4mm die cast aluminum voice coil. To complement the lowest frequencies, the AIR 12 features an 8" woofer allowing an overall frequency range of 37Hz - 22kHz and up to an impressive 128dB peak SPL.

AIR 12 includes AIR monitor control with central remote control, preset storage and recall, calibrated levels, and integrated bass management.

Other significant features include internal precision EQs and delay lines (accessible from the dedicated Installers PC Package), which allow not only improved sound quality, but also more consistent speaker performance in different acoustic environments.

AIR 12 integrates into any AIR network and provides all the features and system conveniences from the extensive AIR range of networked studio monitors. The AIR 12 Master AD (2 ch. high definition analog inputs + 2 ch. AES/EBU inputs) and the AIR 12 Master D6 (6 ch. AES/EBU inputs) retail for €1750 each. The AIR 12 Slave active monitor with TC link input retails for €1450.

MOTU presents the V4HD, its new cross-platform HD FireWire video capture device. The V4HD provides all the same features as the V3HD along with additional new features, including support for full-raster ProRes workflow with Final Cut Pro.

The V4HD is available now at a retail price of $2750. For more information, please visit the link below :

Drawmer unveils a new unit : the S2 Signature Series Dual Channel Tube Compressor.

Features :

- 2 channel soft-knee tube compressor
- fully balanced internal signal path
- class A design
- isolation transformers In and Out
- 'All Tube' circuit design
- variable attack and release with optional 'Programme Dependent' auto release operation
- BIG : retains bass frequencies and minimizes undesirable 'pumping' by rolling off the detection signal at 75, 125 or 250Hz (user switchable). Afully variable level control allows for the desired amount of Big processing and an in/out switch provides the option to remove from the signal path for A/B comparison.
- BRIGHT : adynamic high frequency enhancer to keep compressed audio sounding fresh and bright with continuously variable frequency control (500Hz to 20kHz) and amount of dynamic enhancement.
- DRY : mixes user defined amount of 'uncompressed' signal with the compressed signal to create 'parallel compression effect' without the need for external mixing devices.
- dual mono or stereo link operation
- switchable 'Peak' or 'Vu' metering to display transients
- switchable +10dB or +20dB meter re-scale modes
- 8 segment gain reduction metering
- balanced XLR inputs/outputs

Avaibility and price TBA.

To celebrate the release of its new product (Tape Drum Machine Vol 1) Goldbaby has created a free sample pack called: TheTapeVeronaDRM.

Contains 142 x 24 bit samples of the Vermona DRM. Recorded on an Otari MX5050 1/4 inch tape machine... plus the original drum hits without any tape love as well.

Each drum sound has also been recorded multiple times for use in Round Robin Layering. This can help recreate the analog feel of the machine.

Today VirSyn releases a new plug-in : Bark - The Multiband Filter.

Bark takes the approach to match the reception characteristic of the final destination of all sound: the ear. The ear behaves as if it contains a bank of filters, each filter passing frequencies within the critical band. Two tones separated by more than a critical bandwidth are received by the ear independently. For this reason Bark contains a filter bank with 27 bandpass filters matching the critical bandwidth.

In fact, the human ear have also its own built in compression system which are based on the critical bands. Consequently Bark incorporates an independent compression algorithm for each of it's 27 bands.

Features :

- 27 Bark band Equalizer/Compressor
- Linear phase precision filters for maximal transparency
- +24 / -48 dB gain change rate per band
- Surround operation with channel link/unlink*
- Minimized latency ( 12 ms )
- Real time pre/post processing spectrum display
- Compression parameters overall and per band.

*only available for AU / RTAS / VST3 version.

Bark is available in VST, AU and RTAS versions for Mac OS X, VST and RTAS for Windows. From now till June 30st, 2008 you can buy Bark for €99.- instead of €169.-