MacTel

Apple today announced that its entire iMac line now features the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor in every model, delivering up to 50 percent faster performance than the previous iMac. A new 24-inch iMac with a brilliant 24-inch widescreen display joins the 17- and 20-inch models, and iMac prices now start at just $999. Every new iMac includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing out-of-the-box; Apple’s breakthrough Front Row media experience; and iLife ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications.

Apple also quietly upgraded the Mac mini line, upgrading the entry level model two the Core 2 Duo processor, a move that may make the Mac mini a popular choice for electronic musicians.

“Every iMac-from the $999 model up through the new dazzling 24-inch widescreen model now features blazing Core 2 Duo performance,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “And the new 24-inch widescreen iMac is the fastest, biggest and brightest iMac we’ve ever made.” Read more…

Digidesign has announced that in May 2006 it will release versions of Digidesign Pro Tools LE 7 and Pro Tools M-Powered 7 software that are compatible with the new Intel-based MacBook Pro and iMac computers. These new versions of Pro Tools software will enable customers to combine the improved processing power of Intel-based Mac computers with the creative power of Pro Tools.

At the same time, Digidesign will release Intel Mac–compatible versions of all Digidesign and Digidesign-distributed RTAS and AudioSuite plug-ins, plus all software options, including the new Music Production Toolkit for Pro Tools LE and Pro Tools M-Powered systems, as well as the DigiTranslator 2.0 and DV Toolkit 2 options for Pro Tools LE.

Digidesign is working closely with third-party manufacturers to help them port their plug-ins and applications to the Intel-based Mac platform. Visit the websites of those companies for the latest information on availability.

“Creative musicians and audio post professionals who use our industry-standard Pro Tools application want to make use of all of the power they can get for audio processing from the host computer,” says Digidesign General Manager Dave Lebolt. “Apple’s new line of Intel-based Macs is bound to please our customers who want to run large numbers of audio tracks, use innovative signal processing plug-ins, and accomplish heavy-duty MIDI and automation tasks.” Read more…

Spectrasonics has announced support for its Stylus RMX – Realtime Groove Module on Apple Computer’s new Intel Macintosh platform. The new version of Stylus RMX supports all Mac OS X Universal Binary VST and Audio Unit hosts, including Logic Pro 7.2, Garageband 3, Ableton Live 5.2, and others.

Stylus RMX is a groove-based virtual instrument plug-in that combines the power of Groove Control with Spectrasonics Advanced Groove Engine (S.A.G.E.) technology, giving users dramatic new control over groove production and performance.

Spectrasonics has opened a new Public Beta forum for registered Stylus RMX users to try out the new version and give the company feedback as host software applications become available for the new Intel Mac platform. Read more…

Macintosh Universal Binary applications are ones that run natively on both PowerPC and Intel-based Mac computers. These are sometimes referred to as Mactel versions, because they run and the Macintosh Intel-based machines.

Mactel Music Applications:

• Airfoil
• AudioExpress
• AudioLeak -  an Leq (Long-Term Equivalent Level) analyzer for audio files.
• CastAway – Wooden Brain Concepts
• Crystal Synth
• Boom Recorder
• eJamming Station -  Real-time Internet-based music collaboration software
• iFeedPod – Carnglass Software
• iSquint – iPod Video convertor
• iTuneMyWalkman
• iTuneSEnabler -  copies iTunes songs, playlists and Podcasts to mobile phones or any other device which can mounted as a volume.
• Garageband
• Max -  an application for creating high-quality audio files in various formats, from compact discs or files.
• MIDI Monitor
• MIDIPipe
• MUVO Helper
• Nuke4All -  Allows using the Hartmann Music “Nuke” USB Controller to work as remote control for other synthesizers and devices via MIDI.
• Pod2Go – Kainjow
• Podcaster
• Podcast Maker
• Remodellizer-  Allows editing of the model files for the Hartmann Music Neuron music synthesizer without the time consuming re-modellizing process.
• Sample Manager – Audiofile Engineering
• Senuti – iPod to Mac music transfer
• SyncTunes
• Video2Pod
• Vodcaster – TwoCanoes.com

If you have information on other major Mac music/audio apps, let us know!

NAMM 2006 Winter Show Update: Steinberg Media Technologies announced its commitment to developing its audio software products such as Cubase and Nuendo for the latest generation of Intel-based Macintosh computers.

“Steinberg’s development activity for this exciting new platform is continuing apace,” says Steinberg’s Director of Engineering, Markus Stehlik. “The latest version of our VST plug-in standard released at the NAMM show already supports the Mac/Intel hardware platform, and future Mac versions of our products will also support the new standard,” Stehlik adds.

Steinberg has already engineered test versions of its Cubase and Nuendo host applications for the new platform ahead of a future commercial release for the Mac/Intel versions. “We’re very pleased with our progress in the development for Mac/Intel and will be offering full support in later versions of Cubase and Nuendo in 2006,” comments Claus Menke, Steinberg’s Director of Product Management.

More information is available at the Steinberg site.