Week of January 16, 2005 Wednesday, January 19 2005 | dmac Logic updated to v7.0.1 Apple has updated Logic to v7.0.1, which addresses isolated performance and stability issues and improves compatibility with a number of Audio Units plug-ins. An update to the Logic Node application is necessary to maintain compatibility with Logic 7.0.1. The Node update software is contained in the Logic Pro 7.0.1 Update package. Compatibility fixes: Apple Loops playback correctly in sessions with sample rates other than 44.1 kHz. Recycle files consistently import as expected. All Acid Loops transpose in Loop Browser as expected. TDM tracks are successfully bounced even when native bounce is set to "offline". Ultrabeat fixes: Accents in sequencer now perform consistently. There are no longer graphic glitches when copying step sequences. The Import of Ultrabeat factory drum kits now works consistently. Drum voices begin playback more quickly when auditioning while importing a Ultrabeat kit. Automating more than one Ultrabeat drum voice now works as expected. General fixes: Loading a Channels Strip Setting will no longer switches the "Transpose" instrument parameter on. The Guitar Amp mic position setting is not lost when loading a Channel Strip Setting from Logic Express into Logic Pro. MIDI device names from Audio MIDI Setup or Logic Setup Assistant show up properly in default song. Multi-Instrument Bank Messages won't change when importing a Song from Logic Pro 6.4.3. "Goto Position" window does not inadvertently switch to current SPL position when opened. "Send to MIDI > Maximum Volume" sends to all channels, not just channel 1. Guitar Tablature preferences and tuning definitions can be entered via menu options again. Screen updates now occur more consistently so there are less graphic glitches. Audio Suite plug-ins process correctly regardless of whether there are open floating windows. Both sides of a split stereo file are converted when performing a sample rate conversion within the Sample Editor. Track Automation fixes: The Copy/Convert function behaves properly. The names of Pitch Correction plug-in parameters are displayed correctly. Control Surface Support fixes: Logic Control no longer generates notes in Learn mode. All plug-in parameter names are displayed correctly. Yamaha mixers no longer install multiple times in the Setup window. Assignments are now possible in the Controls View. Surround Joysticks work properly. More @  apple.com/logic/. Wednesday, January 19 2005 | dmac Classic Rock Sessions Released in Multi-Track Apple Loops Format To coincide with the release of Apple's Garageband 2, SessionLoops announce the availability of their Classic Rock Sessions multi-track loop collection in the Apple Loops format. Featuring drum legend Simon Phillips, the collection includes hundreds of song-oriented loops and grooves, organized in 34 Drum Sessions with a tempo range from 63 BPM to 182 BPM. Each Drum Session contains loops (named Verse, Chorus, Fill. etc), inspired by a specific drummer or band, from AC/DC to The Police, to Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. The multi-track format allows you to create a custom drum mix from the original studio takes - providing a separate track for Kick, Snare, Hats, Stereo Tom OH Mix and Stereo Room. Where applicable, stereo percussion tracks are also included. The loops are optimized for users of Apple Loops compatible software such as Garageband, Soundtrack and Logic 7/Express 7. As a special introductory offer, SessionLoops are offering the Apple Loops multi-track collection and it's Stereo counterpart for $79.95 - $20 off the usual package price. The collection is also available on in stereo Apple Loops ($49.95), stereo Acidized WAV ($49.95) and multi-track Acidized WAV ($69.95). For more information, visit their web site at sessionloops.com. Wednesday, January 19 2005 | dmac Rayzoon Technologies Introduces Jamstix VSTi Drummer Rayzoon Technologies has announced Jamstix for Windows, a VSTi "acoustic drum brain" that emulates a human drummer that the user can jam with in real-time. It has its own sound engine but it can also sub-host other drum VSTis, such as BFD or DFH Superior. The plug-in is designed to recognize what you play and interact with you. Features: Built-in multi-velocity drum sample player with controllable ambience and bounce samples Integrated VST sub-host allows usage of any VSTi drum synthesizer, such as BFD, NI Battery and DFH Superior. Jamming capability. Analyzes input (live MIDI or sequence) in real-time and develops rhythms and adjusts parameters instantaneously, giving you the feel of playing with a human drummer Limb-Priority-Control mechanism ensures that the output is at all times playable by a human drummer. You can layer rhythms and fills and accents as you wish and never have to worry about whether the result sounds realistic Built-in arranger allows easy control of rhythms,intros,fills and endings in sync with your sequencer Easy-to-use but powerful rhythm controls allow you to modify or create rhythms. Comes with a library of hundreds of rhythms ready to use Choose between free jam mode which creates new rhythms from scratch in real-time or key word jam, which is based on preset rhythms selected through key words Create drumming with just a few mouse clicks thanks to features such as velocity variance, auto-cymbals, random accents, probable notes and automatic switch rules, such as ride over hihat on high velocity, sidestick over snare on low velocity, no-ghosting on low velocity etc. Extensive pitch and velocity mapping allows the adaptation of any key layout Four separate outputs with compression MIDI output to host sequencer as well as export to MIDI file for maximum flexibility Jamstix is scheduled for release for Windows in March/April 2005 at an estimated price of US$99. For more information, visit their web site at rayzoon.com. Monday, January 17 2005 | dmac Plogue has updated Bidule to v0.7003 Added: Windows : added preference to force ASIO driver buffer size to Bidule's size. Bug Fixes: ASIO: lots of little fixes. AU: crash with some plug-ins using CurrentPreset when changing presets. Basic Audio Buffer: Number of samples isn't set correctly for some buffer sizes. Better handling of failure of starting audio processing. Audio/MIDI Matrix: crash when clicking outside the grid. MIDI File Player: stuck notes when stopping playback. OS X: Main window shows up with the titlebar under the menu bar. OS X: crashes on startup with some Digidesign card/driver combination. Presets: possible loading problem when files are shared between locales. ParameterPool: having a default presets file prevent parameters to show up correctly. More @ plogue.com. Monday, January 17 2005 | dmac VST Version of crusherX-Studio Released for PC Buero has announced the new VST plugin crusherX-Studio! for PC Windows. crusherX-Studio! is the pure VST version of the crusherX-Live! stand alone granular synth that is developed and worldwide distributed since 1998 by buero. Based on traditional granular synthesis, crusherX-Studio! can be used as a multichannel granular morphing effect on any kind of sound source. Its powerful vapor synthesis algorithm creates very complex and unheard cool waves that are processed in real-time. The interface has features like physical modelling faders and the physical modelling X/Y-controller. The VST 2.3 format plugin comes with 97 sound design presets and 102 real time parameters. Up to 10 separate surround outputs allow extremely impressive sound installations and multichannel compositions. An overall multidimensional morphing system morphs the sound between each parameter changes (e.g. on bank/preset loading or on undo/redo). This creates clouds of sweeping, shifting and graining sounds. Import and export buttons allow parameter exchanging between crusherX-Live! and crusherX-Studio!. crusherX-Studio! can be totally synchronized to the bar positions of the host sequencer by new quantization functions. English, French and German language is supported by the help system and the editor. Availability and Pricing crusherX-Studio! for Windows XP/ME/9X will be available from the crusher-X website crusher-x.de/studio. A free unlimited runtime shareware and demo download is also available. Full version price for one license is 239,- EUR. All registrated crusherX-Live! can crossgrade for 189,- EUR. Licenses are given via a challenge/response system. For more information, visit their web site at crusher-x.de.