Native Instruments announces a new version of its PRO-52 synthesizer, called the PRO-53. It comes with many new functions and improvements such as new oscillators, the option for inverted filter envelopes, and an additional filter highpass mode. The PRO-53 is equipped with a MIDI Learn function for fast and convenient integration of hardware MIDI controllers and the option to load controller maps. The PRO-53 also comes with an optimized graphical interface as well as new sounds that take full advantage of the extended functions.

LinPlug releases FreeAlpha a free VST synthesizer. The FreeAlpha features a subtractive design with special attention being paid to recreating the warmth and feel typically found in early-1980s analog synthesizers.[p]

Key Features
* up to 12 note polyphonic
* VST2.0 plugin software synthesizer (cpu dependent)
* Unlimited number of presets (direct from disk)
* 2 oscillators with each 2 from 30 different waveforms; pitch, amplitude and symmetry modulation from LFO, Envelope or MIDI
* Fat and rich-sounding Multimode filter; cutoff and resonance modulation from LFO, Envelope and MIDI
* 2 separate ADSFR envelopes for amplitude and cutoff and a additional pitch envelope ; time ranges from super-fast 1 millisecond up to full 10 seconds
* LFO with 6 waveforms, variable attack, variable ...

The new control surface, dubbed Mackie Control, is a fully automated touch-sensitive control surface for MOTU Digital Performer manufactured by Mackie Designs.
Mackie Control provides nine 100-mm motorized touch-sensitive 1024-step Penny & Giles faders. The unit includes programmable rotary V-Pots on each channel strip, along with MUTE, SOLO, SELECT and REC/READY buttons. Dedicated assignment buttons give Digital Performer users instant access to any mixing parameter on any track, including EQ, dynamics, I/O settings and plug-ins. A large, backlit LED strip provides a detailed, comprehensive readout of channel settings and plug-in parameters. Dedicated channel- and bank-switching buttons provide quick access to any track in a Digital Performer mix. Transport, zoom, scrub and shuttle mode buttons, along with a large ergonomic jog/shuttle wheel, provide complete control over Digital Performer’s main transports and zooming/locating features.

After months of hard labour, here is finally the new version of your site. Indeed, some graphics and other details are still to come but most of the new features are there except for something coming up soon that should please the old time MacMusic's members...

Apple today announced it has acquired Emagic, a leading provider of professional software solutions for computer based music production. Emagic's most popular product, Logic, is actively used by over 200,000 musicians around the world. Emagic's Windows-based product offerings will be discontinued on September 30, 2002. Emagic will operate as a wholly owned division of Apple. Your comments...