Zebra is a virtual synthesizer plug-in. It combines subtractive and additive synthesis with a powerful modulation engine that even smoothly integrates with the built-in effects section. The Audio Units version for MacOS X will be available to musicians with fastidious sound requirements in December 2003.

Zebra will cost only 159$ (US)! - But as a special pre-order offer, users can save almost 50% by purchasing this now. Meanwhile, there's a public beta version you can check out for free until December 2003!

All MHC plugins -previously windows only- are now available for Mac OSX as Audio Units. Studio Setup is a $79 bundle of 16 AudioUnit (AU) plugins. Included in the Studio Setup are Space Synthesizer, Fatsondo, Voxynth, Vox FX, Space Effect and the FlexFX plug-in package.

MiniTAPE is a Freeware stand-alone Application for Mac OS9.x (OSX soon). Basically it is a 5 stereo tracks realtime editor with complex random engine for loop points, convolution matrix, EQ, delay, Sample frequency reducer and recorder designed for live applications (not conventional, you are warned...).

Requires: Apple PPC with OS9.x, 128 MB Ram, High Screen resolution (at least 1280*870..it is designed mostly for 15" Titanium Laptops), Soundcard, SoundManager

Following on from their popular VST to AU Adapter, Fxpansion has developed a new adapter allowing VST plugins and instruments to be used transparently in Pro Tools (LE and TDM; 6.1 and up on Mac OS X). This adapter will be released in approximately one month. Based on the same technology as their earlier adapters, it converts VST plugins to virtual RTAS plugins, which can be loaded directly in to a session without any intervening "wrapper".

The Apple press conference is just over : It was a very music-slanted conference (Steve Jobbs with a piano on the stage, chatting with Bono, Mick Jagger).

In details, not much new stuff but "music for the masses" :

- 3rd generation iPod, thiner than 2 CD boxes, now offering a 10 000 song storage capacity (40 Go model), more than 670 hour recording capacity (mic/phone kit at $49) with latest Itune synchro. Apple also releases a 20 000 pictures capacity iPod storage kit at $99, now iPhoto supported.

- The iTunes Music Store, which represents 70% of the legal world on-line music sell bizness, is now selling audio books (5 000 already available). The iTunes music store and iTunes are now PC compatible with the Mac interface, also support PC CD burning. You can only download iTunes at ...