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 ...

Eventide announced Reverb, the plug-in that brings their best reverbs from their flagship Orville processor to the desktop. The Eventide Reverb plug-in for Digidesign Pro Tools TDM for Mac v5.1.3 or greater, is a multi-effects plug-in that incorporates a pair of delays, pre and post stereo three-band parametric EQ, a high-quality compressor, and a Lo-Fi effect.

The look of the Eventide Reverb plug-in is simple and succinct, presenting operators with a single graphical user interface that features all of the tools in a single window. Their unique snapshot feature provides an intuitive way to capture or recall parameter settings with a single mouse click.

The sound quality is equally compelling. The Eventide Reverb plug-in uses the highest quality reverb algorithms from their flagshi ...

Eventide introduced the Octavox Harmonizer diatonic pitch shifter plug-in for Digidesign's Pro Tools TDM platform. As the first ever Eventide Harmonizer eight voice diatonic pitch shifter plug-in, the Octavox allows users to create anything from stacked harmonies and subtle, wide choirs to musical rhythmic sequences.

The easy-to-use graphical interface not only gives access to the pitch shifting capabilities of Octavox, but also provides unique and musical control of the pitch and delays using the Notation Grid. This "notation meets step sequencer" presents pitches on a traditional music staff with quantized grids superimposed for placing notes over time. Snapshots can be used to instantly rearrange the entire sequence.

All of the tools required to load, edit and save a preset are a ...

M-Audio has been working directly with Apple to ensure that all of the company's PCI-based products will be compatible with the PCI-X architecture introduced with the Power Mac G5. Delta models being redesigned for G5 compatibility include Audiophile 2496, Delta 1010, Delta 44, Delta 66, and Delta 1010LT. (The critically acclaimed Revolution 7.1 consumer surround sound card is already PCI-X compatible.)

The original versions of M-Audio Delta cards operated on 5 volts as supplied by the original PCI bus standard. The newly revised cards are PCI 2.2 compliant (3.3 volts) and universally keyed, allowing compatibility with 64-bit PCI-X standards on all Power Mac G5s. On-board sensing technology will also allow the new Delta cards to be backwards compatible to work in 32-bit 5-volt PCI syste ...

I was talking about the upcoming compatibility issues between Digidesign and G5 systems with Panther. It seems to me that some major changes need to be taken under consideration in light of Digidesign's current three step calendar:

- phase 1: (October 2003) Pro Tools HD and Pro Tools|HD Accel systems will feature G5 compatibility but only on OS 10.2.7.

- phase 2: (mid-November 2003) Digi 002, Digi 002 Rack, and Mbox support for G5 compatibility for (with caution !!!) OS 10.3 Panther.

- phase 3: (early 2004) Pro Tools|24 MIX G5 compatibility for (again, with caution!!!) OS 10.3 Panther.

I have tested a Digi 002 and Pro Tools with Panther (final development version), and trust me: it does not work. Sadly, others have experienced the same thing as well...

So, dear Dididesign ...