MOTU has released updates for MOTU Audio System (MAS) and MAS AudioUnit (AU) support for Digital Performer 4.12, its flagship Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software. This downloadable upgrade improve MAS and AU support, disk I/O performance on single- and dual-processor G5 Power Macs, compatibility with the Tascam 1884 Firewire audio interface in 18-channel mode, and compatibility with Native Instruments Reaktor (version 4.1 and higher).

This upgrade requires an authorized and installed copy of DP 4.12 on your Mac.

Ed: Just to clarify, DP 4.12, some will remember, was released in January. This installer updates the audio system support in DP. If you haven't upgraded to 4.12, you need to do that first. We've included a direct download link below. -PK

Apple has released a 1.1 upgrade to its entry-level music creation software GarageBand. According to Apple, the release "addresses isolated performance and stability issues, allows per-track Echo settings similar to other effects, supports loop libraries in other disk locations, supports importing unprotected AAC audio files in addition to AIF and MP3 files, and addresses issues with ReWire support, moving GarageBand songs between different computers, Help support, fixing the timing of individual notes (as well as entire regions), and dragging entire tracks in the timeline."

ReWire improvements are welcome, but the ongoing lack of MIDI export remains a frustration. Let's keep our fingers crossed for 1.2. Update via Software Update or using the link below.

Sweet summer: warm weather, lazy days filled with electronic music, beach parties and dancing, and the chance to hunt down MacMusic's English editor in person to find out why he hasn't updated the news. Yes, that's right, summer is the chance for the MacMusic community here in the U.S. to meet up face-to-face. Coming up: Appearances at Macworld Boston, MacMusic New York, an East Coast Tour and a call for ideas for a MacMusic World Tour. Check it out:

Propellerhead Software is offering the ElectroMecanical ReFill CD bundled free with Reason 2.5 now. The ReFill contains Rhodes pianos, Wurlitzer pianos, a Hammond Model A organ, a Hohner Clavinet and a Hohner Planet for the NN-XT sampler. These are really high-quality samples, some of the better I have heard in this writer's opinion. The Refill contains variations on each of the instrument samples from slight adjustment to the extreme using the NN-XT parameters, as well as expected details like Leslie control via the mod wheel. Also, a number of demo songs and "cut-and-paste" setups are included in the Refill to get you started right away. For those users who already own Reason 2.5, the Props haven't forgot about you: the ReFill is available as a free download for registered users.