Where we've been: Last year at this time, we had to change our server to handle the ever-growing traffic at MacMusic. We've asked our visitors to help support the cost of the new server. To repect the .org community concept that has always been central to this site, we introduced the ActiveMember accounts for supporters either paying an annual fee OR contributing to the site's content (adding news, software articles, etc.) Regular visitors are still able to access the site for free: by becoming an ActiveMember, we disable periodic membership reminders and you ensure that MacMusic.org is able to continue to operate. (And you can be an ActiveMember for free just by contributing!)

Not only has this allowed us to survive, but it has enforced our leadership among Mac Music sites, bringing us more content (provided by you), more traffic, and with more traffic additional advertising revenue -- revenue we can now pass on to you.

Where we're going: Continued financing from members remains essential to the ongoing growth of this site as a resource to its readers. With increase growth, of course, comes increased demands on resources. We needed a second server to support the additional bandwidth created by improved readership and expanded contributions in all the sections (both very good things, of course!).

The good news is, thanks to growing advertising revenues you've helped generated, we are able to lower the annual membership fee from $60 to $42 ($70 for companies). Check out the updated order form. That's just 11 cents a day for daily MacMusic content.

After the creation of the new entity Creamware Audio GmbH, Frank "Franckie" Hund, founder and CEO, let out a few words that are puttings product powerusers a bit on the downside. A short list of the questions and answers on PlanetZ, a specialised into Creamware independant forum:

This fabulous looping software is online since Feb. 5th, free for registered users of the 2.0 CD and for sale for owners of earlier versions or 2.0 users without CD (US$17-76). This software is also part of the bundle you get with Reason adapted (a light version of reason). Register and download Reload for free for compatibility between Akai samples and both Reason and ReCycle. The new release adds Mac OS X compatibility and 24-bit audio file support.

Editor's Comment: Enjoyed those REX loops in Reason and want to make your own, for use in Reason, Logic, Digital Performer, and others? ReCycle is the way to do it. Load audio, chop it up in ReCycle, and play with the REX files. REX is a more flexible format with features Apple Loops doesn't have (and no reason you can't use both!). ...

VirSyn has upgraded its CUBE additive synth to 1.5, adding the ability to resynthesize stereo samples of virtually unlimited length. Sound morph between up to four sources, or add time warping envelopes, on top of the software's already-unique additive synthesis approach. The new version also adds (get the part of your brain that knows about DSP theory ready, readers!) WAV/AIFF import for resynthesis, FFT sound analysis, 512-partial decomposition of samples with internal envelopes for frequency, level, and pan, analysis and resynthesis of notes, loops, or even entire pieces, 64-breakpoint time warp envelopes for movement through the resynthesized sample, formant analysis, solo function, global level for source, microtuning, and more. An unusually powerful tool: we'll be back soon with a review.

A demo version is available for download for OS 9 standalone/VST and OS X standalone/AU/VST. 1.5 upgrades are free(!) for registered users; check the support page.

Mondays will normally be Mew and Zach Day, but Macboy has given us a special Post-Super Bowl edition.