It's the moment many of us have been waiting for: Mac OS X support for Pluggo, Cycling `74's superb and massive collection of Max/MSP-based audio plugins. AU support, too. This should also mean some more robust OS X support in Max/MSP. Cycling `74 will show off Pluggo for OS X at the AES (Audio Engineering Society) show here in New York, home city of MacMusic's English Editor-in-Chief, yours truly. So expect a full interview with Cycling `74 about this eagerly-anticipated software.

At last after months of reworking (it was in preview under the disguise of a 1U rack at Frankfurt Musikmesse 03), Vermona has released the Retroverb at last. Retroverb is a stereo analogue spring reverb for vintage addicts. Among the features are an EQ, VCF, VCA, Envelope, all switchable on/off. Lots of pots (13), switches (4) and I/O behind with pedals ins (all 1/4" jack plugs). General look is retro 60's minded in a sturdy grey metal box with wood sides. There's also a Crash button to … crash on the springs! :)))

Vermona is the German manufacturer of analogue synths like the MARS and Perfourmer. For GB distributors, take a look at the Vermona site. Price TBA.

One of our favorite Mac shareware developers is back with some huge updates to their popular audio routing and recording software.

Audio Hijack 2 is the biggest update yet to Rogue's popular audio recording tool. The upgrade is free for Pro owners or 1.65 users, and adds an entirely new interface with a new toolbar featuring built-in level meters, improved timed recording, built in Excitifer audio sweetening, post-processing options for recordings via AppleScript (like instant save to iTunes AAC), direct URL entering, automatic preset saving, dock menu, and more. You can use the software to automatically record radio programs, use any application as an alarm clock, and automatically process recordings ...

Ohm Force announced the launch of Melohman, the new cutting-edge set of technologies developed by Ohm Force to improve the global playing experience that a musician can get with any virtual instrument. It relies on a few original concepts. First, a user-defined octave on the keyboard, that can be used for exotic pleasures such as preset morphing, randomisation and various grouped parameter modulations, depending on the instrument. Secondly, exhaustive MIDI matrixes with adjustable response curve. Thirdly, there is a user-friendly interface that allows you to take advantage of the global concept at a glance.

The first Melohman instrument will be the Quad Frohmage Melohman and will be released in October. It is an innovative synth based on a unique synthesis type called SyncGrain, a built ...

Ed: While the best advice may be to steer clear and avoid potential bugs (see our earlier story), here's the latest on 10.2.8 for your information. -PK

Mac OS 10.2.8 system update is available through System Update or on the download page of the Apple web site.

These are some of the enhancements that are a part of the Mac OS X 10.2.8 Update: Audio, BlueTooth, Classic, support for USB and Fire Wire devices, etc. This update works only with Power Mac G3- and G4-based desktop and portable computers, including iMac, eMac, and iBook. This update does not work with Power Mac G5 computers.

Interesting to find out what audio improvements have been made, but Apple tends not to go into details. Thanks, clouvel! -PK