Jack (the Jack Audio Connection Kit) is a low-latency audio server, written originally for the GNU/Linux operating system, and now with Mac OS X support. It can connect any number of different applications to a single hardware audio device; it also allows applications to send and receive audio to and from each other.

More info on this 0.6 version and download in MM softwares section.

The free full editor for the Elektron Machinedrum in English, French and German is now in version 1.1. If some people want to translate it to other languages, the developer is open to proposals ;) I did it (French translation), it's not difficult and it helps others. What's new then? As Andrew Garber the developer wrote it:

- added ability to import kits from sysex files
- added ability to sense MD knob tweaks
- improved MIDI core - it's rock solid now ;)
- now allows you to choose whether or not you want documents to open automatically
- fixed a bug with Set Kit Name where garbled text could appear on the MD
- French localization is now more complete (blush)

Image/ine (or ImX), developed at Steim from 1997, in close collaboration with Steina, was the first piece of software that allowed users to manipulate uncompressed video in real time. Limited, at the time, to 320x240 pixels at some 10 frames per second, it nevertheless proved a point: artistic quality and stage guts made lack of frame rate and image quality of secondary interest; real time video manipulation could be done!

A 0.9 beta OS X version is vailable in the MacMusic softwares section.

ReFX has updated its Audio Units an d VST virtual synth Vanguard to v1.1.2 which fixes following bugs : knobs didn't redraw properly so a black border was showing, and releasing the sustain-pedal would kill ALL notes, even the held ones.

This bugfix release is available as free donwload.

When they ran as a headline "Mac mini, maxi success ?" a few days ago, our MacGeneration french colleagues probably answered our existential questions on the future of the Mac mini. Judging by the first weeks in the life of the Apple computer whose price is finally adapted to the market, there seems to be a Mac Mini effect that may be the same as the iPod effect. Indeed, though a "BYODKN" computer (Bring your own display, keyboard & mouse) might initially look complex as a first purchase, it actually had four main assets : the retailers, the switchers, the fans, and...the brokes.

As for the iPod, the manufacturers have displayed much imagination for long to propose accessories. As for the Mac Mini, if we can already plan future accessoiries "designed for Mac Mini" (keyboard, mouse,...), the industry seems to seize this little Mac that is both efficient and affordable not simply to produce accessories but rather to integratee it. We rapidly saw Cyndustries propose a "Cynthia Mac", a sort of modular synthetiser produced around the Mac Mini, and today we see the retailers propose complete configurations that are built in relation with the youngest one by Apple. For a few days, one of the biggest French retailers, Playback, has proposed a "playback mini" configuration composed of a Mac mini 1.42Ghz, a keyboard and an Apple mouse, a TFT 15 inches screen and a digital interface with softwares, that vary according to the three configurations that are under 1,400 € each. The interface is somewhat becoming the accessory, but it's more "pro" than an iPod case!