Audio Ease announces a cosmetic update - version 5.1.1 - for Altiverb. They also announce, because Digidesign decided to give up HTDM, that the upcoming Altiverb version 6 will be available as TDM version ! A special upgrade offer will be available for HTDM registered users.

ESI unveils the new MIDI Mate, a very compact-sized MIDI interface, USB powered. It features 16 MIDI channels, one input, one output, and a standard USB MIDI adapter cable. The MIDI Mate is Mac OS X compatible.

It costs $49,95.

Sonic Studio announces PreMaster CD, a simplified version of SonicStudio DDP. This new tool is a host–based premastering application that opens AIFF, WAV, BWF and SD2 stereo files. PreMaster CD creates DDP version 2 file sets, and CD-Rs & Roxio's Jam image file format. The program features Sonic Studio's familiar NGC user interface, and is OS X–native.

PreMaster CD will cost $795.

MacMusic is very proud to publish in its article section an interview with Daft Punk' Thomas Bangalter, about his use of Ableton Live software. This interview was made in September 2005 by our friend Patrick Wack from Ableton .

Enjoy your reading !

Brian Moore has updated its digital guitars line with a new iGuitar model. This iGuitar USB is the first guitar to offer on-board, class compliant USB audio to streamline the guitar to computer connection eliminating the need for an external audio interface. It allows instant access to popular recording software, like GarageBand and Logic and also gives direct access to guitars effect programs like Amplitube. There are no special drivers to load and the iGuitar USB is bus powered.

Just plug...and play ! But before : add $200 to the list price of any Custom Shop, i2000, i1000 or iGuitar model or $300 if you already own a Brian Moore or iGuitar model to upgrade to this new USB model.