Digidesign just announced the coming of Pro Tools 7. The lucky guys at the next AES will be the happy first viewers in New York the 10/07. ProTools HD, ProTools LE and ProTools M-Powered will be available simultaneously, so good news, no 3 months wait this time for the users with the "bad" version.

Among the novelties: instruments tracks, audio and/or MIDI region grouping for easier manipulation, REX and ACID files imports (at last), new real time functions on the MIDI tracks, better management of the processors in order to have more RTAS plug-ins running simultaneously, new GUI and menus… So plenty to try and to spare.

The update will free for new buyers and upgrades made from the first of September.

Metric Halo has announced that SpectraFoo Version 4.0 is now available for Mac OS X. SpectraFoo is a signal metering and analysis suite with tools for power, phase, spectrum, and history analysis for broadcast, studio, and live sound applications. The SpectraFoo Standard Edition includes basic, sample-accurate metering, triggerable waveform display, power balancing and phase analysis on up to 24 input or output channels. SpectraFoo Complete adds sample code metering tools, a recording, playback, looping & static analysis system, signal generator, and a complete transfer function measurement system.

Version 4.0 of SpectraFoo includes many new features designed around the strength of Mac OS X. These features include: support for Open GL rendering, Unicode UTF-8 text encoding for localizat ...

WWAYM updated Dynamix to v1.5 and released a Mac OS X version. Available as a VST plug-in, Dynamix is a completely new way to waveshape your sounds. You can use it as a supreme compressor or a mastering limiter, you can distort your sound and if you use more instances of Dynamix at the same time, you can use it as an EQ or as a multiband compressor. Enlarge the stereo space with the stereo knob, give your sound the feeling, you always wanted!

Features:
- Volume managing section with input/output/dry/wet section
- 12db/oct filter wich is able to fade between Lp, Bp, Hp modes
- The unfiltered signal can be mixed to the processed signal
- Main section, containing everything what you will need to process your signal

New in this version: input and output VU meters, input and output peak displays, refined GUI

There is a new affordable way to capture vocal and acoustic instrument performances. Dedicated to newbies, nomad laptopers or heavy podcasters, the new Samson C01U USB Studio Condenser Mic is a studio mic with a simple USB interface. It can be plugged into any computer Mac or PC with no in/out boxes, no expensive computer pre-amps… It features a 19mm internal shock mounted diaphragm with a cardioid pick up pattern.

Features : 16-bit sample resolution; Supports 8 kHz, 11.025 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 44.1 kHz, and 48 kHz sampling rates; USB low-power device from 130 mW to 1.5 mW in suspend mode; Flat Frequency response within 1 dB from 22 Hz to 22 kHz

The BOME MIDI translator is a wonderful PC utility, installed in-between two midi programs or devices, it analyses incoming midi data (system exclusive or normal short messages) and translates them using your definitions. It is possible to simulate keystrokes in response to incoming MIDI messages. This allows unlimited control over any Windows program by using a MIDI device, like control surfaces.

In response to a question I posted, Florian (the developer) has opened a "donations" for a MAC port of the utility (he needs a mac to do this). Donators will have their licence price reduced accordingly. Lets help him. This utility is REALLY GREAT. For an example of the use, go here. The donations page