MacMusic remind you that that Digidesign Hardware Exchange prices will increase May 23, 2006, so owners of legacy Digidesign Pro Tools systems can still take advantage of preferential pricing on their hardware exchange up to a Pro Tools|HD system. To make the deal even sweeter, Digidesign is introducing the ExchangePack plug-ins. For a limited time, you can select additional plug-ins, for free, when you exchange up to a Pro Tools|HD 2 Accel or Pro Tools|HD 3 Accel system. The ExchangePack plug-ins are yours in addition to the Pro Tools HD 7 software, HDpack plug-ins, and Pro Tools Ignition Pack collection of creative tools that are included with every new Pro Tools|HD system.

The ExchangePack promotion will end March 20 (tomorrow indeed !).

Sonicbirth is now available as version 1.1.3, which fixes problem with the Intel version, fixes graphical problem with Apple Logic Pro 7.2 and other minor bugs (exportation bug). SonicBirth is an AudioUnit designing application.. It allows users to build their own AudioUnit plugins, either by working with existing circuits or by creating circuits completely from scratch. SonicBirth is also an AudioUnits package, as it comes bundled with a set of plugins designed for standalone use as plugins as well as pre-constructed circuits to modify or build upon for creating new plugins.

Arturia announces an update to version 1.1 for its Brass. This release fixes the following bug on Mac : when reloading a project in a sequencer using a saxophone, it was not correctly initialized and its sound was bad, and Brass could become unstable because of this problem. Brass from Arturia is a new kind of virtual instrument that faithfully reproduces the trumpet, saxophone and trombone in real time. It contains an extensive performance-based riff library which is entirely configurable and expandable.

Peterson Tuners is currently soliciting beta testers for StroboSoft on the new Intel-based Mac platform. They say "Help us test the world's first .1 cent accurate strobe tuner for your computer on the new Intel Mac platform! Active participants will receive the latest version of the software and be part of a team that includes famous backline techs and audio engineers from around the globe."

Please email your current system specifications including audio card model as well as qualifications to mlj@petersontuners.com.

Independence 1.0.4 by YellowTools is now compatible with Logic 7.2, Digital Performer and ProTools 7.x, and is also specially optimized for live performances. You can pre-load Layers into Independence which are available immediately when you activate them - without any additional loading time and no additionally required RAM. Also improved is the entire "Slice Mode" with an automatic BPM calculation. For a better overview and control also a MIDI indicator and a MIDI panic button is now included.

Note also that 'Majestic goes Independence' : with "Majestic now also the third yellow tools Modular Virtual Instrument is compatible with Independence. All registered users of Majestic and Independence can download the free "compatibility patches" .