Apple released today the 10.4.8 update for PPC or Intel Mac, if you need networks to work, or are on a deadline, wait a little for feedback before upgrading:
"The 10.4.8 Update is recommended for all users and includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following applications and technologies:

- connecting to wireless networks using the EAP-FAST protocol
- Apple USB modem reliability
- using OpenType fonts in Microsoft Word
- compatibility with 3rd party USB hubs
- scanner performance
- RAW camera support
- printing documents with Asian language names
- performance of the Translation widget
- broadband network performance
- security updates

For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n304200"

FXpansion updates VST to RTAS adapter to 2.0, adding Universal Binary code, Pro Tools 7 optimizing, and VST 2.3 compatibility. Note that the 2.0 version is only for Pro Tools 7 users, PT 6 users should keep the 1.0.6 VST to RTAS adapter. The update price from version 1.x is $49 or 37.5 euros.

VST to AU adapter goes the 2.0 road too, with Universal Binary, a plug-in manager to select and rename the plug-ins to wrap and better stability and performances. The update price from version 1.x is $49 or 37.5 euros too.

And the surprise: to celebrate its brand new website, FXpansion offers to all its registered users Orca their new virtual instrument, an experimental monophonic virtual synth modeled from analogue synths and components.

Do you really know about Net communities that are 9 years old and growing? Have a guess… Hey, it's MacMusic! We turn 9 today! So, we'd like to thank you all for being here, working in the shadows, standing by us for 9 looong years, or just registered yesterday, to the wikimen, for that you know (or not) you share here, for your humor, for being cool, for being angry sometimes, to the pros, and the newbies alike, to the power users, to all our partners past, present and future, you rock! And, of course, to the Macs!

Celebration aside, there's still a lot of work being done right now under the hood to enhance the MacMusic experience and ensure we will be around in 9 other years along with the future growth and broader interests for all musicians. And if you have never ask a thing in the forums or use the software tracker just to name them, have a go, everybody's welcome!

And just in case you wonder, next year, yes, there will be Champagne and a real birthday cake with candles… ;)

Soundcraft has launched the compact MPM Series of multipurpose mixers. Designed for live sound, recording, houses of worship, multi-speaker installations and other applications, the MPM is available in two standard frame sizes offering either 12 (MPM12/2) or 20 (MPM20/2) mono inputs, with each model featuring two additional stereo input strips.

Our friends from Macplus.net (article in French) analyzed that Avid was under stress. Since the announcement of the coming Pro Tools compatibility with the Mac Pro, the sales of non optimized versions have fallen. "But the fall has been way more serious than foreseen and the catch up by the universal version since its release has not compensated the losses. With sales comprising usually 33% of the sales turnover, the audio branch of Avid has sent the company in a turmoil the stock market has sanctioned. The shares have dropped yesterday of 14% that is a loss of $6.28 to $37.59."