Little Endian today announced the release of SpectrumWorx version 2.1 for Mac OS X and Windows in the form of a VST-plugin. This is a first version that suports Mac OS X, bringing the latest advances in the frequency domain effects processing to this superior operating system. Windows version has also been updated.

Features:

- Over fifty modules (pitch shifter, classic vocoder, wah-wah, robotizer, wobbler, autotune, reverser, etc.).
- Sophisticated engine optimized for low CPU usage.
- Flexible Preset browser.
- Over 100 presets.
- Highly configurable LFOs.
- External audio support.
- Presets in XML format.
- Slick GUI.
- Detailed User's Guide.

This collection delivers a full download with 300 "silky synth hooks, delicious basslines, tantalizing percussion patterns, sweet musical melodies and mesmerising guitar licks." Added to that, you also get an additional 100 "smokin' hot one-shot drums for building your own beats from the ground up." Late-night tempos stretching from 50 to 95bpm so there's a mix here, from modern anthems to slow ballads.
Midnight R&B Gold also comes with full-length mixed and mastered beats included (great for vocalists/singers/MC's) which are then split down into 'construction kits' loops and samples that have been mastered to commercial standards and put through Prime Loops Triple-Check Audio Guarantee: checked by Prime Loops producers, staff and independents to make sure the content is up to he highest quality. All the sample are also royalty free, meaning you can use them in your commercial productions without having to worry about licensing fees or sample clearance.

In essence, Midnight Gold is a modern collection for music producers and vocalists alike looking for some solid inspiration for their productions. Formats include: WAV, Apple Loops, MPC, ACID, Reason Refill, Rex2 Loops and many more!

Sknote has released the HandSynth synthesizer for iPod/iPhone/iPad, described as a performance synthesizer with a simple interface and several complex oscillators and filters.
The developers tell us that a multitouch keyboard gives great control on the sound, not achievable with classic synths, while a "Theremin" mode adds realtime modulation possibilities.

Features

- Multiple oscillator algorithms (wavetables, discrete summation, FM, virtual analog)
- Multimode filters (lowpass and vowel filters) with "performance" modes
- Delay, chorus, overdrive
- "Theremin" mode (through accelerometers)
- "Keyboard" mode (through multitouch screen)
- 100 memories for presets
- Sound libraries

Pricing and Availability: 4,99 €

Studio Devil Virtual Bass Amp Pro is a Bass Amp Modeling Plug-In and Effects for Mac and Windows.

Some features:
- 2 Discrete Channels each with independent compressor, gain, tone, and limiter controls modeled using Studio Devil's patented digital vacuum tube modeling technology!
- A/B Switch and MIX Control to switch between channels or blend both channels together!
- Bi-Amp Mode with tunable crossover lets you send lows to one channel, highs to the other, and then process and mix them independently!
- Tube Preamp Controls: Dual tube preamps with Gain, Boost, Bass, Tunable Mids, and Treble controls that interact with your tone just like on real tube amps!
- Power Amp Limiters: Dual power amp limiters with Drive and Variable Clipping controls!
- Channel B Phase Switch lets you add or subtract harmonics and tone from your mix!
- 5 Cabinet Emulation Modes: 8x10, 4x10, 1x15, DI Emulator, and Bypass Modes featuring cabinet models from the Red Wire Impulses® collection!
- 12-Band Graphic EQ for precision tone sculpting!
- 2 Studio Quality Effects: Custom Bass Chorus and World-Class Reverb!
- Built-In Chromatic Tuner to stay in tune.
- Master Volume control.
- Import and Export Presets and Banks via XML files to share your tones with everyone.

The alleged news that Steve Jobs is said to have decided to move the opening date of the Mac App Store on December 13th gives us the opportunity to raise the question: is it good for us, as musicians? Surfing on the successful wave of the iTunes Music Store, Apple is trying to push its advantage. To what extent is it interesting for us, musicians, to turn to a Mac App Store, which is liable to be (as the numerous problems with the iPhone Apps testify) a mere censor? So far, as Apple is utterly involved in a fierce competition (with its own softwares as Logic, etc., but with the whole range of applications for Mac), we can really wonder whether they will propose all possible applications for music in the online catalog. On top of that, as the evolution of OS X runs as a tortoise rather than as a lion (!), is the market ready for this?