PC and Music News

Applied Acoustics Systems releases the Strum Acoustic GS-1 v1.0.1 Update for Mac OS X and Windows.

This is a maintenance update containing the following changes:

• Authorization now works with non-admin user accounts;
• Fixed browser focus crash on Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard;
• Fixed drag-and-drop in Logic 9 but now have a separate edit window;
• Fixed MIDI Links behavior on On/Off buttons;
• Fixed "Fatal Error 417" during authorization on Mac OS X

The Strum Acoustic GS-1 v1.0.1 Update is available now, free of charge to all Strum Acoustic GS-1 registered users.

MuseScore is a free cross platform WYSIWYG music notation program, licenced under GNU GPL.

Some highlights:

• WYSIWYG, notes are entered on a "virtual note sheet"
• Unlimited number of staves
• Up to four voices per staff
• Easy and fast note entry with mouse, keyboard or MIDI
• Integrated sequencer and FluidSynth software synthesizer
• Import and export of MusicXML and Standard MIDI Files (SMF)
• Platform independent code, binaries available for Windows, Mac and Linux
• Available in 20 languages
• GNU GPL licenced

For more details, please visit :

Voxengo has updated Polysquasher to version 2.2. This version implements the following changes :

• Gain reduction graph's precision was improved.
• Preset load inconsistency problem fixed.
• Waveform view random glitches issue fixed.
• Side-chain routing presets now appear dimmed to reduce confusion.
• Parameter automation on AU Mac OS X now shows real parameter values.
• The "VST Function Sync" global switch was added that fixes crashes in some hosts (i.e. Tracktion).
• The "No Multi-Channel Operation" global switch was added that fixes incompatibility with some non-VST2.3 compliant VST hosts.
• Preset "update" function implemented in the preset manager.
• "Density mode" implemented in the output level meter.

DiscoDSP has released Discovery Pro R5.

What's new :

• WAVE PAD Synthesis Button. Resynthesis of any active Wave using PADSynth algorithm, generating a SFZ file (Data Folder/PAD Cache).
• New Classic.dwb WAVE bank, including over 250 popular synthesizer waveforms.
• New voice stealing algorithm.
• New MIDI CC button mode.
• 24-bit wave files support for User Bank (Data Folder/User.dwb).
• Help > Tutorials screen shots, MIDI CCs and Manual.
• Edit > Smart Randomization.
• File > Nord Lead 2 SysEx Export.
• File > Open Data Folder.
• File > Open Unison Configuration.
• Edit > Config > MIDI CC Buttons switch.
• WAVE Active file is now marked in the drop down menu.
• HTML Manual (Windows).

Discovery customers can cross-grade to Discovery Pro R5 for €70. Previous Discovery Pro customers can update to R5 for €39. Discovery Pro costs €149 / $199 / £129 / ¥18.500 for new customers. Demo versions are available for Mac OS X and Windows.

Antares Audio Technologies has today announced that in response to last month's devastating earthquake that struck the nation of Haiti, they are partnering with Rotary International to help provide relief though ShelterBox, a Global Rotary Club Project. ShelterBox is an international disaster relief organization that provides shelter and lifesaving equipment to victims of natural and man made disasters. Each box supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent, cooking and water purification equipment, and other tools and lifesaving equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless.

For every Antares product sold or upgraded from 12:00 AM Thursday, February 11th through midnight, Sunday, February 14th (Pacific Standard Time), Antares will donate 25% of the purchase price to Rotary International's Haiti relief effort. The program applies to products purchased from authorized Antares dealers, as well as from the Antares Web Store.

Nr74 has announced the release of c74, an iPhone / iPod Touch app that let's you connect your device with Cycling '74's Max/MSP 5.


The massive improvement over existing interface layout apps is that the layout is dynamically controlled by Max. Therefore the interface adapts to the tasks it has to perform in real-time.

Custom controller interfaces are built straight from within Max, presets can be stored etc. The external features some nice attributes for receiving accelerometer, GPS, compass, shake gesture and proximity data.

Communication between the apps does not rely on OSC (OpenSoundControl) but instead uses a straight forward communication socket, which offers a reliable connection.

c74 is available now for $3.99.