11/04, 10:45am
Apple aims for exclusives, broader selection
Apple has introduced a new Music Movies section to the iTunes Store, further segregating its video. The page highlights all movies with a music-related theme, running from documentaries like Imagine and Woodstock through to straight concert films, and fiction titles like The Blues Brothers. iTunes now also has a larger amount of such content, with material including The Song Remains the Same and U2: Rattle and Hum.
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10/27, 5:35pm
Songs can be streamed forever for 10 cents each
Lala is readying an iPhone app that will serve as a portal for the company's music services, according to the Associated Press. The app will allow users to purchase the right to stream songs for $0.10 each, which pays for an unlimited number of plays. The sound quality, however, is lower than standard iTunes MP3s.
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10/14, 3:55pm
Announcement quickly dispels rumors
The first Michael Jackson album to be released after the singer's death, This Is It, will indeed be available through iTunes, says the senior VP of publicity for Epic Records. Lois Najarian also notes that the two-disc collection should be released on October 27th, although there continues to be a dispute with Sony and the Jackson estate over selling individual tracks. Depending on the resolution of the conflict, shoppers may either be required to pick up the complete album, or get the option of buying individual songs as usual.
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10/14, 3:15pm
New controllers arrive with 25, 49 or 61 keys
Avid has revamped its M-Audio Oxygen collection of USB-attached MIDI controllers. Each keyboard features DirectLink technology, which maps controls to production suites including Pro Tools, Cubase, Reason, Logic and GarageBand. Models are divided into 25-, 49- and 61-key versions.
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10/13, 4:35pm
Threat to iTunes?
A forthcoming version of Real's Rhapsody iPhone app should support offline listening, a designer of the software says. Although Rhapsody mobile service is priced at $15 a month, iPhone and iPod users can currently only stream music, whether through Wi-Fi or 3G. Offline listening would likely allow the storage of tracks for the duration of a subscription, making the app more practical in areas with bad or inconsistent connections.
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10/13, 1:35pm
Tech currently limited to majors
Apple will "soon" open the iTunes LP standard to everyone, according to a company spokesperson. The format extends iTunes' digital liner notes to allow for DVD-like features, such as photo galleries, elaborate artwork and supplemental video. That material has so far been reserved for the four major record labels however, which include Warner, EMI, Sony BMG and Universal.
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10/09, 4:55pm
Foreshadows actual hardware
Although its companion hardware has yet to be released, Sirius XM has released a dedicated XM SkyDock app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Users are able to tune into various XM satellite radio stations, including artist-specific stations for the likes of Elvis Presley and the Metropolitan Opera. While listening, stock and sports tickers provide visual feedback.
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10/08, 5:10pm
Limited to touch input
After having earlier teased the title, EA Mobile is now sharing more details on the gameplay in Rock Band iPhone. The game's multiplayer mode allows sending out invitations through Facebook Connect, and as in the console series, players can assume responsibility for vocals, drums, bass or lead guitar. Vocals are not sung into a mic, but rather tapped out like any other instrument.
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10/08, 4:35pm
Includes external hooks
Norbert Doerner has released MP3-Info 2.0, a major upgrade to his plug-in for Finder and iTunes that organizes music collections. The new version turns the software into a stand alone application for Snow Leopard, and includes integration with Twitter, which allows users to display what song they are currently listening to. The app also displays its own track info.
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10/08, 1:05pm
Apps handle genre-based music production
IK Multimedia has posted two new iPhone applications, GrooveMaker Techno and Trance. The programs are genre-oriented twists on the basic GrooveMaker app, which is used to produce original electronic music. Each one supports over eight stereo loop tracks, which can be adjusted in real-time in terms of pan, volume, grouping and tempo. Completed tracks can be listened to on a handheld, or exported as WAV files via Wi-Fi.
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10/08, 9:25am
On display at CTIA
A new iteration of Harmonix's Rock Band series is coming to the iPhone and iPod touch, EA Mobile has confirmed. The title is mentioned in a looping video presentation at this week's CTIA expo, which offers virtually no gameplay details. It does appear to be based on the regular Rock Band games, rather than the recently-released The Beatles: Rock Band.
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10/02, 4:40pm
Controller features over 64 programmable buttons
Ableton has announced the Launchpad, a dedicated controller for its Live music production software. The unit sports a 64-button grid with color-coding, separate scene and function buttons, two customizable user modes, and control modes for Session view and the Live mixer.
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10/02, 1:45pm
Puts an end to old iTunes dispute
Apple and Eight Mile Style, the publisher for rapper Eminem, have come to an out-of-court settlement in a long-running music dispute, writes the Associated Press. Matters were concluded only after five days of a Detroit trial, during which lawyers contested sales at the iTunes Store. The rights to Emimem's albums are owned by Aftermath Records, which years ago signed an agreement with Apple to sell tracks through iTunes.
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10/01, 2:05pm
Originally announced in September
Native Instruments has begun selling updated versions of several core music programs. The first is Absynth 5, a software synthesizer which has been improved with better audio quality, as well as new synthesis and effects features. Amongst the latter is the Mutator tool, which creates variations of a preset based on related ones.
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09/29, 1:45am
BALINESE GAMELAN virtual instruments
Native Instruments in collaboration with the sound-design house Soniccouture, have announced the latest KONTAKT-powered virtual instrument BALINESE GAMELAN. The new audio software is the second entry in the "discovery series," offering an assortment of ethnic instruments of classic Indonesian music. The instruments in this software were sampled from the London Symphonic Orchestra’s Semara Dana Gamelan Ensemble, featuring three essential elements such as the big gongs, the paired metallophones and the kettle gongs.
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09/25, 9:35am
Plug-in also compatible with Sibelius 6
Recordare has released an update to its Finale plug-in, Dolet. Version 5 adds support for Finale 2010, including the Broadway Copyist font family. The update also improves support for Sibelius 6 features including feathered beaming, jazz articulations, and German chord symbols. The plug-in provides advanced MusicXML 2.0 features such as part name accidentals and per-part measure numbering, while importation of cutaway staves and nested tuplets has been improved.
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09/23, 4:35pm
Handles guitar recording, performance
Avid has formally unveiled the Digidesign Eleven Rack, a new music processing unit. The hardware is aimed at guitarists, and simulates a number of different amps from the likes of Fender, Vox, Marshall and Soldano, as well as stompboxes by companies like Ibanez, Electro-Harmonix and Univox. Convolution-based cabinet and mic emulations are used, the latter simulating dynamic, condenser and ribbon designs.
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09/22, 7:55pm
Users can learn "Tom Sawyer," "Ordinary People"
Apple has added several new instructional lessons to its Garage Band software for musicians. Users now have access to several titles from the Canadian rock band Rush, including the 1981 hits "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight" from the group's Moving Pictures album. Both artist lessons are provided by guitarist Alex Lifeson.
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09/21, 1:25pm
Update impacts multiple versions of Traktor
Native Instruments has released a v1.2 update for Traktor Pro, its professional-level DJ software. The program includes four decks, external controller support, and modules covering functions like track browsing and tempo sync. New in the update is the doubling of effects sections from two to four, allowing the assignment of one section per deck.
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09/21, 10:30am
Allows visual improvisation
Brian Eno -- best known for work as a producer and ambient musician -- has released a second iPhone application, developed with the help of designer and musician Peter Chilvers. Called Trope, the app lets users create their own ambient music by drawing patterns with their fingers. The shape of each pattern creates a different tone.
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09/18, 9:55am
May put record labels in precarious position
Apple is gradually de-emphasizing music in its business, a policy which could have much broader ramifications, a report argues. Although the company's iPod and iTunes updates on September 9th were nominally themed around music, the company notably placed a stronger focus on games, as well as the video camera added to the iPod nano. Music was only essential in terms of iTunes, with the addition of Genius Mixes, iTunes LP and a new iTunes Store layout.
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09/17, 5:55am
NI debuts THE FINGER for musicians, producers
Native Instruments in collaboration with Tim Exile of Warp Records, has introduced THE FINGER. The keyboard-controlled performance effects processor delivers tools for sound mangling and live remixing, for use in the studio or on a stage. It offers over 40 different effect algorithms, such as real-time samplers, filters and wave shapers, and comes complete with tempo-sync capabilities. THE FINGER enables users to trigger effects via an MDI keyboard, allowing them to activate and combine individual effect algorithms into custom chains of up-to six effect units per-time.
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09/14, 9:20pm
Speaker cabinet emulation, channel strip window
MOTU has launched Digital Performer 7, the latest version of its music production software. Users can now choose a new Custom '59 amplifier model that replicates the sound from classic guitar amps including the Fender Bassman, Marshall JTM45, and Marshall JCM800. The interface provides full controls for tone settings, drive, and tube combinations.
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09/08, 7:20pm
Yoko Ono claims Beatles content for iTunes
Despite reports that Apple will not make an announcement relating to Beatles music on iTunes, Sky News appears to have accidentally slipped a contradictory report which includes a confirmation from Yoko Ono. Although the story was quickly pulled, the headline and first paragraph remain in Google's cache. If the report is accurate, John Lennon's wife claims the band's works will, in fact, be featured on Apple's music portal.
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09/08, 3:40pm
Event timing a coincidence, says source
Apple will not announce availability of The Beatles' back catalog come September 9th, says a source claimed to be familiar with the band's plans. The company is planning a special music-themed event for Wednesday, at which it is generally expected that new iPods and an updated version of iTunes will be unveiled. A few analysts have speculated on announcements related to the Apple TV and iTunes video sales.
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08/31, 4:10pm
GTA: Chinatown for iPhone
Developer Rockstar is bringing two of its games to the iPhone and iPod touch this fall, an announcement reveals. The first is Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, a port of the recent Nintendo DS title. Players assume the role of Huang Lee, a Triads gang member who travels to Liberty City after his father's suspicious death.
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08/31, 12:50pm
Sept. 9th iPod event a go
Through an e-mail invitation, Apple has confirmed plans for a music-related related press event, scheduled for September 9th. Little official is known about Apple's plans, but the event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. It should also focus on iPods, given the presence of an iPod touch silhouette in invitation art.
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08/27, 10:55am
Sonicfire Pro 5.1 for FCP
SmartSound has announced that v5.1 of its Sonicfire Pro plug-in, for Final Cut Pro, should now properly support Final Cut Pro 7. The plug-in scrutinizes markers in Final Cut, and automatically judges the amount of music needed to fill in stretches of time. Users can then hunt through SmartSound tracks, and select pieces to insert according to duration and other criteria.
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08/21, 11:35am
Song Sergeant 1.0 ships
LairWare has launched new iTunes support software, Song Sergeant 1.0. The app finds duplicate or missing files, and fixes inconsistently-named material. As necessary files can be merged together, keeping play counts, the best song information and the best audio quality. Missing songs are replaced in playlists; the program also attempts to preserve last-played data, and find orphaned files in a music library that are not seen by iTunes.
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08/13, 8:50pm
GrooveMaker iPhone App
IK Multimedia has released its newest iPhone application, GroveMaker. The software is used to create and share electronic, dance and hip-hop music. Users can add, remove, and replace hundreds of loops on 8 tracks to create custom music as the music is playing. Each loop can be manipulated to pan, reach different volume levels, group with other tracks, and have a faster tempo. The songs created can be exported onto a users computer using the phone's Wi-Fi connection.
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08/04, 9:35am
Mex., Brazilian stores
Apple has launched a Mexican version of the iTunes Music Store, opening up digital music sales to the country. All tracks are DRM-free, as in the US, but cost a universal 12 pesos individually, though album prices may vary. Music videos cost approximately 24 pesos each. The Mexican iTunes Store as a whole continues to lack some features; though iPhone apps are available, movies and TV shows are not. Similarly, the mobile version of the iTunes Store remains non-functional.
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07/31, 9:25am
KORE 2.1 update
Native Instruments has produced a v2.1 update for KORE, its music workstation software. Users browse through a collection of sound libraries, picking samples for use in production or live performance. Various modules and plug-ins can be applied to generate original output.
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07/28, 7:40pm
SmartMusic 2010 released
MakeMusic has released SmartMusic 2010 (v12), a new version of its music learning application for band, orchestra, and choir. The latest version includes a redesigned interface that adds a new Home Screen and compiles all of the applications features into one place. The update also features over 300 new band and orchestra titles and allows users to continue practicing while downloading new titles. The application's recording capabilities have been expanded, providing users with a single microphone setting that works for both assessment and recording and enables recording with and without a metronome.
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07/27, 11:10am
Radius plug-in update
iZotope has released an update to its Logic Pro and Soundtrack Pro plug-in, Radius. The latest version boasts support of Logic 9 and Soundtrack Pro 3, and adds pitch coherence controls to the interface. The plug-in enables users to adjust the timing and pitch of audio material, while still preserving the sound quality of an original recording.
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07/27, 10:55am
Apple expands record deals
Apple is planning to expand the content buyers receive when shopping for iTunes music, writes the Financial Times. The company is currently said to be in negotiations with the four major record labels -- EMI, Sony, Warner and Universal -- regarding a project called "Cocktail," aimed at boosting music sales by supplying interactive material with albums. At the core of the concept is a new booklet, which can mix photos, lyrics and liner notes.
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07/27, 9:20am
Spotify iPhone app coming
Streaming music service Spotify is preparing to launch an iPhone app, says the BBC. The title is currently waiting for approval from Apple, and permits premium (paid) subscribers to stream Spotify playlists away from a desktop. A notable difference in the mobile client is the ability to temporarily store a playlist, allowing for offline listening.
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07/23, 10:25am
New Logic Studio released
In parallel with the launch of the new Final Cut Studio, Apple has also released a new Logic Studio, bundling Logic Pro 9, MainStage 2 and Soundtrack Pro 3. Logic Pro has been enhanced with a new Flex Time feature, which attempts to simplify the arrangement of timing and tempo. The Amp Designer and Pedalboard tools meanwhile allow for the assembly of custom guitar rigs, using 25 amps, 25 cabinets and 30 stompbox pedals.
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07/16, 12:20pm
KONTAKT 3.5 update
Native Instruments has released v3.5 of KONTAKT, its dedicated sampling software. Aside from supplying samples, the software performs functions such as looping and tempo sync. The new version concentrates on performance, for instance introducing multi-core and mulit-processor support, making better use of Intel Macs.
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07/14, 10:55am
Digital 45s at iTunes
Apple has introduced a new type of sales grouping at the iTunes Store, the Digital 45. Meant to echo the record single releases popular at the beginning of rock and roll, the format groups together two related songs together for less than their standard cost. Prices can still vary, from $1.29 to $1.98 for a pair.
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07/13, 1:00pm
MS music streaming service
Microsoft is preparing a new music streaming service, "similar in principle to Spotify," according to the company's executive MSN producer, Peter Bale. The Europe-only beta of Spotify revolves around a client application, which lets users stream virtually any track or album from the company's remote library. In the UK the service is £10 per month, or free with a minute of advertising interspersed every 30 minutes.
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07/09, 3:25pm
AmpliTube Fender 1.1
IK Multimedia has released v1.1 of AmpliTube Fender, a bass and guitar effects suite. The software simulates a number of the audio components produced by Fender, including amps, pedals and rack units. Found in the v1.1 patch are three new stompbox add-ons, beginning with a stomp compressor based on the Cyber-Twin SE. The gear produces higher input signal at the amp input stage, and can be controlled with four settings for gain and compression.
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06/30, 5:00pm
Chords for ITunes Beta
iPlayMusic has launched the beta version of a new download service, providing chords, music and lyrics for songs from a user's iTunes library. Chords for iTunes synchronizes video with the audio of an iTunes track, allowing users to slow down or speed up while maintaining proper pitch.
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06/04, 5:00pm
FInale 2010 released
MakeMusic has released the newest version of Finale 2010, its software used to create sheet music and preview the music with audio synthesizers. The upgrade boasts better percussion instrument notation and the automated creation and sequencing of rehearsal marks. The update also claims simpler chord entry, requiring fewer keystrokes.
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05/27, 4:45pm
IK StealthPedal on sale
IK Multimedia is rolling out the StealthPedal, a USB interface and MIDI controller in a wah-style pedal. Intended for guitar and bass players, the pedal-and-switch combo connects an instrument to a computer while providing parameter control for software. Features include two balanced/unbalanced audio inputs, a low-noise input stage, and 24-bit A/D or D/A conversion.
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05/22, 1:30pm
RIAA filesharing money
Lawyers are now challenging some of the basic tactics of the RIAA's campaign against filesharing, reports note. The most powerful allegations have been put forth in the defense of college student Brittany English, whose pro bono lawyer, K.A.D. Camara, has asked courts to declare RIAA damage requests unconstitutional. The group has asked for unreasonable statutory damages in a ratio as high as 150,000:1, according to Camara, and moreover used the potential judgments to bully individuals into settlements. The RIAA should be made to return the $100 million or more it has accrued through illicit methods, Camara insists.
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05/21, 10:20am
iTunes Live London '09
Apple has announced details of the 2009 iTunes Live London Festival, which is being staged at The Roundhouse in Camden. The event will run throughout the entire month of July, and headline acts such as Oasis, Kasabian, Snow Patrol and The Saturdays. Paolo Nutini and Flo Rida are also confirmed as acts, but Apple notes that some 50 more spots in its concert lineup have yet to be disclosed.
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05/20, 3:20pm
Roland VP-770 keyboard
Roland has announced the VP-770 Vocal & Ensemble Keyboard, a successor to the VP-550 that features new vocal designer effects, and ensemble sounds based on the company’s SuperNATURAL technology. The 770 is designed for musicians who perform in small or large groups, and/or those who need real-time background chorus. Included in its effects is vocoder modeling, which can be used to generate signature vocal effects for dance, pop and hip-hop.
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05/19, 1:15pm
BravoTunes for Mac
BravoBug has released BravoTunes, a new add-on for iTunes. The tool displays scrolling track information from iTunes within the Mac OS X Menu Bar, and includes controls used to pause and switch tracks, or change shuffle and repeat settings. Users can also replace their current iTunes Dock icon with the one for BravoTunes, and set the program to launch both apps simultaneously.
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05/11, 11:25pm
NORTH INDIA released
Native Instruments has released NORTH INDIA, a new sound library that recreates the sounds from classical North Indian music. This sound library marks the launch of the new Discovery Series of KORE SOUNDPACKS, which aims to recreate the sounds from throughout the world for use with KORE 2 and KORE PLAYER. NORTH INDIA provides users with sounds from a variety of instruments and articulations established in North Indian classical music.
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05/07, 4:15pm
Apple approves NIN app
Apple has reversed course on the approval of the NIN Access 1.0.3 update, says Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor. Initially rejected, the revised iPhone app is now freely available through the iTunes Store. Users gain streamlined access to content from the NIN homepage, including music, images, video and the site's forums.
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