Before you go.
Sonicstate have just launched a weekly newsletter, sign up for for the latest news, exclusive offers and more here..
We respect your privacy, Unsubscribe at any time.
MOTU Ships Latest OSX Panther Updates
US
They're Grrrrrreat 27/10/03
Buying Choices
Affilliate Links help support the site
Timed to coincide with the release of Apples latest OSX version 10.3 (Panther), MOTU has posted updated
drivers for all MOTU FireWire audio interfaces and PCI audio interfaces to
make them fully compatible with Panther. These updates include new features,
such as input and output names and control surface support for CueMix DSP,
the latency-free monitor mixing feature found in MOTU's latest FireWire and
PCI audio interfaces. In addition, MOTU has posted an updater for Digital
Performer, Version 4.11 (available free of charge to all registered DP4
users), which is required for full Panther compatibility. DP 4.11 also
introduces several new features, including a utility for configuring
synthesizer expansion card patch names.
"MOTU engineers have been working closely with engineers at Apple to ensure
full compatibility with Panther and to take full advantage of new CoreMIDI
and CoreAudio technologies being introduced, such as input and output
naming," said Jim Cooper, Director of Marketing at MOTU. "If you are a MOTU
user who plans to upgrade your system to Panther, be sure to visit the
Downloads page at www.motu.com to obtain all of the latest
Panther-compatible updates that apply to you," he continued.
Updated drivers include MOTU FireWire Driver Version 1.07 and MOTU PCI
Driver Version 1.03. Both updates support all MOTU FireWire and PCI
interfaces, including the original 828 and 896 FireWire interfaces, as well
as first- and second-generation PCI-324 and PCI-424 systems running under
Panther.
In addition to Panther compatibility, these FireWire and PCI audio driver
updates introduce three significant new features: input/output names,
control surface support and default stereo input/output. The new FireWire
audio driver also introduces the ability to resolve (slave) to another
CoreAudio driver.
Input and output names
In earlier versions of Mac OS X, the inputs and outputs on an audio
interface were hard-coded with generic names, such as "Analog In 1-2" and
"ADAT Optical Out 7-8". Now, users can type in any name they wish, such as
"drum kit overhead mics L/R" or "outboard reverb return". When users then
choose inputs and outputs from menus in their host audio software, they
appear in the menu with these more intuitive names. Note that the host audio
software must also support Mac OS X input and output names.
Control surface support
The second significant new feature, control surface support, has been added
to CueMix Console, the on-screen mixer that controls the latency-free
monitor mixing in the 828mkII and 896HD FireWire interfaces, as well as
PCI-424 core systems. CueMix Console can now be controlled from an automated
worksurface such as the Mackie Control Universal�. Users can adjust input
levels, pan, mute, solo and other parameters of their multiple monitor mixes
using automated faders and touch-sensitive pots on the control surface.
Options are provided for easily switching the control surface between CueMix
Console and other host audio software that the user may also be controlling
during their recording session. Detailed on-line help is supplied to aid
users in configuring and using their hardware with CueMix Console.
Currently, CueMix Console directly supports the Mackie Control Universal,
Mackie HUI, and Baby HUI. The Radikal Technologies SAC-2.2 is supported via
its HUI emulation mode, as are other 3rd-party control surface products that
support HUI emulation. This new feature does not require Panther and is
available to all users running Mac OS X Version 10.2 or later.
Default Stereo Input/Output
Apple's Audio MIDI Setup utility allows Mac users to choose a default stereo
input and output (other than the built-in mic, speakers and headphone
output) for any audio being recorded or played by Mac OS X applications such
as iTunes�, iMovie� or DVD Player�. In earlier versions of Mac OS X, users
could only choose inputs 1-2 and outputs 1-2 on their MOTU FireWire and PCI
audio interface. Now, under Panther, users can choose any input or output
pair currently enabled on their MOTU audio interface.
Clocking to another CoreAudio driver
The FireWire audio driver update now has the ability to resolve to other
CoreAudio drivers. This allows any MOTU FireWire interface to resolve to
other audio interfaces running simultaneously on the same computer, such as
the Mac's built-in audio, a PCI-424 core system, or even 3rd-party
interfaces, without the need for external word clock connections between the
devices. Doing so ensures that audio tracks being played or recorded by a
MOTU FireWire interface will not drift apart from tracks on the other device
during long playback or recording passes. This also allows users to run
expanded FireWire systems with multiple MOTU interfaces while maintaining
perfect digital audio phase-lock among all interfaces, regardless of the
host audio software being used. To slave a MOTU FireWire audio interface to
another device, users choose the other device from the "Clock Source" menu
in the MOTU FireWire Audio Console.
Digital Performer 4.11
In addition to Panther compatibility, DP 4.11 introduces several new
features, including a new utility that allows users to easily configure and
use patch names for expansion boards installed in their synthesizers. Users
can then choose sounds from the expansion boards by name from within Digital
Performer, or any other CoreMIDI-compatible software that supports Mac OS
X's XML-based patch list features.
Digital Performer 4.11 also allows Pro Tools users to view TDM plug-in
presets in categorized sub-menus.
MachFive and Panther
The current shipping version of MachFive, Version 1.0, is already fully
compatible with Panther. MachFive does not require an update to run under
Panther.
USB Driver update
MOTU has also just updated the MOTU USB MIDI driver to Version 1.2.1. This
update (not related to - or required for - Panther) significantly improves
the performance of the MOTU FastLane-USB 2-input/2-output MIDI interface
under Mac OS X Version 10.2 or later. This update is highly recommended for
all FastLane-USB users who are running Mac OS X, and it is now available for
download at