Hello Blog Readers:

They say patience is a virtue, and no one knows that any better than musicians who use an Intel-based Mac computer. However, the wait for Universal Binary versions of Yamaha and Steinberg music software and drivers is nearing the end!

As the very fortunate product specialist who uses an Intel-based Mac, I have been focusing on working with the Motif XS, Cubase AI and Cubase 4 and it has been performing perfectly. I have been using the XS via USB MIDI AND operating it as a control surface with great joy: The integration between Steinberg and Yamaha is beginning to really take shape. The firewire port on my XS is still waiting to fire up, but I am very, very happy to know that in the VERY near future 16 audio channels from my XS are going to be streaming out the firewire port into Cubase on my MacBook. And mLAN driver development (development Yamaha announced they would be taking over at Winter NAMM that made me very, very happy), Studio Manager and the XS Editors for Universal Binary will be here very soon, too.

Also, if you haven't already seen this, take a look at steinberg.net and the Musikmesse 2007 news (specifically, take a look at this link-http://www.steinberg.net/1308+M52087573ab0.html). Universal Binary versions of Steinberg's VST instruments are coming REALLY soon. Here is what Steinberg had to say "Registered customers will be able to download updates for the following products from Steinberg websites from April 2007: HALion, HALion Player, HALion Player OEM, The Grand 2, HALion Symphonic Orchestra, HALion String Edition 2, Hypersonic 2, Virtual Bassist and Virtual Guitarist 2."

Hallelujah! See: Our patience is truly being rewarded!

And lastly, you owe it to yourself to check out Sequel, regardless of what software you use. It is 99 bucks! How much would 5000 loops along cost you? Check it out: http://www.sequel-music.net/. For 99 dollars (99 dollars?!?) you get something that is really one of the coolest software products I have seen in a very long time. Simple, easy to use, great-sounding and inexpensive: What is not to love?!?

Oh, and one more lastly: On April 2nd at 5:00 PM, the Seattle chapter of my "Cubase Educational Series" is happening at Petosa Music in Seattle's beautiful Wallingford district:

313 N.E. 45th Street
Seattle WA 98105
206-632-2700

This series topic will be all about MIDI sequencing in Cubase 4. Will I be bringing a Motif XS8 with me to use as a sound source and control surface? Will I be showing people some of the cool feature on the Motif XS8 at the end of this presentation. If you live in or around Seattle, you will just have to drop by and find out...

tune in next time, same bat blog, same bat channel....

Blake