MusicRadar

Quality freeware for Mac is now plentiful

View in gallery

Screenfashion.org The Wiinstrument
Format: Standalone
The Wiinstrument lets you take a Nintendo Wii controller and put its motion sensing features to use by converting your movements to MIDI events. You just need to set up OS X's native MIDI routing options and you're away; a spot of air drums or some MIDI CC action for controlling plug-ins – whatever takes your fancy.

Above: Now you no longer need Max/MSP or similar complicated software to make music with your Wiimote

Beatport and Native Instruments Beatport Sync
Format: Standalone
Beatport Sync is an iTunes-style music player with DJ-friendly features that's based on NI's Traktor 3 DJ software. It offers a music organiser that helps you collect and manage all of your tunes, including those in your iTunes library or connected iPod. The DJ aspect of the program is its innovative dual player (deck), which enables crossfading and even beat-matching. No EQ, effects or scratching, but for basic DJ mixing it's ideal.

Koen Tanghe @ Smartelectronix KTDrumTrigger
Format: VST
Note: PPC only
Ever thought about triggering MIDI from audio, perhaps to replace a wimpy kick drum sound with an extra crispy sample? Perhaps you have something more experimental in mind? KTAudioTrigger may be what you need. Inserted as an audio effect, the plug-in generates MIDI events which are sent to one of your instrument tracks. Filters, envelopes and more make KTDrumTrigger a very interesting tool.

Mixxx
Format: Standalone
Mixxx is an open-source DJ mixing app with two virtual decks on offer. The software actively estimates each track's tempo to assist your beatmatching efforts, and tempo changes are executed without repitching the track. You can grab on a playing track to push or pull it, including stop-play and reverse-play. All-in-all, a very complete mixing tool.

Sonalksis FreeG
Format: VST, AU, RTAS
FreeG is a very handy plug-in to have in your arsenal. It combines metering and gain adjustment in an attractive package. What makes it stand out is its well-considered user interface and collection of simple yet very useful audio tools. The large meter offers RMS and peak readings, and amplitude adjustment features include a fine-tune mode and a gain trim that's independent of the fader – ideal if you need to tweak an already automated track.

Andrew Sorensen impromptu
Format: Standalone, AU
Impromptu is a programming tool for creating real-time audio and visual compositions. Non-programmers can grasp it, however, with rewarding results. The performer (you) starts with a blank screen and a writes code on the fly that generates and manipulates the performance. MIDI I/O is supported, too, as are AU plug-ins. Check out the videos on the gallery page for inspiration.

soundhack soundhack
Format: Standalone
soundhack is a complete and at times exotic sound designer's toolkit. Its status is legendary in the Mac audio community, where it has provided advanced audio processing facilities for many years. Processing options range from the simple (normalise) to the truly exotic QTCoder, and the functions include Binaural sound positioning, Convolution, Spectral Dynamics and Mutation, which breeds a new sound from two others.

soundhack +matrix
Format: VST, AU, RTAS
Mid/side processing is a mastering secret weapon to fix, improve or add character to a stereo mix. An M/S encoder places the mono (the mid) elements of a stereo signal on the left channel and the stereo (the side) elements on the right channel, so they can be edited independently before being recombined at the end. It's witchcraft – but it works.

RNDigital, Inc. Inspector
Format: VST, AU, RTAS
Inspector is the Swiss Army knife of metering plug-ins. It has all the basics and whole lot more. The plug-in provides a level meter, as expected, but it comes with a frequency analyser and a stereo balance indicator as well. It all comes wrapped up in a clean, attractive user interface.

LilyPond LilyPond
Format: Standalone
LilyPond is a score entry and manuscript printing application that places a premium on the beauty of the printed score. Score entry is swiftly achieved using simple text commands entered with a text editor. The process is similar to creating a webpage using HTML.

SubtleSoft MidiPipe
Format: Standalone
MidiPipe is a programmable MIDI patchbay. It provides all you need to construct multiple MIDI circuits, called 'pipes'. These pipes can merge inputs, filter unneeded or troublesome messages, split MIDI streams by note range or MIDI channel, and transform one type of message to another. Dig deeper and you can even trigger Applescript programs and more.

Around the web: