Finale 2010b is Installed

Its only a year old, but we finally upgraded to Finale 2010 in studio 4, 5, 7, 8, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4.

Finale 2008 was removed from all machines.

Spool-Area-Full-Error

Problem: Printing error from 10.5.8 to HP LaserJet 5200dtn

Solution: I don’t know what spool area the error message is referring. Is this the computer /var/spool area?  Or, does the HP have a spool area?  I’m thinking it might be an HP problem since it is happening from multiple computers. But, then again, most of our computers have similar setups.

What I tried: Update HP LaserJet 5200dtn firmware from 08.060.1 to 08.061.2 (had to use terminal–read the readme).  This seems to be doing the trick.  I’m going to keep an eye on it.

Finale Lost Authorization.

Problem: Finale 2008 lost its authorization. If you tried to re-authorize, the MakeMusic server would not allow because we already allocated all seats of our site license.

Solution: Evidently a known problem with the Mac 10.5.7 update. Finale has a patch fix. http://makemusic.custhelp.com/app/answers/preview_detail/a_id/1679

Run the patch. Restart. Problem solved on some machines. I’m contacting customer support for the others.

Now if I could get Finale to not crash every time you quit the program.  Not a huge problem as you are trying to close it out anyway, but it just seems wrong.  Applications should quit without crash issues.

Not all Kontakt samples available to student user

Problem: Some instruments load, some are missing samples.  If you navigate to computer folder using Kontakt database, the samples aren’t shown.

Solution: It works fine in admin account. Turns out some samples do not grant read and execute for “everyone”. I went ahead and changed permission for the entire loops and samples folder. chmod -R o+rx /Loops\ and\ Samples/

Kontakt Effects not working

Problem: Kontakt convolution effect not working (grayed out) in student user account.  Plus, presets in other effects not loading.

Solution: Both situations work in the admin account. Must be a permission conflict. Set Library/Application Support/Native Instruments to student as the group and read and execute permissions (recursive).  Or, I could just set “everyone” to have read and execute permissions for the entire folder.

Complete Production Toolkit added to Studio 9 computers

Digidesign’s Complete Production Toolkit is now on the studio 9 computers. This adds the following to Pro Tools 8 LE:

Features

• Edit and mix up to 128 simultaneous audio tracks
• Mix in up to 7.1 surround sound
• Double your Instrument tracks from 32 to up to 64 simultaneous tracks
• Comes with over $2,650 worth of groundbreaking virtual instruments and professional plug-ins, including:
  • Digidesign Eleven™ LE hyper-realistic, vintage guitar amp emulator
  • Digidesign Hybrid™ 1.5 high-definition synthesizer
  • Digidesign Smack!™ LE foolproof compressor and limiter
  • Digidesign Structure® LE advanced sample player
  • Digidesign DINR™ LE intelligent noise reduction
  • Digidesign TL Space™ — Native Edition convolution reverb
  • Digidesign X-Form® time compression/expansion and pitch shifter
  • Neyrinck SoundCode Stereo surround-to-stereo down-mixer
• Multitrack Beat Detective™ rhythm analysis, extraction, and correction tool
• DigiBase™ Pro full-featured file management tool
• DigiTranslator™ 2.0 for import/export of OMF, AAF, and MXF files
• Time Code and Feet + Frames functions
• Powerful editing and session management features
• Pro Tools® MP3 Option for exporting MP3 files

Check out the website for more. http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=115&itemid=6282

Melodyne Essential installed in Studio 9

Celomony’s Melodyne Essential is bundled with Pro Tools 8 LE. It is a separate application but will soon be a RTAS plugin.

manufacture’s website

Studio 9 now has Digidesign MBox interfaces

Studio 9 switched over to Digidesign MBox

You can run programs simultaneously.  I opened and successfully played audio through the MBOX for DP, MAX, Peak, Audacity, Kontakt, Reason, Tassman, Soundhack, Cecilia, finale AND Pro tools LE. All programs were left open and sometimes I was playing back audio from multiple programs.

Studio 9, version 2.0. Now with Less Noise

I installed a new HP 5200 printer in Studio 9. Not only is it 6 dB quieter than the previous printer during idle times, it goes to sleep and hardly makes a noise 15 minutes after the last print job. Priceless.

Metasynth 4 is now available

Metasynth Pro 4 (the 24 bit version) is not compatible with Leopard. UI software, the developer, said that they are working on it (and have been for the past year and a half). I installed the Leopard compatible-16 bit version, called Metasynth 4, on workstation ST9.6, 9.7, 9.8, ST4, ST5 and ST8

NOTE:  When you launch Metasynth, the top menu bar and the dock disappear. To see either the top menu or dock,  just mouse over their normal area and wait a few seconds. They will re-appear.

"Wait for it..."

"...there it is"

Additionally, Metasynth pauses on an opening info screen for about five seconds before showing you the main work window.  If you’re the impatient type, just click on the green check mark.

If you don’t know about Metasynth, check out UI Software’s website.