TASCAMTascam's MX-OS version 2.0 software for its MX-2424 hard disk recorder adds 24-bit, 96 kHz playback and recording capability as well as file-transfer and file-management improvements. You can also record a dozen 24-bit tracks at 96 kHz or 24 tracks at 48 kHz. You can transfer audio files through the MX-2424's Ethernet port. MX-OS 2.0 also adds compatibility with the Macintosh HFS+ drive format, letting you use larger drive sizes. You can download the software from Tascam's Web site. Tascam; tel. (323) 726-0303; Web www.tascam.com.

CODA MUSIC TECHNOLOGYCoda's flagship music-notation software receives a major upgrade with Finale 2001 ($149.95 upgrade from Mac/Win versions of Finale 98 or earlier; $79.95 upgrade from Finale 2000; academic version $545; theological version $275). Among its new features are automatic Web publishing, pitch-to-MIDI conversion, and the ability to convert scanned music into notation.

New Web-publishing features include a Save as Web Page command and a command that automatically posts your score at Finale Showcase, a community for sharing music files at Coda's Web site. You can also automatically post your music at Net4Music, which can provide royalties for any copies sold.

The MicNotator feature offers monophonic pitch-to-MIDI conversion. The program comes bundled with Musitek's Midiscan music-scanning OCR software, which can scan up to 16 staves of music and automatically convert them to a Finale file. Other new features include an expanded setup wizard for default key and time signatures, initial tempo marking, pickup measures, and a new selection tool.

Mac users can use any Power Mac with Mac OS 7.61 or better and 16 MB of free RAM. Windows users need at least a 486DX/66 MHz PC with Windows 95 or later (including Windows NT) and 16 MB RAM. Coda Music Technology; tel. (800) 843-2066 or (952) 937-9611; e-mail finalesales@codamusic.com; Web www.codamusic.com.

CYCLING '74Cycling `74's Max 4.0 ($395; $50 upgrade) and MSP 2.0 ($295; $100 upgrade) provide a host of new programming objects, features, and user-interface and performance improvements.

All of the time-related Max and MSP objects maintain timing information in floating-point format. The accuracy of scheduling events depends on the number of samples processed at once - more samples means less accuracy - and you can choose to give MIDI events a higher priority over audio processing.

New Max objects include buttons and knobs with customizable pictures, text-edit fields, and a Universal object that lets you send messages by class (useful for panic buttons, for example). A Gestalt object gives a report of Mac OS system features. You can group related radio buttons or check boxes.

MSP now offers 512 virtual channels of I/O that are dynamically remapped to audio device channels. You can control and allocate MSP's CPU usage, and dynamically loaded audio drivers offer support for Sound Manager, ASIO, ReWire, DirectConnect, and VST plug-ins, among others.

New MSP objects include an audio-rate sequencer that allows you to change the audio playback rate; a spectral-processing manager that performs windowing, overlap, and FFTs; and a Waveform-display user interface that works with sample buffers. You can now design filters graphically with the Filtergraph object, and the Stutter object provides granular synthesis.

An improved MSP buffer object now reads and writes WAV, AIFF, AU, and raw audio files at resolutions from 8 to 64 bits. A new Sfplay object gives you varispeed playback and forward and backward cues, and reads multiple file formats and bit depths.

Both programs will run on any Power Macintosh, but a PPC 604 or faster is suggested for audio processing. MSP performance is improved, with optimization for the G4 Velocity Engine. Cycling `74; tel. (415) 621-5743; e-mail info@cycling74.com; Web www.cycling74.com.

??? RHIZOMATIC SOFTWARE ABSYNTHRhizomatic Software's Absynth ($150) for the Macintosh synthesizer combines subtractive synthesis, waveshaping, FM, AM, and ring modulation. It also lets you draw oscillator and LFO waveforms to create unique sounds.

Absynth allows you to patch multiple synthesis modules together. You get six oscillators per voice, eight filter types, three ring modulators, a waveshaper, and a delay processor.

With Absynth's waveform editor, you can design your own waveforms, which then can be used by the oscillators, LFOs, and waveshaper. The waveform editor provides two modes for waveform creation: Draw mode allows freehand drawing, and Spectrum mode lets you trim individual harmonics levels. Within the waveform editor, you can filter, mix, frequency modulate, and "fractalize" waveforms before they reach the filter and amplifier. Fractalize takes the original waveform, makes two small copies of it, then two smaller copies of the copies, and so on; it then mixes everything together to produce a new composite waveform. While you edit the waveforms, the results are continuously updated so that you can monitor your changes.

The envelope generators go well beyond traditional ADSR settings, offering up to 68 breakpoints per envelope. You can loop envelopes for cyclic rhythms. The Envelopes Editor window shows multiple envelopes simultaneously, allowing detailed coordination of changes over time.

Delay effects are modulated; delay times can be as short as a single sample or up to ten seconds long. Modulation of delay parameters is flexible: for example, you can run six parallel delay lines and modulate them with LFOs for flange effects.

LFOs can modulate pitch, amplitude, filter frequency, FM depth, pan, and delay time. Besides custom waveforms, LFOs can use sample-and-hold and conventional analog-type waveforms, such as square and sawtooth waves.

Absynth is no slouch at expressive MIDI parameter control. You can modulate parameters using practically any continuous controller, including Aftertouch, Control Change messages, Velocity, and note number. You can even program a different (and discontiguous) modulation value for every note. Pitch Bend range can be up to 6 octaves.

Absynth is not multitimbral. However, the software provides a Record window with overdub capabilities for layering new performances onto previously recorded passes held in RAM. You can render its output to an AIFF file.

To run Absynth, you'll need at least a PPC 603/100 MHz with 16 MB RAM; Mac OS 8.0 or later; Sound Manager; and OMS 2.0 or later. Rhizomatic Software; tel. 33-1-4859-0418; e-mail info@absyn.com; Web www.absyn.com.