Audio card maker Creative today announced the release of the
Sound Blaster Live! for Macintosh. The PCI card enables Mac users to attach four-channel speaker systems, plug in MIDI devices, and more.
First announced for the Macintosh at Macworld Expo in San Francisco more than a year ago, the Sound Blaster Live! for Macintosh is the first PCI-based consumer-oriented audio card to be released for the platform. Built around the EMU10K1 digital signal processor (DSP), the card incorporates outputs for four-point surround speaker systems, as well as interfaces for MIDI and S/PDIF. Mic and line inputs are also available.
Sound Blaster Live! for Mac comes with a variety of applications, including:
Mixman Studio Mac — which enables Mac users to record and remix audio tracks, match beats and combine sound elements. You can also export music to CD or upload them to the Web. Cubasis AV Mac — an application for recording and editing MIDI and digital audio. SoundJam MP — the popular MP3 playback and recording software from Casady & Greene. Deus Ex — the full version of the 3D cyberpunk action/role-playing game published by Aspyr Media, optimized to provide 3D positional audio effects using the Sound Blaster Live! for Mac card. Creative Mixer — a utility which integrates audio inputs and enables users to adjust their audio, add environment presets and position audio sources with a Surround Mixer. SoundFont Bank Manager — a professional digital sampler that employs SoundFont technology for MIDI sequencing. Users can load and audition SoundFont banks and can configure various MIDI-related aspects of the audio card. The Sound Blaster Live! for Mac is now available through Creative’s distributors and resellers; the card carries a suggested retail price of US$149.99.