Companion Engineering & Design Corp. has released Intuem 2, an update of the MIDI-based music authoring application for Mac OS X (10.2 and higher). The update (code-named Intuem Squared) adds audio capabilities with AudioUnit instruments, AudioUnit effects and a full audio and MIDI mixer. AudioUnits are a part of the Core Audio system in Mac OS X, proving a basic entity for any kind of signal processing.
Intuem is a music authoring application designed specifically for education and home users. Version 2 works with several types of audio, including process audio using the AudioUnit standard on Mac OS X at a multitude of sample rates, all in high-resolution 32-bit floating point audio pathways. As of version 2, Intuem can save compositions as audio files. Plus, it now has a customizable audio and MIDI mixer and a freeze facility with one-step conversion of MIDI to audio. Intuem 2 is code-named Intuem Squared because of the addition of audio capabilities and audio tracks with multiple-format audio clips from 8-bit mono to 32-bit, 96kHz, multi-channel audio. It can mix any format audio in a single track; there’s no limit to the number of audio tracks in a composition.
Compositions can be saved as audio files with many formats to choose from, including AIFF and AAC/MPEG-4. Intuem 2 also offers one-step conversion from MIDI to audio at single note, entire track and multi-track levels; support for recording audio from any channel or set of channels from a device into a track; support for arranging audio loops together at exact start and end frames so there’s no gap at all between them; and more.
Intuem 2 is available for US$79 and as an upgrade for existing Intuem owners for $49. Those who bought Intuem between March 28 and May 27, 2002, are entitled to a free upgrade.