Latest News & Articles
Denon DN-X1600 First Look – Video
An exclusive look at the new Denon DN-X1600 mixer. Digital DJ’s will be interested in the midi features plus Traktor users will like the news that 1600 & 1700 models will be scratch pro certified very shortly. It’s also the first DJ mixer to support Roland’s v link protocol.
Cakewalk A-Pro Series Keyboards – Video
Cakewalk introduces the new A-PRO Series, USB MIDI Controllers for Mac and PC. The A-300 Pro (32-key), A-500 Pro (49-key) and A-800 Pro (61-key) are brand new keyboard controllers developed in conjunction with Roland.
The A-PRO series focuses on intuitive real-time performance and ergonomic playability, making it a must-have controller for soft-synths in a live or studio setting. This new line gives musicians the best of both worlds: Cakewalks legendary ease of use and Rolands world-class engineering and keyboard expertise.
Jomox MBrane – NAMM 2010 – Video
Juergen Michaelis demoing his new Jomox MBrane II modeling synth at the BCM NAMM booth. The MBrane II is a small analog synth optimized for percussive snare drum and cowbell-like sounds with a wide range of sound characteristics.
Juergen’s new design makes it possible to produce very authentic membrane-like sounds from 2 analog T-Bridge oscillators by means of coupling and dampening. A versatile noise generator with white noise, metal noise and envelope control allows you to created snare drums, rim shots, cow bells and bongos.
Ableton Suite 8 – A Gearjunkies Review
Ableton Live, from a simple sequencer to a serious Digital Audio Workstation. Ableton Live 8 Suite, also known as the XL version, is the version of Live that comes with a huge amount of instruments and library of sounds. About no less then 1600 sounds divided among ten instruments. The GUI (graphic user interface) stands out against the GUI’s of the other well known DAW’s by its simplicity. Which in fact works easier and better.
Audio Ease reveals Altiverb 7 at the NAMM
Audio Ease were at the NAMM this year to introduce the upcoming version 7 of their Reverb software Altiverb. Arjen shows us some details of the new version which is still in development and won’t be available for some time.
ART announces TubeOpto 8 Mic PreAmp with ADAT
The ART TubeOpto 8™ is the ideal Eight Channel input / output expander for any ADAT lit-pipe equipped audio interface, direct-to-disc recorder or DAW. Eight high quality second generation discrete Class–A vacuum tube microphone preamps are packaged in a single rack space unit with eight channel 24-bit digital I/O.
The ART TubeOpto 8™ is the ideal Eight Channel input / output expander for any ADAT lit-pipe equipped audio interface, direct-to-disc recorder or DAW. Eight high quality second generation discrete Class–A vacuum tube microphone preamps are packaged in a single rack space unit with eight channel 24-bit digital I/O.
FabFilter releases Micro – a mini filter plug-in
Determined to provide quality plug-ins for every need and budget, FabFilter has released the tiny, yet very useful FabFilter Micro, a new lightweight filter plug-in that makes the classic FabFilter sound more affordable than ever.
Featuring the classic filter first developed for the FabFilter One synthesizer with low-pass and high-pass filter shapes, it will be no surprise that FabFilter Micro has a smooth and creamy sound that will turn into raw self-oscillating madness at a flick of the Peak knob. Yet even at full resonance, the filter always maintains an analog-like balance, happily saturating and clipping the incoming sound without exhibiting the digital artifacts and impurities that most other filters suffer from.
Softube and Marshall join forces with the JDM:1
With the JMD:1 amplifier a new era in guitar amplification has begun. Marshall’s analog excellence is combined with Softube’s patented simulation technology to make rock ‘n’ roll’s most comprehensive and sophisticated amplifier, while still staying true to the Marshall tone and heritage.
Korg SV-1 at the NAMM – Video
Join in as Frank McComb gives the Korg SV-1 Stage Vintage a workout. His electric piano and clav chops really shine in this performance. Live from the Korg USA Performance Stage at Winter NAMM 2010. The SV-1 contains the hippest, most in-demand and soul-satisfying keyboard sounds ever collected in a single instrument. Decades of electro-mechanical, transistorized, tape-driven, analog, and digital legends are joined by a collection of rich acoustic pianos, all reproduced with stunning realism. But the SV-1 is about much more than excellent sound; the SV-1 re-creates the look, the feel, and visceral pleasure of performing on a vintage instrument.
Ultimate Ears announces 18 pro custom monitors
The Ultimate Ears 18 Pro in-ear monitors pack 6 high fidelity speakers in each handcrafted earphone creating more detail and soundstage than ever before: 2 dedicated woofers, 2 speakers for the mids and 2 speakers for the highs.
New BEHRINER XENYX USB Mixers – Video
Behringer introduced seven new premium-grade mixers feature built-in USB interfaces, compressors and 24-bit multi-FX processors. Sporting a wide range of options, the next-generation XENYX live/studio mixers from BEHRINGER merge built-in USB interface, easy-to-use “one-knob” compressors, world-renowned XENYX mic preamps and “British-style” channel EQ. All mixers feature a new studio-grade digital effects processor with 16 editable presets including reverb, chorus, flanger, delay, pitch shifter and multi-effects (no FX on 1204USB).
MOTU announces Ethno Instrument Version 2
MOTU has announced a major upgrade to Ethno Instrument, their popular world/ethnic virtual instrument software for Mac OS X and Windows 7/Vista. The Version 2 upgrade more than doubles the size of Ethno’s included sound library of instruments, loops and phrases. Significant new features have also been added, including preset searching, microtonal scales, state-of-the-art time stretching, and much more.
Focusrite unveil OctoPre MkII Dynamic
New at NAMM is the stunning Focusrite OctoPre MkII Dynamic. It features eight channels of Focusrite’s legendary mic preamplification, with new, single-dial, VCA-based compressors derived from the classic Focusrite Red 3 on every channel. On display at Winter NAMM 2010 in Anaheim, California, will be the brand new Focusrite OctoPre MkII Dynamic, as well as existing hardware and software products.
Ortofon and Serato announce high performance cartridge
Ortofon introduce the new “Ortofon-Serato S-120 DJ Cartridge” with a patent pending design that will virtually “hug the grooves” of a record using a unique suspension system that the two companies have co- designed.
New Behringer VIRTUALIZER PRO 3D FX2000
The VIRTUALIZER PRO 3D FX2000 Effects Processor uses BEHRINGER’s Real Sound Modeling (RSM) technology to give 71 stereo algorithms the power to accurately emulate a wide range of acoustic environments. Effects options include 12 different reverb programs, modulation, amp simulation, distortion and special effects, as well as dynamic and psychoacoustic processing.