NEW PRODUCTS
May 1, 2002 12:00 PM, By Markkus Rovito
TRITON LE
KEYBOARD WORKSTATION
Powerful workstation keyboards are often unattainable to budget-minded musicians, but Korg's new offering pulls the acclaimed Triton within the reach of mortals. Incorporating most of the functionality of the original, the Triton LE comes in 61-key ($1,600) and 76-key ($1,800) versions. Gone is the fabulous touch-screen LCD, but the LE brings the same Hyper Integrated (HI) synthesis technology, effects algorithms and full-fledged 16-track MIDI sequencer that made the Triton an industry mainstay. Hands-on control is trimmed back but includes a joystick, two assignable switches and four assignable knobs.
Several Triton LE features aid performing live and songwriting: Dual-polyphonic arpeggiators, with five preset and 232 user patterns, sync to MIDI Clock or the internal sequencer, to create complex patterns with any of the 512 synth programs or 24 drum kits. Many of the 89 effect types also support temp sync and real-time modulation of effect parameters. The 200-song, 200,000-note sequencer allows real-time or step recording, as well as editing.
An optional, user-installable EXB-SMPL board ($260) adds sampling to the unit. The board comes with 16 MB of sample memory (upgradable to 64 MB with 72-pin SIMMs). It also adds two audio inputs with a gain knob and mic/line switch and a SCSI interface. With sampling activated, the Triton LE performs advanced sampling functions such as waveform display, truncate, normalize, time slice, time stretch, reverse, rate convert and crossfade loop. It supports AIFF, WAV, Korg and Akai S1000/3000 sample formats.
Korg; tel. (516) 333-9100; e-mail support@korgusa.com; Web www.korg.com.
SH-32
SYNTHESIZER MODULE
With the SH-32 synth ($595), Roland promises brand-new sounds using its new Wave-Acceleration Synthesis technology. This new method allows greater polyphony at a lower price than many virtual analog synths do. The SH-32 can produce analog-style sounds, as well as a total of 67 new patches. Polyphony is 32 voices, with two oscillators and two suboscillators per voice.
Users can choose from preset synth sounds and drum sounds based on the classic Roland TR-808 and -909 drum machines. No complicated menu trolling is needed to create user patches; users do all edits from the generous host of knobs, sliders and a 3-digit LED. Some features of the synthesis capability include pulse-width modulation on the oscillators, ADSR envelopes for the filter and amp, two tempo-synching LFOs and filter cut-off, and it also has preset templates. The icing on the cake is the effects processing: One processor offers 10 reverb and delay effects, and an insert processor serves up 35 multi-effects, including distortion, compressor, pitch shifter, slicer and lo-fi.
Roland; tel. (323) 890-3700; Web www.rolandus.com.
TT-1650, TT-1600
TURNTABLES
Aimed at entry-level DJs are the TT-1600 belt-drive turntable ($178) and the TT-1650 direct-drive turntable ($300). Both decks are symmetrically designed with dual start/stop controls for use in the horizontal or vertical position. The turntables have aluminum tone arms with cue and antiskate adjustments, as well as detachable power and audio cables and adjustable rubber feet that resist vibrations. Pitch range for each table is ±10 percent. A removable aluminum target light is standard with the TT-1650 and is also an option for the TT-1600. The TT-1650 also has reverse play, which Numark says is instant.
Numark; tel. (401) 295-9000; Web www.numark.com
X-17
PROFESSIONAL CLUB DJ MIXER
Tascam's DJ-mixer line now includes the X-17 ($599), a club mixer with sampling capability. The 4-channel X-17 includes a three-bank, pitch-controllable sampler that saves and loads samples from a Compact Flash memory card. Sample recording happens on any of the four channels, as well as on the mic input. The 4U rackmount mixer has four switchable ¼-inch/RCA stereo inputs and four dedicated stereo-line inputs for its four channels, as well as two mic inputs. Each channel strip has a dedicated fader with selectable fader start, a trim knob and a 3-band EQ that alters frequencies on each band from -26 dB to +12 dB. The mic input has a level knob and a 2-band EQ for the main channel and a level knob for the auxiliary mic.
The RCA aux I/O has dedicated level knobs, as does the booth output. Master outputs come as XLR or unbalanced RCA connections. A stereo RCA record output is switchable between pre- and postfader. A front-panel effects on/off switch complements the effects send/return connections. In the crossfader section, you get three selectable crossfader curves and a crossfader reverse switch.
Tascam; tel. (323) 726-0303; e-mail custser@tascam.com; Web www.tascam.com
ATMOSPHERE, STYLUS, TRILOGY
VIRTUAL INSTRUMENTS
Spectrasonics, notable for its Groove Control sample CDs, makes its foray into software with three new virtual instruments: the Atmosphere Dream Pad Module ($399), the Stylus Vinyl Groove Module ($299) and the Trilogy Bass Module ($399). Each is a plug-in virtual instrument that uses several gigabytes of included samples stored on the user's hard drive and plays them through a synthlike software interface with loads of controls.
Atmosphere is designed exclusively for pad-synth and ambient drone sounds, such as analog beds, glass swells, europhasers, wavetable sweeps, vocoded choirs, thick strings and atonal clouds. A core selection of 1,000 pads can be layered for more than 1 million combinations. Trilogy concentrates on the three types of bass sounds: acoustic, electric and synthesized. It includes thousands of bass samples and layering capabilities.
Stylus comes with more than 700 breakbeat loops covering styles such as R&B, two-step, trip-hop, epic house, hip-hop, dub, nu-skool, acid jazz, trance, funk, alternative, abstract, neosoul, big beat, drum 'n' bass and others; more than 1,000 live-percussion, DJ-trick and FX loops; and thousands of individual drum samples with which users can construct loops from scratch. Every Stylus loop is subject to Groove Control, which allows independent control of pitch, tempo and feel without taxing CPU resources.
Spectrasonics; tel. (818) 955-8481; e-mail info@spectrasonics.net; Web www.spectrasonics.net
TASSMAN 3.0
MODULAR SOFTWARE SYNTHESIZER
The 3.0 revision of Tassman ($299) for Mac and PC, from Applied Acoustics Systems, adds a host of new features and support for MAS and DirectConnect to its already-supported DirectX and VST plug-in formats. The program is available as a free upgrade to registered users.
This virtual modular synth is based on physical modeling and comes with hundreds of prepatched synth presets. The customizable nature of the instrument lets users construct unique sounds from scratch, realistic strings and percussion, warm replicas of classic analog synths or varieties of hybrid instruments. The selection of modules includes VCOs, filters, envelopes and effects, as well as the acoustic models of strings, mallets, drum membranes and more.
Applied Acoustics Systems; tel. (888) 441-8277; e-mail info@applied-acoustics.com; Web www.applied-acoustics.com
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
