NEW PRODUCTS
Jun 1, 2002 12:00 PM, By Markkus Rovito
AKAI MPD16
MIDI/USB CONTROL SURFACE
One of the best-loved features of Akai's MPC series of sampling sequencers is its set of 16 velocity-sensitive pads, which facilitate beat programming with ease. Now, producers can have those pads to program drums from their own sound sources — without the entire expense of an MPC sampler. The Akai MPD16 ($349) provides the same 16 pressure- and velocity-sensitive pads found on an MPC in a USB/MIDI-compatible controller. It will control any MIDI device or connect directly to a computer to control software parameters and is especially suited for sound engines that include drum program setups.
The MPD16 connects to PC and Mac computers via USB and includes utility software that aids in setting parameters such as MIDI note assign, MIDI channel and MIDI control change. Tapping the pads generates note-on velocity. When pads are in Full-Level mode, they produce a constant velocity value of 127, and in 16-Level mode, you can generate note velocity in 16 steps with 16 pads. Hitting the Active key enables the fader, which also outputs MIDI control changes. The devices can run off USB power or off the included AC adapter.
Akai; tel. (800) 433-5627 or (817) 831-9203; e-mail info@akaipro.com; Web www.akaipro.com
BITHEADZ UNITY 3.0 SESSION
SAMPLING AND SYNTHESIS SUITE
Combining the sampling capabilities of Unity DS-1 3.0 and the modeling synthesis of Retro AS-1 3.0, BitHeadz Unity 3.0 Session ($649) delivers synergistic functionality, additional sounds and a price that is well below the cost of the two stand-alone programs. The package includes more than 2 GB of samples and loops for DS-1 and 1,600 programs for AS-1.
Unity 3.0 Session advantages include integrated applications, such as using DS-1 and AS-1 in the same mixer and editor. New Unity “Instruments” are patches made up of layered DS-1 and AS-1 programs with up to four programs per instrument. Unity 3.0 Session reads most sample formats on-the-fly without conversion, including GigaSampler, SoundDesigner2, Sample Cell, SoundFonts, DLS, AIFF, WAV and CD audio. It also performs batch conversion for Akai 1000/3000 and Roland S-760/770 formats. Improved sequencer compatibility means that Unity 3.0 Session can now be used with MAS, VST, RTAS or DirectConnect with auto detection. The program is currently available for Mac only and is compatible with Mac OS X as well as OS 9.
BitHeadz; tel. (401) 886-7045; e-mail info@bitheadz.com; Web www.bitheadz.com
DENON DN-D9000
DUAL-CD PLAYER
The DN-D9000 ($1,800) brings some new features to the table: removable CD drives, four seamless loops per disc track, four hot starts, six Stutter Cue play points, simultaneous playback of another track from the same disc (Alpha Track Play) and A-B Splice for seamlessly cutting unwanted sections of a track. The unit also includes a number of scratch modes (Forward, Reverse, Both Disc and Sampler) and two onboard, 15-second samplers with output volume, Reverse mode, looping, pitch and scratching.
The internal memory provides for 16 seconds of shockproof protection and room to save as many as 5,000 loop and cue points. Users can copy the loop and cue data to another DN-D9000. Among the onboard effects are filter, delay, flanger and transform. The unit also has a laundry list of additional features: simultaneous looping and sampler playback; on-the-fly loop editing; auto bpm counter with two Tap Tempo buttons; 70mm rubber-coated jog wheel; pitch bend up to ±100 percent; digital S/PDIF outs; illuminated action buttons with tactile feedback; and five platter modes: DragStart, Brake, Echo, Dump and Reverse.
Denon Electronics; tel. (973) 396-0810; e-mail contactus@denondj.com; Web www.denon.com
JOMOX SUNSYN
ANALOG SYNTHESIZER MODULE
The JoMox Sunsyn ($3,495) is a hybrid analog and digital eight-voice, eight-part synth module. The unit has a truly analog signal path including analog oscillators, filters and envelopes. Two analog oscillators per voice and two digital oscillators per voice can be used separately or in tandem. The digital oscillators can also sync to the analog voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) and travel through the rest of the analog signal path to create an analog feel. The Sunsyn is fully MIDI compatible: All of its 40 knobs and 42 buttons send and receive MIDI. The filters are analog 4-pole filters, and each filter pole has adjustable cutoff, and lowpass and highpass characteristics. In addition, the Sunsyn can morph between two stored filter “scenes.”
An extensive analog modulation matrix consists of four routing elements per voice. The destination parameters of each router can work in parallel or merge with each other, which produces 4,096 possible modulations per single matrix. Internal patch memory holds 256 single sounds and 128 multis. The OS is upgradable via MIDI, and a PC card expansion slot accepts Win- and DOS-formatted cards up to 64 MB to update and store waveforms and sounds.
JoMox (dist. by SoundBox); tel. (323) 769-5510; e-mail SoundBoxLA@aol.com; Web www.jomox.net
VESTAX SAMURAI
DJ BATTLE MIXERS
With the Samurai series of DJ battle mixers, Vestax brings to the table a line of mixers that boast the world's first digital crossfaders. The crossfaders' magnetic field sensor make them liquid-resistant, and Vestax claims that they are 100 percent maintenance free. DJs can choose from eight Samurai crossfader curves with a total of 32 crossfader patterns. All three units are 2-channel mixers with a 3-band EQ and a mic input.
The Samurai PMC-06Pro D ($899) is a slim chassis mixer with two line and two phono inputs and two master outputs, all with RCA connections. (The Samurai PMC-05Pro D [price TBA] has the same selection of inputs and outputs in a 10-inch frame.) The Samurai PMC-07Pro D ($1,599) adds a session-mix function, which allows DJ teams to connect multiple mixers, an extra line input (RCA) and balanced TRS ¼-inch master outputs. The EQ on that mixer uses faders for the three bands, and the pan control on every input uses a left-to-right slider.
Vestax; tel. (562) 623-9881; Web www.vestax.com
HARTMANN NEURON
ADAPTIVE SOUND-ANALYSIS SYNTHESIZER
Fledgling German company Hartmann has introduced an ambitious new synthesizer, the Neuron ($4,990), based on its proprietary technology called Neuronal Synthesis. Company founder Axel Hartmann says that the Neuron will be an entirely new type of instrument. It works using “intelligent” software that identifies a sound's most crucial qualities and translates them into individual parameter sets. Basically, instead of applying the same parameters to every sound, it adapts the controllers to change the most suitable characteristics of each sound.
The Neuron interface includes graphic-supported stick controllers, rotary encoder wheels and 13 alphanumeric displays. A 32-bit signal path starts with two resynators that generate sounds based on models stored on the hard drive.
Under the hood is a 10GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM, 200 sound and 200 setup memory locations. Polyphony is 16 to 48 notes, depending on the structure of the chosen synth models. The six audio outputs can work in different combinations, from six mono outs to 5.1 surround outs, to take advantage of the Neuron's full 5.1 surround panning capability.
Hartmann; e-mail info@hartmann-music.com; Web www.hartmann-music.com
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