New Products
Nov 1, 2002 12:00 PM, By Markkus Rovito
SONIC FOUNDRY ACID PRO 4.0
PC AUDIO WORKSTATION
Sonic Foundry caused an explosion of loop-based computer composing when it introduced its Acid software several years ago. With the latest update to Acid Pro 4.0 ($499.95; Windows 98/2000/ME/SE/XP), the software becomes a bona fide heavyweight. Added to the mix are support for VST Instruments, 5.1 surround mixing, new automation parameters, loop cloning, ASIO driver support and alternate time signatures. Acid Pro 4.0 users can record an unlimited number of MIDI tracks from external MIDI devices. MIDI step recording, event-list editing and a piano roll are additional options. Acid Pro users also get an unlimited number of loop tracks and can apply an unlimited number of loops. Video scoring is available, and projects can be saved to many audio or video file formats, including MP3, WAV, WMA, WMV, AVI and MOV.
Acid Pro also includes automated effects such as resonant filters, flange, wah, phase and EQ. A host of DirectX plug-ins (amplitude modulation, chorus, delay, distortion, reverb and more) are also included. And more than 400 royalty-free music loops from multiple electronic and popular genres come packaged on a CD. The upgrade price is $149.95 for registered users of Acid Pro 3.0. Sonic Foundry offers the software as a discounted download from its Website.
Sonic Foundry; e-mail
customerservice@sonicfoundry.com; Web
www.sonicfoundry.com
STEINBERG PLEX
VST SYNTHESIZER
Imagine combining distinct characteristics from Rhodes piano, Spanish guitar, marimba and synthesizer to form a new natural-sounding instrument. That is the basic concept behind Plex ($249.99), a new VST Instrument developed by Steinberg in cooperation with Wolfgang Palm of PPG Wave fame. Plex uses a new audio-analysis technique to split sounds into four entirely distinct parts: upper- and lower-frequency spectra, filter traits and amplitude envelope. Users can then swap any of the four parts of one original sound with any of the four parts from other original sounds to form different variations. Alternatively, completely new sounds are possible using the synthesis engine.
Plex characteristics include the ability to switch among 33 sound sources in real time; 97 analyzed sound sources (with 300 presets); a total of 64 notes of polyphony; a modulation section with stereo delay and flanger; three ADSR envelopes; Global Pitch LFO; and three additional synchable LFOs with waveforms such as sine, square, sawtooth and random. All parameters are controllable via MIDI, and users can create 16-step sequences. Plex requires a VST 2.0 host application and is available for Windows 2000/XP systems and Macintosh G4 computers using Mac OS 9.x or 10.2.
Steinberg; e-mail
info@steinberg.de; Web
www.steinberg.net
EVOLUTION MK-361C
MIDI CONTROLLER
Now that software synthesizers and samplers are hotter than an Ibiza VIP room, MIDI controllers are also receiving a once-unthinkable amount of buzz. Controllers made for computer musicians who are hungry for hands-on control have been rocking the desktop world. The latest in the craze is the MK-361C ($263) from Evolution. It stands out with a vertical row of 16 fully assignable rotary controllers and a five-octave keyboard with 61 full-size, touch-sensitive keys. The mod wheel and slider are also fully programmable. Each of the 18 controllers may be assigned to unique MIDI channels, thereby allowing control of multiple plug-ins on different MIDI channels. Data-entry buttons, rather than keyboard keys, make program and channel changes. In addition, 10 program memories remain stored even with the power off. Octave shift (±3) and transpose (±12) round out the feature set.
The MK-361C is USB-compatible and includes a USB cable and PC/Mac drivers. A MIDI Out port is present to incorporate additional MIDI gear and a sustain-pedal jack. The software bundle includes Sound Studio II, an audio/MIDI multitrack recorder; MusicTeacher, a keyboard education program; and MusicPlanet, a sample arrangement program for beginners. System requirements are Windows 98/ME/2000/XP and Mac 0S 9/OS X.
Evolution; e-mail
info@evolution.co.uk; Web
www.evolution.co.uk
NUMARK PDM-01
DIGITAL SCRATCH MIXER
Numark has taken immediate advantage of its new ownership of Alesis: The Numark PDM-01 ($560) digital 2-channel mixer uses Alesis components and is the first Numark mixer to wear the “Powered by Alesis” seal. A key feature to this 10-inch-wide battle mixer is its many crossfader options. DJs can toggle among eight different crossfader “effects,” each with variable slopes and modes. What's more, the faders are velocity-sensitive. All of the faders are interchangeable, replaceable and 100 percent digital. They employ a “fader saver” software algorithm meant to improve performance and extend life. Numark also boasts the overall sound quality of the 24-bit PDM-01, citing a >100dB signal-to-noise ratio and total harmonic distortion of 0.005 percent.
The PDM-01 features balanced master outputs, line-level outputs and both S/PDIF and optical/coaxial digital outputs. There are three line, one mic and two ¼-inch inputs. Both channels have 3-band equalizers with knobs and kill switches for each band and eight-position phono/line switches. The headphone output also receives a tone control. The PDM-01 is part of Numark's premium product line and is meant to complement the company's TTX1 turntable.
Numark; Web
www.numark.com
AMERICAN AUDIO Q-D5
OPTICAL CROSSFADE MIXER
Battle turntablists need long-lasting, reliable and fast crossfaders. American Audio aims to please this sect with the Q-D5 ($369.99) 2-channel mixer. It showcases an optical crossfader that the company guarantees with a lifetime warranty. This type of crossfader uses optical sensors to control fader position, meaning several things: Fader motion is fast, light and virtually noise-free, and without the need for degradable graphite or plastic contacts, the fader's life is longer. American Audio claims that the Q-D5 crossfader has been tested with more than one million “over and back” crossfades with no degradation.
Plenty of other essential scratch-mixer features are onboard. The channel sliders and the crossfader have independent fader curves and a hamster switch so DJs can easily scratch from any fader. The two main channels have 3-band EQ with knobs for treble, mid and bass and 100 percent kill switches for each band, whereas the mic channel has treble and bass knobs. Q Start lets DJs using American Audio CD players to crossfade straight to the desired cue point on a disc. The Q-D5 features balanced outputs, in addition to one mic, two ¼-inch, two line and two aux inputs. A special light control output interacts with lighting effects to create sound-activated light shows.
American Audio; e-mail
info@americanaudio.us; Web
www.americanaudio.us
or
www.americandj.com
CLAVIA NORD ELECTRO 2
DIGITAL MODELING SYNTHESIZER
The Nord Electro 2 is Clavia's second version of this synthesizer that digitally models many classic electric pianos and organs. The Electro 2 comes in 61-key ($2,000), 73-key ($2,200) and rackmount ($1,700) versions. The piano sample playback has been remade to enhance polyphony and to playback stereo pianos; it now also models the sounds of key releases, such as on the Clavinet and Wurlitzer sounds. A new factory sound set includes a stereo acoustic grand piano and a Mega Clavinet that mimics the filter and pickup variations of the original Clavinet D6. The Hammond B-3 simulation boasts full polyphony, drawbar location memory keyboard split and support for connecting a MIDI keyboard for dual manual-style play. Remaining sounds include two Rhodes pianos. A USB port allows downloading of Nord Electro piano samples aided by the Electro Tool sample dump software for Mac or PC. The Electro 2 includes a CD of piano sounds, and additional sounds are available on the Clavia Website.
The vintage effects section contains some new programs, such as a fatter overdrive, as well as chorus (two types), flanger (two types), phaser (two types), wah-wah (two types), tremolo, rotary speaker and more. Each of the 48 user memories stores complete instrument and effects settings. In addition to the USB port, there are stereo analog outputs, a headphone jack, three pedal inputs and MIDI In and Out.
Clavia (dist. by Armadillo); e-mail
info@armadilloent.com; Web
www.armadilloent.com
or
www.clavia.se
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