New Products
Dec 1, 2002 12:00 PM, By Markkus Rovito
DIGIDESIGN PRO TOOLS 6.0
MAC/PC DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATION
Having Apple's OS X but no Pro Tools to use with it is like living in an unfurnished mansion. But with Pro Tools 6.0 (price varies depending on system) for TDM and LE systems, Digidesign's vaunted multitrack recording and MIDI sequencing program is now compatible with OS X and all of the advantages the system offers for musicians, such as its Core MIDI Services. Compatibility with Windows XP systems is planned for the first half of 2003.
MIDI tracks are upped to 256, and Restore Performance makes MIDI editing nondestructive. MIDI timing is now sample-accurate with virtual instruments and submillisecond-accurate for external MIDI devices. There are also new MIDI-editing features within the Pencil and Trim tools, as well as a new Groove Quantize option. On TDM systems, the Beat Detective can now generate DigiGroove templates, which analyze the dynamics and timing of audio passages at as high as 960ppqn resolution. Also for TDM users is an Import Session function that flies in any track attributes — such as audio or MIDI playlists, automation and plug-in settings — from one session to another.
The 6.0 update showcases a new streamlined design for the Edit, Mix and Transport windows. DigiBase, the new customizable file-management utility, improves Pro Tools file location from all sources like internal and external drives, CDs and so forth; it displays all file information such as duration, time stamps and user comments.
Digidesign; e-mail
prodinfo@digidesign.com; Web
www.digidesign.com
RANE EMPATH
DJ MIXER
Rane designed the Empath ($1,199) mixer with the input of Grandmaster Flash to be one of the most versatile 3-channel, 10-inch mixers ever made. It attempts to give maximum control with a busy interface that is still ergonomic. All four faders are made by Penny & Giles, and each channel, including the mic input, has wet/dry levers for use with the external effects loop. The three channels all have pan, gain and a 3-band EQ with full cut available per band and kill switches for the entire EQ. The mic input has a 2-band EQ. Each channel receives a crossfader assign control, and the automatic Flash-Cue lets DJs quickly choose crossfader A/cue-sum or crossfader B/cue-sum. The headphone section features ⅛- and ¼-inch jacks for simultaneous use, as well as low and high tone levers. Empath is also equipped with XLR, ¼-inch TRS and RCA outputs.
Selectable Auto-Gain prevents the changing levels from going too soft or clipping. The universal internal switching power supply makes the mixer playable anywhere in the world. Empath's level meters can monitor the stereo cue, stereo master mix, split cue or main output signals. Two assignable CD triggers work with any CD player with fader-start ability.
Rane; e-mail
info@rane.com; Web
www.rane.com
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS TRAKTOR DJ STUDIO 2.0
MAC/PC DJ PERFORMANCE WORKSTATION
Is this the next quantum leap in DJ technology or another example of computers making human skills redundant? The jury is out, because although Traktor DJ Studio 2.0 ($199; Mac OS 9/OS X; PC) purports to automatically match the tempo and phase of two tracks, it also brings new levels of control to DJs, as well as digital features unmatched by hardware. Traktor 2.0 incorporates the entire DJ setup into one program. Its redesigned interface features two audio-file players, a 2-channel mixer with 3-band EQ and kill switches, 8-pole bandpass/notch filters on each channel, waveform displays, a playlist, a cue section, a beat matcher and a digital scratcher. DJs can record all of their control movements during a session and interrupt or resume the mix at any point. Users can save each session as a compact Traktor control file without the need to duplicate the audio material. Users can also easily e-mail these small files to be played back by other Traktor 2.0 users with the same audio tracks.
Traktor 2.0 detects the tempo of audio tracks and aligns the phase in the waveform displays to make automatic beat matching possible. Manual beat matching is also made easier with the aid of the real-time waveform displays that show the audio ahead of time. Five cue points are available for each audio file and can be used to set tempo-accurate loops on the fly. There are also auto-fade settings and selectable sensitivities for the crossfader.
Native Instruments; e-mail
info@native-instruments.com; Web
www.nativeinstruments.de
VERMONA PERFOURMER
ANALOG SYNTH MODULE
In the tradition of classic analog synthesizers such as the Korg Mono, German manufacturer Vermona brings you the Perfourmer ($995), a four-voice analog synth module. Similar to its vintage forebears, the Perfourmer has a total of four VCOs that can be stacked to create one dense monophonic patch, or separated to play two voices with two VCOs each or four voices with one VCO each.
The layout of the 5U rackmount module presents 72 control knobs in eight rows of nine. Four separate sections for each oscillator include an ADSR envelope for the VCA or the VCF; an LFO section with speed and waveform controls; a VCO section with glide, tune and waveform controls; a 24dB lowpass filter with cutoff, resonance and key-track controls; and individual panning and volume controls for each oscillator. Sawtooth, square, 2× pulse and noise compose the oscillator wave choices, and each of the four sections also has an input for using external signals as the oscillator and an individual audio output that can alternatively be used as an effects insert. Each synthesizer section can modulate the one below it, and there are VCF and VCO mod controls in each section. Stereo main outputs reside on the back panel, as do two main filter inputs that route signals to all four channels equally for powerful filtering options. MIDI comes standard on the Perfourmer, and four CV/gate trigger inputs are optional.
Vermona (dist. by Enport); e-mail
enport@cox.net; Web
www.en-port.com
or
www.vermona.com
BITHEADZ PHRAZER 2.0
MAC LOOP-COMPOSITION TOOL
Loopy Mac-heads rejoiced when Bitheadz first released Phrazer, an Acid-like loop composer with features not originally found on its lysergic, PC-only doppelganger. Phrazer 2.0 ($299) is now compatible with Mac OS 10.1 or higher, as well as OS 8.6 through 9.x. Many other new features include support for MP3 loops; the ability to audition samples with current tempo and pitch; a Save As Project feature that dumps all related files into a single folder; and 900 MB of loops courtesy of Smart Loops, Sonomic, EastWest and Wizoo. The new customizable user interface offers improved sample-file search and integration with the major digital audio sequencers, such as Digidesign Pro Tools, Emagic Logic, MOTU Digital Performer and Steinberg Cubase.
Phrazer 2.0 provides pitch and tempo matching for audio loops and unlimited tracks with multiple loops in each track. Also present are a built-in sample editor and tempo calculation for samples. Two send effects for each track include the algorithm's flange, chorus, degrade, distortion, filter, compressor, delay with MIDI sync, EQ, reverb and others. The program is optimized for Apple's G4 Velocity Engine and will import many types of audio files, including Acid I and II files, and supports QuickTime movies. Updates will be available to current Phrazer users.
Also available is Phrazer LE ($99), a lite version of Phrazer with an 8-track limit and no plug-ins. It comes with more than 500 MB of loops.
Bitheadz; e-mail
info@bitheadz.com; Web
www.bitheadz.com
SYNAPSE AUDIO ORION PLATINUM
PC PRODUCTION SUITE
In the face of fierce competition, music-software packages keep adding value. One of the latest everything-but-the-kitchen-sink bundles is Orion Platinum ($199) from the German company Synapse Audio (formerly Sonic Syndicate). This Windows-only suite offers sound generation, sequencing, mixing and effects. The heart of the system is its group of 11 sound generators, including a sampler that supports Akai S5000, S6000; Kurzweil; SoundFont 2; and WAV formats. Ultran is a wave morpher similar to the Korg Wavestation, with four oscillators, three envelopes, two LFOs, custom velocity response and more. Other modules include Tomcat and XR-909 drum synths; Wasp, an FM synth; WaveDream, a wavetable synth; and Monobass and Plucked String, two modeling synths. A CD-ROM contains 600 MB of multisamples and 700 presets. Orion Platinum also supports third-party VST and DirectX Instruments.
A piano-roll sequencer combines with vintage pattern-based sequencing to arrange the music. The piano roll offers editing functions, unlimited undo/redo, automation and individual note-velocity editing. The mixer allows full automation of its controls, which include gain, pan, mute, solo and EQ. There are also two inserts and four effects sends. Support for VST and DirectX effects adds to the 26 internal effects, including reverb, delay, chorus, parametric EQ and others. Users can export their compositions as WAVs with as high as 32-bit, 96kHz resolution.
Synapse Audio; e-mail
info@synapse-audio.com; Web
www.synapse-audio.com
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