NEW PRODUCTS
Sep 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By Doug Eisengrein
BIAS PEAK PRO 5, PEAK PRO XT 5
AUDIO EDITING SOFTWARE
BIAS has raised the curtain on Peak Pro 5 ($599) and Peak Pro XT 5 ($1,199), the company's flagship stereo recording, editing and mastering software platform for Mac. The XT (Extended Technology) version boasts new plug-ins, including PitchCraft, GateEx, Sqweez-3, Sqweez-5, Repli-Q and Reveal. Also included in the XT package are four versions of the SuperFreq paragraphic EQ and BIAS SoundSoap and SoundSoap Pro audio-restoration plug-ins. The new features in Peak Pro 5 concentrate on mastering and Red Book — standard CD preparation, including an upgraded Playlist that features a graphic waveform view with Quartz-2D drawing and transparency for crossfades and visual track adjustment, unlimited undo and redo capability and the ability to bounce files to multiple word lengths. Red Book standardization is now 100 percent replication-ready with the inclusion of track indexes, ISRC entry and CD Text entry. Another major addition is support for both VST and Audio Units plug-ins and instruments.
BIAS;
www.bias-inc.com
RME HAMMERFALL DSP MULTIFACE II
PCI AUDIO INTERFACE
RME has released a successor to its Hammerfall DSP Multiface audio interface with the new Hammerfall DSP Multiface II ($749). Although version II essentially offers the same feature set — including zero-CPU-load performance, ultralow latency and current firmware and driver compatibility — its new features come in the form of improved electrical circuitry. Taking its cues from the features of RME's flagship Fireface, the Multiface II's makeover includes an improved high-powered headphone output with a robust 119dBA signal-to-noise ratio, a dedicated headphone-volume knob, analog inputs with improved noise rejection and a 10dB signal-to-noise ratio, and input and output stages with lower total-harmonic-distortion ratings. Other notable changes are the addition of a cable hook used for securing I/O cables, including the power supply, and the replacement of the D-sub ADAT Sync connector on the original with improved spacing between the TRS jacks to accommodate thicker, better-quality cabling. All of the improvements come at no extra cost to the end user.
RME;
www.rme-audio.com
CROWLEY AND TRIPP STUDIO VOCALIST
RIBBON STUDIO MIC
The Studio Vocalist ($1,395), produced under the Crowley and Tripp moniker of newcomer Soundwave Research Laboratories, is a full-size ribbon microphone. This boutique-style, handmade mic utilizes a custom-designed ribbon motor that, according to the company, provides both a higher output level than most dynamic mics as well as a smooth, rising response. Intended for a range of instrument and vocal applications (despite its seemingly specific name), the Studio Vocalist is sensitive to proximity effect, particularly in the bass and midrange frequencies. Due to the acoustic properties of the ribbon motor, this asset renders it a particularly good choice for vocals, considering its inherently flexible frequency response. Crowley and Tripp mics are sold directly through Soundwave Research Laboratories; other models in the line include the Soundstage Image, the Proscenium and the SPLx series.
Crowley and Tripp;
www.soundwaveresearch.com
WAVES APA32, APA44-M
DIGITAL AUDIO PROCESSING ACCELERATORS
For those who want the top-shelf DSP goods but don't want smoke emitting from their CPUs, Waves releases the new APA32 ($1,600) and APA44-M ($2,400) Audio Processing Accelerators. The respective 1U and half-rackspace units are designed to free up the burden of host CPUs running Waves plug-ins in either native or TDM mode. The boxes connect to Mac or PC via standard LAN (Ethernet) connections, and a max of eight per computer can be run in conjunction with V-LAN switches. The units boast a superlow 8ms latency rating, and you can run multiple copies of heavy-duty Waves plug-ins simultaneously. The less-powerful APA32 allows users to run as many as six IR-1 Reverbs, 12 C4 Multiband Processors or 11 Renaissance Channels at 44.1 kHz, for example; the APA44-M is 30 percent more powerful than its smaller sibling.
Waves;
www.waves.com
YORKVILLE YSM2P
ACTIVE NEAR-FIELD STUDIO MONITOR
A consistent player in the speaker market, Yorkville offers up the new YSM2P (price TBA) powered studio monitor. Based on Yorkville's YSM1P technology, the YSM2P features a 5.25-inch, low-resonance, 4-ohm, woven-laminate low-frequency driver and a 1-inch dome tweeter. The monitor is biamplified, delivering 32W of power to the woofer and 14W to the high end. A precisely tuned, electronically active crossover optimizes frequency distribution and amplification efficiency. Onboard input trim control provides the ability to fine-tune the speaker according to room acoustics. The rear panel includes a power switch and line-level inputs on balanced ¼-inch and XLR connectors, and the ¼-inch jack will accept TRS or TS sources. The drivers are shielded for easy monitor placement near computer and video screens, hard drives or other sources of potential interference. Rounded front baffle edges minimize signal reflection, and the speaker sports a modern industrial design.
Yorkville;
www.yorkville.com
GEMINI iTT
DIRECT-DRIVE TURNTABLE
Staying true to die-hard vinyl junkies, Gemini has released the iTT ($339.95) Super High Torque Direct Drive Turntable. The iTT bears a pearl-white chassis with chrome trim and features a CPU-controlled 2.2kg/cm high-torque, direct-drive motor; quartz-locking ±10 percent pitch control; a solid aluminum platter; wide finger grooves for easy manual pitch adjust; a removable headshell; adjustable counterweight and antiskating controls; and all soft-touch buttons, including Start/Stop, speed selection and Quartz (lock). The straight tonearm features 6mm locking height adjustment, but perhaps the best features of all are the removable RCA and ground cables and the replaceable long-life white LED target lamp. Gemini left no stone unturned with iTT; the turntable even boasts 33, 45 and 78 rpm speeds.
Gemini;
www.geminidj.com
CYCLING '74 CYCLES: MOMENTARY INCURSIONS
SAMPLE LIBRARY
If you know any of Cycling '74's software packages, such as Pluggo, you probably know what's in store in the company's sound libraries. Cycles: Momentary Incursions ($99), produced by the Cycles series creator Ron MacLeod, marks the fourth addition to '74's collection of eclectic sample volumes. Ranging in length from milliseconds to more than a minute each, the samples concentrate on hits, effects and transitional sounds for everything from percussion to cinematic crescendos, tails and textures. As with the other volumes, Momentary Incursions supplies its goods as 24-bit WAV files in both 44.1 and 48kHz sample rates on a dual-disc set, including one DVD-ROM and one standard playable CD for quick reference. Rhythmic samples are also provided as 24-bit REX files. All titles in the series were composed with Cycling '74 tools Max/MSP, Pluggo, Mode, Hipno and Radial. The packaging is meant to be inspiring yet quickly read; it utilizes a coding system on the spine whereby colored arrows indicate general sound type and average sample length.
Cycling '74;
www.cycling74.com
TC ELECTRONIC SYSTEM 6000 TDM
PLUG-INS FOR PRO TOOLS
Here is some good news for Digidesign Pro Tools TDM users: Four plug-ins using the sophisticated algorithms of TC Electronic's top DSP system, System 6000, will be available to TDM system owners. The four plug-ins in the System 6000 TDM (price TBA) line — MD3, VSS3, DVR2 and NonLin2 — will be offered and priced separately. MD3 is a 3-band compressor, limiter, expander and 4-band parametric EQ mastering plug-in; VSS3 is a stereo reverb that emulates the chaotic response of real rooms with an algorithm containing almost 800 parameters; DVR2 is a precision emulation of the famous EMT250 reverb unit from the 1970s; and NonLin2 is yet another stereo reverb that features 20 reverb types and 20 twist types, with an emphasis on creating totally original reverb effects.
TC Electronic;
www.tcelectronic.com
E-MU XBOARD 25, XBOARD 49
USB MIDI CONTROLLER KEYBOARDS
E-mu has added its name to the list of makers of USB MIDI controller keyboards with the new Xboard 25 ($149.99) and Xboard 49 ($169.99). These compact PC- and Mac-compatible units feature full-size, velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch, pitch and mod wheels; 16 fully programmable control pots including discrete MIDI channel assignment; a variety of function buttons; and a single control slider. The keyboards can be powered by USB, battery or AC power. As for what makes these units different, each controller includes Xboard Control editing software, and if you're a Windows user, you'll appreciate E-mu's Proteus X LE desktop sound module that comes bundled with the boards. Like E-mu's immensely popular Proteus X hardware sound module, the desktop version includes more than 1,000 patches out of the box. Ableton's Live Lite 4 (Windows only) is also included with the package, and perfect for this inclusion is the Xboard Latch Mode, which allows for assigned sections of the keyboard to act as on and off triggers.
E-mu;
www.emu.com
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