NEW PRODUCTS
Feb 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Doug Eisengrein
TASCAM HD-P2
PORTABLE DIGITAL RECORDER
Are you in need of a pro-quality, remote-recording solution? The past several years have seen a gaping hole in that department, but Tascam comes to the rescue with its new HD-P2 ($1,299) Portable High-Definition Stereo Audio Recorder. The HD-P2 combines such modern conveniences as stereo recording to CompactFlash media, FireWire I/O and a built-in mono microphone and speaker (convenient for recording meetings) with true professional-grade audio solutions such as built-in SMPTE timecode input, up to 24-bit, 192kHz recording resolution, phantom-powered dual XLR microphone inputs and an input limiter to combat unpredictable signal clipping on those crucial one-takes. The HD-P2 records to broadcast-quality WAV files. A large, angled LCD makes either tabletop or shoulder strap use easy. The HD-P2 can run for approximately 5.5 hours on eight AA batteries and accepts an external DC power adapter.
Tascam;
www.tascam.com
TAB-FUNKENWERK V78M
TUBE MIC PREAMP
Perhaps a nice complement to the new Electro-Harmonix ribbon mic would be this other vintage-inspired gem, TAB-Funkenwerk's V78M ($1,075) vacuum-tube microphone preamp. The guts of the V78M are based on the popular Telefunken V72, built in Germany during the 1950s. In fact, original Telefunken blueprints were used in this unit's design by Oliver Archut himself, a former Telefunken engineer. Modern construction methods such as a rackable 1U chassis and printed circuit boards are used in the V78M, while the vintage goodness of hand-wound transformers and original “New/Old Stock” Telefunken EF-806 and EF-844 vacuum tubes are used, resulting in a preamp that is rich in harmonics and unique in color. The V78M includes an 11-position input sensitivity gain control switch (impedance selector), making it a suitable choice for everything from ribbon mics to modern, high-output condensers. The chassis' future-retro appearance is sure to look far out and copacetic in any rack.
Tab-Funkenwerk;
www.oliverarchut.com
BIAS MASTER PERFECTION SUITE
MASTERING/SOUND DESIGN PLUG-INS
Previously available only as part of Peak Pro XT 5 ($1,199), Master Perfection Suite (price TBA) is now a stand-alone product. The powerful array of mastering and sound design plug-ins will be available for use in Audio Units (AU), DirectX, RTAS and VST host applications. BIAS is in rare form with Master Perfection Suite; it is compatible with both Mac OS X and Windows XP machines. The six-plug-in suite includes Repli-Q, a spectral/EQ matching tool; PitchCraft, a creative pitch-correction and manipulation tool; Reveal, a seven-tools-in-one audio analysis collection; Sqweez-3 and Sqweez -5 linear phase multiband compressors/limiters/expanders; a new version of SuperFreq, a 4, 6, 8 and 10-band parametric EQ program; and GateEx, a gate/downward expander tool. Peak Pro XT 5 owners can upgrade their Master Perfection Suite free of charge to include the new AU, DirectX, RTAS and VST versions.
BIAS;
www.bias-inc.com
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-PRO700 SV, ATH-PRO5 V, ATH-PRO5 MS
PROFESSIONAL MONITOR HEADPHONES
Audio-Technica doesn't want working DJs to settle for anything less than pro headphones designed specifically for them. That's why the company has produced three types of headphones in its Import Series made just for DJs: the ATH-PRO700 SV ($280), ATH-PRO5 V ($120) and ATH-PRO5 MS ($120). These pairs of cans feature closed-back, circumaural architecture for extreme isolation, which is especially critical in the loud environments of clubs and parties. They also feature rotating earpieces for one-ear monitoring, gold-plated stereo ⅛-inch jacks, ¼-inch adapters and OFC (oxygen-free copper) cables. With large-aperture drivers of 40 to 53 mm, these headphones provide ample output in high-volume listening arenas. The lower-priced ATH-PRO5s deliver a frequency response of 15 Hz-28 kHz with a sensitivity rating of 103 dB, while the ATH-PRO700 SV extends the frequency response to 5 Hz-33 kHz and the sensitivity rating to 105 dB.
Audio-Technica;
www.audio-technica.com
ALLEN & HEATH MIXWIZARD WZ3 20S
ANALOG MIXING CONSOLE
There is a plethora of inexpensive, mediocre-quality, small-format mixing consoles out there, but happily, there are a select few companies, such as Allen & Heath, that produce affordable, high-quality small mixers. The WZ
Allen & Heath;
www.allen-heath.com
MOTU SYMPHONIC INSTRUMENT 1.1
ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS PLUG-IN
MOTU has unveiled version 1.1 of the recently released Symphonic Instrument ($295; free upgrade), an orchestral plug-in for both Mac and Windows. Large additions make this update notable, including disk-streaming technology and multiple output support. Version 1.1 is capable of loading 16 different orchestral instruments per plug-in instance, playing them all simultaneously and routing each voice to any of 16 separate stereo outputs, which then can then be piped to any stereo output pair available on a multichannel hardware audio interface. You can even create submixes by assigning two or more instruments to the same set of outputs. The new addition of disk streaming gives your RAM and CPU a break; this technology loads an instrument's corresponding samples from hard disk into RAM only when the samples are actually triggered, as opposed to loading them beforehand and keeping them in RAM. Disk streaming can be turned on or off individually for each of an instance's 16 different instruments.
MOTU;
www.motu.com
OPEN LABS NEKO 64 GEN2 / NEKO LE GEN2
KEYBOARD WORKSTATIONS
A few years ago, a new company called Open Labs opened eyes and ears by introducing a new kind of keyboard workstation — one that included not just a computer chip, but a full computer, complete with a laptop-sized monitor and a familiar Windows operating system. Open Labs is back with the next generation of its brilliant mutants, the NeKo 64 Gen2 ($5,995) and the “light” version, NeKo LE Gen2 ($2,295). Gen2 stashes a powerful 2GHz Athlon dual-core 64-bit processor under the hood, which runs Windows XP. Other new performance features include the RunSilent and PowerRush technologies. RunSilent maintains quiet operation and lowers operation temperatures by dynamically controlling CPU and fan speeds. PowerRush increases CPU clock speed on the fly in order to boost system performance as needed by heavier loads. Endless manual controls are on board, including various knobs, faders and buttons, an alpha control joystick and a standard QWERTY keyboard. The two new workstations both include a new sound library of hundreds of effects and more than 5,000 presets, and both are available in 61-key or 76-key versions.
Open Labs;
www.openlabs.com
EVENTIDE H8000FW ULTRA-HARMONIZER
EFFECTS PROCESSOR
Eventide, best known for its venerable Ultra-Harmonizer series of outboard effects processors, has lifted the curtain on a fully modernized version with the release of the H8000FW ($5,995). Four channels of analog I/O are joined by up to eight digital 24-bit, 96kHz channels, with choices of AES/EBU, ADAT or FireWire interfaces. The H8000FW combines the best presets and I/O options of its younger siblings, the H8000 and H8000A, along with FireWire to create a monster unit that is DAW-friendly and CPU-saving. The H8000FW includes 1,588 preset algorithms that made the Ultra-Harmonizer series famous, and the unit's Monolithic Tandem functionality allows the H8000FW to utilize both of its own internal processors simultaneously; this means that intensive workloads — such as 5.1 reverb mixes or up to eight simultaneous channels of multi-effects — are no challenge for the unit. For dedicated DAW users, the H8000FW includes a Windows- and Mac OS X-compatible graphic preset development UI.
Eventide;
www.eventide.com
ELECTRO-HARMONIX EH-R1
RIBBON MICROPHONE
Electro-Harmonix, famous for unique, vintage-style pedals and tube gear, steps up its microphone game with the new EH-R1 Ribbon Microphone ($399). The EH-R1 aims to capture the natural and open sound found in the best ribbon mics, but costs a fraction of the price of many competing models. Given EHX's reputation, you can expect a microphone of solid construction. The operation frequency range of the EH-R1 is 50 Hz-16 kHz. The mic boasts extremely thin corrugated aluminum ribbons designed to provide maximum sensitivity and minimal distortion. Like EHX's guitar and bass pedals, the EH-R1 comes in a sturdy wooden protective box. The mic weighs in at only 1.1 pounds (approximately), and has a sensitivity rating of not less than 1.6 mV/Pa at 1 kHz. Due to the ribbons' extremely sensitive nature, the EH-R1 should only be used in temperate environments: 50 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit is suggested.
Electro-Harmonix;
www.ehx.com
NHTPRO M-20
STUDIO MONITOR/AMPLIFIER
NHTPro, a brand that is little-known outside of high-end audiophile circles, nevertheless continues fighting to make a name for mighty products such as the new M-20 ($1,000/channel) studio monitoring system. Each M-20 comprises a nonpowered monitor coupled with a single-channel, 1U rackmount, 250W amplifier. Designed specifically with multichannel mixing environments in mind, the new system is a descendant of NHT's A-20 line and employs the same shielded drive components, including a 6.5-inch, long-throw woofer and 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter. New additions include a gun-metal gray cabinet with improved geometry and stronger bracing for the woofer. The tweeter features Ferrofluid in the voice coil gap and a micro-fiber edge to eliminate ringing. The woofer boasts a treated paper curvilinear cone, designed to improve on the rigidity of plastic cone designs. Each speaker is driven by its own Class A/B, 250W control amp that features a variety of unique controls, including boundary proximity, distance proximity and input sensitivity. A unique display provides critical information, including AC line voltage, heat sink temperature and average SPLs.
NHT Pro Audio;
www.nhtpro.com
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
