NEW PRODUCTS
Dec 1, 2001 12:00 PM, By Markkus Rovito
TTM 56 PERFORMANCE DJ MIXER
Rane brings forth its latest turntablist toy, the TTM 56 ($999) 2-channel mixer featuring Rane's proprietary noncontact magnetic faders on both channels and the crossfader. The noncontact faders are designed to operate perpetually with no travel noise or bleed. The faders also have reverse switching and two selectable curves with adjustable contours: Normal or Special Effect curve. Both channels have stereo line and phone RCA inputs, and the master outputs come as RCA or ¼-inch. Other ¼-inch connections include a stereo effects send and return, a balanced mic input, and a headphone output. The unit provides an auxiliary input with a level knob and stereo RCA inputs and outputs. The two channels each have low, mid, and high EQ knobs, gain knobs, pan sliders, and EQ and FX send cut switches. A single slider controls the wet/dry level of the effects for both channels.
Rane; tel. (425) 355-6000; e-mail
info@rane.com; Web
www.rane.com
Plasma MUSIC CREATION AND REMIX SOFTWARE
Plasma ($69), Cakewalk's new DJ-oriented looping software for Windows, is based on Cakewalk's professional-audio and MIDI recording software, Sonar. Plasma offers multitrack audio and MIDI recording, support for DXi software synths and DirectX effects plug-ins, and drag-and-drop prerecorded loop composition in the tradition of Sonic Foundry's Acid. Plasma includes the DreamStation analog-style soft synth and a new effects plug-in called FXPad. Using a standard PC joystick or a mouse, FXPad users move the cursor across a grid to morph the parameters of multi-effects, simulating the touch-pad effects controls previously seen only in hardware units. The DirectX audio effects included in Plasma are Pitch Shifter, Parametric EQ, Stereo Chorus, Delay, Flanger, and Reverb. You may also add any DirectX effects you like. Plasma uses Acid-format loops, which will match a selected tempo and key in real time when dropped into a song. The package includes a CD-ROM of Acid-format loops, and it will import standard WAV and MP3 files. The Fruityloops Express loop generator is included for creating new Acid-format loops.
Cakewalk; tel. (617) 423-9004; e-mail
sales@cakewalk.com; Web
www.cakewalk.com
A-Station ANALOG MODELING SYNTH
In the tradition of its popular Bass Station analog rack synthesizer, Novation has created a new analog-modeling digital synth, the A-Station ($699). With what Novation calls Liquid Analogue filters, the A-Station uses sizable digital processing power to re-create rich analog tones with 12 dB or 24 dB resonant lowpass filters. The filter also has overdrive control. Features include 8-note polyphony; 200 preset patches; a 12-band vocoder; and distortion, reverb, stereo chorus, and MIDI-syncable delay effects. All 25 control knobs transmit MIDI data for recording knob movements into a sequencer. Each of the two LFOs can be individually synced to MIDI clock, in different time signatures if desired. LFO shapes include triangle, sawtooth, square, and random; two knobs control the speed and delay of the LFOs. An onboard arpeggiator can also sync to MIDI clock or to one of the LFOs. An audio input allows an external source to be used as an oscillator, routed through the filter and envelope generators, or processed by the A-Station's vocoder or internal effects.
Novation; tel. (800) 668-2846; e-mail
salesusa@novationusa.com; Web
www.novationusa.com
VSTi Host 3.0 VST APPLICATION HOST
VSTi Host 3.0 ($35), from Defective Records Software, allows Mac users of Digidesign Pro Tools, MOTU Digital Performer, and other non-VST software to take advantage of the large array of VST soft synths, instruments, and plug-in effects. VSTi Host also lets owners of Cubase and Logic use those VST-supporting programs with other digital-audio-sequencer software. The VSTi Host 3.0 environment starts with any VST instrument and adds either an AIFF file playback or a real-time audio input. Next, the signal is routed through as many as four VST effects programs. New features of the 3.0 upgrade let you record the output signal as an AIFF file. You also get a virtual MIDI keyboard and support for ASIO-compliant hardware to improve latency. For ten bucks, VSTi 2.0 users can upgrade to 3.0.
Defective Records Software; tel. (410) 243-3653; e-mail
dan@defectiverecords.com; Web
www.defectiverecords.com
Audio Cleaning Lab AUDIO RESTORATION SOFTWARE
Sure you love your vinyl records, but what do you do when their quality degrades beyond the chic vinyl-crackle quotient? One option comes from Audio Cleaning Lab software ($49) for Windows by Magix. The program digitally captures and restores recordings from worn-out vinyl, cassettes, or any other source. Different “guidance wizards” take users step-by-step through the process of creating digital remasters of their damaged records. The program can remove pops and hissing sounds, level out the stereo volume, apply a 10-band EQ, or process the recording with reverb, echo, compression, or any of 13 other included effects. Audio Cleaning Lab will even burn the results to CD.
Magix; tel. (310) 656-0644; e-mail
support@magix.net; Web
www.magix.com
Xone 464 and 32 DJ MIXERS
Allen and Heath introduces the Xone 464 professional club mixer ($1,799) and the more compact Xone 32 ($1,399). The Xone 464 is a 10-channel mixer with 4 mono mic/line channels and 6 stereo channels, each with dual A/B inputs for the possibility of 12 stereo sources. Each channel has 4-band EQ, and each band cuts up to -23 dB, so you can slice and dice frequencies out of the mix. Color-coded lights indicate which channels are assigned to the X and Y sides of the fader; both sides feature an analog filter with a resonance knob and toggle switch. Each filter offers highpass, lowpass, bandpass, or notch settings. The mixer also has aux sends and insert jacks for effects, compressors, or other signal processors.
The Xone 32 mixer provides three channels with dual stereo inputs and 3-band EQ. A single analog resonant filter adds LFO effects that are controlled using a tap tempo button. The filter offers high-, low-, and bandpass settings.
Allen & Heath; tel. (801) 568-7660; e-mail
marketing@allen-heath.com; Web
www.allen-heath.com
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
