NEW PRODUCTS
Nov 1, 2001 12:00 PM, By Markkus Rovito
CDJ-1000 VINYL EMULATION CD PLAYER
The Pioneer CDJ-1000 “digital turntable” ($1,299) moves beyond mere scratching features to offer a full selection of turntable emulation features. The unit's touch-sensitive jog dial lets you cue, pitch-bend, backspin, scratch, and manually stop and start a CD as you would a piece of vinyl. The unit also displays a CD's audio as a graphic waveform, so you can visually locate appropriate mix points, such as breakdowns. The CDJ-1000's internal memory and removable MultiMedia Card can store thousands of cue and loop points, waveform data, and CD information. A tempo slider moves the pitch to adjustable degrees of ±6, 10, 16, or 24 percent, and 16 seconds of shockproof memory prevents skipping. Other features include a bpm counter and digital output.
Pioneer; tel. (310) 952-2747; Web www.pioneerprodj.com
X-9 DIGITAL DJ MIXER
Tascam's X-9 Professional DJ Digital Mixer ($1,375) is a 4-channel console featuring a built-in sampler and effects. The unit supplies digital and analog inputs and outputs, 3-band parametric EQ per channel, and 30 storable EQ or effects settings. Internal effects include reverb, delay, echo, flange, auto pan, pitch control, transformer, and lowpass filter, and external effects can be added through the X-9's effects send. The internal sampler will record from the mic input, master output, either side of the crossfader, or any of the four channel inputs. Low-, mid-, and high-frequency cut switches operate with both the sampler and the mic channel. Three reversible crossfader curves are also available.
Tascam; tel. (323) 726-0303; Web www.tascam.com
Cubasis VST 2.0 DIGITAL AUDIO SEQUENCING SOFTWARE
Steinberg's Cubasis VST 2.0 software ($99) is now available for Macintosh computers with Mac OS 8.6 or later. A stripped-down version of Steinberg's flagship Cubase program, the software provides 48 tracks of digital audio recording and 64 MIDI tracks. Cubasis includes internal effects and supports hundreds of available VST plug-ins. Several sound-creation programs — Universal Sound Module, Neon Synth, VB-1 Bass Synth, and LM-9 Virtual Drum Machine — are included with the software. Mastering, CD-burning, and MP3-converting software, as well as 600 MB of samples and loops, round out this complete production package.
Steinberg; tel. (818) 678-5100; Web www.steinberg.net
Home Studio 2002 WINDOWS AUDIO/MIDI RECORDING SOFTWARE
Cakewalk's Home Studio 2002 software suite ($129) is a lite version of the company's Sonar professional studio/MIDI recording package. With Home Studio 2002, musicians get unlimited audio tracks capable of importing MP3, Sonic Foundry Acid, and other audio format files. The program concentrates on loop-based music creation — it can adjust a loop's tempo and pitch to match the current project. Home Studio also includes Image-Line's Fruityloops Express program and a selection of audio loops. DXi soft synths are supported, and the program includes Audio Simulation's Dreamstation DXi and Virtual Sound Canvas DXi soft synths. Home Studio 2002's additional capabilities include up to 16 simultaneous real-time effects, graphic MIDI editing, and notation printing. The program is available for $49 to registered Cakewalk users.
Cakewalk; tel. (617) 423-9004; Web www.cakewalk.com
SP-505 GROOVE SAMPLING WORKSTATION
The SP-505 ($595) is the most deluxe Boss groove sampler yet. With a 15,000-note, four-part pattern sequencer, eight-note polyphony, 26 effects, and 64 built-in synth, bass, and drum ROM tones, it earns its workstation moniker. The onboard memory holds 124 seconds of mono samples, but nonproprietary SmartMedia cards can hike the capacity to more than an hour, while allowing for the import of WAV or AIFF files. The SP-505 can store up to 250 samples, which are triggered from the 16 sample pads. Sampling features include graphic waveform editing, resampling, bpm sync, and Sample Chop, which cuts loops into individual hits mapped to the sample pads. For playing notes into the sequencer, samples can also be pitched across a keyboard octave. Three real-time control knobs adjust effects, which include Vinyl Simulator, Isolator, Filter, Drive, Slicer, Tape Echo, several reverb algorithms, and more. The back panel houses digital inputs and line outputs, which include MIDI In and Out, mic, and line.
Boss; tel. (323) 890-3700; Web www.bossus.com
Nord Electro VIRTUAL ELECTROMECHANICAL KEYBOARD
Clavia's Nord Electro (61-key version, $2,100; 73-key version, $2,300) is designed to emulate classic electric pianos and keyboards such as the Rhodes Mk II Stage Piano, the Wurlitzer 200A, the Clavinet D6, and the Yamaha CP-80 Electric Grand. The keyboard also offers full-blown Hammond B-3 emulation and an acoustic grand piano. Overdrive, rotary speaker, equalizer, chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, wah-wah, auto wah, auto panning, and ring modulation constitute the onboard effects. A total of 48 memory locations store complete programs, while a USB port makes it easy to load new piano sounds in the future. Weighing less than 21 pounds, the keyboard is lightweight and provides full polyphony. The 73-key model also features velocity sensitivity.
Clavia; tel. (727) 519-9669; Web www.clavia.se
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