New Products, May 2008
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Asher Fulero
ARTURIA ORIGIN KEYBOARD
Digital Modular Synthesizer
Part of Arturia's exciting new hardware initiative, the Origin Keyboard ($3,499; www.arturia.com) combines a richly interactive control set with the best of Arturia's synthesizer modeling to create the modern version of a modular synthesizer. Packed into a stylish frame with retro wooden sides, the Origin comes with an adjustable control panel that can be tilted to any angle and closes protectively over the keyboard in a DeLorean kind of way. Under the hood lies a powerful 32-voice, 24-bit/96 kHz engine run by two TigerSHARC chips that allow you to combine more than 80 modules extracted from Arturia's Minimoog, CS-80, ARP 2600, Moog Modular, Jupiter-8 and Prophet VS soft synths. The Origin sports 10 audio outputs and two analog inputs for effecting external sources, and you can use it as an Audio Units or VST plug-in for a DAW on a connected computer. In addition to the 61 synth-action keys with velocity and aftertouch, the Origin carries a 40 cm ribbon controller, pitch and mod wheels, a massive number of knobs and endless rotary encoders, and a cool joystick that can operate in three different modes. Digital S/PDIF output and MIDI In/Out/Thru round out this synth that will surely cause some double takes.
KRK ERGO
Room-Correction System
Created in partnership with Lyngdorf Audio and using its Room Perfect correction algorithms, KRK's ERGO ($799; www.krksys.com) system combines Enhanced Room Geometry Optimization with an A/B/Sub speaker switcher, a master volume knob and a 4-in/6-out FireWire audio interface. The package comprises the ERGO unit, a KRK measurement microphone and the control software (compatible with Mac, WDM and ASIO). Connect the mic to the main unit and let the software run you through collecting the appropriate samples. The hardware does the rest, using its 1,024 built-in dynamic filters and Lyngdorf's custom algorithms to create a 3-D image of the room and filter the outgoing audio, balancing out problems such as standing waves, reflections and phase issues. In addition, you can use the illuminated buttons on the front panel to enable/disable two sets of monitors/outputs. A third illuminated front-panel button switches between two listen modes. In Focus mode, the corrected area is “focused” on the immediate sweet spot for mixing accuracy. In Global mode, the area is widened for sharing the corrected mix with more listeners — a great way to wow friends with ERGO's capabilities.
BBE TWO-TIMER
Dual-Mode Analog Delay Pedal
Like two pedals in one, the BBE Two-Timer ($209; www.bbesound.com) offers two delay times so you can switch between two custom settings, such as a slapback delay and a longer delay for soloing. Inspired by the long-extinct Boss DM-2, the Two-Timer uses all the techie pedal tricks to achieve its pristine sound, including a BBD (Bucket Brigade Delay) circuit, one-percent metal film resistors and a true hard-wired bypass. Dial in the two delay times, set the Repeat knob amount and balance the Mix knob for quick access to complex sounds, all within the analog realm. Along with a five-year warranty, BBE includes an external power supply to help save batteries and the hassle of a separate purchase. Plus, the graphic on the front almost single-handedly earns the Two-Timer a spot on the pedal board.
ALLEN & HEATH XONE:42
4-Channel USB DJ Mixer
The Allen & Heath Xone:42 ($1,499; www.xone.co.uk) is a hybrid DJ mixer and USB audio interface that carries high-performance features while retaining a simple and clean interface. All the basics appear, including 60 mm VCA faders, 3-band EQ per channel with true kills, metering on each channel and the killer Xone:Filter with its selectable filter type and frequency/resonance controls. New to the Xone line is the X-FX system, which acts as a specialized aux send — great for connecting external online gear like a Kaoss Pad. Each of the four channels has a dedicated Mix knob, and the return can be routed directly to the Xone:Filter. The USB connection lets you play back computer files patched into the X-FX system and record from the mixer's main output. The USB port shares a “fifth” channel with the XLR microphone input and features its own 2-band EQ and level control. With a curve-controllable 45 mm VCA crossfader, two headphone outputs, dedicated booth output and XLR main outputs, the Xone:42 has all the requisite capabilities, plus some powerful new ideas rolled into an intuitive interface.
MOTU ELECTRIC KEYS
Vintage Keyboard Virtual Instrument
Delving into the crowded field of vintage keyboard re-creations, MOTU has released Electric Keys ($295; www.motu.com), a virtual instrument for VST, DXi, MAS, Audio Units and RTAS formats. Electric Keys focuses on bringing the classic sounds of electro-mechanical keyboards from Fender, Yamaha, Korg, Roland, Hammond, Wurlitzer, Hohner, Elka, Farfisa, Mellotron, Moog, RMI, ARP and others to your favorite DAW. With a vast 40 GB library made from more than 20,000 carefully organized 24-bit/96 kHz samples, Electric Keys uses MOTU's 32-bit UVI playback engine to efficiently stream the multiple velocity layers and release samples for each preset with 256-note polyphony and no voice stealing. Each of the 12 banks of keyboard types features its own skin. (Users can install only the banks they want.) The simple interface offers just the basics: Volume, Tone, Bass, Middle, Treble and Drive controls, plus a Tremolo/Pan section with Depth and Speed controls. Two sounds may be loaded simultaneously for quick switching, each of which may be routed to the eight available effects. Also with MIDI Learn, Electric Keys can turn your laptop into a complete vintage keyboard brain.
YAMAHA POCKETRAK 2G
Portable Audio Recorder
Yamaha's Pocketrak 2G ($449; www.yamaha.com) portable recorder is sleek and powerful, capable of 2-track recording in PCM, MP3 and WMA formats to the 2 GB of internal Flash memory. It has an awesome pop-out USB connector that connects it to a computer like a normal USB jump drive for easy file transfer. Yamaha claims that the internal rechargeable AAA nickel-hydrogen battery gets 19 hours of recording time on a single charge, and the unit may be conveniently recharged via USB. The controls are simple and straightforward, ready to help you quickly record audio anytime, anywhere. The attached stereo microphone, built-in speaker, headphone output and ⅛-inch external microphone input round out the connectivity, and the whole package comes bundled with Steinberg Cubase AI, which assists and simplifies the transfer/usage of recorded audio within the software.
VOXENGO VARISATURATOR
Analog/Digital Saturation Plug-In
Try Voxengo VariSaturator ($69.95; www.voxengo.com) as a creative way to make your tracks louder, punchier and more pronounced without increasing the overall volume or killing your dynamics. First, a crossover divides the incoming signal into two bands with an adjustable split point. Next, the two separated bands head to the Valve Saturation section, which applies asymmetric valve amplifier cascading (without the usual phase-shift and high-frequency roll-off side effects), followed immediately by a Digital Saturation section that uses waveshaping to apply desirable harmonic coloration and amplify signal level. In VST and Audio Units formats, VariSaturator works with Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista (32- and 64-bit). Other features include A/B settings for comparison, a preset manager, undo/redo history, Mid/Side capabilities and helpful contextual hint messages that appear in the lower bar. If not used carefully, Varisaturator can destroy all the fidelity you've worked to achieve in your mixes, but when used appropriately, it can add all sorts of real-world coloration back into those sterile computer mixes.
ALESIS iMULTIMIX 9R
Rackmount 9-Channel Mixer With iPod Integration
The Alesis iMultiMix 9R ($399; www.alesis.com) offers a quick and easy way to combine live performance with professional backing tracks on an iPod, all within a single rackmountable mixer. Compatible with classic and fifth-generation iPods, as well as the second- and third-generation iPod Nano, the iMultiMix 9R also includes five mic/line channels and a stereo line-input channel in addition to the iPod channel, which can act as a second stereo line channel when the iPod dock is not in use. Each of the five mic/line channels offers switchable phantom power, an insert, 2-band EQ, Gain and Pan knobs, and two aux sends (although the mixer itself has only one stereo aux return). A Headphones/Monitor section offers a dedicated volume control, and the main channels and master channel each have a 60 mm volume fader for fast and accurate mix control. For musicians and small venues looking to easily combine live mixer channels with iPod playback, the iMultiMix 9R fits the bill.
AVANTONE ELECTRONICS ACTIVE MIXCUBES
Mini Reference Monitors
The Auratone 5C Sound Cubes were popular in the '80s and '90s for allowing mix engineers to “preview” what their mixes would sound like on lower-fidelity systems. The new Active MixCubes ($359 pair; www.avantelectronics.com), self-powered versions of the popular originals, rebirth that concept. With much attention paid to detail, the paper speaker cone is made from New Zealand pulp material blended with mica fibers, and the cloth surround material is made in Japan with unique dampening characteristics. The 8-ohm, 5.25-inch driver is held by a die-cast aluminum frame inside the sealed cabinet design filled with Dacron acoustical stuffing. A 7 mm neoprene pad embedded in the cabinet base serves as both an acoustic isolator and a skid resistor. Also, Avantone recessed a standard mic-stand mount into the base. Inputs are offered on XLR, TRS (+4 balanced) and RCA (-10 unbalanced), and the whole thing weighs only 8.8 pounds. With a frequency range of 90 to 17k Hz, the Active MixCubes might not have the most pristine numbers on the market, but they do offer a quantifiably recognizable translation of what your mixes will sound like out in the real world of iPod docking stations and car stereos — something every modern producer can use.
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
