STUDIO
Apr 1, 2004 12:00 PM, By Doug Eisengrein
TASCAM US-2400
USB WORKSTATION CONTROL SURFACE
Tascam treats desktop musicians to another cool goody with the new US-2400 ($1,999). Unlike most DAW control surfaces out there, Tascam's newest offering is the first USB DAW controller that provides tactile control of 24 faders simultaneously — without bank switching or adding extra channel-expansion units. The US-2400 features 24 touch-sensitive motorized channel faders, as well as a motorized master fader, each boasting 10-bit resolution for supersmooth and precise control. Each channel has dedicated Select, Solo and Mute buttons, in addition to rotary encoders that can be set to control pan or as many as eight aux sends. All 24 rotary encoders can also be assigned as one large channel strip that includes a 4-band EQ and aux and pan controls. The ring of LEDs in each rotary knob can display a current control setting or be assigned to function as a channel meter during recording and playback. Also onboard the US-2400 are dedicated transport buttons, a jog/scrub wheel and a surround-sound joystick.
Tascam; e-mail
custser@tascam.com; Web
www.tascam.com
APOGEE AD-16X, DA-16X
A/D/A CONVERTERS
Undoubtedly, one of the most important links in any digital recording chain is a set of high-quality A/D/A converters. Among the most respected manufacturers of the aforementioned is Apogee, and it delivers with its new AD-16X ($TBA) and DA-16X ($TBA). The AD-16X (analog-to-digital converter) and the DA-16X (digital-to-analog converter) feature a redesigned Synchronous Switching power supply, standard sampling rates as high as 192 kHz, the C777 crystal-based clocking technology from Apogee's Big Ben, and optional Digidesign Pro Tools HD and FireWire expansion cards. Like their older cousins, the AD-16X and DA-16X use UV22HR, Apogee's own industry-standard word-length-reduction technology. The AD-16X and DA-16X also employ Apogee's most aggressive jitter-reduction technology. On the output side, the converters boast electronically balanced line drivers that are capable of simulating true transformer behavior and outputting levels as high as 26 dBu. Perhaps best of all, Apogee plans to roll these puppies out at a fraction of the street price of previous Apogee gear — nice.
Apogee; Web
www.apogeedigital.com
WAVES IR-1
REVERB PLUG-IN (MAC/PC)
From the labs of one of the world's undisputed champions of professional-audio software companies comes the IR-1 ($800, native; $1,200, TDM). IR-1 is Waves' latest wonder plug-in, a convolution reverb that contains not only all of the traditional controls of electronic reverb parameters but also the ability to edit the same key parameters of convolution-based reverbs. The package comes with an extensive library of presets, including samples of more than 60 of the world's most famous acoustic spaces and synthetic samples of more than 60 classic hardware reverb devices. Included in the IR-1 library are samples of spaces such as the Rome Santa Cecilia Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, the Skyscraper Stairwell and Birdland. Some of the cool parameters include room resonance, decorrelation, damping, convolution length, time, size, decay envelope, early reflections, reverb color and EQ. IR-1 is compatible with most major plug-in formats, including RTAS, HTDM, MAS and Audio Units for Mac; DirectX for Windows; AudioSuite; and VST.
Waves; e-mail
sales@waves.com; Web
www.waves.com
SYNTHOGY IVORY
VIRTUAL PIANO (MAC/PC)
Synthogy, a brand-new software company, has drawn the curtain on Ivory ($349), its first virtual instrument. Ivory has been built from the ground up to faithfully re-create the individual characteristics of three of the world's finest concert grand pianos: the German Steinway D9 Concert Grand, the Bösendorfer 290 Imperial Grand and the Yamaha C7 Grand. Under Ivory's hood are more than 3,500 32-bit samples designed to emulate every nuance of the concert grand. Every key of each piano was individually sampled in as many as eight dynamic levels. Ivory is both PC- and Mac OS X — compatible and runs as a plug-in in AU, VST and RTAS formats.
Synthogy; e-mail
info@synthogy.com; Web
www.synthogy.com
FOCUSRITE THE LIQUID CHANNEL
CHANNEL STRIP
Focusrite has dropped a bomb with the Liquid Channel ($3,495), a professional channel strip that is designed to precisely replicate any classic mic preamp and compressor. The Liquid Channel incorporates both analog design and Focusrite's SHARC DSP. Unlike units that use physical modeling (sampling) to create sounds that are similar to those of vintage gear, the Liquid Channel actually replicates the sonic behavior of vintage preamps and compressors through the application of Focusrite's trademark Dynamic Convolution. In addition, the Liquid Channel's hardware is capable of matching the input impedance and exact signal path of the units being replicated. All controls are digital, and the Liquid Channel offers 99 user memory banks. Forty classic mic-preamp and 40 classic compressor replicas come preloaded, and endless combinations can be uploaded or downloaded and archived via a rear-panel USB port.
Focusrite; e-mail
sales@focusrite.com; Web
www.focusrite.com
KORG LEGACY COLLECTION
VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT COLLECTION/CONTROLLER
Korg, known mostly for its keyboard workstations, has made a grandiose entrance into the world of software synthesis and control with the Legacy Collection ($TBA). The package contains software versions of three of Korg's own classic synthesizers — the MS-20, the Polysix and the Wavestation — as well as a miniature replica of the MS-20, which has been made into a USB/MIDI controller. The fully functional controller is made for use with the MS-20 soft synth and includes all of the knobs, controls and patch points of the original at 84 percent of the original size, along with a velocity-sensitive keyboard. Using physical patch cords, you can control the virtual patch cords of the MS-20 software. According to the heads at Korg, the MS-20 and the Polysix use a proprietary modeling technology that precisely captures the exact sound of the original analog instruments. The Wavestation soft synth also includes all of the waveforms, effects and sound programs of its original predecessor. A cool extra that is included in the collection is Legacy Cell, a combination structure that allows users to combine the MS-20 and the Polysix emulation synths for use as a single instrument.
Korg; e-mail
support@korgusa.com; Web
www.korgusa.com
RADIKAL TECHNOLOGIES SPECTRALIS
GROOVE BOX/SYNTH
Radikal Technologies made a splash in 2001 with its SAC-2.2 DAW control surface; now, the company dives deeper in the electronic-music waters with the Spectralis ($2,500), Radikal's first combo synth and groove box. Spectralis combines digital technology with analog sound. Spectralis includes a 32-track step sequencer with a familiar button matrix that can be used in conjunction with a programmable fixed filter bank. On the digital side, drums and pads are generated with 48 voices, and bass sequences are generated with a familiar step-edit function. The synthesizer sports two true analog oscillators with sine, triangular, PWM and sawtooth waveforms; the different waveforms can be mixed together on the first oscillator. All of this functionality is wrapped in an anachronistic-looking box with wooden sides and classic graphics reminiscent of the glory days of analog.
Radikal Technologies; Web
www.radikaltechnologies.com
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