STUDIO
Sep 1, 2003 12:00 PM, By Doug Eisengrein
NOVATION REMOTE 25
USB MIDI KEYBOARD CONTROLLER
Novation enters the desktop-recording race with the Remote 25 ($599), the company's new 25-key MIDI control keyboard. Designed for use with various software packages, the Remote 25 includes eight rotary encoders, eight rotary potentiometers, eight sliders and 24 switches, all of which are user-assignable. Novation raises the bar on the competition by including 25 semiweighted keys with aftertouch. On top of all that, Remote 25 also boasts an x-y axis touchpad for tweaking multiple user-defined control parameters simultaneously, as well as a backlit two-line display that reads back the names and values of all controllers, preset names and more. Dedicated transport controls are onboard, and 64 user-programmable templates — covering a wide range of applications such as Propellerhead Reason, Steinberg Cubase, Emagic Logic, Cakewalk Sonar and various apps from Native Instruments — are included. Remote 25 can be powered from USB, six C batteries or a dedicated power supply. Two MIDI Outs and one MIDI In are present, and drivers for Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP are included, with Mac OS X drivers on the way.
Novation; e-mail sales@novationuk.com; Web www.novationonline.co.uk
FURMAN SRM-80A
SIGNAL ROUTER / MONITOR
Furman's newest addition to its clan of flexible signal routers is the SRM-80A ($699), which is designed to make mixdown and dubbing of multiple copies between different media types simple while unclogging extra console channels. The acrobatic, single-space rackmountable SRM-80A allows mixdown to or dubbing between any of four stereo devices — such as DATs, cassette decks, CD-RWs or MiniDiscs — plus the main mix from a mixing board, using separate Output Select switches. Monitoring any of the sources is a snap with the Monitor Select switch and the high-power headphone amp with dedicated level control. The SRM-80A also provides the ability to switch between or simultaneously drive three different speaker pairs; it can also drive two sets of passive monitors from one power amp. Each speaker pair has its own front-panel level control so that different speaker types can be set to equal loudness levels. A Mono-Sum button is included to check for phase problems or to correct odd stereo arrangements in less-than-optimal listening environments for stereo. Also included is a Dim switch that lowers the outputs by 15 dB for situations such as talk-over to avoid changing the speaker levels individually. The SRM-80A also has a 2×40 LED level meter set to prefade with a slow-release peak-hold function. The meter is switchable between VU and Peak Program mode with the Meter Mode switch. The Source (mixer) inputs and inputs/outputs of device A are on balanced TRS; the inputs/outputs of devices B through D use RCA jacks.
Furman; e-mail info@furmansound.com; Web www.furmansound.com
APPLE FINAL CUT PRO 4
FILM-EDITING SOFTWARE (MAC)
When Apple's Final Cut Pro appeared on the scene a few years back, it forever changed the way digital video was edited by putting it right on the desktop of pros and hobbyists alike in a streamlined and affordable package. The next generation of Apple's wunderkind, Final Cut Pro 4 ($999), is packed with more than 300 new features, including (for the first time in an editing system less than $100,000) full 32-bit floating-point-per-channel video processing. Other new features include RT Extreme for real-time compositing and effects; powerful interface-customization tools; high-quality 8- and 10-bit uncompressed formats; advanced trimming and timeline tools, such as support for dynamic and asymmetrical trimming; and enhanced audio editing complete with multitrack mixing and multichannel audio output capabilities. Also included in version 4 are three new complimentary applications: LiveType for advanced titling, Soundtrack for music creation and Compressor for full-featured batch transcoding. Version 4 provides the ability to capture and transport uncompressed audio and video over FireWire, and projects are stored in standard QuickTime format.
Apple; e-mail info@apple.com; Web www.apple.com/finalcutpro
SOUND QUEST MIDI QUEST 9.0, MIDI QUEST XL
SOFTWARE MIDI EDITOR AND LIBRARIAN (PC)
If you record and sequence on a PC and own any outboard MIDI gear (especially if you're tired of scrolling through endless parameters on a tiny LCD), then you should take a close look at Sound Quest's Midi Quest 9.0 ($199) and it's older sibling, Midi Quest XL ($299). This slick pair of universal editor librarians for Windows includes complete on-screen editing for more than 600 MIDI devices from more than 60 manufacturers. In addition to offering such a large library, every control, and even the graphical interface, is completely customizable, allowing the user to decide how each instrument editor functions and looks. Both versions provide preset editing, user-bank and system-settings editing and keyword-searchable libraries for quick access. Presets, patches, combis, globals and more can be collectively uploaded to Midi Quest as a unit or even as a date-indexed set for editing, storage or trade with other Midi Quest users. The XL version ups the ante by adding functionality under VST host applications, allowing Midi Quest to be opened as a plug-in. Automation of instrument parameter changes is fully supported, and XL even automatically updates patch definitions and saves all settings with each project, making use within host DAWs completely integrated.
Sound Quest; e-mail midiquestsupport@squest.com; Web www.squest.com
MOTU MIDI EXPRESS 128, MICRO LITE
USB MIDI INTERFACES
MOTU recently released two new USB-powered MIDI interfaces, the MIDI Express 128 ($249) and the Micro Lite ($149). These two new pieces cover the needs of small to midsize MIDI rigs. The 19-inch single-space rackmountable MIDI Express 128 sports eight MIDI Ins and nine MIDI Outs, for a total of 128 MIDI channels. It is built with the same technology as MOTU's flagship MIDI Timepiece AV, providing submillisecond timing accuracy and high-speed throughput. Front-panel LEDs on the MIDI Express illuminate with MIDI activity. The budget-priced Micro Lite includes the same feature set as its bigger sibling but provides five MIDI Ins and five Outs, totaling 80 MIDI channels. It is housed in a half-rack chassis for portability and even includes removable rack attachments, as well as a custom center-joint fastener for rackmounting one or two side-by-side in a 19-inch rack. Both interfaces are plug-and-play and USB-bus-powered, eliminating the need for wall warts. Both include drivers for Mac OS 9/OS X and Windows 2000/ME/XP, making them compatible with virtually all MIDI software on both platforms.
MOTU; e-mail info@motu.com; Web www.motu.com
TASCAM FW-1884
DAW CONTROL SURFACE
The past few years have seen an explosion in DAW control surfaces, FireWire audio and MIDI interfaces and all manner of digital mixing consoles. Tascam, along with development partner Frontier Design Group, now steps up to the plate and hits hard with the new FW-1884 ($1,599). The FW is a combination control surface, audio and multi-MIDI interface that uses high-speed FireWire as its connection protocol. Compatible with a wide variety of popular DAW applications — including MOTU Digital Performer, Steinberg Nuendo and Cubase, Sonar and more — the FW-1884 provides four MIDI Inputs and Outputs, along with a comprehensive audio interface with 24-bit, 96kHz resolution. Also present are eight 100mm touch-sensitive, motorized channel faders and master fader, as well as select, solo, mute and pan controls for each channel. For audio I/O, eight balanced XLR mic/line inputs with phantom power on every channel are provided. The FW-1884 sports eight analog outputs and a headphone output, and digital I/O includes stereo S/PDIF and eight channels of ADAT Optical — all standard.
Tascam; e-mail custser@tascam.com; Web www.tascam.com
STEINBERG XPHRAZE
SOFTWARE SYNTH (MAC/PC)
Steinberg, the revered inventor of VST Instruments, isn't sitting around basking in its glory. Together with development partner Wizoo (creator of the VST Instruments Virtual Guitarist and The Grand), Steinberg is unveiling its newest VSTi offspring, Xphraze ($249.99). Xphraze is designed to provide users with a fresh way of creating rhythmic phrases quickly and intuitively; in just a few seconds and with only a few mouse clicks, you can build rhythmic music phrases. You then play them by simply holding down a note or a chord while Xphraze works its magic by automatically synchronizing the phrase generator, envelopes and LFOs to your song tempo. Xphraze's synthesizer lineup includes stereo polypatterns, bass lines, arpeggios, distorted chord riffs and quad-layered drum loops and effect patterns; all can be synchronized to tempo. Xphraze works with Mac OS 9/OS X and Windows 2000/XP.
Steinberg; e-mail info@steinbergusa.net; Web www.steinbergusa.net
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