New Products, August 2008

Aug 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Asher Fulero

SOLID STATE LOGIC MYNX

MINI X-RACK MODULE CHASSIS

SSL's range of SuperAnalogue X-Rack modules have been around for a while now, but to get in the door you had to start with the $1,500 rack and then add the modules — out of the range of many digital DJs and laptop producers. But with the new Mynx ($595; www.solid-state-logic.com), a two-module X-Rack system with all the high-level circuitry and manufacturing precision of SSL's highest-end Duality and AWS 900+ consoles, the SSL sound is within reach. Choose any two of the eight X-Rack product range to create your perfect Mynx rack: Combine a SuperAnalogue Mic Pre and Dynamics for a great microphone channel, or pair the VHD Input and Channel EQ for the perfect rock DI unit. Mynx can also fit one of the double-size Stereo Bus Compressor modules to make a portable master channel compressor of the highest quality. Although it lacks the capability of total recall featured in the larger systems, Mynx still carries its own weight. Made of rugged 4 mm-thick extruded aluminum, it's a sturdy unit. Put the analog back into your computer world at the lowest price point yet.

STANTON UBERSTAND

DJ LAPTOP UTILITY STAND

Most clubs offer DJs a table for setting up their gear; many have installed DJ booths at the optimized height for turntable control. However, with a laptop set at table level, the DJ will often have to lean over to see the small DAW text or DJ software controls on the screen. Stanton offers an elegant and sturdy helper called the Uberstand ($99; www.stantondj.com), an aircraft-grade, stainless-steel and aluminum foldable workhorse that raises the laptop a foot while offering a secondary tier below for holding an auxiliary hard drive or small audio interface. With reusable plastic ties and Velcro, the Uberstand folds up into an included 12-inch zippered bag for uberportability — exactly the kind of stage bling a traveling DJ needs.

HERCULES DJ CONSOLE RMX

USB MIDI CONTROL SURFACE

Designed to deeply integrate with Hercules' Virtual DJC 5 software for Mac or Windows (included), the DJ Console RMX ($349; www.hercules.com) is also a USB MIDI controller and audio interface that can work with any MIDI-compatible software to offer DJs a flexible and powerful dual-deck system. The solid-metal case and nonslip feet offer durability for DJs on the move, and it comes bundled with a cool carrying case. The two precise jog wheels can be used for scratching audio, shuttling playback and other data entry, while the six faders, 12 rotary encoders and 46 buttons offer deep session control or flexible assignment schemes for even the most detail-oriented DJ. Its built-in audio interface offers four mono outputs on both ¼-inch and RCA and two stereo analog inputs with phono/line level selectors. The front panel also sports a ¼-inch talk-over mic input and a stereo ¼-inch headphone output with dedicated volume knob. Three-band EQs with kills, dual transport controls, separate pitch faders with detented centers, a very sensitive crossfader and more top-level features make the DJ Console RMX a fine choice for an on-the-go digital DJ.

UNIVERSAL AUDIO 710 TWIN-FINITY

DUAL SIGNAL PATH PREAMP/DI

Bringing new meaning to the phrase “the best of both worlds,” Universal Audio has created the 710 Twin-Finity ($999; www.uaudio.com), a single-channel but dual signal path preamp and DI box. Audio from its XLR or ¼-inch inputs is routed simultaneously through the 300V tube section and the transimpedance solid-state section with a carefully phase-aligned, tone-blending knob at the center that lets you sweep the Twin-Finity between 100-percent tube and 100-percent solid state for a wide range of available tones. Pre- and post-gain knobs let you dial in the internal structure, while simple switches provide access to a 15 dB pad, +48V phantom power, phase in/out and a low-cut filter, as well as the ability to make the included VU meter display the drive amount or the total output. The included rack kit allows two Twin-Finity units to be racked together to make an ultrahigh-end stage input that offers way more fidelity and clarity for your important tracks than a cheap stage DI.

AMERICAN DJ LED MESSENGER

TEXT-GENERATING LED STAGE LIGHT

Tying together the newest direction in stage lighting with a chance to say something with your lights (literally), American DJ's LED Messenger ($439.95; www.americandj.com) uses the extremely low-power-consumption, cool-running and longer-lasting LED bulbs to great effect. The 192 LEDs can spell out words — as many as 30 characters in total. Simply use any Sony PS2 keyboard to enter your message and aim the unit at a surface. To offer a bit more flexibility, the LED Messenger can double as a Moonflower effect with three DMX channels, a 4-button LED DMX display menu (with linkable master/slave capability) and a wireless remote (sold separately); it also sports a Sound Active mode that will move to the music. The LED Messenger is ready to transmit whatever you'd like, no matter how cheesy; just don't make us sorry we told you about it.

DIGIDESIGN TRANSFUSER

REMIXING RTAS PLUG-IN

Digidesign is hoping that its new RTAS plug-in, Transfuser ($295; www.digidesign.com), will inspire modern dance and electronic producers to love Pro Tools by offering some futuristic tools inside a groove-oriented interface that makes it a snap to create killer fluid grooves from even the most mundane of sources. Using a modular layout almost as if Reason were made up of Ableton modules, samples or regions can be dragged from the desktop, left-hand browser or from within Pro Tools itself and dropped into Transfuser using one of the four basic Synth modules. The Slicer Synth will divide audio at its transients and allows the slices to be rearranged or manipulated. The Phrase Synth will beat-match any audio to the current session tempo (similar to Warping in Ableton). The Drums Synth provides 12 Sample Pads — great for dropping in your favorite hits. Lastly, the Input Synth lets you use Transfuser's awesome effects on any incoming Pro Tools audio. Using the different Sequencer modules, Effects modules, Controller section and powerful randomizer (called MARIO, Musical Advanced Random Intelligence Operations), you can seriously glitch out and destroy your audio all with a rhythmic bent that is impressive and perfect for modern production styles.

G-SONIQUE XBASS 4000 L

ANALOG BASS-SATURATION/ENHANCEMENT PLUG-IN

Bringing the kind of power found in the well-respected Waves MaxxBass plug-in to a much lower price bracket, G-Sonique XBass 4000 L (15 euros, approx. $23; www.g-sonique.com) offers a precision, psychoacoustic algorithm-based, low-end enhancement that can make your lower-spectrum tones more audible without adding volume. With analog-style saturation emulation and controllable higher-order harmonic frequencies, XBass 4000 L can help clarify and energize your bass lines, kick drums, synthesizers and any low-end-heavy tone. Bass enhancement can also be a great mastering tool, offering much better low-end translation, especially for those working with MP3s or other compressed formats.

BEHRINGER EUROLIVE B415DSP

15-INCH POWERED P.A. SPEAKER

Behringer's Eurolive B415DSP ($739.99; www.behringer.com) offers some seriously powerful options at a surprisingly low price point in an attempt to make a powered speaker for the future. Packing a hulking 600W into its 74 lb. frame, the trapezoidal box is actually loaded with a 24-bit DSP processing system that not only mixes the two parallel inputs (each with its own volume and peak LED) together, but it also offers a digital noise gate, low-cut filter, 2-band EQ, dynamic contour filter, a phase- and time corrected digital crossover, and an output compressor/limiter. An extra line output allows multiple units to be linked, and the unit can be pole-mounted, angled on the floor as a monitor or freestanding. This newest Eurolive entry offers a huge amount of power, and with its flexible architecture, it could serve a lot of useful roles.

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