NEW PRODUCTS
Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Asher Fulero
ALLEN & HEATH ZED-R16
ANALOG MIXER WITH FIREWIRE AND MIDI
Returning home to the console mixer category, Allen & Heath drops the Zed-R16 ($3,499; www.allen-heath.com), which combines a full-on analog mixer with a multitrack FireWire soundcard, ADAT Lightpipe and deep MIDI integration, along with a flexible routing layout that can accommodate any situation from tracking, mixing and editing to DAW control, remixes and live recording. A newly designed transparent mic preamp, detailed 4-band EQ with two sweepable mid bands, separate artist monitor feeds, two dedicated analog outputs and an integrated talkback system with a built-in condenser mic all add up to studio flexibility. The assignable MIDI section includes four faders, 12 rotary knobs, 12 buttons and a dedicated transport section; in addition, all 16 channel faders can become MIDI controllers. And because most home recordists use DAW software, the Zed-R16 is equipped with a JetPLL chipset for minimizing jitter and providing a sync signal for other external gear. There are a lot of other cool features that are unique in this class, enough to make the Zed-R16 a definite must-see for anyone looking into an analog mixer front end.
G-FORCE M-TRON PRO
MELLOTRON EMULATION PLUG-IN
For those still unfamiliar with the classic '60s Mellotron keyboard, it was the original “sampler” — an early analog keyboard that played back 8-second tape-loop samples. It was a hit with all sorts of rock, prog and pop bands of the era, and has found a resurgence in the past few years thanks in some part to G-Force's first M-Tron emulator. The new M-Tron Pro ($199.95; www.m-audio.com) improves the whole package in several ways. First off, 19 of the original M-Tron tape banks were recently remastered at Abbey Road Studios to make them almost warmer than the real thing; the 3.5 GB bank has another 200 virtual tape banks, including 45 brand-new banks and 700-plus patches designed by longtime Mellotron users and artists. Secondly, the interface has been greatly expanded to offer techniques the original never could, such as layering, split points, reverse playback, half-speed, ADSR envelopes and awesome filter after-touch control. MIDI Learn makes it easy to control with any controller, and in addition to the powerful stand-alone application, the plug-in works in VST, RTAS and Audio Units formats.
NUMARK PT-01USB
PORTABLE TURNTABLE AND INTERFACE
Possibly a life-changing device for the right creative type, the Numark PT-01USB ($149; www.numark.com) is both a portable turntable with a built-in speaker that can fit into a 12-inch record case and a USB computer audio interface that is class-compliant and ready to help you convert records into digital files or rock your time-coded vinyl anywhere, anytime. The unit sucks power from six D-cell batteries or the included AC adapter. The included speaker gives you true portability: You could listen to vinyl in the middle of a forest or a desert. The turntable is also flexible, with ±10-percent pitch control; a belt-drive motor with 33, 45 and 78 rpm settings; RCA outputs; and a dedicated headphone jack. A 45 rpm adapter and first needle cartridge are included, as well as a protective dustcover with integrated carrying handle. The possibilities are vast; start your drooling now.
GENELEC 6010A AND 5040A
SMALL-FORMAT MONITORS AND SUBWOOFER
The first system from well-respected monitor designers Genelec to be expressly designed for small-format computer workstations, the 6010A Active Monitors ($375 per speaker; www.genelec.com) and 5040A Active Subwoofer ($750) provide classic Genelec tone with a tiny footprint. With carefully matched drivers and power amps, active crossover filters and Genelec's Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW), these monitors offer a combined 35 to 18k Hz frequency response with a 102 dB output (per pair), providing all the quality imaging and detailed fidelity for which the Genelec name is known. The subwoofer contains five I/O channels for complete 5.1 surround capabilities, as well as an ⅛-inch stereo line input for connecting iPods or MP3 players without needing an interface. Adjustable crossover phase and low-end roll-off for the 6010As are bonuses, as well. With magnetic shielding and a very low profile, these units can fit anywhere, so you can get the detail you need in even your smallest mixing space.
IK MULTIMEDIA T-RACKS 3
MASTERING SOFTWARE SUITE
With a legacy of years of popularity inside hordes of DAW-based studios, IK Multimedia T-RackS 3 ($499.99; www.ikmultimedia.com) brings a new level of sonic fidelity and a host of new tools to the suite. Using IK's two proprietary modeling methods — DSM (Dynamic Saturation Modeling) and SCC (Sonic Character Cloning) — T-RackS 3 delivers state-of-the-art renditions of the classic Pultec EQP-1A and Farichild 670 devices, along with a new opto compressor, multi-algorithm brickwall limiter and 6-band linear phase EQ. The original T-RackS compressor, multiband limiter, clipper and equalizer complete the suite, and they all have high fidelity, true oversampling. They come in VST, Audio Units and RTAS versions, as well as an expanded stand-alone version that includes a detailed metering section (with peak level, perceived loudness, phase scope, RMS meters and a customizable spectrum analyzer). The new mastering/mixing chain can run as many as 12 processors in parallel or in series, and there are a ton of other new features, including latency compensation, fade-in/out curves, scene snapshots and multiple file processing.
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT8022 AND BP4025
STEREO MICROPHONES
While stereo microphones offer all sorts of advantages to two discrete microphones (such as phase-accurate positioning, equal gain, and fewer stands and cables), they are often enormous and bulky. Audio-Technica has created an innovative coincident-capsule design that allows both capsules to be contained in a much smaller housing while delivering all the realism and spatial impact of a live sound field. The AT8022 ($499; www.audio-technica.com) is the workhorse of the pair, operable via either phantom power or a single AA battery, and packaged with both a dual-XLR balanced cable and a 3.5 mm stereo TRS unbalanced cable for use with professional or consumer recorders. The BP4025 ($749) operates only on phantom power and features larger-diaphragm capsules, as well as a switchable 10 dB pad and a highpass filter. Both mics are fully RoHS-compliant (free of hazardous substances) and are built heartily to withstand all the field-recording abuse you can dish out. Also, both mics include a stand clamp, windscreen and soft pouch.
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