THE SECOND ANNUAL Remix TECHNOLOGY AWARDS
Jan 1, 2004 12:00 PM
If you've been checking out Remix for the past year, then you've seen dozens of the latest music products reviewed and previewed. This past fall, we, the Remix editors and contributors, got together and picked out a few of our favorite new production and performance products from 2003. This year's awards comprise 15 separate categories ranging from workstations and plug-ins to keyboards and turntables. And with that, let's unveil the second annual Remix Technology Awards.
Digital Audio Workstation
Emagic Logic 6 (Mac)
Emagic along with its new owner, Apple Computer, continues to turn out an all-around excellent product line with the Logic series. Version 6 sees the addition of some forward-thinking elements such as Freeze tracks, a vastly improved file-management system, a new track EQ and more. Furthermore, the integrated instruments and effects allow for an amazing level of stability. We can't wait to see what Emagic has lined up for 2004.
Turntable
Vestax PDX-2300
With DJ turntables, how do you improve upon a decades-old design? If you're Vestax, you provide vinyl jocks with a new level of pitch control and skip-free playback. Picking up where it older sibling, the PDX-2000, left off, our pick for the year is the PDX-2300, which offers ±50 percent Ultra Pitch adjustment (as well as ±10 percent Fine Pitch control); a digital pitch readout; a hefty 2.7 kg of start-up torque; and a sleek, futuristic design.
Computer Audio Interface
Digidesign Digi 002 Rack
Seldom has there been a better example of true plug-and-play ease of use. Offering a professional I/O architecture and the latest version of Pro Tools LE, Digidesign's Digi 002 Rack is a tough act to beat. At a price point that many can afford, the 002 Rack has helped to level the audio-production playing field. Designed for both Mac and PC platforms, the 002 Rack can turn a modest computer into an impressive audio rig with one simple FireWire connection.
Signal-Processing Plug-In/Bundle
Native Instruments Reaktor 4 (Mac/PC)
File this one under “more than meets the eye.” Native Instruments unleashed more than a collection of bizarre signal processors and instruments; the company created a lifestyle obsession. Reaktor not only boasts an excellent suite of prefab audio tools but also provides users the means to create their own processors and instruments. Now in version 4.0, it's difficult to listen to any IDM, industrial or video-game score and not hear the churning, twisted sounds of Reaktor at work.
Control Surface
Tascam FW-1884
More than just a control surface, the Tascam FW-1884 speaks to a bright future of powerful FireWire-based interfaces. The FW-1884 delivers audio and MIDI I/O, as well as supports control-surface templates for a wide variety of DAWs. Its universal appeal and slick design have made it an immediate hit.
DJ Performance Mixer
Vestax PMC-37Pro
Vestax had the performing club DJ squarely in its sights when it released the PMC-37Pro, touting it as a multigenre mixer for the “seriously creative DJ.” Built around a 3-channel design and boasting integrated effects sends, an adjustable crossfader and 3-band isolators with 100 percent kill, the PMC-37Pro impresses us with both its sturdy construction and flexible signal-routing architecture.
Soft-Synth/Sampler Plug-In Instrument
Arturia Moog Modular V (Mac/PC)
Everything old is new again. It's hard to discuss anything synthesizer-related and not eventually come around to that box that started it all, the Moog. And with this great new product, Arturia saw fit to meticulously re-create a virtual version of the Moog Modular. Endorsed by Bob Moog himself, the Arturia Moog Modular V brings all of the classic sound-design and modulation capabilities to a new generation of synth gurus. Some modern additions to the program include such amenities as presets, multiple views and the ability to have more than one Moog running at a time, without shelling out any more dough!
Hardware Sampler
Roland MC-909
If Roland hadn't started its line of Grooveboxes way back when, Remix might not even be here to rave about its latest addition to the line, the MC-909. Part sampler, part synth, part multitrack recorder, the MC-909 is a true cut 'n' paste audio-production workstation that is loaded with enough sounds, effects and control options for users to truly take projects from concept to completion without touching another piece of gear.
Soft-Synth Workstation
Propellerhead Reason 2.5 (Mac/PC)
Propellerhead was the first company to come out with the soft-synth workstation concept, and with Reason 2.5, it remains the top of the crop. With a closed-platform approach, Reason is the one program that simply doesn't crash. The latest additions to its suite of effects (new reverb, distortion, vocoder and more) have helped to make Reason an integral part of any project or professional studio, and with industry-wide support for the ReWire format, it's here to stay.
STUDIO FAVORITES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
Microphones: M-Audio jumped into the world of studio condensers this year with two excellent products, the Luna and the slightly more expensive Solaris. Both are well-suited to a variety of vocal- and instrument-recording chores….Audio-Technica released the AT3060. This phantom-powered tube microphone boasts A-T's famous reputation for pristine sound and is clearly priced for the home-studio crowd….And for those of you who just received a sizable advance from your record label, the Neumann TLM 127 is the mic for you. The TLM 127 is a large-diaphragm condenser that includes such high-end amenities as cardioid and omni patterns, a switchable -14dB pad, a highpass filter and an extremely flat (20 Hz to 20 kHz) frequency response.
Monitors: Alesis delivered a multichannel monitoring package that everyone can afford. The ProActive 5.1 System includes five satellite speakers, a subwoofer and an integrated controller in an all-inclusive package — just wire it up an go!…KRK added two sets of low-cost passive monitors, the ST6 and the ST8, to its line….Blue Sky brought some heft to its lineup with the beefy Big Blue, a 500W three-way monitor.
Headphones: If you are in need of studio-quality headphones, check out the AKG K 171 and the K 271….Audio-Technica offers ATH-M20 Professional Monitor Headphones, which feature a closed-back design and an excellent full-spectrum response similar to that of the ATH-M30 and the ATH-M40.
Hardware Synthesizer
Roland V-Synth
With the proliferation of time-stretching and pitch-shifting technologies, it seemed inevitable that some company would eventually put it all in a box that you could play. Well, leave it to Roland to trump the competition with its awe-inspiring V-Synth. With the ability to independently adjust the pitch, time and formant of a piece of audio, as well as freeze and reverse it in real time, the V-Synth is a true innovation.
DJ CD Player
Denon DN-S5000
While the debate about digital versus vinyl technology rages in the DJ community, Denon is blurring the lines even more. With the DN-S5000, DJs can now spin and control CDs with the same ease as vinyl. Boasting a true-to-life spinning platter and vinyl disc, the DN-S5000 includes all of the controls that you would expect on a DJ CD player, making it an instant classic in our book.
Digital DJ Software
Native Instruments Traktor DJ Studio 2.0 (Mac/PC)
Although any search of shareware sites reveals an abundance of available DJ-software packages, there is just something to be said for going with a name brand. With Traktor DJ Studio 2.0, Native Instruments, which has built a solid reputation within the computer production community, brings powerful bpm-detection, playlist-creation and file-management capabilities to a true dual-platform application.
Digital DJ Hardware Interface
Stanton Final Scratch 1.1
By pairing up with Native Instruments, as well as continuing the evolution of its own software, Stanton delivered a formidable hardware solution for DJs looking to incorporate digital files into their sets. Built upon a concept that incorporates the traditional two-turntable setup into the digital signal flow, Final Scratch offers both the portability and the effortless setup that gigging DJs require.
Audio Editor/Loop or Sample Tool
Ableton Live 2 (Mac/PC)
It's rare that a single product comes along and literally changes everything. Ableton Live rewrites the book of both music production and performance. Live is the first program to allow users to change static audio files into fluid pieces of musical fodder. Boasting excellent stability, an ingenious interface and audio-recording capabilities, Live is at the forefront of the next revolution in music production.
DJ Scratch/Battle Mixer
Rane Empath
Rane knew what it was doing when it handpicked Grandmaster Flash to help design its latest scratch mixer, the Empath. Modeled on a classic 3-channel chassis, the Empath delivers goodies such as FlexFX effects loops, Penny + Giles faders, adjustable fader slopes, multiple outputs and more. Now available in a range of motifs, including the gold-and-black Grandmaster Flash signature edition, the Empath is bound to be proudly displayed in DJ rigs the world over.
PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS YOU CAN AFFORD
Effects/Mic Preamps: The Electro-Harmonix Holier Grail reverb pedal isn't just for guitar players. Check it out for your DJ or synth rig, too….BBE's 482i Sonic Maximizer is a rackmount unit constructed to withstand nonstop touring and designed for sound requiring low noise and high headroom. Also check out BBE's DI-1000 Sonic Maximizer Direct Box….The adorable Mackie DFX•6 onstage mixer is the perfect size (and price) for portable live needs. It features six channels and onboard effects, including delay, chorus, reverb and flange….Used as a mic preamp or instrument direct box, the PreSonus TubePre handles a frequency range of 10 Hz to 80 kHz, and its compact steel construction means that it's portable and road-ready.
Mics/In-Ear Monitors: Looking for a solid in-ear monitoring system? The Shure PSM 200 comes as a wired or wireless receiver (the latter with a 300-foot range), and the foam and plastic construction of the E2 Earphones isolates outside sound….The Numark WS32 (wireless) and WM200 (wired) mics are great for those DJs who have something to say….AKG's Emotion/Tri-Power Series of microphones includes both wireless and wired varieties. The inexpensive D 880m is great for the stage….The Sennheiser e 816 S is a cardioid mic especially good for cutting through a high stage-level mix.
Miscellaneous: If you have a rackmount-heavy setup with effects processors, sound modules and so forth, you'll want to protect the goods. The SKB Roll-X rack cases accommodate 19-inch rackmount gear, and with a handle and wheels, you can roll it through the airport….If you've ever been jolted up the arm because of a janky power strip, you'll be happy to know that you can bring your own power-surge strips and blocks to your gigs. Check out the Furman Pro Plugs.
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