STUDIO
Dec 1, 2003 12:00 PM, By Doug Eisengrein
AKAI MPC1000
MUSIC PRODUCTION CENTER
In 1988, Akai Professional introduced the now-legendary MPC60, which was followed by the venerable MPC2000, one of the most purchased and sought-after samplers ever made. The beefier 3000s and 4000s followed that, and now with technology producing ever-smaller machines, Akai is fulfilling the desire for a compact, portable laptop-size MPC with the MPC1000 ($999). Although the new MPC is not much bigger than an A4 sheet of paper, Akai has not compromised the MPC heritage. The 1000 inherits many of the major features of its much bigger siblings but is housed in a compact chassis that is great for the road. The MPC1000 includes the trademark 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads that have been an essential component of the MPC series since the MPC60, retaining the feel and swing of the entire MPC family. The original MPC60's transport and locate controls and the Note Repeat function are included. Notable new hardware additions are the two Q-link sliders that allow real-time interaction with tuning, filter cutoff, layer switching, attack and decay. Other new features of the 1000 are the use of CompactFlash as a storage medium, compatible with cards as great as 2 GB, as well as a USB port that uses the Mass Storage Standard. This provides simple drag-and-drop capability between your Mac or PC and the MPC1000 without the need for drivers. Sixteen MB of RAM come standard and can be expanded to 128 MB. Two MIDI Ins and two MIDI Outs are also standard, for 32 total MIDI channels. The MPC1000 houses two independent effects processors and one global effects processor that can be used simultaneously; the trademark 64-track sequencer is still standard.
Akai; e-mail
akaipro_support_us@akaipro.com; Web
www.akaipro.com
EDIROL PCR-80
USB MIDI KEYBOARD CONTROLLER
Edirol has decided to go big with the latest addition to its line of PCR keyboards, the PCR-80 ($395), which offers all of the features common to the PCR-30 and the PCR-50 but sports 61 full-size velocity-sensitive keys. Like its smaller PCR siblings, the PCR-80 can derive its power via USB or AC. It offers 34 controls (including eight rotary knobs, eight sliders, nine buttons, two pedal inputs and a combo pitch/mod wheel), of which 27 are fully assignable to control any MIDI message. The internal memory includes presets for many DAWs, including Steinberg Cubase, MOTU Digital Performer, Digidesign Pro Tools LE and Cakewalk Sonar. More control maps are available for download at www.edirol.com. Control of software synths and hardware sound modules is also supported. In addition, the PCR-80 offers 16 user memory locations to store different control arrangements and also comes with a powerful software editor for creating custom control maps.
Edirol; e-mail
sales@edirol.com; Web
www.edirol.com
BITHEADZ UNITY 3.2
SOFTWARE SYNTH/SAMPLER (MAC)
The whole family of BitHeadz' trademark software just received a nice tune-up with the release of version 3.2. The Unity 3.2 ($199-$499; free update for 3.x users) synth/processor/sampler family comprises Unity Session, Unity Synth Expander, Unity DS-1 and Unity AS-1. The main focus of this latest update is to increase the integration of the Unity line into RTAS-, VST- and Audio Units — supported sequencers under Mac OS X. The improved interface provides the user with program-specific controls, such as oscillator and filter parameters, modulation-routing effects and modulator aspects, in addition to the library, bank and program selections. In addition to Core Audio support, the Unity family features minor bug fixes, improved Unity Player functionality, Unity Librarian functionality and an enhanced user interface in plug-in mode that supports real-time sample editing. Incoming audio can also now be used as a modulation source, run through AS-1's Ring Modulator and passed through a synthesizer's filters, either on its own or mixed with the audio output of a Unity program. Audio can also be used as a trigger for voices and envelopes, rounding out a flexibility-laden update to an already lithe family of programs.
BitHeadz; e-mail
info@bitheadz.com; Web
www.bitheadz.com
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS B4
ORGAN PLUG-IN INSTRUMENT FOR MAC OS X, RTAS (MAC/PC)
The past few years have seen a virtual revolution in soft instruments with replications of various classic synths, basses and guitars and all manner of original software synthesis. At the front of the pack is Native Instruments, which has released several of its own replications, as well as some powerful originals, such as the B4 ($299), a virtual copy of the famed Hammond B-3 organ. The B4 has been improved since its previous incarnation and is now compatible with Mac OS X and RTAS. The full version now includes the Mac OS X and RTAS updates, plus the B4 Tonewheel Set Vintage Collection, at no additional cost. An RTAS-compatible version is also included for Windows XP. For a remarkably small fee, the good folks at NI are offering registered B4 users the update that includes Mac OS X Core Audio and Core MIDI support for use in stand-alone or plug-in mode. Support for the latest plug-in formats — including Audio Units, RTAS and VST 2.0 on Mac OS X, as well as RTAS on Windows XP — is also part of the upgrade. Users can now run the B4 organ as a plug-in within Digidesign Pro Tools on Windows XP and Mac OS X (via RTAS), Emagic Logic Audio on Mac OS X (via Audio Units), and Steinberg Cubase SX and Nuendo on Mac OS X (via VST 2.0). The B4 retains its previous interfaces of VST 2.0 (Windows and Mac OS 9/OS X), DXi, MAS (OS 9) and FreeMIDI.
Native Instruments; e-mail
info@native-instruments.com; Web
www.native-instruments.com
DIGITAL AUDIO WAVE ANNEX S3
FIREWIRE/USB EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
What do you do when you need mobile storage between your studio's laptop and tower, and you're at a loss for available USB and FireWire ports? Get yet another hub? No, because here comes Digital Audio Wave to save the day with the AnneX S3 ($299), a high-performance combo FireWire and USB external hard drive. The AnneX S3 is available in a choice of capacities, including 60, 80, 120 and 180 GB. The S3s are easily stackable ATA100/7,200 rpm — type drives, with 8MB caches for critical high performance and smooth data transaction for taxing, content-rich data such as audio, video and graphics. The S3 drives boast transfer rates of 100, 200 and 400 Mbps via FireWire and 480 Mbps via USB 2.0. In addition, the interface is also USB 1.1 — compliant (12 Mbps) for use with older systems. They are compatible with Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP and Mac OS 9.04 (or later). The S3s are plug-and-play and hot-swappable, with a rear-panel interface that includes one USB connector and two 6-pin IEEE 1394 — type FireWire connectors. Options include a cooling fan and customized enclosure colors.
Digital Audio Wave; e-mail
info@digitalaudiowave.com; Web
www.digitalaudiowave.com
BOSS BR-864
8-TRACK DIGITAL STUDIO
Once upon a time, if you wanted to record yourself at home or in rehearsal with your band, you bought a 4-track tape recorder. The problem was, if you wanted to play that tape on a normal stereo, you were out of luck unless you rerecorded to yet another noisy tape. Along come digital ministudios, and voilà! Tape hiss is finished. The BR-864 ($595) is the latest such digital ministudio, and the people at Boss mean mini. The BR-864 is the first 8-track that fits in one hand. Each of the eight tracks comprises eight virtual tracks for a total of 64 “takes,” and all eight active tracks can be played simultaneously with dedicated EQ on all playback tracks. The BR-864 also sports a programmable Rhythm Guide drum track with Tone Load function on its own fader, replacing your drummer. The onboard effects feature Boss' proprietary COSM guitar-amp-modeling and bass simulator, as well as new wah, guitar-synth and Harmonist effects. The BR-864 uses 128MB CompactFlash media (one is included) for storage, providing users with more than 60 minutes of recording time. A built-in USB port allows for fast and easy WAV and AIFF file exchange with PCs. The I/O section includes a combination instrument/Hi-Z input, XLR and ¼-inch mic inputs, a stereo RCA line input and a S/PDIF digital output.
Boss; Web
www.bossus.com
M-AUDIO SOLARIS
STUDIO CONDENSER MIC
Following hot on the heels of the Luna, its first venture into the world of studio mics, M-Audio steps it up a notch with the Solaris ($359.95), a spiffy-looking large-diaphragm condenser mic that is aesthetically modeled much like its older sibling. If the critical acclaim of the Luna mic offers any clue, this should prove to be a welcome addition, as Solaris offers a full range of goodies: a precision-designed three-micron-thick diaphragm, selectable polar patterns and a bass-rolloff filter. It also sports a switchable -10dB pad, which rounds out features that are usually reserved for high-end studio and stage mics. Intended for a wide range of use — including vocals, acoustic instruments, rooms and other sources — Solaris should find a niche for itself in home and professional studios, alike, with musicians and engineers who need excellent-quality sound on a small budget.
M-Audio; email
info@m-audio.com; Web
www.m-audio.com
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