NEW PRODUCTS
Apr 1, 2007 12:00 PM, By Asher Fulero
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS TRAKTOR SCRATCH SYSTEM
SOFTWARE/AUDIO INTERFACE DIGITAL DJING PACKAGE
Native Instruments' new Traktor Scratch System ($669; www.native-instruments.com) places the company squarely in the center of the timecode-control DJing ring (can we call them TJs?). This well thought-out system is composed of three main elements. The centerpiece is the Audio 8 DJ; an 8×8 24-bit/96 kHz USB interface that acts as the hub for the system. The diminutive box offers inputs for digitizing vinyl favorites or receiving timecoded signals and outputs for separate mixes, effects and cueing (not to mention MIDI I/O) — all with Cirrus converters for clear, present sound.
The second element is the new Traktor Scratch software, an optimized version of NI's very popular Traktor DJ software specially optimized for timecode control. Key features include iTunes playlist support and iPod recognition, detailed automatic timecode recognition at high resolution and the clever ability to surf through playlists using the timecode itself. The third and final element to the system is NI's timecoded vinyl records and CDs; two of each are included with the system. Two custom-made Multi-Core cables are also included; these timecode-optimized XLR cables are ready to use with the turntable or CD player of your choice.
DIGIDESIGN REEL TAPE SUITE
ANALOG TAPE EMULATION PLUG-INS
Over the past few years, there's been a huge increase in software meant to bring back that “real-world” feel to sounds created in the digital domain. The goal is to provide computer sound designers with automatable access to the desirable elements of analog coloration without the high cost and regular maintenance of the real thing. With that in mind, Digidesign itself has created the Reel Tape Suite ($495; www.digidesign.com), a batch of RTAS, TDM and AudioSuite Pro Tools plug-ins that emulate not only the warmth and character but also some of the unusual uses of physical tape. The Reel Tape Delay plug-in emulates tape-based time effects such as regenerating dub delays and warm analog echoes; the Reel Tape Flanger offers powerful manually controlled flanges, auto double-tracking (ADT) effects and specific controls such as Wow/Flutter for achieving even the most obscure tape effect in its warm, analog glory. Truly the centerpiece is the Reel Tape Saturation plug-in, which offers musical and familiar-sounding warmth, bias control, machine noise and natural-sounding dynamic control that sounds like neither a compressor nor simple distortion.
TAPCO LINK.FIREWIRE 4×6
AUDIO INTERFACE
Winning the prize for coolest case on a portable interface, Tapco's new Link.FireWire 4×6 ($249.99; www.tapcoworld.com) is meant to provide rough and tumble, on-the-go audio without sacrificing any audio fidelity. Fully bus powered by the FireWire connection, it offers hi-res 24-bit/96 kHz quality on its two Combo jack inputs, both of which feature Mackie-designed mic pres and 48V phantom power. Balanced monitor outputs, headphone output and S/PDIF I/O round out a simple set of features; low-latency monitoring helps it play easy, while full quick-and-painless Core Audio, ASIO 2 and WDM support helps it play nice. But still, the coolest thing here is the soft rubber exterior, metal front rail guards and a cool collapsible swivel foot for standing on its side; it looks great. The Link.FireWire 4×6 ships with full versions of Mackie's Traktion 2 DAW program and Final Mix CD mastering plug-in.
KORG LEGACY COLLECTION — ANALOG EDITION 2007
VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT/EFFECT COLLECTIONB
Korg's original Legacy Collection garnered much respect for its dead-on re-creations of classic Korg synthesizers, replicating all the great original sounds without the various hassles of using the real things. Now updated, the Legacy Collection — Analog Edition 2007 ($299; www.korg.com) delivers the MS-20 and PolySix synths from the original package along with the brand new Mono/Poly, which re-creates Korg's very popular early/mid-'80s four-VCO synthesizer down to the front-panel design. Like the other plug-ins in the pack, the Mono/Poly uses Korg's proprietary Component Modeling Technology (CMT) to reproduce the sounds, character and response curves of the original unit. Also included with the package are the Legacy Cell synth and the MS-20FX and MDE-X effect plug-ins, which allow you to route audio signals through the synth emulators for interesting filter-type effects.
EDIROL M-10DX
10-CHANNEL DIGITAL MIXER
Like a scaled-down version of Edirol's new M-16DX digital mixer ($799; www.edirol.com), the more portable M-10DX ($449) offers a high-quality 24-bit/96 kHz audio engine. This little powerhouse packs several advanced features, such as finalizing effects on the output and a unique technology called Room Acoustic that uses a built-in sensor to sweep the sound space and automatically adjust the output in what Edirol calls “room compensation.” Four stereo-input channels are combined with two mono channels equipped with mic pres and XLR or ¼-inch inputs with gain control. Channel 1 offers a Hi-Z button for use as a direct guitar input. Included COSM effects provide compression, vocal enhancement and narration-optimized options, and the backlit LED screen gives quick visual feedback and spectral EQ graphs, which depict the EQ knob settings. Scene memory makes it easy to save custom setups of channel and effect parameters, making the M-10DX a complete digital-mixing package in one small unit.
ROLAND V-SYNTH GT
ELASTIC AUDIO SYNTHESIZER/SAMPLER
Introduced at this year's winter NAMM, Roland's new flagship synthesizer is a fully equipped powerhouse ready to provide quick access to real-time tweakable audio and detailed sound-design options and control. Several new concepts have been worked into the V-Synth GT ($3,299; www.roland.com), including Roland's interesting new Articulative Phrase Synthesis, which uses virtual oscillators or formants that can be applied to create modeled real-world sounds, as well as add life to synthesized sounds. Roland combines its Elastic Audio, COSM and Variphrase technologies with the newly designed and updated Sound Shaper II and Vocal Designer sections, which offer several commonly used structural layouts as quick-start guides for making original sounds or customizing channel strip-style control over the microphone input. This complex beast is tamed by a carefully created user interface that aims to constantly bring the most likely needed parameters to the foreground. The cool, full-color touch screen, eight physical knobs (which control the eight virtual knobs on the touch screen), the Time-Trip x-y controller pad and D-Beam are all easily accessed and assigned. Anyone serious about synthesis and sound manipulation should definitely look closely.
UNIVERSAL AUDIO UAD-XPANDER
EXPRESSCARD DSP SYSTEM FOR LAPTOPS
Too fast for FireWire, Universal Audio's new UAD-Xpander system (www.uaudio.com) offers high-resolution plug-ins and dedicated DSP processing for laptops with an ExpressCard port (including the new MacBook Pro). One of the world's first ExpressCard products, the UAD-Xpander offers the power and sonic fidelity of UAD's well-respected analog-modeled plug-ins for the first time in a portable format. Operating between 44.1 and 192 kHz, the ultrafast ExpressCard interface has about six times the bandwidth of FireWire; the Xpander not only frees your CPU from processing plug-ins but also saves your FireWire ports for hard drives and audio I/O. The system is available in four versions: the UAD-Xpander Xpress ($999, including a $500 UAD voucher), the UAD-Xpander Xpert ($1,399, including a $1,000 UAD voucher) and the UAD-Xpander Xtreme ($2,199, including all UAD 4.5 plug-ins), which will also include a highly polished chassis with custom Xpander logo. Each version includes a travel case, a key element for the laptop producer on the go. Available as an optional add-on, the UAD-Xtenda kit provides a PCIe card adapter, perfect for using the Xpander with desktop systems, in which case you will not have to pay for second plug-in licenses. Now it's easy to create big mixes at home and then bring them on the road without sacrificing a thing.
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATH-M50
STUDIO HEADPHONES
Audio-Technica's newest top-of-the-line headphones, the ATH-M50 ($199; www.audio-technica.com) rocks the company's well-loved 45 mm large-aperture drivers with a neodymium magnet system and CCAW voice coils. The closed-back, cushioned design helps isolate the listener from ambient noise, but the earpieces also swivel 180 degrees, making them easy for DJ-style one-ear listening. The cups also fold up into the headpiece for easy portability. The gold-plated -inch headphone connector can be adapted with the included screw-on ¼-inch extender, and the high-quality cable is coiled for strength and resilience. A protective pouch is also included. With clear, natural and accurate sounds, and a frequency response of 15 Hz to 28 kHz, these cans are designed to deliver wide-frequency, dynamically diverse audio in critical listening situations without ear fatigue. They also handle very high sound-pressure levels for deep, accurate bass. Upgrade your earbuds and protect your hearing while getting more accurate monitoring.
M-AUDIO TORQ XPONENT
DJ SOFTWARE AND MIDI CONTROLLER PACKAGE
M-Audio continues its reach into the realm of the digital DJ with the new Torq Xponent MIDI/audio interface ($749.99; www.m-audio.com). Preprogrammed to control all aspects of M-Audio's DJ software Torq (which is included), Xponent operates not only as an advanced MIDI controller but also as a 4-output, 16-bit/48 kHz USB audio interface compatible with ASIO and CoreAudio. Laid out like a DJ mixer with two identical control surfaces surrounding a center mixer strip, the Xponent contains several hip features. The touch pad at the top center can act as a two-button trackpad mouse or as a Kaoss-style x-y MIDI controller (great for Ableton effects), and the “scratch wheels” have touch sensitivity that, when enabled, will stop playback when the pad is touched and restart when let go for true turntable-style manipulation, making it much more than a standard jog wheel. Each side's control surface contains a pitch fader, a looping section, cue/hot-point/effects controls and two user-assignable “diagonal buttons,” while the center section sports volume faders, a crossfader and dual sets of 4-band EQ knobs with dedicated kill buttons. Every hardware button, slider and knob is preprogrammed for immediate compatibility with all parts of the Torq software, but they each send MIDI information, making the Xponent easy to customize for other software. Digital DJing just got a bit more slick.
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