NEW PRODUCTS
May 1, 2007 12:00 PM, By Asher Fulero
ALLEN & HEATH XONE:S2
PROFESSIONAL DJ/Club INSTALLATION MIXER
Allen & Heath's new Xone:S2 club DJ mixer ($1,999; www.allen-heath.com) represents a true upgrade; while most elements were beefed up, the heart of its success — flexibility and simplicity — remains. In four 19-inch rackspaces, the S2 offers four channels with dual-stereo inputs (with faders that are swappable between linear or rotary VCA modules), two channels with mono microphone or stereo line inputs and a complete cueing system. The cool Xone analog filter section is assignable to any input or patchable to the main bus for sweeps across the entire mix and powerful control beyond simple track EQ. The system also offers a front-panel stereo RCA input for quick guest spots without needing access to the back panel (iPods, anyone?). A front-panel USB port provides quick laptop input or recording from the S2's main output. The stereo XLR main outputs also have a separate mono XLR output for a monitor/zone feed or for sub-bass output. Other powerful features include a dedicated alarm input that mutes all channels when active, a booth monitor control and a mic input ducking system. The S2 also supplies three headphone jacks with volume knobs, great for sharing the decks.
NUMARK TOTAL CONTROL
USB/MIDI TABLETOP DJ SOFTWARE CONTROLLER
With more DJs replacing their records and turntables with a laptop and controller, more companies are releasing USB MIDI-controlling hardware. Numark's newest piece, the Total Control ($449; www.numark.com), is a completely bus-powered, driver-free USB MIDI controller that champions a familiar two-deck interface. An array of 31 buttons, 20 knobs, five faders and two jog wheels provide complete access to all necessary DJ functions. Packaged with the video/audio DJ programs Cue and Native Instruments Traktor LE, the Total Control includes film overlays that identify premapped parameters for each. Every knob sends MIDI, which means the Total Control can be used with just about any software. Use the Total Control to scratch audio or video files or manipulate them simultaneously; whatever your favorite way of working, the Total Control has the interface, integration and cool blinking lights to do it.
STANTON FINALSCRATCH OPEN
PLATFORM AGNOSTIC DJ AUDIO/MIDI INTERFACE
Creators of the original vinyl-timecode-control technology, FinalScratch, Stanton has announced FinalScratch Open ($TBA; www.stantondj.com), which simultaneously makes its technology available to developers to integrate into their programs as well as makes the ScratchAmp FireWire interface available for the first time by itself. Current FinalScratch owners need not fear; they already own the ScratchAmp and can take advantage of software upgrades as they come. New users can get in on the action without needing an entire system.
The ScratchAmp itself is a full-featured, class-compliant FireWire audio/MIDI interface that operates at a maximum 24-bit/96 kHz resolution with minimal latency. Offering timecode input for FinalScratch users, dual FireWire ports and a cue-able headphone amplifier, the ScratchAmp can work as a stand-alone audio/MIDI interface for producers of any kind. MIDI DJ surfaces and random audio inputs are no problem, and with Stanton looking to incorporate its timecode technology into other software, it won't be long before DJs can use their timecoded records and CDs to control a variety of programs without needing a separate interface.
APOGEE SYMPHONY MOBILE
24-BIT/192 KHZ EXPRESSCARD INTERFACE FOR MACBOOK PRO
Apogee's X-Series and Rosetta-Series digital audio converters have been audiophile studio must-haves for years now and are finally compatible with Intel Mac laptop systems, thanks to Apogee's new Symphony Mobile ($595; www.apogeedigital.com). Designed specifically for the Apple MacBook Pro's speedy ExpressCard port, the Symphony Mobile connects with a single cable to any Apogee box with an X-Symphony Card installed, offering a maximum of 32 channels of 24-bit digital I/O at rates as high as 192 kHz. Fully Core Audio compliant, it uses Apogee's advanced Maestro software for internal routing of audio and can operate at latency as low as 1.6 ms from analog-source-in to analog-source-out at 96 kHz. This is real studio-grade power available for laptop-heads and producers on the go.
AUDIO IMPRESSIONS DVZ-POWERED REALTIME INSTRUMENTS
COMPREHENSIVE SAMPLE LIBRARY/VIRTUAL-INSTRUMENT PACKAGE
Created by award-winning film composer Chris Stone, this unimaginably large orchestral design system is massive in size and scope. Offering the fastest workflow and highest fidelity, the new Audio Impressions DVZ-Powered Realtime Instruments ($TBA; www.audioimpressions.com) will change the way high-end film composers work. The system is based on the concept of Divisi, an Italian word used to describe dividing a chord among several players in an orchestra; in traditional sampling, when you play two notes of a sample set of a 70-piece orchestra, you hear 140 players (very unrealistic). The DVZ system naturally divides your real-time input across your fully customized orchestra. Using Audio Impressions' Space technology, you can build and adjust in real-time each instrument's physical placement and ambient or spot-mic bleed.
The 600 meticulously sampled instruments (using first-call players, the highest quality microphones and extremely high sampling rates) are organized into 10 libraries: Orchestral, Band, World, Keyboards, Guitars, Drum Kits, Music Effects, Harps, Baroque/Antique and Les Grandes Orgues (a detailed Pipe Organ set of individually sampled ranks from around the world). However, amateurs beware: Audio Impressions suggests a minimum of four 2.4 GHz dual-core computers, each running Kontakt 2.2 (and other programs) and outfitted with 3 GB of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive, connected in a cluster array just to play a basic orchestra in real time.
BLUE WOODPECKER
ACTIVE RIBBON MICROPHONE
The newest addition to the growing line of well-respected microphones from Blue, the Woodpecker ($1,299; www.bluemic.com) is Blue's first ribbon mic. Adorned in a silky real-wood finish, the finely tuned and handmade Blue Class-A electronics are paired with a carefully hand-adjusted aluminum pressure-gradient transducer (ribbon). Designed to offer the focused and intimate sound of classic ribbon mics with a wide 20 Hz to 20 kHz dynamic range, the Woodpecker will help vocals as much as drums and makes a great room or ambient mic. The package includes a custom brass shockmount and a ritzy wooden storage box.
ROLAND VG-99 V-GUITAR SYSTEM/FC-300 MIDI FOOT CONTROLLER
GUITAR SYNTH AND MATCHING PEDALBOARD
Bringing its research into guitar modeling to bear on a next-generation device, Roland's new VG-99 V-Guitar System ($1,399; www.rolandus.com) is filled with fresh technology. Its wide range of guitar and amplifier models is made available on two simultaneous but independent modeling paths; along with the clean input, guitarists can actually layer, blend or switch between three distinct tones on the fly. An onboard guitar-to-MIDI converter for controlling any outboard device is combined with a USB port for streaming audio signals and MIDI directly to any DAW or sequencer. The internal patch editor has several cool features too, such as a Freeze feature for eternal sustain, customized tuning schemes for each model and a powerful dynamic-controlled switching behavior that will jump between models based on your picking.
Roland's FC-300 MIDI Foot Controller ($349) can integrate with the VG-99 system using a single Cat-5 Ethernet cable to transfer MIDI information and power. Also able to operate in stand-alone mode, the FC-300 features nine industrial-grade footswitches, two programmable expression pedals and a bright backlit LCD. The memory holds 100 sets of MIDI assignments as patches, and the unit also features two traditional amp control switches, helping reduce the need for more little boxes.
MACKIE CONTROL PRO SERIES
UPDATED SOFTWARE CONTROLLERSB
Sporting a glitzy new look and expandability as high as 24 channels (and then some), Mackie's new Control Pro Series offers complete hands-on control of most popular DAWs, including Logic and Pro Tools. The centerpiece, the Universal Pro ($1,549.99; www.mackie.com) features nine fully motorized and touch-sensitive Penny & Giles faders, eight V-Pot controller knobs with LED rings and more than 50 dedicated buttons for transport, navigation and more. The updated communication protocol offers extreme timing precision, and large backlit “scribble strips” give continuously updated feedback.
The Extender Pro ($899.99) offers eight of the same Penny & Giles faders and eight V-Pot controllers and 24 dedicated buttons, and it features the same bright LCD scribble strips as the Universal Pro. Connected via MIDI, the system is expandable to a total of four devices, including the Universal Pro, two Extender Pros and the updated C4 ($1,299.99), a virtual-instrument controller that adds 32 V-Pot controllers with LED rings and LCD scribble strips for each. Great for operating plug-ins and virtual instruments, the C4 and Expander Pro are capable of working in stand-alone mode, as well.
IMAGE LINE SOFTWARE FL STUDIO 7
DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATION FOR WINDOWS
Born of nine years of development around the classic PC audio programming app Fruityloops, Image Line FL Studio 7 (www.fruityloops.com) is a complete Windows (or Bootcamp-enabled Mac) music-creation platform, designed to be workflow oriented and compatible with as many industry formats as possible. Complete with its own plug-ins, sounds and tools, FL Studio 7 is compatible with almost anything you could throw at it; VST/VSTi/VST2, DXi, DXi2, Buzz, ReWire, MIDI, MP3, WAV, AIFF and OGG are supported internally. Multicore support means much more mix power for heavy users, and the Audio Stretching engine has been updated for Ableton-style clip warping. The new Love Philter is eight ganged filter units offering flexible manipulation, while the older Wave Editor has been replaced with Edison, a rich audio recording/editing tool that includes its own convolution reverb and spectral analysis. Improved record-to-disk operation means higher track counts, and the new Smart Disable mode helps free up processor resources for complex mixes. Another big bonus is Image Line's lifetime free updates for registered users; FL Studio 6 owners can download FL Studio 7 for free, and those who buy FL Studio 7 will be able to download FL Studio 8 for free. FL Studio 7 comes in four editions: XXL ($361 download; $449 box), Producer Edition ($149 download; $209 box), Fruityloops Edition ($99 download; $139 box) and Express ($49 download only).
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