New Products
Jan 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Asher Fulero
M-AUDIO MICROTRACK II
PROFESSIONAL 2-CHANNEL MOBILE DIGITAL RECORDER
M-Audio helped launch a small downpour of professional handheld digital audio recorders into the market with the MicroTrack in 2006, and now it's the first company to follow up its first such product with a sequel. MicroTrack II ($399.95; www.m-audio.com) is thankfully not just a tired rehashing of the original plot. It takes care of many complaints regarding the original version by adding an analog input limiter, an extended input gain range, 48V phantom power, faster file transfer rate over USB 2.0 and the ability to record files larger than 2 GB in size. You can also place markers while recording WAV files to make editing easier, and a new user-created folder structure helps organization. A new blue backlit display makes viewing easier, and you can dim the display to save power. Fortunately, the MicroTrack II's battery life has been extended. It now records for four to five hours on a single battery charge or three hours when using phantom power. Optional USB battery packs can extend MicroTrack II's operating life.
Like the original, the MicroTrack II records WAV as high as 24-bit/96 kHz or MP3 files through stereo balanced ¼-inch TRS inputs or an ⅛-inch mic input. Also included are stereo RCA line outputs, a coaxial S/PDIF input and an ⅛-inch headphone jack.
RNDIGITAL SPL-IZER
MULTIBAND ROUTING PLUG-IN
Most DAW users are by now familiar with the concept of multiband processing, commonly implemented as compressors that offer independent compression for three to five sections of the frequency spectrum. But RNDigital SPL-izer ($129; www.rogernicholsdigital.com) helps you use multiband processing in other settings, too. Essentially a routable 3-band crossover, SPL-izer allows you to dial in two frequency split points on your track to create three output channels that appear inside your DAW as individual buses. Simply open one of these buses on an aux channel and apply whatever effects you like. There are an infinite number of possibilities for creative usage, including splitting vocals to apply effects to just the top frequencies or helping to “drive” the low end of an electric piano while leaving the high end shimmery. The list goes on. The plug-in comes in Audio Units, VST and RTAS formats for Mac and Windows and can also send an output on its own channel, switchable between Low Band, Mid Band, Hi Band, Sum or Mute. Each band has an adjustable gain and level meter, and you can choose between Hanning- or Blackman-style windows for different types of visual feedback. Start splitting your tracks and see where multiband processing can take you.
SYNESTHESIA MANDALA 2.0
ELECTRONIC “SMART” DRUM AND SYNTHESIZER
Called by its maker “the smartest thing you'll ever hit with a stick,” the new Mandala 2.0 ($349; www.mandaladrum.com) is a high-definition electronic drum pad and software combo that was created by Synesthesia in collaboration with Tool drummer Danny Carey. Compatible with most major software, including Ableton Live, Apple GarageBand, NI Reaktor and Battery via its USB connection, Mandala 2.0 features 128 concentric rings that can be divided into as many as seven zones, each with its own MIDI settings. The included software can synthesize sounds, as well as perform from sample libraries, and comes with more than 100 presets for quick usage (including the 3,000-sample model of the Black Beauty snare drum); the library is 4 GB in all. The programming possibilities are endless; one example had the drum triggering a single synth-bass note while the placement from center-to-rim controlled the filter frequency for great dynamic drum-synth control. Another had the elements of a jazz combo — upright bass, piano and drum kit — laid out across multiple zones. Creating custom configurations is easy, and hopefully this open design should help to inspire users to think up all sorts of creative ideas.
ANGRY RED PLANET TEMPER
MIDI SEQUENCER
Unlike most DAWs, the Angry Red Planet Temper ($50 uncrippled, unexpiring trialware; www.angryredplanet.com) sequencer is designed to offer original tools that focus on MIDI and shapes, allowing more intuitive programming and experimental manipulation. Chock full of creative new ideas for MIDI-based sound design, Temper uses a modular and flexible environment with a clean interface that is ready to help you experiment. Interactive, real-time phrase manipulation allows you to take bits of recorded data and do amazing things with them using futuristic tools like the Velocirapture, which lets you create a line of Velocity-sculpted notes. The Rudiments tool allows “painting” of drum parts, and Crudiments can generate complex filter sweeps; these tools use Shapes, an interactive “curve designer,” to actively shape the timing and Velocity of the MIDI notes as you adjust the angles of the curve. MIDI data-manipulation tools let you experiment further; four basic tools let you modify the start/end times, pitch and Velocity of the MIDI data, again using the Shape designer. The Flip tool can flip notes by time or pitch. Compatible with VST, Temper easily exports MIDI tracks via drag-and-drop for use with other applications, and saved Shapes can also be exported and imported for trading with other users.
TC ELECTRONIC POWERCORE X8
EXTERNAL FIREWIRE DSP SYSTEM
The TC Electronic PowerCore X8 ($1,745; www.tcelectronic.com) just makes a good thing better. With eight Motorola DSP chips and a floating-point PowerPC processor, the X8 has twice as much power as TC's original PowerCore and four times as much as its PowerCore Compact. Compatible with VST, Audio Units and RTAS formats, the 14 included plug-ins are each able to run with multiple instances while creating nearly zero hit to your computer's processing power. Packed into a single rackspace, the X8 connects via FireWire and operates using the new PowerCore 3.0 system software, which features an improved look and feel, as well as new enhancements such as meter zoom, easy parallel compression and the new TC SideChainer plug-in with hi- and low-cut filters. The new OS is available for existing PowerCore users as a free download from TC's Website, and while you're there you can use a $500 voucher that comes with the X8 to purchase a few “optional” plug-ins from third parties such as Sonnox, TubeTech, Novation, Softube and more.
EIOSIS E2 DEESSER
CREATIVE DE-ESSING PLUG-IN
An unfortunately common problem with vocal tracks is sibilance — an overly boosted ringing at a particular frequency that often occurs when microphones are used in a very loud setting (such as onstage). That can usually be combated with a de-esser, which uses a compressor fed by a frequency-filtered sidechain. However, strong de-essing requires a lower threshold that can often leave the vocal track lacking in the high end after carving out its frequency band. Enter Eiosis E
DIGIDESIGN MBOX2 MICRO
PORTABLE PRO TOOLS INTERFACE
No matter which DAW you use, Pro Tools is the closest thing to an industry standard, and you'll find it in every professional studio looking to interface with the outside world. But Pro Tools is also the only DAW not capable of running without some form of hardware connected. Thankfully, Digidesign has revealed the Mbox 2 Micro ($279; www.digidesign.com), a flash-drive-size USB dongle that provides Pro Tools authorization and a 24-bit/48 kHz 1/8-inch headphone output for monitoring on the go. Featuring a rugged anodized aluminum exterior, the Mbox 2 Micro's only extraneous feature is the small volume wheel for adjusting headphone volume. Packaged with Pro Tools LE and an extensive plug-in bundle from Bomb Factory and DigiRack (as well as the Digidesign XPand sampler), the Micro is absolutely the most portable way to use Pro Tools, whether editing the previous night's show or creating new songs with virtual instruments and loops while on the go. Now all you need to work on complete Pro Tools sessions is a laptop, your headphones and an Mbox 2 Micro.
RC4 WIRELESS RC4-MAGIC
WIRELESS DMX & DIMMING SYSTEM
Just the word “wireless” is enough to light us up; nothing would be nicer than a studio or stage rig running in perfect harmony without a single cable to be seen. One more step toward that vision comes from RC4 Wireless line of RC4-Magic Wireless DMX Dimming Box Toolkits ($899 and up; www.theatrewireless.com), collections of small devices that offer transmission and reception of DMX and dimming data across spaces of a maximum of 200 feet, eliminating messy DMX cabling and allowing secure and reliable visual control with less setup. Using Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) Digital Radio, the encrypted signal includes error-checking and correction codes and is not affected by minor interference. Each device has a unique ID number, and if the signal (or the power) is lost, the box will automatically search for its numerical match for auto-system-reset without having to reassign each box. That way, multiple RC4-Magic systems may be used in the same space without the fear of getting signals crossed. If there's a better way to use modern technology than to clear cables off messy stages, let us know.
SOLID STATE LOGIC X-EQ
PLUG-IN FOR THE DUENDE SYSTEM
New plug-ins are always an exciting thing for owners of SSL's powerful outboard-DSP system, Duende. Recently, SSL unveiled X-EQ (£295 (approx. $610; www.solid-state-logic.com), an ultra-transparent parametric 10-band equalizer flexible enough to cover general duties as well as more precise, surgical EQing. What makes it really powerful is that each of the 10 bands may be set to its own EQ type for dialing in just the right response from your curve. Overlaid against a detailed active FFT Signal Analyzer, the EQ curve may be manipulated by simply grabbing it and moving the curve points, by turning onscreen knobs, by scrolling the mouse wheel or by numerical data entry. Bands 1 and 10 are low- and high-cut filters, respectively, with five available topographies; bands 2 and 9 are shelving EQs with proportional Q; and bands 3 through 8 are Bell Filters with nine available EQ types and may each be switched between standard-series or parallel signal flow. A/B control lets you audition two presets quickly, and every parameter can receive DAW automation. Input and output meters offer stereo RMS metering with adjustable range. Duende users won't find a better sounding or more flexible EQ. Also, look for a release of the new X-Comp compressor for Duende soon.
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