Mac and Music News

Audio-Technica introduces the AT8022 X/Y Stereo Microphone and the BP4025 X/Y Stereo Field Recording Microphone. Designed for broadcast and professional recording, these two new stereo condensers are perfect for use with professional audio and video equipment. Each offers an innovative coincident capsule configuration that allows for a smaller housing while producing a stereo image with the spatial impact and realism of a live sound field.

Both the AT8022 and the BP4025 are ruggedly constructed to protect against damage from day-to-day use during field recording. The microphones are also fully RoHS-compliant (free from all substances specified in the EU directive on the Reduction of Hazardous Substances). Each mic offers an 80 Hz high-pass filter for easy switching from a flat frequenc ...

KRK Systems is releasing a Limited Edition Rokit Studio Monitors. The concept and color design is part of a joint collaboration with Guitar Center. Available only in the 5-inch model and at Guitar Center's in the U.S., the Rokit5 G2CB will feature a high-gloss yellow cabinet along with the traditional yellow Kevlar cone.

The Rokit5 G2CB will be built to the same strict specifications as the Rokit G2 and deliver the same high quality sound. Recently, the Rokit was upgraded with superior curved design elements that virtually eliminate diffraction distortion caused by standard flat baffles. As with the Rokit G2, the CB will incorporate several technologies from the company's flagship VXT and E8B lines, including the radically radiused edges along the front of the cabinet.

The Special Edition Rokit Studio Monitors are available now at Guitar Center and have a MAP of $149, $199 and $249 for the 5, 6 and 8 inch versions, respectively.

Digidesign has unveiled the third and newest member of its Digidesign 003 family : the 003 Rack+ Factory. Featuring 8 high-quality microphone preamps, the 003 Rack+ Factory is a powerful option for those needing additional mic inputs to handle more complex recording projects.

With 18 simultaneous channels of I/O, 003 boasts the most extensive array of analog and digital audio I/O ever available from a Pro Tools LE system. Topping the I/O list are eight studio-quality mic preamps, which each feature switchable 48V phantom power and 20 dB pads, high-quality analog high-pass filters, and front-panel trim controls. For instruments and line-level connections, it offers eight analog DI/line inputs and outputs, including one DI/line input on the front panel for quick and easy plug-and-play recording. Digital connections include eight channels of ADAT optical I/O and two channels of S/PDIF digital I/O, along with 16 channels of MIDI I/O.

Dedicated studio monitor outputs and alternate control room outputs allow for connecting two sets of speakers, and dual discrete headphone outputs are ideal for providing separate mixes for the artist and recording engineer. Also included are a host of professional features, including BNC Word Clock I/O and alternate source input for external device monitoring.

003 Rack+ Factory comes bundled with Pro Tools LE 7.4 software ; initial purchasers will be eligible to receive a free software upgrade to Pro Tools LE 8 when it becomes available. 003 Rack+ Factory also includes over 80 professional effects and virtual instrument plug-ins (valued at over $3,000), supports a wide variety of third-party plug-ins and software options, and allows for powerful expandability through Digidesign toolkit software options.

003 Rack+ Factory is available for pre-order, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $1,695. Digidesign has also reduced the price of the 003 Rack Factory to $1,495 (reflecting a $200 price drop). In addition, Digidesign offers a unique hardware exchange program, allowing legacy Pro Tools LE and select competitive product owners to trade in their hardware for a discount toward the purchase of a new 003 system; the program will be extended to include the new 003 Rack+ Factory as well.

Prosoniq and GenAudio have announced a strategic partnership to combine state-of-the-art technologies from both companies creating the next generation of "truly immersive multi-dimensional audio".

GenAudio's AstoundSound and AstoundStereo technologies, both of which are upcoming industry standards for processing tracks during or after mixing, respectively, deliver true 4-dimensional sound localization processing. Combining this unique 4D spatial audio software based processing with Prosoniq's sophisticated RayVerb software based processing, which uses an advanced inverse ray tracing algorithm for precise analysis and room simulation processing, offers mix engineers the ability to create a totally new, extremely immersive, high fidelity audio experience for music, video games, film, Broadcast, and many other applications.

Fully integrated into any compatible host software this technology allows the user to create static or moving sound sources localized around the listener's position without requiring specialized encoding/decoding hardware. It can be experienced with 2-channel audio (stereo) or by integrating it into multi-channel audio delivery formats (Surround Sound).

Already used in the production of 6 bonus tracks for the latest album of singer/songwriter Robin Thicke, this technology truly redefines what can be done with 2-channel audio.

Listen to an audio example at :

IZotope has announced that the new version of its software mastering suite Ozone will be released in January 2009.

Ozone 4 features a new Intelligent Loudness Maximizer, "Perfect Reconstruction" crossovers, mid/side processing for superior control over the sound stage, and a new True Envelope dynamics processing mode. In addition, iZotope claims that numerous interface improvements and ease-of-use additions make Ozone even more accessible to musicians and engineers who want to quickly finalize their projects.

Ozone 4 will be available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU, DirectX, RTAS/AudioSuite and MAS plug-in formats with an MSRP of $249. iZotope Ozone 4 will be distributed worldwide by M-Audio, and will also be available direct from iZotope online. Customers who buy Ozone 3 after October 1, 2008 are eligible for a free upgrade to Ozone 4 when it is released.

Toontrack Music announced that as of October 6, 2008, they will join Waves' Virtual Stock Software Distribution (VSSD) fulfillment program, as an alternative means of product distribution. Now, end-users will always have access to the complete range of Toontrack products from their favorite authorized Toontrack music retailer, and they will never be "out-of-stock."

After customers purchase a Toontrack product, the dealer will enter the order number and instantly receive copy-protected software with unique serial numbers to unlock the product. The serial is printed on the customer's receipt.

Noteflight officially launched its new online music software today, dramatically changing the way musicians create, edit and share musical compositions.

Now available as a free public beta release, Noteflight is a Web-based application requiring no software installation that enables anyone with a standard Web browser to create a score using standard music notation. The score can be played directly from the browser, shared with individuals, published online or printed as sheet music for use by live musicians. Scores may also be embedded in other pages such as blogs or personal websites.

For more information, please visit the link below :

Tascam has premiered the TM-ST2 and TM-STPRO X/Y stereo microphones at this 125th AES.

The unbalanced TM-ST2 is an affordable microphone with both a 10' cable for live recording and an 18" cable for video camera connection. The TM-STPRO adds a balanced output, includes a 16' stereo xlr cable and has the ability to run on phantom power. Both microphones feature a switchable low cut filter and come with a mic clip, battery, wind screen and protective carry bag.

The Tascam TM-ST2 and TM-STPRO are available for $149 and $179, respectively.

Dbx Professional Products introduces two new direct injection boxes into their product line : the dB10 Passive Direct Box and dB12 Active Direct Box.

The dB10 Passive Direct Box includes all the basic features you would expect from a work horse direct box : input and parallel "thru" jacks, transformer isolation, balanced XLR output, and ground lift switch but provides additional value not found in budget direct boxes. Its 3-position pad switch easily accommodates instrument, line level and speaker level signals, while further versatility is added with its selectable polarity invert and high-cut filtering functions. Premium chrome toggle switches and a gold-plated Neutrik XLR output jack, as well as a first-class custom dbx mu-metal-shielded isolation transformer, ensure the highest-quality signal path. All switches are recessed to provide protection from accidental operation or damage.

The dB12 Active Direct Box includes all the features of the dB10, but in an active version. Driven by phantom power supplied by a mixing console's mic input, the dB12's active circuitry operates from 20V to 48V. A green power LED is included to show status of the phantom power source. The dB12's high input impedance and low-noise buffered active circuitry faithfully preserve the tone and signal characteristics of the instrument source. It also includes a custom dbx mu-metal-shielded isolation transformer, tailored to complement the active circuitry and provide a clean balanced output signal.

The dbx dB10 Passive and dB12 Active Direct Boxes are now shipping with an estimated street price of $99.95 and $129.95 respectively.

Focal Professional has announced that their new CMS Active Nearfield Monitors - the CMS 65 and CMS 50 - are now shipping.

According to Focal, their Al/Mg (Aluminium/Magnesium) inverted dome tweeter combines both, lightweight mass and damping, resulting in a tweeter that easily extends up to 28khz at -3db.

They also tell us that the Polyglass bass driver combines hollow micro-balls of glass to a pulp cellulose cone thus permitting a good rigidity versus mass ratio.

They are bi-amplified active nearfield monitors, 165 watts for the CMS65 and 130 watts for the CMS50.

Both of them also have separate HF and LF shelving adjustments, a Desktop Notch correction filter that controls first reflection when the speakers are located over the mixing board, rubber decoupling stand, spikes to tilt the speakers and adjust soundstage height.

Pricing :

- CMS 50: $695 each MSRP
- CMS 65: $995 each MSRP

Blue Microphones has announced the latest additions to their award-winning line of products; the BottleRocket Stage One Solid-State Microphone System and the Bottle Rocket Stage Two Tube Microphone System.

The Stage One BottleRocket is a transformerless solid state microphone system with the clarity and detail you've come to expect from Blue. Fully compatible with the Bottle Caps, the same interchangeable capsule system used with Blue's Bottle mic, you can add an array of tonal characteristics and pickup patterns on the fly. It's like having an entire mic cabinet in one mic.

Stage One Features :

- Class A discrete solid-state amplifier circuit delivers superb detail
- Includes Blue's versatile B8 capsule & shockmount
- Hand-tuned and tested
- Mic System allows for different ca ...

Chandler Limited has announced the release of a brand new unit : the Universal Mix Control (UMC).

Inspired by the popular Wet/Dry feature used on their Germanium Compressor, each channel of the UMC can function as either a Wet/Dry control or as a 2 x 1 summing mixer for those needing a high quality solution for combining multi mic'ed sources. Simply put, you can now add Wet/Dry to anything you want. Ever wanted some Dry signal on your EMI Limiter, 1176, Alan Smart, LA2s, 33609? How about a Fairchild 670 with a Mix Control :-)

Don't stop with just compressors. Distortion with a Culture Vulture or Sans Amp, Transient Designer, Leslie Cabinet, Guitar Pedals. The list is nearly endless. No latency, saves channels, little patching, and a very high quality, transformer balanced, low noise discrete circuit that allows you to use it anywhere without concern.

The Universal Mix Control is available now for a fee of $1450.

Universal Audio has announced the shipment of the LA-610 Mk II Classic Tube Recording Channel, a feature enhanced, 2nd generation version of UA's most popular analog product.

The preamp and compressor use the same signal path as the original LA-610 and features the 610 mic-pre and EQ section combined with an LA-2A style T4 opto-compressor. The LA-610 Mk II now offers key enhancements such as: true compressor bypass, larger metering, improved output signal performance, and the highly popular "black on black" cosmetics of the LA-610 Signature Edition.

The LA-610 Mk II will have an MSRP of US$1999 and a MAP of US$1599.

In an effort to help their customers continue to create, record and produce music during these tough economic times, PreSonus tell us that they are offering a new Audio Stimulus Package from now through the end of the year in the form of two rebates :

1. Buy a FireStudio, FireStudio Tube, FireStudio Lightpipe or FireStudio Project and get a FREE FaderPort (a $249 value)

2. Buy a DigiMax D8, DigiMax LT, DigiMax FS and DigiMax 96k and get a FREE HP4 headphone amplifier (a $159 value)

Here's a new ProTools Corner issue by our VIP Moderator Brian White from audioMIDI.com. This time he focuses on the brand new version of Auto-Tune, the famous pitch correcting plug-in from Antares.

"Love it or hate it, vocal tuning or "pitch correction" is a technology that is here to say. And whether or not you feel it is "morally" correct/in-correct to artificially tune vocals and other instruments, it is hard to deny the dramatic influence pitch correction has had on pop music over the last decade. As a long time front-runner in pitch correction technology for Pro Tools, Antares has definitely staked th ...