NEW PRODUCTS
Jan 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Doug Eisengrein
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS GUITAR RIG 2
GUITAR/BASS AMP EMULATION SOFTWARE
Several software offerings for guitarists and bassists have hit the streets over the past few years, but Native Instruments has taken it a step further with Guitar Rig 2 ($579), which combines a set of software emulations of classic amps and cabinets, bass gear, mic placement, distortion, other effects and more with the new addition of Rig Kontrol 2. Rig Kontrol 2 is a natural extension for guitar and bass players; it is an integrated hardware footpedal for controlling Guitar Rig while also functioning as an audio interface that connects via USB 2.0. The new version of the software features four new classic amp models, including a Marshall JCM 800, a Fender Bassman, a Roland Jazz Chorus and a full bass setup with an Ampeg SVT bass head model at the core. The new bass setup includes a variety of six bass cabinets with various configurations and four added microphone models. The Rig Kontrol includes two instrument inputs, balanced stereo outputs, two pedal jacks, MIDI I/O and a headphone preamp, along with six footswitches and a smooth parameter pedal, all of which are fully assignable from within the software.
Native Instruments;
www.native-instruments.com
BLUE SKY UNIVERSAL SUB 8
STUDIO SUBWOOFER
With an eye to adding low-end punch to any set of studio monitors, Blue Sky has introduced the Universal Sub 8 (price TBA) powered subwoofer. Universal Sub 8 sports an actual frequency response of 35 Hz to 200 Hz ±3 dB, while its in-room response can typically reach down to 20 Hz. Driven by a true RMS 100W discrete symmetrical bipolar amplifier, the US8 is housed in a 13 × 16 × 15.76-inch cast-aluminum frame and features an aluminum cone, a 2-inch voice coil, an 8-inch driver and a vented motor structure. Very useful for anyone purchasing a sub, the US8 comes complete with a comprehensive owner's manual that features a Quick Set-Up Guide along with a more in-depth Expanded Calibration Guide for proper placement and calibration of the sub in any room with any satellite speakers. I/O is provided via balanced XLR input and output, and Sub In and Sub Out XLR connectors provide the ability to daisy-chain multiple US8s. The crossover can be adjusted via dual independently tunable state-variable highpass and lowpass filters with a range of 50 Hz to 160 Hz. Gain control is also found on the rear, along with switchable voltage (115V or 230V) for international usage.
Blue Sky;
www.abluesky.com
NOVATION REMOTE SL25
USB MIDI CONTROLLER KEYBOARD
Novation is looking to raise the bar on MIDI controller keyboards with the release of its new ReMOTE SL25 (price TBA). The new USB- or battery-powered, miniature-sized 25-key MIDI board boasts a bevy of hands-on controllers, including a staggering total of 56 assignable rotary encoders, sliders and buttons, as well as eight drum- and sample-triggering pads. ReMOTE SL25 also features dedicated Transport controls on board, as well as an X/Y tracking touchpad and a selectable, spring-loaded pitch bend/modulation joystick. Novation didn't stop at just adding all the touchy-feely goodies, either; the new controller takes a tip from the more comprehensive (and expensive) control surfaces with the inclusion of twin backlit LCD strips that are capable of simultaneously displaying 16 different parameter values and their corresponding names. After all, why use your own memory when you can rely on a machine? ReMOTE SL25 also features a 40-plus Template memory capacity with factory presets that include major software packages and hardware units.
Novation;
www.novationmusic.com
SUMMIT AUDIO FEQ-50
OUTBOARD MONO PARAMETRIC EQ
Summit Audio's new FeQ-50 ($995) was originally slated to be a different EQ entirely, according to Erik Papp, the company's president. But, wisely listening to customer feedback, Summit redesigned the product from scratch to come up with the FeQ-50, a single-channel tube/solid-state four-band parametric EQ. The unit uses fully passive circuitry and drives the signal to a balanced +4dB XLR and a -10dB TRS output, which are individually buffered and simultaneously accessible. Input is provided via a Neutrik-brand combo balanced XLR/unbalanced ¼-inch jack. All four EQ bands feature sweepable gain pots with +14dB of gain and -14dB of trim with a center detent position, along with six-position frequency select switches. The middle two bands each feature a wide/narrow Q switch, while the high and low bands sport peak/shelf selectors. The front panel also features a Bypass switch and an on/off HPF switch. The highpass filter is also fully passive and transformerless, and features 6dB per octave roll-off with an 80Hz knee. The goodies are all housed inside a half-rackspace chassis.
Summit Audio Inc;
www.summitaudio.com
CYCLING '74 HIPNO 1.0
PLUG-IN SUITE
Cycling '74 comes at us again with another unusually large array of plug-in oddities in its release of Hipno 1.0 ($199). This time around, C74 offers up over forty effects and instrument VST plug-ins in one package. The collection is compatible with VST, AU (Mac) and RTAS protocols, and many of the plug-ins use Cycling's unique and eye candy — rich Hipnoscope user interface for endless morphing possibilities. As is typical for Cycling '74, the collection covers the gamut, from granular to spectral to filter and delay-based plug-ins, and the plug-ins sport unusual names such as Morphulescence, Shypht, Grain Bandit and Deluge. Cool new things include VcolorTrack and Modulator Vmotion, which are modulators designed for controlling Hipno, Mode or Pluggo plug-ins using video-color input or motion tracking. But do you know the best part? All of this sonic strangeness can be added to your arsenal for a measly $199 bucks.
Cycling '74;
www.cycling74.com
AURALEX SPACE COUPLER
ACOUSTIC TREATMENT
Auralex Acoustics, a company dedicated to the art of sonic treatment, unleashes its new SpaceCoupler ($299) acoustic squares. Designed for lending a big sound to a small room while keeping things aesthetically attractive, SpaceCoupler is a set of 24×24-inch solid wood panels that generate low-level reverb tails that result in full sound even in small spaces. The interesting new design can be installed for the purposes of blocking direct reflections or simply increasing a space's acoustical efficiency. SpaceCoupler was designed by Russ Berger and is among the first products in a new series by Auralex dubbed the pArtScience line; the line combines functionality with custom looks that offer a change from standard reflective, absorptive or diffusive acoustic panels.
Auralex;
www.auralex.com
LEXICON MX200
EFFECTS PROCESSOR
The idea of a Lexicon effects processor is always appealing. For those with dedicated DAWs in their computers, a dedicated DSP board is a cherished thing. Combining the two aforementioned things? Brilliant. This is what you get with Lexicon Pro's new MX200 ($299.95), a two-channel, dual-reverb/effects processor housed in a single rackspace. The specialty of this unit, however, is the inclusion of both a USB connection and a software-based, cross-platform VST interface for access within any VST-compatible digital audio workstation. The MX200 features a 24-bit processor engine and full automation and recall, and the two channels are independently controllable and can function in any of four routing modes: Mono Parallel, Mono Sum-to-Stereo, Stereo Serial or Stereo Parallel. Typical of other Lexicon units, the MX200 sports 99 top-notch factory programs, including various reverbs and multi-effects, plus 99 user-programmable patches that can range from a variety of reverb and delay types to dynamics to chorus, flange, tremolo, rotary and more. Because processing happens within the hardware unit, CPU drain for Lexicon-quality effects is tiny.
Lexicon Pro; Web
www.lexiconpro.com
GROOVE TUBES SUPRE
STEREO TUBE MIC/INSTRUMENT PREAMPLIFIER
The widespread popularity of their single-channel ViPRE preamplifier, along with a burgeoning customer demand has prompted Groove Tubes to create the SuPRE Stereo Unit Vacuum Tube Microphone and Instrument PREamplifier ($1,495), a two-channel preamp driven by of GT's own vacuum tubes. Borrowing design elements from the company's ViPRE and Brick models, SuPRE offers two high-resolution signal paths, each with variable transformer impedance (300/600/1200 ohms) and a generous 72dB of gain. The unit boasts two GT6922 dual-triode and two GT6CH8 pentode/triode tubes for extra warmth and gain. The large front panel is well organized and features large channel-gain knobs and VU meters, three-position switches for impedance and mic attenuation (0dB, 15dB and 30dB positions), Hi-Z instrument inputs and switches for polarity reverse, mic/line, highpass, channel mute and +48V phantom power on each channel. The rear accepts mic and line inputs, and front-plugging an instrument automatically bypasses the mic/line source.
Groove Tubes;
www.groovetubes.com
PRESONUS INSPIRE 1394
FIREWIRE AUDIO INTERFACE
For fans of PreSonus'mic preamps or just for those who need a basic guitar/bass/mic-ready audio interface, PreSonus offers up its new Inspire 1394 ($199) FireWire-based recording interface. Inspire 1394 is a 4-in/2-out, 24-bit/96k unit that features dual PreSonus +48V phantom-powered microphone preamplifiers and a pair of Hi-Z instrument inputs on the front panel; the rear sports selectable line-level or RIAA-filtered phono inputs that can be used in either dual-mono or stereo mode. Outputs on the Inspire include a stereo headphone jack, unbalanced RCA and balanced mini-TRS. To add more I/O, up to four Inspire 1394 units can be daisy-chained together via FireWire, with all inputs available simultaneously. The Inspire 1394 is compatible with ASIO, WDM and Core Audio drivers. The included control software is cross-platform and includes controllers for input gain, phantom power, limiter, preamp boost, sample rate, headphone volume and main output volume. In addition, no-latency monitoring is available.
PreSonus;
www.presonus.com
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