New Products
Dec 1, 2007 12:00 PM, By Asher Fulero
APPLE LOGIC STUDIO
MUSIC-PRODUCTION SUITE
The newest installment of Apple's flagship audio software comes in a package to be reckoned with, and a 50-percent price drop should create some new converts. Logic Studio ($499; www.apple.com/logicstudio) contains everything you need to create any kind of musical production. The redesigned centerpiece, Logic Pro 8, now has a single-window interface, simplified session-setup process, quick-and-easy multitake recording with groundbreaking Quick Swipe comping, full surround-sound support, new audio editing tools and simple serial-number authorization without a physical dongle.
Several new programs tie the suite together. The ingenious new MainStage is essentially a Logic front end designed for use onstage. Like an evolved version of Reason's Combinator, the visual GUI designer lets you lay out any combination of buttons, sliders, knobs or performance controllers and quickly assign them to your physical controls. These graphic “patches” can control layers/splits of Logic Instruments and compatible plug-ins, giving you fast and easy access to them so you can pull your nose out of the computer onstage. The suite also includes Soundtrack Pro 2 for audio editing and sound design, the powerful new WaveBurner utility for complete CD mastering and authoring, Compressor 3 for multiformat content delivery and conversion, the Impulse Response utility for capturing the acoustics of performance spaces and a utility for creating and editing Apple Loops. A content collection totals 18,000 Apple Loops, 1,300 EXS instruments and 5,000 sound effects.
ABLETON LIVE 7
DAW AND PERFORMANCE SOFTWARE
Those creative programmers at Ableton don't sleep much, so they can release a major upgrade every year. Live 7 ($499 download or $599 boxed, including the Essential Instrument Collection 2; www.ableton.com) brings new levels of precision and fidelity, including an enhanced audio engine with full 64-bit summing at all points across the program, POW-r Dithering and optimized sampling-rate conversion. MIDI timing has been improved to reduce jitter, and new memory management delivers higher track/device counts and better performance with large sample banks. Dynamic Tube and Saturator (as well as the add-on Operator instrument) now have High-Quality modes for anti-aliased output; EQ Eight has a sleek new interface and 64-bit mode; and the updated Compressor offers new models based on a vintage feedback compressor. Compressor, Gate and Auto-Filter now have a freely assignable sidechain, and the new Spectrum device provides real-time visual analysis of any audio signal.
External audio devices and effects can now be inserted into device chains; tracks can display multiple lanes of automation at once; and the new Tempo Nudge makes it easier to manually sync Live to music on the fly. Support for time-signature changes, REX files and video export are also welcome additions. The new Drum Rack offers a huge drag-and-drop sampler with 88 slots and is prepared to handle the new Session Drum patches from Chocolate Audio and Drum Machine patches from Puremagnetik. Three new add-on instruments ($159 each) designed in collaboration with Applied Acoustics Systems offer a wide range of emulation: Electric models classic electric pianos and more, Tension models physical strings and resonant bodies, and Analog offers a vintage synthesizer model with all the real-world tone. Finally, the giant Essential Instrument Collection 2 has been expanded to provide great starting points for any audio project.
IK MULTIMEDIA ARC SYSTEM
ROOM-CORRECTION PACKAGE
Accurate monitoring is one of the most key elements to creating exceptional mixes, and room ambience created by reflections and absorption can be difficult to conquer. ARC System ($699; www.ikmultimedia.com) from IK Multimedia and Audyssey is designed to improve the accuracy and clarity of your studio monitoring in a few simple steps. A stand-alone measurement program and VST/Audio Units/RTAS-compatible EQ plug-in work together with the included ¼-inch Omni condenser mic to compensate for even the more bizarrely shaped rooms. ARC's measurement software and microphone measure the acoustics of your room, and you apply a calculated EQ algorithm to your DAW's master bus using the plug-in. ARC makes what can be a daunting process of acoustic correction simpler and does it without making you buy expensive new monitors.
DIGIDESIGN C|24
PRO TOOLS CONTROL SURFACE WITH ANALOG I/O
Digidesign's new C|24 ($9,995; www.digidesign.com) sleek and intuitive Pro Tools control surface can control every aspect of Pro Tools, from recording, editing and mixing to A/V work and routing functions. In addition to 16 high-quality analog mic/line/DI inputs and outputs, each of the 24 bankable channel strips has a touch-sensitive motorized fader; motion-sensitive endless knob with LED ring; illuminated Mute, Solo and channel-select buttons; and dedicated Input, Record, EQ, Dynamics, Insert, Send and Automation buttons. Two rows of LED scribble strips give quick visual track feedback, and you can ride multiple faders at once, insert and control plug-ins and manage automation — all without a mouse. The mixer features a full 5.1 surround monitoring section, as well as an 8-by-2 stereo line sub mixer for creating internal mixdowns outside of Pro Tools. The built-in mic and separate talkback/listenback inputs provide great solutions for two-way studio communication, and the large meter bridge has stereo meters for each of the 24 channels, as well as a 6-section Surround Bus Meter and a Time Counter.
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS KOMPLETE 5
INSTRUMENT AND SOUND-DESIGN SUITE
The newest version of Native Instruments' flagship bundle is bursting at the seams with cutting-edge audio tools. Komplete 5 ($1,149; www.native-instruments.com) comes packed and ready to rock your production world in whatever genre you prefer. Like Komplete 4, the package includes full versions of the sound-design powerhouse Reaktor 5; the otherworldly sound canvases of Absynth 4; the feature-rich drum sampler/sequencer Battery 3; and the keyboardist's suite of Akoustic Piano, Elektrik Piano, the B4 II Hammond simulator and the FM8 and Pro-53 synthesizers. Three new additions to the family bring even more power to the table, with NI's ultra-tweakable Massive synthesizer, Guitar Rig 3 in a software edition (pedalboard sold separately) and the Kontakt 3 sampler with its complete 33 GB sample library. Available in Audio Units, VST and RTAS (Pro Tools 7 and up) formats, each can operate in stand-alone mode or use ASIO, CoreAudio, CoreMIDI and DirectSound protocols. Including more than 65 GB of total samples, more than 7,500 presets are prepared for use with NI's Kore patch management system covering a wide stylistic spectrum. A Komplete 5 license can be installed on a maximum of three computers but requires only a single license for all the various programs, simplifying installation and use. Komplete is a great all-in-one source for a deeply thorough package of instruments and effects.
IZOTOPE RX
AUDIO RESTORATION SOFTWARE
Something of a culmination for iZotope, the RX Audio Restoration ($349; www.izotope.com) software was designed from scratch to provide a complete and unique toolset for restoring, archiving and mastering problematic audio. Not a plug-in, RX is a stand-alone program that features six basic tools to combat the most common problems. Hum Removal cleans up electrical hum and line noise, and Declipper can rebuild clipped audio signals from overloaded A/D converters, returning dynamics naturally. The Declicker removes clicks, crackles and pops, while Denoiser removes broadband noise without distortion. Spectral Repair can fix intermittent noises or even rebuild gaps in the program material, and an advanced Spectrogram gives a multitude of visual representation of audio-over-time with ultrahigh resolution. RX is also available in an extended version, RX Advanced ($1,199), which offers detailed MBIT+ Dithering options, high-quality 64-bit SRC Resampling, Manual Declicking, Multi-Resolution Declicking, Declipping and Spectral Repair modes and more advanced Denoiser parameters.
STEINBERG NUENDO 4
POSTPRODUCTION WORKSTATION
Major version upgrades are always exciting for a software enthusiast, and Steinberg has delivered with its Nuendo 4 ($1,799; www.steinberg.net), which is packed with time-saving new features and ideas designed to streamline both the creative and technical processes. Steinberg claims that most of the new functionality is aimed at Nuendo's core power users in the mixer, engineer and editor communities. The updates include a new 32-bit Audio Engine with full surround capabilities, a complete set of newly created VST3 Stereo and Surround effects (such as the VST3 Channel EQ) and an advanced new Automation system that includes Preview, Fill Commands, Punch Logs, Virgin Territories and the new Touch Collect Assistant. An updated monitoring manager called Control Room integrates easily into any setup and powerful Network Collaboration offers multiseat operation via LAN or WAN. The new MediaBay databasing system quickly browses, filters, retrieves and searches media files across any connected disks, and drag-and-drop copy/pasting for plug-ins speeds up the mixing process. More post-centric features include new editing commands and the flexible Post Filter, especially designed for removing unwanted noise from location recordings. More features are available via the Nuendo Expansion Kit (NEK; $299), offering scoring/notation, MIDI Drum editor and integrated VST instruments.
BLUE MICROPHONES JOE
LARGE-DIAPHRAGM CONDENSER MICROPHONE
With the goal of making a quality microphone with an innovative design at a low enough price for project studios, Blue has delivered the Joe ($499; www.bluemic.com), a cardioid-pattern large-diaphragm condenser mic that carries all of Blue's discrete Class A electronics and hand-tuned capsule work while looking as glitzy as a mounted Fabergé egg. The anodized capsule “‘floats” above the attached mic clip containing the XLR connection, allowing more flexible positioning options while giving it a sci-fi look. Joe was designed for a multitude of recording applications, including vocals, acoustic guitar and drums. That flexibility, along with the reasonable price, makes it “not your average Joe” for pros, project studios or anyone just starting a mic collection.
ARTURIA ANALOG FACTORY EXPERIENCE
MODELING SOFT SYNTH AND USB CONTROLLER COMBO
As a cool software-meets-hardware move, Arturia has released Analog Factory Experience ($349; www.arturia.com), a combination of synthesizer emulation software and an integrated USB keyboard controller. Packaged with Analog Factory 2.0 software, the lightweight, aluminum-framed keyboard is not constrained to using with Analog Factory; it can operate as a normal USB or stand-alone 32-key Velocity-sensitive MIDI controller with pitch/mod wheels, 11 knobs, four sliders and 11 buttons. The Analog Factory software has 3,500 presets that use a hybrid engine culled from Arturia's Minimoog V, Prophet V, ARP 2600V, Moog Modular V, CS-80V and Jupiter-8V. A smart preset manager allows quick filtering, and each patch intelligently assigns relevant parameters to the virtual knobs and faders, meaning there's no need to assign manually when using the USB controller. This fast and intuitive integration is what makes the “experience;” synth fanatics should take a close look.
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