THE 5TH ANNUAL REMIX TECHNOLOGY AWARDS
Jan 1, 2007 12:00 PM, By Markkus Rovito
Leave it to software to be the savior of hardware. In the previous year's Remix Technology Awards, the soft stuff soaked up much of the attention, but in 2006, software was truly only part of the story. Clearly the most exciting trend has been the wave of hardware/software cohabitation. Whether it was synthesizers, control surfaces, DJ mixers or DSP boxes, hardware that integrates with the computer-production environment through tightly integrated software blew our minds the most last year and made the world a more interesting place for DJs, live musicians and studio rats alike. Even monitoring is mixing it up on the convergence tip, using room-correction programs to adjust the frequency response of the speakers.
To taper down such a vast and brilliant collection of gear that was introduced last year, the Remix staff solicited votes from its writers and selected editors from sister publication Electronic Musician. Voters weighed in only on categories they had firsthand knowledge of, taking into consideration the innovation, performance, results and overall value of a product. We sincerely hope that 2007 will be the year that we implant brainwave-to-audio chips in our heads (looking at you, Apple), and solar-powered robots will clean our studios and rehearsal rooms (cough — Sony — cough), but if not, the fruits of 2006 should stay fresh for years to come.
AUDIO INTERFACE
Apogee Ensemble
In addition to the Apogee trademark A/D/A conversion, the 24-bit/192 kHz, 36-channel FireWire interface is especially attractive to Logic 7 users, who have tightly integrated control over the Ensemble within Logic 7's Apogee Control Panel.
PLUG-IN BUNDLE
Eventide Anthology II
Revered audio innovator Eventide serves up every plug-in it has — including six new products and the essential E-Channel and Ultra-Channel — to give Pro Tools TDM mixers everything they need.
MIDI CONTROLLER: TIE
Novation ReMote SL series & Korg PadKontrol
You couldn't choose between Amazon and Beatport, could you? It's the same scenario here: general purpose vs. specialty. Novation's ReMote SL controllers pushed things forward, combining a brilliant, loaded hardware interface with its Automapping system for instantly assigning the physical controls to the active software, including the recently supported Pro Tools. And if you're into programming drums, forget what you think you know and check out the PadKontrol, which brandishes the most playable pads in the game. Put 'em both together and… muah!
TURNTABLE
Numark HDX
It looks just like a turntable without a tone arm, but its full-size vinyl platter is actually for manipulating digital music from the built-in 80 GB hard drive or the slot-loading CD drive.
SAMPLE COLLECTION/INSTRUMENT
Sample Logic A.I.R.
This creative sound library using the Kontakt 2 interface for playback focuses on epic electronic atmospheres and dramatic beats that are sure to find a home in films, video games, commercials and many other moody creations.
MICROPHONE
Neumann TLM 49
When Neumann introduced this large-diaphragm studio mic using the classic K 47 capsule, vocalists everywhere started saving their pennies. Yet, its heavenly sound belies its down-to-earth price.
DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATION
Ableton Live 6
Several years ago, Live began redefining what a DAW could be to a new generation of music makers and performers. Now, with every passing update, Live becomes more and more the only DAW you may need.
DAW CONTROLLER
Frontier Design Group TranzPort
The Simple Genius award goes to the TranzPort: a small, well-designed controller that connects to all major PC and Mac DAWs over a wireless RF connection.
HARDWARE SIGNAL PROCESSOR
SSL Duende
Although not a stand-alone unit, this DSP-based plug-in host has no comparatively priced hardware competitor. And its modeled SSL console EQ and compression plug-ins are without equal.
AUDIO EDITOR
Celemony Melodyne 3 Studio
If you're remixing songs using raw audio files, do yourself the favor of checking out Melodyne 3 for its manipulation of polyphonic material, powerful pitch- and time-correction macros and much more.
BEST HARDWARE VALUE
Focusrite Liquid Mix
The 32 channels of stellar DSP EQ and compression, as well as dedicated hardware control over those plug-ins, make the FireWire Liquid Mix a smart choice for a wide swath of producers. Its recently added PC-compatibility sweetens the deal.
FIELD/PORTABLE RECORDER
Sony PCM-D1
When only the best will do, look to the PCM-D1 for handheld field recording. Its excellent condenser mics, 24-bit/96 kHz quality and built-in limiter separate it from the pack.
SINGLE PLUG-IN
Universal Audio Neve 1073 Equalizer
Have you ever asked “What's the one plug-in I should buy?” Well, that's one less question to worry about. Of course, you'll need to purchase a Universal Audio UAD DSP card to use this fantastic Neve-authorized hardware EQ replica, but that's not such a bad idea, either.
DJ CD PLAYER
Pioneer CDJ-1000MK3
It's simple: Long live the king. The latest version of the industry-standard DJ CD player added MP3 support, an improved jog dial, a Hot Cue function and other treats that will ensure a continuance of its reign.
SOFTWARE DRUM INSTRUMENT
Submersible Music Drumcore 2.0
The drum machine for nondrummers, Drumcore 2.0 supplies many gigabytes of material from A-list drummers who wreck the skins for you, yet it still provides plenty of control over the included audio and MIDI files.
HARDWARE SYNTHESIZER
Access Virus TI Polar
Setting the standard for modern hardware synthesizers is nothing new to Access, but fully integrating this synth with a DAW by providing plug-in-type control and multichannel audio input over USB was a new twist. Consider the standard updated.
MONITOR/SPEAKER
JBL LSR4328P
Add quality sound reproduction with effective room-correction algorithms at a manageable price, and you have yourself a winner.
SOFTWARE SYNTHESIZER
Native Instruments Massive
This late entry stole the show with its innovative yet intuitive sound-design interface, killer sounds ranging from vicious to pretty and overall character.
HEADPHONES
Sony MDR-7509HD
Bass-loving producers may blow their eardrums, but they won't blow the MDR-7509HD headphones. This big brother to the industry-standard MDR-7506 was designed for monitoring high-definition audio and for bottom-heavy demands.
BEST SOFTWARE VALUE
Audio Damage 914 Fixed Filter Bank
Credit is due for doing one thing and doing it well, especially at a bargain price. Audio Damage's plug-in re-creation of a Moog Modular 914 filter module practically gives away its 12 wonderfully sounding bandpass filters, as well as a lowpass and highpass filter.
MOST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT: TIE
Native Instruments Kore & JazzMutant Lemur
Awards usually go to both the most innovative software and hardware, but signaling the times, this year's most innovative products both depended heavily on hardware/software integration. Kore defies simple categorization, combining a hardware controller and audio interface with a software environment that aggregates all plug-in instruments and effects into a universal platform with considerable studio and performance implications. The Lemur is a very responsive multitouch control surface with a software component for fully configuring how it can completely control compatible software.
DJ SCRATCH/BATTLE MIXER
Rane TTM 57SL
Rane's TTM 56 was already one of the most popular scratch mixers, and the TTM 57SL expands on it by becoming a specialized interface/controller for the included Serato Scratch Live software.
SAMPLER
E-mu Emulator X2
In a category including both software and hardware, choosing Emulator X2 wasn't hard at all. Sample tweakers will delight in X2's dozens of Z-Plane filters and tempo-based parameters that prove one of the original sampling innovators is not resting on its laurels.
DJ PERFORMANCE MIXER
Allen & Heath Xone:3D
A 4-channel DJ mixer from the respected Xone line and a USB audio and MIDI interface, the Xone:3D rocks a total of 105 dedicated MIDI controls for performing with software, as well as dedicated templates for Ableton Live and NI Traktor.
GUITAR PRODUCT
IK Multimedia Amplitube 2
In a growing field of digital guitar-oriented goodies, Amplitube 2 edged out the rest with its authentic-sounding models, moderate CPU hit and 80+ gear emulations.
DJ SOFTWARE
M-Audio Torq
This admirable step toward bridging DJ software to the music-production world includes VST effect support, a 16-slot sampler, a ReWire slave option and much more.
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