Jul 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Mel Lambert

THE 120TH AES CONVENTION

The Paris Expo in Porte de Versailles was a perfect setting for an AES show. Attendance was quoted at 5,000 — excellent for a European gathering. Here are a few products that caught our eye.

The DFC PS/1 PowerStation from AMS-Neve (www.ams-neve.com) is a single-operator, lower-cost version of the DFC Gemini console for predub/prelay and print mastering. Stagetec's (www.stagetec.com) Nexus and Aurus consoles offer a new high-density I/O frame that accommodates sub-modules for analog, AES/MADI-format digital and fiber-optic connections. Lawo's (www.lawo.de) much-anticipated mc²90 digital console has a new GUI and user interface. It's aimed at no-fail applications, such as remotes, live performance and on-air.

Apple's (www.apple.com) Logic Pro DAW is now fully Euphonix (www.euphonix.com) EuCon — compliant, directly controllable under this flexible command protocol from surfaces such as the MC Media Controller. A EuCon Hybrid Option can control multiple DAWs from System 5.

Neumann (www.neumannusa.com) expanded its Solution-D digital mic line with small-diaphragm models based on its popular 180 Series. The new modular mics have interchangeable omni, cardioid and supercardioid capsules.

Universal Audio's (www.uaudio.com) collaboration with AMS-Neve offers UAD-1 DSP emulations of classic Neve hardware, such as the 1073 and 1073SE EQs. Coming soon are plug-ins of the Neve 33609 bus compressor and 1081 parametric. The Model 10500 digital monitor from RTW (www.rtw.de) provides a high-res audio vectorscope, peak-reading meters and status monitoring on a built-in LCD. Julyah Communications (www.julyah.com) expanded its Centauri II system (now with connectivity of audio codecs to a standard VoIP topology) and the MERK II portable audio gateway codec.

Best of show? Nahimic, A-Volute's (www.a-volute.com) 3-D sound recording/playback system, uses a real-time spatializing engine, generating a 3-D space map, and then places individual sources anywhere within that environment. A six-transducer headphone re-creates the soundfield.

During their joint keynote address, composer/vocalist Emile Simon and her engineer/technologist (and IRCAM instructor) Cyrille Brissot demonstrated BRAAH, a vocal effects controller worn on the singer's arm, and CADRE, a laser controller responding to the location of objects placed within its beams. The potential of computer-controlled instruments is virtually limitless, Brissot argued: “Any object can be a computer interface.”

Mix Books

Modern Recording and Mixing

This 2-DVD set will show you how the best in the music industry set up a studio to make world-class records. Regardless of what gear you are using, the information you'll find here will allow you to take advantage of decades of expert knowledge. Order now $39.95

Mastering Cubase 4

Electronic Musician magazine and Thomson Course Technology PTR have joined forces again to create the second volume in their Personal Studio Series, Mastering Steinberg's Cubase(tm). Edited and produced by the staff of Electronic Musician, this special issue is not only a must-read for users of Cubase(tm) software, but it also delivers essential information for anyone recording/producing music in a personal-studio. Order now $12.95

Newsletters

MixLine

Delivered straight to your inbox every other week, MixLine takes you straight into the studio, with new product announcements, industry news, upcoming events, recent recording/post projects and much more. Click here to read the latest edition; sign up here.

MixLine Live

Delivered straight to your inbox every other week, MixLine Live takes you on the road with today's hottest tours, new sound reinforcement professional products, recent installs, industry news and much more. Click here to read the latest edition; sign up here.