Slate Raven MTi2 MultiTouch Controller
27-inch Touch Screen for Your DAW
The new Raven MTi2 from Slate Media Technology ($999) is the most affordable Raven yet. It features a 27-inch backlit LED multitouch display (1920×1080), six-touch capability for movement of various features for better hands-on control, a customizable multifunction toolbar, and plug-and-play operation with a computer using a standard HDMI or DVI cable and USB 2 connection. Also new is the Raven v3 software update that now supports Pro Tools (10, 11, 12), Logic Pro X, Ableton Live 9, Cubase 8, Nuendo 7, Studio One 3 and Digital Performer 8 and 9.
Joey Sturgis Menace Toneforge and Transify Plug-ins
Metalcore Sonic Manglers
Toneforge From Joey Sturgis Tones ($65) is a series of virtual guitar and bass rigs designed by producer Joey Sturgis (Devil Wears Prada, Kiss The Gunner). Menace, the first in the series, is an aggressive metal amp built to power through guitar leads and riffs. Transify ($65) is an affordable tool for manipulating the dynamics in a mix and allows for total creative control over the transients in a production. Features include: four frequency band ranges, a built-in per-band clip circuit, and I/O controls for matching levels and optimizing gain staging.
Neat Bee Microphones
New Look, Sound and Operation
From a team of innovators, including the co-founders of Blue Microphones, comes the King Bee ($349) and Worker Bee ($199) microphones. The King Bee features a 34mm center-terminated condenser capsule with external polarization. Features include a fixed cardioid pattern, 140 dB SPL (2.5k ohms, 0.5% THD), internal noise level of 6.5 dB-A (IEC 651), and a custom transformer balanced output. The Worker Bee offers a fixed-charge backplate, permanently polarized 24mm diameter condenser capsule, 145 dB SPL (2.5k ohms, 0.5% THD), identical noise specs as the King Bee, and a dynamic range of 134 dB (@ 2.5k ohms). Both mics come with the Honeycomb pop filter and custom shockmount; they are compatible with the optional Beeline quad conducted XLR cable.
Acoustic Power Lab Ltd. APL1s
Speaker EQ Control
The APL1s ($TBA) is a 2-channel 1RU half-rack hardware speaker equalization solution that enables the application of corrective as well as custom FIR filtering in production, and post-production studio monitor, live performance and installed sound systems. Up to 16 user-configured 4096-tap FIR equalization curves generated in conjunction with Acoustic Power Lab’s measurement and analysis software may be stored, recalled and applied by the APL1s unit’s high-resolution, high dynamic range and ultra-low latency FIR engine. The unit supports 24-bit, 48 kHz and 96 kHz output sample rates, and accepts 22kHz to 108kHz sample rate inputs via the onboard sample-rate converter, and an ultra-low jitter double PLL clock system. The outputs are protected by a power on/off anti-pop feature.
Linear Acoustic AERO.10 DTV Audio Processor
Affordable Controls for Broadcast
The AERO.10 ($5,500 MSRP) provides the same processing found in the entire AERO range but at a significantly lower price. AERO.10 is a fully featured audio processor supporting up to 10 channels of PCM audio via AES, SDI or stereo analog I/O. It comes equipped with a processing engine identical to those in the established AERO.100/1000/2000 products. Features include AEROMAX loudness and dynamics control, UPMAX II automatic upmixing and downmixing algorithms, along with ITU- and EBU-compliant loudness metering and logging. Other features include a downloadable 7.5-day rolling and event-based logs, including multiple ITU-R BS.1770-3 loudness measurements as well as True Peak values.
Waves Audio Cobalt Saphira
Advanced Harmonics Shaping Plug-in
Waves Cobalt Saphira ($149) promises to give your mixes analog musicality, depth and “glue” by adding rich harmonics to your tracks and separately shaping the various qualities of the harmonics you are adding. Controls and features include Edge and Warmth—for separately controlling and balancing even and odd harmonics; a 4-band EQ, seven Harmonics modes, and a tape simulator with five tape speeds for adding wow-and-flutter modulation in order to give your tracks extra musicality and depth.
NYRV Agent Plug-in Aggregator
Unified Control Across Different Processors
Agent from NYRV Systems ($249) allows the mapping of 16 plug-ins simultaneously to your hardware controller. Users can develop a series of channel strips designed to meet the needs of particular tracks (drums, vocal, guitar, etc.), save them and recall them in any project on any DAW, simplifying and speeding up your mix setup. Agent hosts up to 16 VST or AU effects plug-ins per instance and features dynamic DSP allocation, internal routing, order, wet/dry, and gain controls, and mapping of up to 96 parameters to the Agent control surface. The software runs on all major DAWS and features cross-platform presets.
Sonarworks Reference 3 Plug-in
Playback Calibration System
Reference 3 ($219 plug-in only; $299 plug-in w/mic bundle) is an acoustic calibration system using DSP algorithms to correct the frequency response of speakers. Features include filter architecture developed in-house and optimized for optimum measured and heard performance, switching between three different filter types—minimum, mixed and linear phase with up to 16,000-point resolution, and guaranteed measurement accuracy for speaker calibration—<2.5dB (25 points), <0.9dB (70 points). The plug-in is available for OSX and Windows in VST, AU, RTAS and AAX Native formats.
Roland M-5000C Live Mixing Console
Affordable, Svelte, and Feature-Packed
The M-5000C ($TBA) is the newest addition to the growing line of O.H.R.C.A.-based consoles from Roland. The slender desk comes in under 30 inches (74 cm) in width and weighs just 70 pounds (32 kg), while offering many features of the popular flagship M-5000. Features include 96kHz sampling rate, 72-bit summing bus, newly designed discrete analog circuitry, and redundant power supply. In addition to 16 inputs and 8 outputs on the console, the M-5000C also has two expansion interface slots that can accommodate REAC, Dante, MADI, Waves SoundGrid and other XI-Series expansion cards. Control includes a 12-inch color touch screen, 20 channel faders in three groups, anchor points, DCA spills, multifunction knobs and buttons, and a user-assignable section.
UE Pro Line Driveand Sound Guard
IEM Optimization and Protection
From Ultimate Ears comes the Line Drive ($149) and Sound Guard ($199) for professional in-ear monitors. Both products offer a signal buffer that can be connected to line or headphone outputs. The battery-powered units are connected between the sound source and an in-ear monitor, offering a high-impedance, low-current load to the audio source and very low-impedance interface to the IEM. This guarantees consistent sound fidelity and dynamic range, whether plugged into a mixing console, wireless pack, personal monitoring system or headphone amp and any other musical source. Sound Guard brings an extra feature: protection from microphone drops, audio feedback, setup mistakes and other sonic hazards that may occur while performing or recording.
Yamaha DXS18 Subwoofer
1020W 18-inch Boomer
Joining the DXS12 and DXS15 models, the DXS18 from Yamaha ($1,949) delivers the highest output level of the series, as well as the lowest frequency range capability. Powered by a 1020W Class-D amplifier, the DXS18 houses an 18-inch woofer with a durable 4-inch voice coil in a sturdy bandpass-type plywood enclosure. Other features include 136 dB maximum SPL, extended LF response down to 32 Hz, and Yamaha’s proprietary DSP technology with original D-XSUB processing for additional control of the low-frequency range. The DXS18 also offers a Cardioid Mode setting for sound systems with two or more DXS18 speakers, effectively reducing the energy directed toward the stage while increasing bass levels directed at the audience.
CAD StagePass Wireless System
Agile Performer
StagePass from CAD Audio ($459) combines frequency agility, ease of operation and unmatched audio performance. The system features 16-channel UHF frequency-agile performance for exceptional connectivity in crowded RF environments. Stereo operation enables discrete signals to be transmitted to the right or left channels for enhanced monitoring capability. Components include CAD MEB2 TruPitch balanced armature monitor earbuds with EasyFit silicon molds for a custom fit, and CADLock Automatic Tone Code Squelch for eliminating unauthorized interference in RF-unfriendly environments. Other features include a shielded metal chassis transmitter, durable carry case, rack ears and an antenna relocation kit.
