NIKKOR Z 50mm F/1.4 Is NIKKON’s Latest Affordable And Fast Prime Lens



Nikon Inc. announced the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4, a lightweight prime lens with a wide and bright f/1.4 aperture. This affordable lens is compact enough to take anywhere, while offering a versatile and classic focal length that’s ideal for portraits, landscapes, street snaps, travel, still life and more.

“The NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 is a modern take on a classic lens design, giving creators the benefits if the latest imaging technology and optical innovations at a very appealing price,” said Fumiko Kawabata, Sr. Vice President, Nikon Inc. “With the recently released NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.4, photographers and videographers now have access to a great pair of fast, affordable primes that will help them to take their creativity further.”

The large f/1.4 aperture of this lens affords users the ability to create images and video with three-dimensional emphasis and naturally soft backgrounds that draw the viewers’ attention to a subject.

The NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 lens feature a compact, comfortable and lightweight design, measuring approximately 2.9 in x 3.4 in (74.5 x 86.5mm) and weighing only 14.8 oz (420 g). The lens is engineered with a premium feel and superb handling, featuring a dedicated focus ring and customizable control ring.

Additional Features of the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4

Close minimum focus distance: lets users get as near as 14.5 in (0.37 m) from the subject, which is great for flowers, still life and food photography.

Nine-blade diaphragm helps to create a natural, circular bokeh for a pleasing out of focus area.

Focus breathing is effectively suppressed to minimize the shift of the angle of view when adjusting the focus.

Near Silent operation for video production, with a click-less control ring and near silent lens drive thanks to the use of STM motors.

Weather Sealed and designed with careful consideration for dust- and drip-resistant performance.

Price and Availability

The new NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 will be available in late September 2024 for a suggested retail price of $499,95. For more information about the latest Nikon products, including the extensive line of NIKKOR Z lenses and the entire range of Z series cameras, please visit NIKON USA.com.


Epiphone Announces Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V



Jimi Hendrix is widely regarded as the most innovative guitarist of the rock era, a player who took the instrument to places no one else had ever gone before. Now, Epiphone, in partnership with the Gibson Custom and the Hendrix family, is proud to introduce the Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V, an Inspired by Gibson Custom recreation of a guitar that Jimi played extensively from 1967 to 1969.

Originally a Sunburst, Jimi Hendrix customized his Ebony-refinished Gibson Flying V with psychedelic graphics that he hand-painted, which are recreated here. The Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V also features a mahogany body, a one-piece mahogany neck with a rounded C profile, a laurel fretboard, and 22 medium jumbo frets. 

An inspired by Gibson Custom logo and reproduction of Jimi’s signature adorn the back of the 1967-style Flying V headstock. Epiphone Deluxe turners anchor the strings at the headstock, while a short Maestro Vibrola anchors them at the other end.

The electronics are first-rate, with a pair of Gibson Custombucker humbucker pickups wired to CTS potentiometers, a Mallory tone capacitor, and a Switchcraft 3-way pickup select switch and a 1/4” output jack. An Epiphone hardshell case with Inspired Gibson Custom and Authentic Hendrix logos is also included.

Body

Body Style: Flying V

Body Shape: Flying V

Body Material: Mahogany

Body Finish: Gloss

Neck

Profile: Rounded “C”

Fingerboard Radius: 304.8mm / 12 in

Frets: Medium Jumbo

Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dot

Scale Length: 628.65 mm / 24.75 in

Neck Material: One Piece Mahogany

Joint: Glued in, Set Neck; Long Heel

Fingerboard Material: Laurel

Fret Count: 22

Nut Width: 43.0mm / 1.692 

Hardware

Finish: Nickel

Tailpiece: Maestro Short Vibrola

Truss Rod: Dual Action

Switch Tip: White

Bridge: LockTone Tune-O-Matic

Tuning Machines: Epiphone Deluxe 

Truss Rod Cover: ’67 Flying V 3-ply, White with Epiphone Logo in Gold

Strap Buttons: 3

Saddle Material: Nylon

Pickguard: ’67 Flying V 3-ply, White

Control Knobs: Black Witch Hat with Reflector Insert

Pickup Covers: Nickel


Fender Introduces The Mustang Micro Plus



Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) launches the latest addition to its widely-acclaimed Mustang amplifier series, with the release of the Mustang Micro Plus.

Building on the success of The Mustang Micro, this latest iteration takes affordable personal guitar amplification to the next level, right in your pocket, with a wide selection of innovative tones, amp models and effects from the acclaimed Mustang Series amps.

Forming that latest part of the acclaimed Mustang amp series, the Mustang Micro Plus is Fender’s most versatile on-the-go amplifier. With over four hours of continuous play time, it can be plugged in directly into your favorite Fender guitar while connected to wired headphones, allowing you to play anywhere without disturbing others.

The Mustang Micro Plus takes everything players love about the Mustang Micro, to the next level. With 25 amp effects models straight from the Mustang Series of amps, it makes it quick and easy to get iconic Fender tones anywhere; players can effortlessly select from a variety of presets tailored to their musical style.

Boasting 100 fully editable preset slots with Fender Tone App support, the Mustang Micro Plus offers unparalleled customization. Featuring an integrated tuner and a clear display, this app ensures everything a player needs to jam is right at their fingertips. The built-in Bluetooth audio streaming lets you play along with your favorite songs or videos in real-time. As the ultimate personal guitar amplifier, the Mustang Micro Plus delivers high-quality sound anywhere, anytime without compromise.

“We’re incredibly excited to unveil the latest evolution of our widely-acclaimed Mustang amplifier series with the introduction of the Mustang Micro Plus,” said Justin Norvell, EVP Product at FMIC. “This new addition represents a significant leap forward in both technology and user experience, offering unparalleled versatility and tone in an incredibly portable package. 

The Mustang Micro Plus is designed to inspire musicians at every level, providing a powerful, intuitive, and accessible way to create and explore new sounds. We can’t wait to see how this innovative amp will ignite creativity and elevate performances around the world.”

Product Highlights Include:

25 AMP Models And 25 Effect Models: Extensive combinations allow players to experiment with versatility to tailor their sound for any genre or style, from smooth jazz cleans to aggressive metal distortion, enhancing creativity and expression.

100 Editable Presets: Musicians can see time and instantly recall their favorite amp and effect settings. This feature is particularly valuable for performers who need quick access to different sounds during a set, as well as those who want to experiment and perfect their tones.

Integrated Display With Onboard Tuner: The display makes it easy to navigate settings and presets, while the onboard tuner ensures that the guitar is always in tune, which is crucial for sound quality and not accuracy.

Compatible With Fender Tone: iOS and Android app as well as Bluetooth audio streaming with audio / video sync for playing along in real time, enhancing practice sessions.


Uaudio Announces ANTI 1992 High Gain Amp



The UAFX ANTI 1992 High Gain Amp delivers the savage guitar tones of Slipknot, In Flames, Machine Head, and countless Scandinavian metal bands right at your feet.

With ANTI, you get the authentic sound of the 120-watt tube behemoth that gave rise to agressive “scooped” guitar tones, combined with perfectly-miked cabinets to unleash bone-crushing riffs, searing leads, crystalline cleaner, and everything in between.

Features

Plug into the early ‘90s 120-watt tone monster that defined new genres of modern metal

Experiment with six classic mic/speaker parings used on decades of iconic metal and hard rock records

Get complete album-ready sounds with built-in noise gate, TS-style overdrive, and preamp boost.

Play presets designed by pro guitarists, or customize and save your own tones in the UAFX mobile app.

Unleash Beastly Guitar Tones:  In punishing detail, ANTI 1992 High Gain Amp captures the sound of the 120-watt amp that gave rise to notorious Metal subgenera throughout the ‘90s. From Thrash and Death Metal to Grunge, Black Metal, and beyond — ANTI delivers the rich, scooped tones that have fueled iconic bands for decades.

Play through Classic Boosts & Noise Gate: ANTI’s built-in noise gate keeps your signal clear, even at super high gain settings. And its TS-style overdrive adds classic mid-boost saturation, perfect for tight and articulate playing. Or switch to an integrated preamp boost for classic Scandinavian metal tones.

Explore Famous Mic & Speaker Parings: ANTI’s six perfectly-modeled mic and speaker combinations conjure legendary sounds used on decades of famous metal recordings. Whether you’re chasing the brutal clarity of Scandinavian Death Metal or the thick, saturated crunch of American Thrash, ANTI puts a palette of vicious tones at your feat.

UK V30: 4×12 Marshall cab with V30’s

CA V30: 4×12 Oversized cab with V30’s

White 75: 4×12 Marshall cab with Celestion 75’s

3 Bonus Cabs: 2×12 D65, 4×12 Celestion 80, 4×12 Brown

Customize Your Sound with the UAFX APP: With the UAFX mobile app, you can pull up presets designed by pro guitarists or sculpt and save your own sounds to recall at any time. Plus the app unlocks deep customization for your pedal, allowing you to tweak hidden controls, boosts and noise gate setting, and even adjust output tube biasing.


Introducing The Orbiter Fuzz Pedal From SoloDallas



Discover the SoloDallas Orbiter Fuzz, a meticulously crafted effects pedal designed to combine genuine vintage tones with user-friendly versatility. Building upon the legacy of the 1966 Arbiter Fuzz, the Orbiter Fuzz adds fine-tuning circuitry to this already amazing vintage circuit.

Key Features:

Vintage Tone: The Orbiter Fuzz promises immediate inspiration with a range of smooth musical fuzz tones that sing out with cutting sustain.

Vintage Power: Our unique power circuit internally converts modern wall power to emulate the draw of a vintage carbon zinc battery.

“Sweet Spot” Dial: We included an internal mini potentiometer to dial in the perfect impedance response for your favorite pickups.

Versatile Controls:

FUZZ: Controls the overall amount of fuzz by shifting the shape of the signal’s waveform from triangular to square as the knob is turned clockwise.

GAIN: Increases the amount of signal entering the circuit as the knob is turned clockwise, allowing the signal to be pushed into harmonic clipping for smooth overdriven fuzz tones.

BIAS: Increases voltage to the matched pair of transistors as it is turned clockwise, unleashing a wide range of vintage fuzz tones. Lower voltages produce spotty Black Keys responses, whereas higher voltages generate smooth American Woman fuzz.

Compact Design: We use industry-standard enclosures to optimize pedalboard space and make the Orbiter Fuzz an easy swap with any other standard pedal.

Durable Construction: Every SoloDallas pedal is crafted for durability and reliability to withstand the most rigorous touring conditions.

Technical Specifications:

Imput Impedance:  500 kOhm

Output Impedance: 10 kOhm

Power Requirements: External 9 vDC center negative power supply

Dimensions: 4.75” x 2.50” x 1.5”

Design Details:

Custom Artwork: Retro space-age artwork that pays homage to the Arbiter’s flying saucer enclosure/

High-Quality Housing: Durable reinforced steel enclosure with a vintage metallic blue hammered finish

Why You Need The SoloDallas Orbiter Fuzz Pedal:

A great fuzz pedal is an essential effect for every guitarist and bassist. The smooth frequency is produced by the Orbiter circuit is that singing fuzz every musician dreams of. It’s extremely musical and holds together the way you’ve always wished a fuzz would.

If you want an effects pedal that looks simply amazing and sounds like heaven, the Orbiter Fuzz is a must. If you’re ready to end your lifelong search for the perfect fuzz pedal than you owe it to yourself to get the Orbital Fuzz.


Walrus Audio Announces Melee – Wall Of Noise Pedal



The Melee Wall of Noise is a distortion + reverb combo that unapologetically uses a joystick to meld reverb and distortion into one massive blaze of sound. With the flip of the order switch, run the distortion into the reverb or reverb into distortion; signal chain is your call now.

Details

We give you the two most quintessential effects that yield unruly amounts of power and influence to an instrumentalist: reverb and distortion. They have been harnessed and woven together for an eternity of ethereal power with The Melee: Wall of Noise. 

The Melee unapologetically uses a joystick to meld reverb and distortion into one massive blaze of sound. With the flip of the order switch, run the distortion into the reverb or the reverb into the distortion; signal chain is your call now. For the explorer, the Melee can run one of three different reverb programs Ambient, Octave and Reverse.

In a less is more approach, we’ve intentionally decided on controls that are fun to use and will inspire a wealth of creative output. Use the joystick to control the amount of distortion by moving it up and down. Moving the joystick left and right will adjust your reverb mix. The tone and decay toggles have low, medium, and high settings.

Modulation can be added to the wet signal by holding down the bypass switch and moving the decay toggle. The left position is no modulation, the middle is a slight modulation, and the right is a high modulation.

Algorithms

The Melee is equipped with three different reverb programs, which can be changed by simultaneously pressing the bypass and sustain stomp switches. Experiment with the order toggle switch to hear how differently these all react in front and after the distortion!

Ambient Reverb (Pink LED) – Huge reverb capable of massive trails and engulfing your chords into an angry wash of sound. Great for soaring melodic lines or shoe gaze-driven chord progressions.

Octave Down Reverb (Yellow LED) – Similar to the Dark mode in the Slö, you’ll find an eerie lower octave hovering in the reverb trail for a nice and dark atmospheric touch.

Reverse Reverb with Feedback (Blue LED) – Add reversed reverb trails back into your signal, create gentle melodies or push into reverse feedback overload. Big, slow, and sad chords love to hang out here.

Momentary

Press and hold the sustain switch to ramp up the reverb trails. Release and the trails will ramp back down to where the decay switch is currently set. The sustain switch can also latch in all three programs. Press and release the Sustain switch to capture and sustain the current reverb decay for long pad-like sounds in your wet mix. Press again to release the latch, and the reverb trail will taper off based on the position of the decay knob.


BOSS Announces Updates For The GT-1000 and GT-1000CORE Guitar Effects



BOSS announces system updates for the GT-1000 and GT-1000CORE the company’s leading amp/effects processors for guitarists and bassists.

The Version 4.0 (GT-1000) and Version 2.0 (GT-1000CORE) updates add three expressive high-gain guitar amps, additional bass amps, new guitar effects, and more. Available as free downloads, these substantial updates reflect BOSS’s dedication to the continuing development of its flagship-class GT platform.

GT-1000 and GT-1000CORE Update Features

Three newly developed high-gain guitar amp types spotlight the continuing evolution of the advanced AIRD (Augmented Impulse Response Dynamics) and MDP (Multi-Dimensional Processing) technologies from BOSS:

X-Ultra – Inspired by a classic British stack amp modified with a modern multi-stage gain circuit. MDP provides intelligent control of the clipping in each gain stage, realizing extended dynamic response that’s not possible with traditional analog designs.

X-Optima – With many high-gain tube amplifiers, it can be difficult to strike the ideal tonal balance between chords and single notes. X-Optima features an innovative new gain algorithm that takes full advantage of MDP’s adaptive frequency shaping, providing well-defined rhythm sounds and rich lead tones that sit perfectly in every mix.

X-Titan – This articulate amp type is perfect for aggressive metal styles driven by heavy riffs. MDP delivers sharp, tight sounds on the low strings while retaining fatness and body in the high ranges, making it well-suited for down turnings and extended-range guitars with seven or eight strings.

The GT-1000 and GT-1000Core updates also include six new bass preamps, two new drive effects, a new tuner display mode, and under-the-hood enhancements.

About the GT-1000

The BOSS GT-1000 has received universal acclaim for its premium audio quality, extensive effect, and versatile real-time control with 10 onboard footswitches and an expression pedal. Advanced AIRD technology delivers class leading sound and feel, driven by 32-bit AD/DA, 32-bit floating-point processing, and a 96 kHz sampling rate throughout.

The GT-1000’s impressive DSP engine offers on-demand power for 24 simultaneous effects and two amps in each patch, eliminating frustrating limitations while creating sounds. The rear panel features diverse connectivity options, including stereo XLR outputs and USB for audio transfer and editing with a desktop computer. In addition, Bluetooth enable wireless editing with iOS and Android mobile apps.

About the GT-1000CORE

The BOSS GT-1000CORE offers the complete sound-creation features of the GT-1000 in a go-everywhere format. It’s compact footprint features three customizable footswitches, allowing players to travel light while tackling any professional playing situation. The efficient hardware design supports a wide range of connectivity options, including stereo audio I/O, two effect loops, external control jacks, and TRS MIDI I/O.

Availability & Pricing: The BOSS GT-1000 4.0 and the GT 1000CORE 2.0 updates are now available to download for free.


Panasonic Unveils PAN9019/PAN9019A Wi-Fi Bluetooth Combo



Panasonic logoPanasonic announced the launch of the cutting-edge PAN9019/PAN9019A Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo module, adding a new dimension to its wireless module portfolio. 

This innovative model is a dual-band, 2.4GHz/5GHz, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi radio module with integrated Bluetooth BDR/EDR/Low Energy (LE), optional 802.15.4 radio (PAN9019A) and, Target Wake Time (TW) feature, which leads to lower power consumption.

The PAN9019/PAN9019A modules simultaneously operate three standards, enabling high data rates (Wi-Fi 6 compliant) and energy savings (BLE and 802.15.4). This unique combination delivers exceptional flexibility in wireless connectivity, making it an ideal solution for a diverse range of applications across various industries.

“This versatile module is well-suited for various applications, including smart home/building, IoT, asset monitoring, medical, lighting control, and industrial applications, offering state of the art wireless connectivity solutions that enable seamless integration and control of multiple devices,” said Simon Wong, Product Engineer, Panasonic Industry.

Key Features of the PAN9019/PAN9019A:

Dual band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 802.15.4 combo module (PAN9019A)

Wi-Fi 6 compliant features, including up to 600 Mbps (MCS11, 80 MHz channel bandwidth) OFDMA (UL/DL) and MU-MIMO (UL/DL), WPA3 Security, and Target Wake Time

Bluetooth 5.4 with Low Energy and long range capabilities

Generic interfaces include SDIO 3.0, high-speed UART, and SPI for host processor connection.

OS driver support for RTOS, Linux, and Android

Technical Characteristics:

Surface Mount Type (SMT): 15.3 mm x 12mm x 2.5 mm

PAN9019 NXP IW611 WLAN 2.4 GHz and GHz, Bluetooth single-chip solution inside

PAN9019A: NXP IW612 WLAN 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, Bluetooth, and 802.15.4 single-chip solution inside

Rx sensitivity: -98 dBm at IEEE 802.11b, 1 Mbps

IEEE 802.11ax 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz channel bandwidth

SDIO 1-bit or 4-bit


EarthQuaker Devices Announces Silos



Unlike anything before it, the Silos merges together a digital, analog, and tape delay into one compact and powerful pedal. In addition to the tri-voice delay, it features tap tempo, user-assignable expression control, and the ability to save and recall six presets, making it endlessly customizable and easy to operate. 

It’s like having three classic pedals all rolled into one! Now you can save room on your pedalboard while never having to decide which single delay to use again.

3 Modes Of Impeccable Sounding Delay

Each of the three modes offers up to one second of delay time. From noon and back is 500 milliseconds to zero, which has its own character. From 500 milliseconds to one second delay time, it’s an entirely different beast. Dial them in for shorter delay times where they really excel and add loads of atmosphere and vibes. 

Push them further for rhythmic delays that are perfect for strumming and adding the extra ambiance for your riffs. Each of the three delay modes is uniquely different and offers its own unique character when selected.

Mode D: Digital Delay: This mode offers bright repeats that remain strong as they decay. Shorter settings give you a bold stuttering staccato sound, while longer settings give you ambience with longer repeats.

Mode A: Analog Delay: This mode is very mid-focused with faster diminishing repeats and dark and murky build ups. Boasting a big presence without low end throb or overpowering high end, this works equally well with a clean signal or distortion.

Mode T: Tape Delay: Reminiscent of a well-loved tape delay with just a hint of oil can delay vibes mixed in for good measure. Roll it on for everything from dark undertones to atmospheric terrains.

Global Features

Pairs Perfectly With Distortion: Silos was meticulously designed to respond well to gain and overdrive saturation

Presets: Silos has six available preset slots for you to save and recall your favorite settings. The settings foreach of the three controls, the mode switch and the expression jack assignment can be saved and recalled in any of the slots.

Easily Switch Between Delay Modes: Silos has two operating modes which are extremely easy to switch between on the fly! In Live mode, the pedal will operate exactly where the controls are set and any changes will have no effect on the presets unless saved. In Preset mode, stored presets (including expression pedal mapping) are selected using the Preset switch, and the physical settings of the controls will be ignored.

User-Assignable Expression Control:  Use any TRS expression Pedal to take control over the Time, Repeats or Mix.

Controls

Mode Toggle: Toggles between Digital Delay, Analog Delay, and Tape Delay

Time: This sets the delay time from 0-1 second.

Repeats: This controls the regeneration of the delay signal. This mode does not self-oscillate in Digital Mode, but begins to self-oscillate at 3-o’clock in Analog and Tape Modes.

Mix: Adjusts the level of the delay signal.

Preset: Six available preset slots for you to save and recall your favorite settings. The settings for each of the three control, the Mode switch and the expression jack assignment can be saved and recalled in any of the slots.


Electro-Harmonix Announces POG3 Polyphonic Octave Generator



The world’s best octave effect just got better! The POG3 is the most powerful pedal in Electro-Harmonic’s revered line of polyphonic octave generators that continues to inspire and captivate musicians of all styles.

At its core, the POG3 delivers lightning-fast tracking and perfect polyphony over 4 octaves with smoother tone and performance than ever before. From 12-string jangle to 6-voice drawbar organ sounds, the POG3 delivers an endless possibility of tone creation. The pedal has received many updates that further expand its tone shaping possibilities to enhance your performance on stage and in the studio.

Featuring 6 voices including DRY, -2, -1, +5th, +1, & +2, you can mix each with individual sliders and create enveloping stereo effects with dedicated pan knobs and selectable LEFT/RIGHT/DIRECT outputs.

The effects section has been expanded offer envelope control and adjustable Q for the new multi-mode FILTER, enhanced DETUNE section with SPREAD, and individual DRY effect selection, plus the famous ATTACK slider for subtle or dramatic swell effects.  

All voices, effects, and additional features are now controllable via expression and MIDI for even more creative control. Unlock new expression effects including Freeze, Glissando, Volume, Filter, X-Fade, and Warp with advanced programming and performance controls. The INPUT GAIN slider is an old friend from the original POG that can add girth and dirt to your tone mix.

With all. This fresh tone creation power on tap, additional storage and editing options simply workflow and sound saving capabilities. 100 onboard presets can be saved and rearranged easily thanks to the POG3’s high-visibility OLED display and NAVCODER knob. The new EHXport desktop app also allows for easy preset storage and organization as well as streamlined preset editing on your PC or MAC.

Discover your most creative self with the POG3!

Six separate voices: DRY, -2 OCT, 1 OCT, +5th, +1 OCT, +2 OCT

100 presets

Three separate 1/4” outputs – LEFT, RIGHT, DIRECT OUT

Individual pan controls to separate voices between LEFT and RIGHT output jacks

Enhanced classic POG and POG2 ATTACK, FILTER, and DETUNE controls

INPUT GAIN control

MASTER VOLUME control

FOCUS control for +1OCT and +2 OCT

Multimode Filter with Q and Envelope sweep

All controls can be saved to presets and controlled via expression and/or MIDI

Illuminated slide pots and buttons

High-visibility OLED graphical display

Selectable “home” views for personalized user experiences

Easy-to-navigate menu system

New NavCoder knob allows rotary and directional navigation through menus

EXPRESSION / CV input offers multiple modes of expression

USB-C port to connect to Windows or Mac interfaces with EHXport app

POG3 is priced at $654.00