All posts by Shawn Thorpe

About Shawn Thorpe

Shawn is a freelance media technician and podcast consultant living in San Luis Obispo, CA. | Blog | Twitter

JK Audio’s CellTap 4C is a Compact Solution for Recording Calls

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CellTap4CFrom podcast interviews to important personal conversations, there are many reasons why someone might need to record a phone call. But there aren’t many solutions out there that really make the process of call recording simple or practical. Things can be a little easier if you’ve got a bunch of audio gear already, and you just happen to be sitting by it at the time a call happens. But what about those times when you’re mobile or just need a quick call-recording setup? That’s where the new CellTap 4C by JK Audio comes in.

CellTap 4C is an update to its predecessor, simply called CellTap. The new version includes an updated headset jack and a more streamlined design. CellTap 4C has a total of three 3.5mm (mini-plug) connections. Connect the jack marked “Phone” to a cell phone’s headphone jack, connect the “Headset” jack to any headset with a built-in microphone and then connect the “Record” jack to an external device, such as a computer or portable audio recorder. Now, you’ll be able to speak with the caller and record both sides of the phone call (your voice and the caller’s voice) as separate channels on your recording device. (CellTap 4C outputs a stereo signal with each voice panned hard left/right.)

This device could be particularly useful to podcasters who are always looking for new ways to record phone/VoIP interviews. JK Audio was smart in making the output a true two-channel signal, as individual voices can often be unbalanced in single-channel recordings.

CellTap 4C should hit the market this month and is expected to retail for $99.00.

Behringer Parent Company acquires TC Group

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Behringer LogoMusic Group, the parent company of audio gear manufacturer Behringer, has acquired TC Group, an audio hardware/software manufacturer. This move bringss the brands of Tannoy, Lab Gruppen, Lake, TC Electronics, TC Helicon and TC Applied Technologies into the Music Group fold, along with Behringer, Midas, Klark Teknik and Turbosound.

Music Group has recently made big investments in upgrading its manufacturing facilities. It’s likely that the company made this acquisition to improve its service and support of the professional A/V market, including venues and touring productions. Also, many of TC Group’s products are complementary to those that Music Group (and specifically Behringer) is already producing. The two companies are known for their audio processing and production devices as well as electric guitar and voice enhancement products.

This move would seem to be further proof that Music Group’s trajectory is on the rise. For years, Behringer, the company’s flagship brand, carried a bad reputation. Its products were often seen as cheap, inferior toys when compared to other brands. Many critics claimed that Behringer’s products were just ripoffs of superior gear made by companies like Mackie or DBX. A few years ago, Behringer went on a mission to try and reverse the company’s negative perception. Since then, Behringer has worked hard to improve its products and they even turned a skeptic like me around as I now own a couple of their rack-mounted processors.

The news of this acquisition is further proof that Music Group is headed in the right direction.

 

Panasonic Debuts High Frame-Rate Projector at NAB

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Panasonic logoMore pixels and more frames! That’s the direction that video is heading in 2015. And while this trend has been making progress in terms of LED and other types of video displays, projectors have lagged behind. That is, until today. During NAB 2015, Panasonic unveiled the PT-RZ12KU, the world’s lightest 3-Chip DLP laser projector.

This 12,000 lm WUXGA resolution (1920 x 1200) projector boasts 120 Hz frame-replacement technologies and is compatible with high frame rate contents, reducing blur from motion to deliver a clearer image. It will provide the highest image quality for rental and staging, sports production and digital signage solutions. The PT-RZ12KU also comes with a contrast ratio of 20,000:1 that, with the high-resolution performance, makes it ideal for simulation, monitoring, and specialist education roles. This projector excels in large exhibition venues, virtual reality theaters, and in corporate applications.

The new PT-RZ12KU projector allows for vertical, horizontal and tilting 360-degree projection enabled by a laser light source. With multi-screen projection and geometric adjustment Panasonic emphasizes its focus on system and installation flexibility for many different types uses.

This new projector should hit the market during summer of 2015. No information has yet been given on retail pricing.

Blackmagic Brings Many New Products to NAB

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Blackmagic logoIts not unusual for manufacturers to announce new products at conventions like NAB. But this year, A/V equipment manufacturer Blackmagic may be going for a record. The company is bringing 38 new products to the show. There’s no way I can cover them all in one post but here’s some highlights:

Blackmagic URSA 4.6K Cameras: The new URSA 4.6K image sensor features a Super 35 size with a resolution of 4608 x 2592 at 120 frames per second. With an extremely wide 15 stops of dynamic range it really rivals most traditional 35mm film stock.

Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera: This is a miniaturized Super 16mm professional digital film camera with a new expansion port that lets you use PWM and S.Bus model airplane remote controls to operate the camera wirelessly for capturing action anywhere.

Fusion 8 Studio: Fusion has been Hollywood’s leading visual effects and motion graphics tool for over 25 years, and has been used on thousands of feature film and television projects. The new version features a node based user interface that’s an easy and incredibly fast way to work when you have multiple clips, effects and layers on an effects.

Blackmagic Video Assist: This device has a bright, 5 inch high resolution 1920 x 1080 HD monitor and touchscreen with a wide 135º viewing angle and it records broadcast quality 10-bit 4:2:2 video onto widely available SD cards in ProRes file formats. The SD cards can be mounted directly on a computer for cloning and backup using the included DaVinci Resolve Lite so you get a complete editing and color correction solution included.

Smart Videohub 12G 40×40: This useful piece of gear is a native 12G-SDI router with 40 inputs and 40 outputs. All the connections and controls are exactly the same as the regular Smart Videohub 40×40 which is the 6G-SDI model. So this new model is a direct replacement for that router when you need 12G-SDI. Works with Mac and Windows.

To get a complete rundown of everything Blackmagic brought to this year’s NAB, check out the company’s press release section on its website.

Beastgrip Turns any Mobile Phone into a Pro Video Rig

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BeastgripThanks to their built-in high quality video cameras, modern mobile phones have been a real game changer for video producers. And while “phoneography” puts a lot of power directly into the hands of creators, there are still lots of limitations. After all, these cameras are designed to be accessories to cell phones. Not the other way around. But products like the new Beastgrip adapter can turn any mobile phone into a professional video rig.

Beastgrip is a modular and flexible adapter system that works with any iPhone, Android or Windows Mobile mobile phone. Beastgrip also works with phones regardless of whether or not they’re inside of a protective case. This system allows many external lenses and accessories to be used with a mobile phone camera, greatly extending the camera’s functionality.

beastgrip is designed to be one truly universal phoneography system. For example, if you just need to connect your mobile phone to a tripod, Beastgrip does that. If you need to expand your rig to include special lenses or external microphones, Beastgrip does that, too. The possibilities are nearly endless for how you can use Beastgrip. Here’s some specifications:

  • Removable lens mount assembly with standard 37mm lens/filer mount, additional grip and two 1/4″-20 threaded mounts
  • Compatible with wide variety of standard conversion lenses/filters and DOF adapters
  • Extra grip and two mounting points to attach additional accessories
  • Base with adjustable spring loaded clamps will keep your phone securely in place
  • Standard 1/4″-20 threaded mount allows to mount it on any tripod or other support gear
  • Cold shoe mount allows to attach LED light or microphone
  • Ergonomic handle provides with comfortable grip for stable handheld shots
  • Two 1/4″-20 threaded mounts for attaching additional accessories
  • Handle can be removed from the base for more compact setup

Beastgrip is being officially launched thru Kickstarter. The campaign has already exceeded its desired goal amount by more than double. There are pledge rewards at many levels. The $40 level will get you two special Beastgrip lens adapters that will work with many popular lens adapter kits (not just the Beastgrip system). The highest pledge level of $210 will get you the full Beastgrip Pro rig with all lenses and accessories.

IK Multimedia Brings UltraTuner Guitar Tuning App to Android

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UltraTuner for AndroidGigging musicians were living the mobile-gear life long before everyone was walking around with high-powered computers in their pockets. This required many musicians, especially guitarists, to have to tote around a kit full of tools and accessories, with the guitar tuner being paramount among them. But what about those times when you’ve accidentally left the tuner at home? Used to be, if you were lucky, you could borrow one from a bandmate. Or hope that maybe the bass player is actually in tune and you could tune off of his instrument. Those kinds of hassles are a thing of the past thanks to apps like UltraTuner from IK Multimedia.

IK Multimedia has been making products for the mobile musician for years. But those products have been focused on iOS. For the first time, along with its new iRig 2 and iRig HD-A, IK Multimedia is bringing UltraTuner to the Android platform. UltraTuner can be used with one of the above interfaces or it can also be used with your device’s built-in microphone.

UltraTuner features an advanced note-detection engine that delivers accuracy down to +/- 1/100 of a cent, making it ideal for precision tuning and calibration of all instruments from electric guitars to analog synthesizers and beyond. UltraTuner achieves such fine results thru a patented note detection engine that utilizes a proprietary dual-analysis process to deliver frequency readings with incredible accuracy.

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