Leica Presents D-LUX 7 Black Compact Camera

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Leica Camera AG presents a new color version of the Leica D-Lux 7 compact camera. The new Leica D-Lux 7 black with a discreet black body and lens, is available now. The classic look of the compact camera makes it the perfect companion for any occasion, capturing unique moments in stunning image quality.

In its technical specifications, the Leica D-Lux black corresponds to the existing series model and impresses with the same extensive equipment package, versatile functions and intuitive operating concept. The powerful compact camera is equipped with the fast zoom lens Leica DC Vario-Summilix 10.9-34 mm f/1.7-2.8 ASPH (equivalent to 24-75 mm in 35 mm format) and, in combination with the four-thirds sensor, delivers outstanding image quality in all shooting situations. Features such as touch screen, Bluetooth or charging via USB make it an extremely flexible camera that offers photographic freedom and captures every special moment.

By simply connecting to the Leica FOTOS App, the D-Lux 7 can be remotely controlled from the smartphone to transfer the photos to iOS and Android devices. Photographers can then make use of numerous options for sharing their pictures directly in social media or after processing them with an image editing or post-processing app.

As perfect complements to the classic looks of the Leica D-Lux 7, its users can choose from a collection of equally stylish and practical accessories such as exquisite cases, high-quality carrying straps and a practical handgrip.

Panasonic Launched L-Mount Interchangeable Zoom Lens for LUMIX S Series

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Panasonic introduced a new interchangeable standard zoom lens, the LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 (S-R2060) based on the L-Mount system for the LUMIX S Series Full-Frame Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera. Designed for professional use, the LUMIX S Series pursues uncompromising photographic expression with its high-quality cameras and lenses.

The new LUMIX F3.5-5.6 is a compact, lightweight standard zoom lens that covers from ultra-wide 20mm to standard 60mm focal length for versatile use including landscape photography. The wide viewing angle makes it easier to shoot indoors where space is limited and stunning close-up capability of 5.9 inches / 0.15m (maximum magnification 0.43x) supports still life photography. The new LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 also ensures smooth, high quality video recording because of a mechanism that suppresses focus breathing, which can be an issue in interchangeable lenses designed for still image photography.

With 11 elements in 9 groups, the use of aspherical lenses and 3 ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lenses effectively suppresses both axial chromatic aberration and chromatic aberration of magnification. Astigmatism is also corrected with these aspherical lenses, achieving high resolving performance. Furthermore, a UHR (Ultra-High Refractive Index) lens achieves uniform image quality from the center to edges of the image while contributing to downsizing of the lens unit.

With its compact, approximately 12.3 oz / 350g of light weight, the LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6 features stunning mobility. The rugged dust/splash resistant design withstands use under harsh conditions even at 14°F / -10°C for high mobility. In addition, a fluorine coating on the front element repels water and oil and prevents them from attaching. The filter diameter is 67 mm, with a 9-blade circular aperture diaphragm.

The LUMIX S 20-60mm lens will be available at the end of July for $599.99.

Gibson Teams Up with MyMusicRx for a Sweepstakes

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Gibson, the world’s most iconic guitar brand, has teamed up with MyMusicRx, flagship program of the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA), to bring the healing power of music to kids facing cancer and other serious illnesses.

Help support this worthy cause with a donation, and you could win one of six Epiphone, Gibson, and Kramer guitars PLUS interactive guitar lessons through a year-long subscription to the Amped guitar learning app and a swag bag full of Gibson merch!

Prizes include:

  • Gibson Les Paul Tribute – Satin Cherry
  • Epiphone Casino – Vintage Sunburst
  • Gibson Les Paul Tribute – Satin Iced Tea
  • Kramer-Assault-Plus – Vintage Sunburst
  • Gibson Les Paul Tribute – Satin Honeyburst
  • Epiphone Masterbilt-DR500

Your generous donation will directly support MyMusicRx’s free music medicine programs for hospitalized kids and teens. These tailored, one-on-one music experiences are designed to relieve their stress, anxiety, and perception of pain, allowing kids and teens to improve their mental and emotional well-being through the healing power of music.

The Sweepstakes is available until June 26, 2020, at 11:59 pm PST. The Drawing Date is June 29, 2020, at 11:59 pm PST. Each entry gives you a chance to win any prize.

Entry Prices:

  • 10 Entries for $5
  • 30 Entries for $10
  • 100 Entries for $25

You can get 5 more entries by posting your link (presumably on social media), and 5 more entries when friends use your link. Friends get 5 more entries for using your link.

The Sweepstakes is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States (excluding New York), the District of Columbia, countries in the EU, U.K., and Canada who are 18 (except 19 on Alabama and Nebraska and 21 in Mississippi) years of age as of the date of the entry or legal age of majority or older in their country of residence.

Canadian winners will be required to correctly answer a mathematical skill testing question as a condition of receiving a prize.

Sweepstakes is void in Cuba, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, the Province of Quebec, and any place where offering the sweepstakes or awarding of a prize is prohibited.

Sony Electronics Introduces Digital Camera ZV-1 for Content Creators

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Sony Electronics announced the new pocket-sized digital camera ZV1, a lightweight, compact “all-in-one” style solution. Designed from the ground up for content creators and vloggers, the ZV-1 combines easy-to-use features with uncompromising imaging technology, making this the perfect tool for any content creator at all skill levels.

The ZV-1 features a 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor with DRAM chip and 24-70mm F1.8 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T large-aperture lens creating beautiful background bokeh (background blur), allowing subjects to stand out from the background. This camera locks on to and tracks subjects with high accuracy and speed using Sony’s leading-edge autofocus system.

The ZV-1 also includes the latest generation BIONZ-X image processor with front-end LSI delivering high resolution as well as low for superior image quality. It also combines this exceptional imaging technology with high-quality and versatile audio options.

The ZV-1 is Sony’s first compact camera with a side-opening Vari-angle LCD screen, making it easier to compose your shots in selfie mode while connecting external audio accessories. To meet any video need, the ZV-1 contains advanced video features including 4K movie recording and in-body image stabilization.

Despite the small form factor there are a multitude of pro-level movie making capabilities, including:

  •  4K movie recording with full pixel readout and no pixel binning in high bit rate XAVC S codec
  • Industry standard 3.5mm microphone input
  • Hybrid Log-Gamma (HDR) / S-Gamut3.Cine / S-Log3
  • Interval Shooting for stunning time-lapse videos
  • Super Slow Motion recording at up to 960fps
  • Compatibility with “Movie Edit add-on” from “Imaging Edge” mobile applications for image stabilization while editing. Highlight ability to edit aspect ratios for IG, etc.

The Digital Camera ZV-1 will be available in June 2020 for a special introductory price of approximately $749 USD through June 28, 2020. After that, the price will increase to approximately $799 USD. The ZV-1 will be available in Canada for approximately $999 CAD.

Steinberg Announced the Backbone Drum Re-Synthesizer

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Steinberg announced its latest virtual instrument with a well-defined emphasis on creating unique kicks, snares, cinematic impacts, hi-hats and other percussive sounds.

Backbone is a VST, AU and AAX compatible plug-in that offers exclusive tools to design drum sounds from the ground up.

Users start off by layering up to eight samples and move on to modify individual tonal or noise elements or re-synthesize individual layers, only to leverage the other audio manipulation tools that are easily accessible through the clearly laid out user interface.

At the core of Backbone is the re-synthesis engine, where samples are transformed into a synthesized version within the spectral domain, allowing users to manipulate samples with the freedom of a synthesizer. And the additional customizable spectral filter provides maximum control for creating new sounds.

Audio decomposition is another extremely powerful tool featured in Backbone. It allows users to separate sounds into their tonal and noise elements and adjust each of these with re-synthesis and classic subtractive synthesis.

Key features:

  • Intuitively design drums with up to eight layers
  • Re-synthesise one-shots and loops
  • Directly export audio for clip-based music production
  • Backbone supports VST 3, AU and AAX

Backbone is available from local resellers and through the Steinberg Online Shop. The suggested retail price for the download is US $149.99.

Ricoh Imaging Launches RICHO GR III Street Edition Special Limited Kit

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Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation announced the launch of the RICOH GR III Street Edition Limited Kit. Available in a limited quantity of 3,500 units worldwide, the kit combines the RICOH GR II camera body, finished in a metallic gray color, with a compact, detachable viewfinder and a genuine-leather hand strap, both designed exclusively for this package.

Offering the same high quality as the standard RICOH GR III, the small, lightweight camera body has been treated with a metallic gray finish designed to appeal to a street photographer, evoking the asphalt pavement in the city. The finish features an elegantly grained texture that is smooth in appearance but helps improve camera grip. It’s accentuated with an orange-yellow lens barrel ring, reminiscent of traffic lines painted on the streets.

In addition to the camera, the kit includes a pair of exclusive accessories: a compact, detachable viewfinder featuring the identical metallic gray finish and a genuine-leather hand strap. The viewfinder has the number 28 imprinted on its top panel to highlight the camera’s angle of view, while the strap’s stopper is finished in orange-yellow identical to the camera’s lens barrel ring.

This camera allows the photographer to instantly activate the Full Press Snap feature with a single touch on the LCD panel. This feature shifts the lens to a preselected focal point the moment the shutter release button is fully pressed. It can also be assigned to the LCD screen, assuring the photographer of flawless point-and-shoot photography to capture taking snapshots on the street and will be available in the standard GR III via a firmware update that is scheduled for release later this year.

The RICOH GR III Street Edition Special Limited Kit will be available mid-July at the Ricoh website, as well as at select Ricoh Imaging-authorized retail outlets nationwide for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1199.95.

The RICOH GR III Street Edition, a high-grade digital compact camera that doesn’t include the viewfinder and the strap, is also scheduled to be launched in the autumn of 2020.

RØDECaster Pro Firmware 2.1 is Here!

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RØDE announced that a new firmware update for the RØDECaster Pro is now available. It can be downloaded for Mac or Windows from the RØDE website.

Version 2.1 is a major update that unlocks complete granular control over all processing parameters, more flexible podcast recording and export options, expanded multitrack capabilities, and an update to the RØDECaster Pro’s interface. These new features will give you even more control over your recordings! We have also improved the RØDECaster Pro Companion App.

New Features include:

Granular Control Over All Audio Processing: Previously, all of the audio processing has been controlled by a simple on/off toggle. For even greater control over your audio, RØDE has now included an “Effects Edit Mode”, which allows you to tweak all of the parameters of the compressor, noise gate, de-esser, APHEX Aural Exciter and Big Bottom, and high-pass filter. This will allow you to create a unique sound for your podcast.

The Master Bus Compressor: As well as the individual channel compressors, the RØDECaster Pro now features a master bus compressor. This is a compressor that is applies to the combined output of your RØDECaster Pro, including each mic input, the smartphone, USB and Bluetooth channels, and the sound pads.

Companion App Effects Editor: Not only can you access all of this advanced tweakability via the RØDECaster Pro’s touchscreen interface, but you can also do all of your editing on your computer via the RØDECaster Pro Companion App.

Broadcast-style Level Metering: RØDE has also added the option to include broadcast-style level meters with precise dBFS markers to each of the channels on the home screen, giving you even greater control over your recording levels.

Sound Pad Overdubbing: Another new feature is the sound pad overdub mode. Audio that has been loaded onto the sound pads can now be overdubbed, allowing you to create layered sounds, record VOs over music, create custom ad rolls and more.

Accusonus Released Mauvio

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Accusonus has released Mauvio, which can be used to make your mobile videos sound professional. It is available on the App Store, and is for iPhone and iPad.

A sound studio in the palm of your hand. Create better-sounding videos to tell your stories and wow your audience. Take the quality of your mobile videos to the next level, using simple sliders. Get that pro sound in just a few seconds, with Mauvio!

To use Mauvio, the first thing you need to do is import a video from your library or record a new one directly through the app. You can also select “Copy to Mauvio” when exporting a video from any other app.

Features include:

  • De-Noise: Bring down the noise. Instantly reduce background noise from air conditioners, computer fans, busy roads, and machinery or electric noise like hum, buzz, and hiss.
  • Balance: Loud and clear. Even out audio level inconsistencies throughout your video.
  • Enhance: Shape your voice tone. Apply smart tonal shaping on any voice and achieve broadcast quality speech results.
  • Volume: Boost that volume. Intelligently boost or reduce the loudness of your video, without compromising audio quality.

When you are finished repairing and enhancing your video, you can save the video to your library or share it directly to social media and other video editing apps.

Bertom Denoiser 1.0.4 Released

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Betrom announced that Bertom Denoiser 1.0.4 (stereo support) has been released. It is a free noise reduction plugin designed for music and post-production / dialogue. It is for VST3 & AU / Windows & Mac (10.9+).

What’s new in 1.0.4?

Bertom Denoiser now supports stereo! There is still a lot of performance optimization potential for stereo (SIMD vectorization). Stereo takes about two times more CPU than mono for now. It is better to use it on mono tracks when stereo isn’t needed.

Bertom points out to Reaper users: “You know how forcing mono can be painful with Reaper. You’ll find an Fx chain already setup for mono with your download.”

Features include:

  • A simple user interface which doesn’t rely on “learning” a static noise profile.
  • Fully automatable.
  • Low CPU usage so it can be used on many tracks.
  • Works in the time domain with zero latency.
  • Doesn’t simply react to the raw input signal but tracks how the noise is evolving in each band.
  • No musical noise (no FFT) at the cost of larger frequency bands and thus shines better at moderate reduction: don’t overcook!
  • No crossovers and no phase shift when there is no reduction, in a similar way to a dynamic EQ.

Audacity Paused the 2.4.0 Release

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After releasing Audacity 2.4.0, Audacity has decided to pause the release. The reason is due to a bug.

We’ve temporarily re-instated the 2.3.3 release for downloads whilst we investigate a serious bug that affects 2.4.0 on Windows Mac and Linux. The bug causes loss/corruption of audio.

Currently, we think the bug happens when you have two projects open at the same time and paste audio from one project to the other. Thanks to Jack L from FreeBSD for alerting us to the problem and giving us steps to reproduce it.

Those who have downloaded, and have been using, Audacity 2.4.0 may have encountered this bug. You may find it reassuring that Audacity is aware of the bug that caused the problems and that they are working on a solution to fix it.

In the meantime, it might be a good idea to download and re-install the Audacity 2.3.3 release. Based on Audacity’s blog post, it appears that the 2.3.3. release is functional. You might be able to go right back to that version as you wait for Audacity to fix the bug that is causing a problem in Audacity 2.4.0.

It is also a good idea to check the Audacity website from time to time and see if they have fixed the bug problem. My best guess is that information will be revealed in a future blog post.