EBS Released the EBS 802 High Dynamics Bass Amp

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EBS released the EBS 802 High Dynamics Bass Amp at NAMM 2020. Customers who are interested in buying the amp are encouraged to contact EBS for personal guidance.

EBS’s ability to make outstanding high-end bass amps based on their linear solid state technology is a cornerstone of the company. When the EBS HD360 went out of production recently, as the last of the rack-mounted amps in the line, anxious voices from hardcore fans wondered if EBS went for a future with solely lightweight amplifiers in the program? No need to worry about that anymore.

After the initial hype of the lightweight amplifiers, they have found their natural place in the life of many bass players. But among others, there’s been an increasing itch for something else that can bring them what the class D amps still have proven hard to deliver. The physical experience and organic response of a well built solid-state bass amplifier.

That’s why the time is right to return to the roots and introduce a brand new High Dynamics Linear bass amplifier, the EBS 802.

The preamp of the EBS 802 is the most versatile yet of any EBS amp. Not only does it offer sweepable mid controls for Low Mid and High Mid, but the Bass and Treble controls are extended as well with switches to change the reference frequency of these filters. That makes the EBS 802 equipped to meet the demands of 5- and 6- string bass players, and possible to adapt to any musical style.

The Bright-control completes the EQ section and works almost like a volume control for the tweeter. Besides, the preamp has separate Lo and Hi boost character filters, a Compressor/Limiter, and a Drive control.

The back of the amp reveals dual balanced XLR-outputs – post and pre EQ. An Effects Loop, Line Out, inputs for a 4-switch remote control (like the EBS RM-4) to engage Mute, Drive, activated Character Filters and to bypass the entire EQ.

The EBS 802 fits in a 19” rack case. The amp is entirely made in Sweden.

EBS Released MultiComp, OctaBass, & BassIQ “Blue Label ” Pedals

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EBS released new “Blue Label” versions of three legendary pedals; the MultiComp, OctaBass, and the BassIQ. These pedals were first available before Christmas of 2019. They were released at NAMM 2020 as an “unofficial” US launch.

EBS MultiComp Blue Label

The MultiComp is the best selling EBS pedal ever. It is famous for its super intuitive interface and smooth compression that allows for dynamic playing even when the compressor is engaged.

With the new version, a Sensitivity control has been added to adjust the sensitivity of the effect to comply with the output level of your instrument and playing style. If used to a previous version of the pedal, a center click indicates the factory setting of earlier editions.

EBS OctaBass Blue Label

The original OctaBass won recognition for its great tracking performance and fat, natural tone. The new “Blue Label” version improves both the tone versatility and the tracking performance of the effect while keeping it 100% analog. The revolutionary new feature is the Range switch (not to be confused with the functionality on previous OctaBass’s). It allows for the tracking performance to be optimized for playing either higher up or further down on the fretboard.

The new Tone control adjusts the character of the octave sound with improved accuracy and more versatility than before.

ESB BassIQ Blue Label

“Its the pedals touch sensitivity that provides full-filter fun factor”, Bass Player magazine summarized their review of the original BassIQ. That statement captures the essence of the BassIQ – both then and now. The difference is that the new Bass IQ is charged with more possibilities to create an amazing range of envelope effects.

With a new control for the Q value, you will quickly and easily set the sharpness of the effect. With the new filter switch, you can run every setting in Full Range, or with a Band Pass, or Low Pass filter engaged to expand the palette of sounds.

PRS Guitars Announced Next Evolution of the John Mayer Silver Sky

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PRS Guitars announced two new updates to the John Mayer Silver Sky model, including a long-awaited maple fretboard option, two new colors, and a limited run with a flip-flop premium finish.

Ever since Mayer was seen playing his signature Silver Sky with a maple fretboard this past summer, there has been much conjecture as to whether this would become a catalog model for PRS or not. And after much anticipation, PRS is pleased to confirm that the Silver Sky will now be offered with the option of a maple fretboard.

The maple fretboard Silver Sky will maintain the original 635JM neck shape and 7.25” fretboard radius, and is now offered in eight finish options, including the original Frost and Tungsten as well as the more recently added Dodgem Blue, Golden Mesa, Moc Sand, Orion Green. For 2020, Silver Sky models will also be offered in brand-new Midnight Rose and Polar Blue colors.

Limited to only 500 pieces worldwide, the Silver Sky Limited Edition in “Nebula” finish is another exciting offering from PRS Guitars in 2020. This premium limited-edition is outfitted with a antique “flip-flop” finish that reflects hue and light differently at different angles.

The polychromatic finish accentuates the lines of the Silver Sky’s body and gives the guitar a dynamic look that is both delicate and powerful. Perfectly timed with the start of a new decade, this finish also reflects the Silver Sky’s goal to redefine what a vintage-inspired guitar can be and shift the focus to the future.

iZotope’s Dialogue Match Wins Cinema Audio Society Award

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iZotope, the experts in intelligent audio technology and makers of two-time Emmy Award winning software RX, recently accepted the prestigious Cinema Audio Society Award for their dialogue editing software, Dialogue Match.

The award represents recognition from the CAS membership, a “who’s who” of television and film sound. Dialogue Match was introduced in November 2019 and has very quickly become a critical tool for dialogue editors and automated dialogue replacement (ADR), both for cinema and TV audio.

“We now have a way of seamlessly matching EQ, reverb, and ambience of ADR to existing production recordings,” explained Doug Mountain, dialogue editor for movies and TV shows such as Catch 22 and Walking Dead. “This takes all the guesswork and time out of mixing ADR into existing production. It’s a huge timesaver. You can’t even tell what is ADR now, it blends so perfectly with production. This is a serious game changer.”

Dialogue Match is the first tool to automatically learn and match the sonic character of dialogue recordings. It is also the first product to combine brand-new machine learning from iZotope with ground-breaking reverb technology from Exponential Audio’s product line, which was acquired by iZotope in 2019.

For re-recording mixers and ADR editors, Dialogue Match is an unprecedented time-saver. Tonal characteristics can be matched between a boom and a lavalier microphone, localized audio can automatically be matched to the original language, and global snapshots and reference photos can be saved or loaded.

This is iZotope’s seventh CAS award. Dialogue Match builds on the success of iZotope’s RX, which streamlines audio workflows for post production editors and mixers and has become a mainstay of the CAS awards. RX has taken nome six awards since 2014.

Roland Announced RD-88 Stage Piano

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Roland announced the RD-88 Stage Piano, the latest model in the company’s long-running RD series. For over 30 years, Roland RD pianos have been the top choice of professional keyboardists, appearing regularly on stages all over the world. Offering premium features in a light, streamlined design, the RD-88 delivers renowned RD sound and playability in an affordable instrument that’s simple to use and easy to carry.

Equipped with the 88-note PHA-4 keyboard, the RD-88 provides exceptional feel and response with Roland’s award-winning hammer action and Ivory Feel keys. Every musical nuance is perfectly translated, giving serious players the inspiring touch they need for authentic performances. A high-quality speaker system is also integrated into the instruments design, offering convenient self-contained amplification for home practice and convenient monitoring.

The RD-88 is refreshingly intuitive to use while performing, with fast-access controls for selecting sound categories, creating layers and splits, and more. It’s easy to shape the tone and color via grab-and-go knobs and enhance sounds with compressor, chorus/delay, reverb, and other effects. Favorite setups can be stored for quick recall, and a One-Touch Piano button allows the player to quickly return to their core piano sound at any time they like.

Advanced users will love the RD-88’s zone features and easy computer integration. Software-based sounds can be played through the RD-88 via USB, and three sones can be configured with internal sounds or set up to control virtual instruments from Apple MainStage.

The RD-88 features a clean and compact design that fits neatly into any musical situation. Weighing just 13.5 kg/29 lb. 13 oz, it’s easy to move and set up, even in small stages or in cramped rehearsal spaces.

The Roland RD-88 Stage Piano will be available for $1,999.99 in March 2020.

BOSS Announced the Acoustic Singer Live LT Amp

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BOSS announced the Acoustic Singer Live LT, the latest addition to the popular Acoustic Singer amplifier series. Acoustic Singer amps deliver the finest performance in their class with vibrant, high-definition tone and integrated creative tools for enhancing live performances. The Acoustic Singer Live LT is ideal for players with basic stage amplification needs, offering guitar and mic channels, independent effects, DI connectivity, and more.

Bi-amplification is the gold standard for accurate full-range audio reproduction, and every Acoustic Singer model embraces this advanced approach. A custom woofer and dome tweeter are driven by independent power amps, providing the most clear and natural sound possible. Precision cabinet construction further enhances definition and clarity, eliminating unwanted resonances and providing maximum projection on stage.

The new Acoustic Singer Live LT is the most streamlined model in the series, offering an essential feature set for players who don’t need the extended features found in other Acoustic Singer amps. The bi-amp design delivers 60 watts of total power, and the portable cabinet is easy to carry to rehearsals, gigs, and jam sessions.

Dual channels provide premium sound for acoustic/electric guitar and vocals, with discrete analog input circuitry, independent three-band EQ, and chorus, delay, and reverb effects. BOSS’s Acoustic Resonance processing is available on the guitar channel, restoring natural tone to stage guitars with piezo pickups. The mic channel features a one-touch Enhance function, making it simple to achieve big, studio-quality vocals on stage.

The Acoustic Singer Live LT is equipped with tools to help players quickly eliminate feedback issues, including a phase switch on the guitar channel and a notch filter that works on both channels. Ample rear-panel connectivity is provided as well, allowing users to interface with PA systems, music players, computers, and more.

The Acoustic Singer Live LT is available in February 2020 for $399.99.

Roland Announced TD-27KV V-Drums

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Roland introduced the TD-27KV V-Drums, a new mid-level electronic drum kit in the acclaimed V-Drums lineup. Equipped with advanced digital trigger pad technology and the latest V-Drums sound engine, the TD-27KV brings serious drummers premium playability and flagship-level expression at an affordable price.

The TD-27KV kit is based around the powerful new TD-27 module, which features a host of next-generation technologies derived from the top-of-the-line TD-50. Roland’s Prismatic sound engine combines curated samples with advanced behavior modeling refined over two decades, delivering an incredibly expressive and natural experience. Equipped with more than 700 instruments, 55 preset kits, and 100 kits in total, the tonal range of the TD-27 is rich in variety. Via an intuitive interface, drummers can access kits at the turn of a dial and quickly adjust instrument sounds with four simple controls.

Advanced PD-14ODS snare and CY-18DR ride pads offer sophisticated multi-sensing that works with the TD-27’s digital trigger inputs and fast, high-resolution processing to provide the most lifelike, resonant, and expressive sounds possible, plus support for natural techniques with cross-stick detection, ride cymbal muting, and more. The kit also includes three PDX-100 tom pads with Roland’s famous multi-layer mesh heads, CY-12C and CY-13R cymbal pads, a VH-10 V-Hi-Hat, and a KD-10 kick pad.

Users can customize the TD-27’s large onboard sound selection to a deep level. It’s also possible to import WAV samples via an SD card and freely combine them with built-in sounds. The module offers a stereo mix output and two assignable direct outputs, providing flexible connectivity for stage playing.

Additional trigger inputs are also available (one digital and three analog), making it easy for a player to expand their kit with additional pads and cymbals. For studio and home recording, TD-27’s advanced USB interface provides up to 28 individual audio channels for multi-track integration with any DAW.

V-Drums modules are renowned for their convenient practice features, and the TD-27 is no exception. Onboard Bluetooth allows drummers to wirelessly stream music from their phone through the module and play along. An analog mix input is provided as well, and incoming sounds can be blended easily with a dedicated panel knob.

There’s also a wide selection of Coach functions to help build timing and other basic skills, and users can record performances with the touch of a button. A new dedicated audio circuit for monitoring the TD-27 sound module with headphones provides clear and balanced sound quality, making each practice and playing session a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Roland Unveiled ZEN-Core Synthesis System

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Roland announced the ZEN-Core Synthesis System, a powerful new engine found at the heart of the company’s latest (and future) electronic instruments. With ZEN-Core, Roland applies the wisdom gained from nearly 50 years of making world-leading analog, digital, and hybrid synthesizers to create an adaptable new platform that both embraces the legendary and looks to what’s next.

Through ZEN-Core, Roland assures a consistent level of sonic quality and expression regardless of instrument. With the confidence of access to the same, growing library of compatible sounds that they can share and exchange, musicians and producers can focus on choosing hardware with features that best suit their application, playing style and workflow, from performance and production synthesizers to GROOVEBOXES, stage pianos, and more.

With the forthcoming system updates, owners of FANTOM 6/7/8 Synthesizers (Version 1.50), JUPITER Series Synthesizers (Version 1.10) and RD-88 Stage Pianos will be able to start using the same compatible sounds across all models, adding a new collaborative capability to their instruments. An update for the MC-1010 and MC-707 GROOVEBOXES will also be available in Q2 2020, with an update to AX-EDGE later this year.

ZEN-Core base engine tones created on one instrument can be shared with other users or transferred into completely different compatible Roland hardware. Performers can take sounds made on a FANTOM and play them in the spotlight on an AX-Edge Keytar, or perform a JUPITER-X synth patch on an RD-88, dramatically simplifying setup and expanding tonal options. Sounds are easily shared with a bandmate or co-creator, even when using different compatible Roland hardware. With ZEN-Core, users have access to the sounds they want, wherever they produce or perform.

The Roland ZEN-Core multi-timbral engine combines the latest Virtual Analog and PCM (up to 256 voices) synthesis techniques with powerful DPS effects. Advanced synthesis features include new VA oscillators, precisely modeled filters, ultra-fast and smooth LFO and envelop modulators, and high-resolution control of primary editing and performance parameters. Sounds created for the base engine will be compatible across all ZEN-Core instruments, opening up a world of opportunities for creators and sound designers alike.

Nikon Released the D780 Digital SLR Camera

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Nikon announced the release of the Nikon D780, a Nikon FX-format digital SLR camera.

Succeeding the Nikon D750 (released in September 2014), the D780 is a high-performance digital SLR featuring a number of superior functions inherited from professional models, starting with its advanced autofocusing (AF) system for which 51 focus points have been adopted for viewfinder shooting.

The 51-point AF system utilized with viewfinder shooting, that uses phase-detection AF technology, inherits the AF algorithm from Nikon’s flagship D-SLR model – the D5 (released March 2016). The algorithm, together with other innovations, is optimized for the D780 to achieve greater subject detection and tracking performance.

The D780 is also the first Nikon digital SLR to utilize focal-plane phase-detection AF. The hybrid AF system, which automatically switches between focal-plane phase-detection AF and contrast-detect AF in accordance with the situation and conditions, covers approximately 90% of the frame when used with live view photography and movie recording. This applies both horizontally and vertically, with 273 focus points.

In addition to demonstrating smooth and precise tracking performance while movie recording, the hybrid AF system supports Eye-detection AF, which automatically detects human eyes with still photography, greatly increasing flexibility with portrait photography. The D780 makes smooth and natural autofocusing possible with a wide variety of scenes – whether using the viewfinder or the monitor to frame stills and movies.

The D780 is a camera that will inspire those looking to demonstrate their creativity in a variety of ways to be even more creative through the great diversity in its capabilities – from the ability to photograph rapidly moving subjects, to portrait photography utilizing Eye-detection AF, and recording of HDR (HLG) movies the exhibit rich tones and gradations.

Line 6 Introduced POD Go

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Line 6 has introduced the powerful yet compact and affordable POD Go guitar processor, featuring a plug-and-play user interface with a 4.3” color LCD screen and professional-quality amp, cab, and effect models drawn from the acclaimed HX family of processors.

The POD Go guitar processors get you on the road to ultimate tone via its ultra-portable and lightweight design, simple plug-and-play interface, and best-in-class tones.

Features include:

  •  Best-in-Class Performance: including amp, cab, and effects models drawn from the award-winning HX family of processors
  •  Simple Interface: with Color Display Fast and easy tone creation
  •  Portable: Compact, lightweight design
  •  4.3” (11cm) Color LCD makes it easy to see what you are doing
  • Color footswitch LED’s indicate which type of effect is active
  • Load third-party cabinet impulse responses (IRs) for unlimited cabinet options
  • Snapshots let you seamlessly switch between tones without audio dropouts
  • Free POD Go Edit app for easy preset editing and backup
  • Pedal Edit Mode lets you adjust any amp or effect parameter with your feet
  • Stereo effects loop and TRS expression pedal/dual footswitch input
  • Connect to a traditional amp via 4-Cable Method
  • 4-in/4-out 24bit/96kHz audio interface for recording and re-amping