Litepanels Raises the Bar with Gemini

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Litepanels is a pioneer in LED lighting for the film, photographic, and broadcast industries. They introduced Litepanels Gemini, an all-new 2×1, RGB-WW soft panel that combines daylight, tungsten, and red-green-blue LEDs to deliver highly flexible and precise color adjustment.

The Gemini soft panel produces true, full-spectrum white light and an extensive choice of control options designed to suit any professional lighting application.

Until now, users of most 2×1 panels have achieved white light by mixing red, green, and blue, which can create undesirable color spokes. Gemini eliminates this problem by giving users a daylight-to-tungsten light foundation and then enabling them to finely adjust color throughout the full, 360-degree color wheel. This means that users can match a broad range of ambient lighting conditions quickly and simply.

Gemini offers this unmatched flexibility through its easy-to-use, intuitive menu interface with LCD screens in three lighting modes:

* Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) Mode, for bicolor (daylight to tungsten) with +/- green adjustment.

* Color Mode, offering hue saturation and intensity (HSI) control for full color and saturation control

* Gel Mode, providing the ability to dial up a variety of popular gels

Like all Litepanels products, Gemini is complemented by a full line of light-shaping accessories, such as honeycomb grids and barn doors, to offer users extra creative lighting control. By the end of this year, Litepanels will release a mounting hardware kit that will enable customers to stack multiple Gemini panels either vertically or horizontally.

The Litepanels Gemini 2×1 is now available at a suggested retail price of $4,440 (4,200 euros).

Shure Released Super 55-BLK Microphone Pitch Black Edition

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Shure Incorporated, the world’s leading microphone manufacturer, announced the release of a limited quantity of the Super 55-BLK Deluxe Vocal Microphone Pitch Black Edition, in time for the holiday season. The new Super 55 Pitch Black Edition is a modern take on the classic Super 55’s look and performance.

This limited edition microphone features a matte black die-cast base, black foam, and smooth frequency response for natural vocal reproduction, and comes with an integrated, swivel stand mount base and microphone bag, perfect for any performance on-stage and on-screen.

The Model 55 Unidyne defines classic microphone design just as much today as it did more than 75 years ago when it made its official debut. For vocal performers, the Super 55 Pitch Black Edition’s eye-catching black-on-black design is a twist on the classic and adds a sleek style to production.

The rigorously-tested supercardioid microphone cartridge rejects unwanted noise and prevents feedback. The shock-mounted cartridge and tough, die-cast case reduces handling noise and protects it from damage.

The Super 55 Pitch Black edition will be available through certified Shure retailers and online.

Cineo Lighting Premieres Standard 410 at IBC 2017

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Cineo Lighting, a leader in the production of lighting systems for the motion picture, television and broadcast industries, announces the Standard 410 (S410), premiering at IBC 2017. Boasting a 25,000-lumen output in a chassis weighing under 27 lbs. (12kg.), the new S410 rounds out the range of Cineo fixtures that provide high-quality, full-gamut light.

Standard 410 combines Cineo Lighting’s award-winning white-light quality with innovative saturated-color technology. The Standard 410 delivers up to 25,000 lumens of beautiful, easily controllable, full-gamut light.

Boasting a substantial 2′ x 1′ diffused illumination surface, the Standard 410 is perfectly sized for use in the studio or out in the field. With a maximum power of 410 watts and weighing in at less than 27 lbs., this fixture offers a unique combination of convenience and capability.

The Standard 410 has four DMX channels that control the entire fixture in a single mode of operation:

  • Dim – Cineo’s Photo-Accurate Dimming maps the 0-100% dimming curve to actual cameral stops for precise output control using the MASTER control locally or on the second DMX channel.
  • White – For color-accurate white light, choose the CCT as you would with any Cineo fixture, using the WHITE rotary control or the first DMX channel
  • Color – To optionally add saturated color, the COLOR control adjusts the hue, the color of which is displayed on the control panel, or managed on the third DMX channel.
  • Saturation – Controls the amount of saturated color to be added to the white light, from full white to fully saturate color.

Standard 410 Features:

  • Consistency – SmartPower technology provides consistent light output regardless of the battery level
  • Reliability – Color constancy and flicker-free operation that will last throughout the life of the product.
  • Silence – The passive cooling system requires no fans, alleviating the concern over excessive noise.
  • Output – The Standard 410 puts out up to 25,000 lumens of fully-controllable light and unbeatable color.
  • Size – Measuring at 24” x 12”, the powerfully compact Standard 410 weighs less than 27 lbs.
  • Simplicity – The Standard 410 provides fully-controllable color without the inconvenience of gels.

LED by garageCube is on Kickstarter

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LED by garageCube is a plug-and-play, user-friendly and adaptable LED Kit for stage design, visual art, and live performance. It is on Kickstarter. At the time I am writing this, they have 29 days to go.

The LED by garageCube is user-friendly and adaptable for structure assembling using aluminum profile. In short, the kit is made up of a bunch of aluminum pieces that have LED lights in them. You can assemble the pieces together in a variety of ways, depending on what you want to do. It is very customizable.

I recommend you visit the LED by garageCube Kickstarter page and watch their highly entertaining video that gives you more details about how this product can be put together and some ways that it has been used.

LED by garageCube can be plugged together in any order and are addressable. A single cable carries both power and data, reducing connections to a minimum. Our LEDs are a perfect complement to madMapper, but are also compatible with third party applications and lighting desk consoles.

With madMapper, the most advanced LED mapping tool, you can easily set up from simple to large scale installations. You can use content such as video files, live feed, and generative images, to control your LED by garageCube. Your favorite MIDI controller can be used for perfect live control.

The LED by garageCube will be available in RGB or in pure white. Choose from two different sizes: 50 cm and 1 meter. Light diffusers and transparent covers are included in the kit. If you require more customization, you can combine 3D printing or other tailored fabrication techniques, making any of your DIY creations possible.

IK Multimedia Announced iRig Mic HD 2

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IK Multimedia announced the iRig Mic HD 2, the only handheld, high-definition USB digital microphone for iPhone, iPad, Mac and PC. It is the successor to the highly acclaimed iRig Mic HD, and is now available for pre-order.

The iRig Mic HD 2 is designed to put all the power of high-resolution digital audio into the hands of singers, musicians, interviewers, broadcasters, presenters, podcasters and vloggers who are looking to capture pristine mobile recordings anywhere with remarkable ease.

The integrated low-noise preamp provides an optimal gain range while the gold-sputtered condenser capsule ensures clarity and accuracy over a frequency spectrum of 20 Hz – 20 kHz (-3dB) making sure all the tiniest details of the sound source are faithfully captured in recordings.

Able to withstand a maximum sound pressure of 120dB, iRig Mic HD 2 provides a high level of performance and quality even when recording loud sources while the cardioid pickup pattern will help reject sounds coming from the rear of the microphone.

The iRig Mic HD 2 features a versatile, integrated headphone output with volume control that can be used for monitoring the audio signal during recording or for listening to high-resolution music – including on the iPhone 7. The output can also come in handy for sending the audio signal to an external device like another recorder, a mixer or a PA system.

The iRig Mic HD 2 is designed to work flawlessly with the latest generation of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices as well as with Mac and PC. It comes with a Lightning connector cable, a USB cable and extra accessories like a convenient table tripod for use during conferences, radio shows, video calls, etc., a sleek carrying pouch, for protecting the microphone while traveling or for storage, a mic stand clip and a handy 5/8” to 3/8” thread adapter.

It also comes with downloadable versions of Mac and PC software including:
* Ableton Live Lite
* T-RackS Classic
* Mic Room
* Mic Pack for VocaLive iOS app
* Pro Bundle for iRig Recorder
* Mic Room app

Audio-Technica and Audient Partner for Perfect Production Package

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Audio-Technica has collaborated with Audient to deliver the AT2035-Studio “Essential Studio Kit”, a microphone/interface/headphone bundle ideal for budding producers and musicians in home studios or on the move.

Comprising Audio-Technica’s perennially popular AT2035 large diaphragm cardioid condenser mic and ATH-M40x studio monitor headphones, the Essential Studio Kit is completed by Audient’s outstanding iD4 Black USB audio interface.

The interface is the ideal partner for Audio-Technica’s versatile, natural-sounding AT2035, a cornerstone of the company’s studio-oriented 20 Series. It’s high SPL handling, 80Hz high-pass filter and 10dB pad make it well suited to a wide variety of instrument and vocal applications, while the supplied custom shock-mount provides superior isolation from knocks – critical in the studio and on location.

The ATH-M40x headphones deliver excellent performance in both tracking and mixing situations and share the same sonic signature as Audio-Technica’s legendary M50x and M70x flagship headphones.

Featuring a renowned Audient mic preamp, the 2-in/2-out iD4 Black boasts class-leading converter technology, JFET DI and the company’s ScrollControl virtual scroll wheel technology.

The Essential Studio Kit delivers a significant saving on the RRP of the individual components when bought separately – and also includes no less than £500 of Audient curated free plug-ins, production tools and training (available on registration of the iD4 Black on Audient’s ARC webpage), comprising Eventide’s Ultrachannel and Ultraverb plug-ins, Cubase LE and Cubasis LE2 (for iOS), ten free LANDR masters and two free courses and £20 voucher for online audio educators Producertech.

The AT2035-Studio is available in the UK, Germany, France, and Spain and has a recommended retail price of €389 / £335 inc VAT.

Boss Announced the AD-10 Acoustic Preamp

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Boss announced the AD-10 Acoustic Preamp, a new professional preamp/DI pedal for acoustic-electric guitar. The dual-channel AD-10 features the latest generation of Boss’ Acoustic Resonance technology, which restores natural acoustic tone in amplified acoustic stage instruments.

The pedal also includes numerous tone-shaping tools, onboard effects, and a looper, plus newly developed functions to control feedback with minimal tonal coloration. Hugely powerful yet simple to use, the AD-10 gives serious acoustic players everything they need to achieve rich, organic tones in any performing environment.

An unplugged acoustic guitar produces a complex, full-bodied tone that can’t be reproduced by the standard pickup systems installed on most stage guitars. Using proprietary Boss technology, the AD-10’s standout Acoustic Resonance feature solves this issue by analyzing the input signal in real time and employing advanced processing to recreate the guitar’s naturally resonant acoustic tone.

The AD-10’s Acoustic Resonance offers the deepest implementation to date, with more powerful processing, three resonance types, and the ability to balance the tonal character to suit the needs of different instruments.

Feedback is another common problem with amplifying acoustic guitars on stage, and the AD-10 includes multiple layers of feedback protection to address these issues. With a twist of the feedback reduction knob, the user can engage newly developed Boss technology that seeks out and suppresses the offending frequency while continually maintaining balanced overall tone.

For deeper feedback problems, the AD-10 includes sophisticated notch filters that can be tuned manually or set for automatic scanning to eliminate feedback in the background.

Samson Announced Go Mic Mobile is Now Available

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Samson, an industry pioneer in professional audio solutions, announced the availability of the highly anticipated Go Mic Mobile, the first professional wireless microphone system that connects directly to smartphones without the need for cumbersome adaptors or interfaces.

The new wireless system turns a phone into a pro-level video camera capable of capturing high-definition audio anywhere, making it the ideal mobile mic for filmmaking, podcasting, vlogging, live streaming and YouTube production. Go Mic Mobile is available now for $249.99 at B&H, Fry’s and Amazon.

Samson’s Go Mic Mobile captures audio via a compact, dual-channel receiver that mounts and connects directly to a smartphone or DSLR camera. The dual-channel receiver allows users to transmit and mix digital audio on two separate channels. The receiver’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery offers up to thirteen hours of high-definition wireless operation without draining a smartphone’s battery.

Go Mic Mobile plugs directly into both iOS and Android devices via the included Lightning and micro USB-C cables respectively. It also comes with a shoe mount adapter that easily attaches the dual-channel receiver to a DSLR camera or professional camcorder.

Go Mic Mobile transmits uncompressed, low-latency audio and can operate up to 100′ utilizing the 2.4GHz frequency band. It’s 10Hz-22kHz frequency response ensures the highest quality audio reproduction, while a bitrate of 48kHz provides a greater than CD-quality sound. It also features a switchable 1/8” headphone/line output with volume control monitoring or connecting to an analog input (3.5mm cable included).

360fly Introduces All New 360-Degree 4K Professional Camera

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360fly Inc., maker of the category-leading, single-lens camera that captures stitchless 360-degree video, announced pre-orders of all its new 360fly 4K PRO camera with commercial availability starting in the Fall of 2017.

The 360fly 4K PRO camera changes the landscape of professional live streaming with its continued power source and immersive 360-degree viewing experience. Unlike the current 24/7 live streaming options, with the 360fly 4K PRO camera, viewers now have the ability to see all around.

The 4K PRO streams continuous 360-degree 4K video over Wi-Fi or via the HDMI 1.4 cable in native equirectangular format (for Facebook or YouTube). The USB 2.0 cable provides the 4K PRO’s lasting power supply, optimized without overheating, and when not connected via the USB 2.0 cable, the camera has a stand-alone recording time of up to 1.5 hours, and stand by time of up to 14 hours.

At $799, the ruggedized and sealed metal housing 4K PRO camera pairs with the free 360fly Android and iOS mobile apps and delivers the same smart features as the 360fly 4K camera.

Specs and Features include:

  • 4K, 2880 x 2880, @ 30 fps
  • Up to 1.5 M shock resistant
  • Integrated USB 2.0 Input Cable
  • Integrated HDMI 1.4 Output Cable
  • One Operation Key (Power ON/OFF, Recording Start/Stop)
  • Accelerometer, E-Compass, GPS, Gyroscope
  • IP67 Rated For Protection Against Splash and Blowing Rain (submersible up to 1M)
  • Internal 64GB Memory Storage

Waves Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter Plugin on Sale Now

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Waves LogoThere are a lot of ways to tweak and process an audio project. EQ, compression, and filters are just some of the tools producers use to improve or alter the overall sound of a mix. One tool that’s been a mainstay for decades in many recording studios is the aural exciter. Aural exciters are used most often to accentuate certain low or high-end frequencies that tend to really catch the human ear. Aural exciters are commonly used towards the end of a signal processing chain to bring the extra clarity and oomph that producers often employ to get the attention of listeners.

Like many things in the audio production universe, there are lots of aural exciters on the market, ranging from under a hundred bucks in price to thousands of dollars per unit. And while it can be good to have a hardware aural exciter in some settings, it’s often just as good to have the software equivalent. That’s what Waves has done with its Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter:

A true groundbreaker, the original Aural Exciter was highly regarded for its ability to increase and enhance presence, brightness, and vibrancy on vocal and instrumental tracks alike. It was even credited as a ‘session player’ on best-selling albums by the likes of Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor, engineered by Val Garay, who worked closely with us on the development of the plugin.

The Aphex Vintage Aural Exciter Plugin is on sale now. It normally retails for $299 but is available for a limited time at the massively reduced price of just $59. Learn more, and purchase the plugin thru the link above.