Tag Archives: audio

Propellerhead Offers Holiday Deal on Purchase of Reason 9

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Reason 9 Holiday OfferReason is a popular digital audio workstations used mostly by musicians. The software’s developer, Propellerhead, is offering a special holiday deal for purchasers of the latest version of Reason 9, the latest version of the program:

Holiday offer: Buy Reason 9 now and get over €/$430 worth of best selling instrument and effect Rack Extension plug-ins for free!

Buy Reason 9 now – get all of this for free:

Synapse Antidote ($139/€139) FREE
The best selling Antidote synth is one of the most versatile and sweet-sounding instruments available for the Reason Rack.

Synapse GQ-7 Graphic Equaliser ($99/€99) FREE
The GQ7 is a professional mixing and mastering equalizer, offering five band of quality parametric and shelving EQs and realtime visual readout of your signal.

Propellerhead Radical Keys ($99/€99) FREE
Useful for all styles of music, Radical Keys is a collection of classic electric pianos in a great-sounding package.

Propellerhead Rotor ($49/€49) FREE
Rotor brings the sound of the classic rotary speaker design from the 1940’s to the Reason rack.

Propellerhead Synchronous ($49/€49) FREE
Animate your pad, wobble your bass or glitch up your samples. Synchronous is a creative effects modulator that will bring any sound to life.

The Reason 9 holiday deal can be purchased for $399. That price includes Reason, the above listed promotional offers and many other sounds/plugins already bundled with the application.

HOFA Akustik Mobile Wall Makes Temporary Soundproofing Easy

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HOFA Akustik Mobile WallIt’s crucial to ensure the space where you’re producing audio is properly soundproofed. This type of treatment will ensure that the sounds your capturing and hearing are as accurate as possible. And while it’s easy to trust the soundproofing and acoustics in a static environment that’s specifically designed for audio production, it can be a different story in remote locations or places that just can’t be permanently soundproofed. So what’s to be done in these circumstances? You can press the record button and hope for the best. You can try DIY soundproofing techniques like hanging blankets. But why not use a product specifically designed for this purpose? That’s where HOFA Akustik’s Mobile Wall comes in:

The Mobile Wall can be fitted with HOFA Diffusors, Absorbers and Acrylic Glass modules and is – due to its 4 rolls – easily movable from one recording situation to the next. Available in 4 different sizes (with heights up to 2,45 m), it will be a perfect part of your daily studio work.

A Mobile Wall can be outfitted with the different sound treatments mentioned above and is built on a wooden frame with four casters underneath, so it’s easy to move between different locations.

HOFA Akustik Mobile Walls come in a range of sizes and options. Pricing begins at 199.90 EUR.

iZotope Offers Neutrino Spectral Shaping Plugin as Free Download

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iZotope logoiZotope is well known in the media production space for its high-end processors and plugins. And while there are many iZotope fans who swear that the company’s products are worth every penny, it’s true that iZotope stuff doesn’t come cheap. That’s just one of the reasons it’s a newsworthy event when the company decides to give away a new plugin for free.

That’s exactly what iZotope is doing with Neutrino, a “spectral shaping” plugin:

Add that final polish to your mix with Neutrino, a free spectral shaping plug-in that offers a glimpse into iZotope’s newest mixing technology. Insert Neutrino on multiple tracks across your session to reveal a subtle amount of detail that can help elevate great mixes to a new level of refinement.

Neutrino is being released in VST, AU, AAX, and Audiosuite formats for both Windows and Mac. According to iZotope, the plugin is compatible with Logic Pro X.2, Ableton Live 9.5, Pro Tools 12.4, Pro Tools 11.3.1, Cubase Pro 8.5, REAPER 5.11, FL Studio 12.2, Studio One 3.1.1, and Pro Tools 10.3.1. It’s unclear if Neutrino is capable of running under other DAWs.

You’ll need to give up an e-mail address to get your free copy of Neutrino. It’s a small price to pay for what looks to be a pretty cool piece of software. Once you’ve filled out the download form, the iZotope website will give you your software serial number and automatically trigger the Neutrino download. You should also receive an e-mail from iZotope that contains your serial number along with a download link, just in case.

List of Multichannel USB 2.0 Audio Mixers/Interfaces

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USB 2 logoFor years, Firewire was the reigning technology when it came to sending multichannel audio to/from an interface and a computer or other host device. While it’s still technically possible to use Firewire in many instances, the protocol is clearly giving way to other connection types like Thunderbolt and USB 2.0 (and probably down the line, USB 3.0). With that in mind, I was recently in search of a new USB 2.0 mixer. I wanted the ability to send multichannel audio to my computer for recording, and my current mixer, equipped with a USB 1.1 connection, could only send two audio channels. I began searching around for new gear options and was frustrated by just how difficult it was to find mixers and interfaces that met this requirement. After hours of searching and some suggestions I received on a couple of different podcasting-related forums, here’s the list of all USB 2.0 mixers and interfaces I could find that sell for less than $1000US.

  • Behringer X18 and XR18. Behringer’s fully digital “X” series of mixers are a bit confusing in that the X12 and X16 aren’t multichannel. But the X18 models are.
  • Soundcraft Signature 12 MTK. “The console is designed to deliver pristine recordings. Both have an ultra-low-latency USB interface that flawlessly captures every channel, which can then be mixed or transferred to a DAW for further mixdown and production.”
  • Behringer UFX1204. Another multichannel mixer from Behringer. Unlike the X series, this one is a traditional analog mixer with a USB interface.
  • Allen & Heath ZEDi 10FX. I’ll admit, I was surprised to find something by Allen & Heath in this price range.
  • Presonus StudioLive AR8. This little mixer has some intriguing features, including a built-in SD card slot for recording.
  • Focusrite Scarlett. These interfaces aren’t actually mixers but they are multichannel and Focusrite offers a full range of options, depending on how many inputs you need.

That’s all of the multichannel USB interfaces/mixers I could find for under a grand. Did I miss any? If so, leave the information in the comment section below.

Tascam’s MiNiSTUDIO Interfaces Are Made for Podcasters

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MiNiSTUDIOPodcasting has been around for over a decade. During that time, podcasters have had to rely on a plethora of tools that were really designed for other uses. Sure, you can create a podcast with gear that was created for music or live sound production. But it can lead to complex workarounds or other hassles that keep you from the important thing: Creating your podcast. With that in mind, Tascam has released two new MiNiSTUDIO interfaces made with podcasters in mind.

First up is the Tascam US-32:

Central to the MiNiSTUDIO Personal is an XLR/combo mic/line connector and a professional quality micropone preamp. Built-in phantom power allows you to quickly and easily connect your favorite dynamic or conderser microphone…or not… For the ultimate in plug and play convenience, the MiNiSTUDIO Personal features a built-in microphone, so you’re ready to talk the talk right out of the box. Simply press the ON AIR button and go to town. And to top it all off, the MiNiSTUDIO Personal features a 4-band parametric EQ, adjustable on-board compression and a digital reverb effect with a convenient front panel depth control.

The US-32 also comes with built-in clip playback and sound effects. You can use the stock clips that come with the US-32 or you can customize them with your own sounds. Then there’s the built-in vocal effects:

Di(s)guise your voice, fool your fans! Perhaps the most extreme feature of the MiNiSTUDIO Personal is the Voice Effects option. Simply pressing this innocent little button will instantly transform your voice in any one of a number of amazing and amusing ways. Pitch your voice up into cartoon mouse territory or pitch it down like you’ve joined the Dark Side. Add a spacey Echo, wobbly Chopper or go old school with the Walki-talkie-approved Radio effect. Voice Effects: crazy, wacky and a whole lot of fun.

Next up is the US-42. This model has all of the features of the US-32 as well as an additional microphone input. It also comes with a Creator/Broadcast switch:

Unique to the MiNiSTUDIO Creator is a powerful Creator / Broadcast selector switch on the front panel of the device. When set to Broadcast mode, the audience will hear exactly what you hear as all audio generated my the MiNiSTUDIO and/or your computer will be mixed together in a single stereo stream. Talk, play guitar, play games or play MP3 files. If you hear it, they hear it. But flick the switch to Creator and you’re in full production mode. When set to Creator, the MiNiSTUDIO transforms into a professionally specced two-channel USB Audio Interface. Perfectly suited for any DAW or video editing software, the combination of dual HDDA mic preamps, Hi-z inputs, EQ, compression and reverb deliver a powerful and flexible front end for any media production task.

Both versions of the Tascam MiNiSTUDIO are available for purchase now. The US-32 is expected to retail for $129.00 and the US-32 should sell for $179.00.

iZotope Offers Limited-Time Deals on Plugins

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iZotope logoiZotope, the developer of popular high-end audio plugins like RX and Nectar, is running a special on some of its standalone products. The sale was launched as a way for iZotope to celebrate its Facebook page receiving 100,000 likes. The company is offering up to an 80% discount on some items. All of the plugins are priced at $100 each. Here’s a list of what’s available thru this special offer:

Insight Metering Suite: “Insight provides an extensive set of audio analysis and metering tools, perfect for visualizing changes made during mixing and mastering, troubleshooting problematic mixes, and ensuring compliance with broadcast loudness standards. Fully customizable and scalable, Insight allows you to visually monitor all relevant information from your mono, stereo or surround mix in a convenient floating window.”

BreakTweaker Expanded: “Make beats you’ve never heard before with BreakTweaker, a drum sculpting and beat sequencing instrument that blurs the line between rhythm and melody. Give your beats an ever-evolving depth that gets better the longer they play. Use rhythmic slicing to drive everything from pitched melodic lines to sweeping rhythmic overtures. BreakTweaker Expanded includes 4 Expansions including Modern Grooves by Black Octopus and Kicks & Snares by Beatport Sounds.”

Nectar 2 Standard: “Bring your vocal tracks to life with Nectar 2. Explore 11 powerful vocal production tools in one plug-in: Plate Reverb, FX, Pitch, Delay, De-Esser, Saturation, Compressors, Gate, Harmony, EQ, and Limiter. Whether you’re tracking or you’re mixing, Nectar 2 delivers professional vocals in an instant.”

Iris 2: “An inspiring sample-based synthesizer, Iris 2 combines the power of a sampler, the flexibility of a modular synth, and the fun of spectral filtering. Get started with 350+ expertly crafted Bass, Keys, Leads, Pads, and Rhythmic patches. Iris 2 comes with an 11 GB library of audio samples, a modern modulation system, classic filters, evocative effects, and more.”

The plugin sale can be found here. It currently has 9 days to go before it expires.

 

Zoom U-24 Is a Streamlined Portable Recording Interface

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Zoom U-24Zoom is an audio-equipment manufacturer best known for its portable recorders. Its H2, H4n, H5, and H6 Handy Recorders are widely cited as some of the best devices for remote gathering of audio. While Zoom’s recorders are designed to be all-in-one products, with microphones and recording capabilities built-in, Zoom’s newest product, the U-24 is a portable, high-quality audio interface.

Zoom is billing the U-24 as the “go-everywhere interface:”

The bus-powered U-24 packs all the essential tools into a compact form factor that fits in the palm of your hand. Record with mics, instruments, and more at home or on the go—the U-24 is iPad compatible and small enough to take anywhere. It can even run on just two AA batteries for recording in the most remote locations.

Here are some technical details:

  • Two combo microphone/instrument jacks, featuring a Hi-Z switch and 48v phantom power
  • Two sets of stereo line-out RCA jacks for connecting to external recorders or other gear
  • One set of 1/4″ main line-out jacks for connecting to audio monitors
  • One 1/4″ headphone jack with independent volume and balance controls
  • Mute controls for each input channel
  • USB and MIDI I/O jacks
  • Bus powered, battery powered, or powered via optional A/C adapter
  • Connect to iPad with Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit or Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter
  • Zero-latency direct monitoring

The Zoom U-24 is currently available for $150 at most musical instrument and audio equipment vendors. For more information on the device, click the link at the top of this post.

Tascam’s iXR Is a Music Studio That Fits in a Bag

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Tascam iXRIt’s become increasingly easier over time to capture and create audio in remote locations. No longer is it necessary to be tied to a room full of expensive gear in order to record vocals or produce instrumental tracks. Tascam’s latest digital audio interface, the iXR, was designed with this in mind. The iXR is extremely portable. Hence, it’s designation as “a music studio that fits in a bag”.

Tuscan’s iXR audio interface is a true solution for audio producers on the go. The iXR is MFI-compliant, so it can be connected directly to an IOS device via Lightning cable. No USB adapter required. Producers can use the iXR to quickly access a plethora of sound-related apps, such as multitrack recorders, effects processors, software synthesizers, and more. The iXR also has a standard USB 2.0 connection, so it can be used with desktop computers and other USB-ready devices.

The iXR comes with two built-in XLR/TRS jacks that allow for microphones or instruments to be connected directly to the device. There’s also onboard phantom power for use with condenser microphones. For monitoring, there’s a headphone jack as well as a pair of balanced line outputs that can be sent to powered monitors. The headphone volume jack works independently of the line outs, so these monitoring sources can operate at different volumes. There’s also a pair of standard MIDI I/O jacks for connecting keyboards and other MIDI-capable devices.

Pricing and release information are not yet available for the Tascam iXR.

HOFA Offers New Freeware 4U+ DynamicTiltEQ Plugin

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HOFA TiltEQAudio-production software developer HOFA has released a new plugin called 4U+ DynamicTiltEQ. HOFA is billing it as “the world’s only available freeware TiltEQ,” boasting that users can “use just one knob for the perfect balancing of low and high frequencies on the highest audio level.”

HOFA came up with a “wish list” of all of the features they’d like to see in a TiltEQ plugin, and then proceeded to include all of them in 4U+ Dynamic TiltEQ:

  • Gain/cut up to 24 dB
  • Variable tilt width for transparent adjustments as well as musical sound shaping
  • Splittable bass and treble tilt
  • Low and highcut filter (6 & 12 dB/octave)
  • Individual routing for stereo, mid, side left and right processing
  • Up to 32x oversampling

The 4U+ Dynamic TiltEQ plugin is freeware and can be installed thru the free HOFA-Plugins Manager. The plugin works with Windows 7/8/10, Vista and Windows XP, as well as Intel Macs running OS 10.6 or later. HOFA provides AU, VST, VST3, RTAS and AAX versions of the plugin in both 32 and 64 bit configurations. HOFA has tested the plugin and confirmed it works with Steinberg Cubase/Nuendo/Wavelab, MOTU Digital Performer, Ableton Live, Apple Logic, Magix Samplitude/Sequoia, Avid Pro Tools, Cakewalk Sonar, Presonus Studio One, and Cockos Reaper digital audio workstations.

RTW Will Showcase Entire Line of Loudness Solutions at NAB

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RTW SoftwareWhen it comes to media production, “loudness” means more than just volume. These days, there are a number of different loudness targets for media, depending on a large number of factors. It can be a challenge for producers to keep track of all of the various requirements. That’s where software production company RTW comes in with its full range of loudness solutions.

RTW will be demonstrating its new Continuous Loudness Control (CLC) software at this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas. This signal processing software allows users to constantly control and regulate to a given program-loudness value, along with a definable loudness range with minimal obstacles. The major advantage of CLC’s complex adaptive morphing algorithm is its realtime capability. The CLC algorithm “learns” during processing about the dynamic structure and intention of the sound signal and adopts its processing constantly to predict for what comes next. The software is also able to handle most common DAW applications and meets EBU-R128 and all major global loudness standard specifications.

RTW is also announcing the release of version 4.0 of its Loudness Tools and Mastering Tools software. The new version adds support for Mac OS X 10.11 and provides user requested features like a selectable 12thoctave RTA, cinema loudness (TASA and SAWA), and free scalable instrument size. In addition, the new version allows the Loudness Tools and Mastering Tools software to be operated as a stand-alone version. RTW will also present software version 1.5 for TM3-Primus and USB Connect. With this version, RTW adds support for Mac OS X 10.11 and supports the recently released standard changes in the EBU Loudness Recommendation (EBU R 128). Users can now select to read both Smax and Mmax values. Short-term loudness measurement is a parameter to characterize and control the loudness of commercials, promos, etc.. RTW offers both functions as a freely selectable feature. Users may turn on or off one or both measurements, as needed.

RTW will be demonstrating these products and more at Booth C2336 during NAB Show 2016.