Audio Tech News

Thermionic Culture - Rooster

Posted on March 11th, 2008 by admin.
Categories: Preamp/DI, What's In With Outboard?.

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Unity Audio are showing two new Thermionic Culture items at this years Music Messe in Hall 5.1 stand D48.

The second is the Thermionic Culture - Rooster - Stereo Valve Mic/Line/DI with EQ and Attitude!

A valve based mic/line + DI pre-amp with EQ and a distortion section based around the same 5725 used in the ever-popular Culture Vulture. The input stage uses a custom 1200-ohm input Sowter transformer and an ECC81/12AT7 valve. The EQ section has a broad bass lift control with up to 15dB of Lift, peaking at 50H. A mid cut at 700Hz with 17dB of cut with a ‘Q’ that is dependant on the amount of Cut, and a selectable mid/high lift at 2.5k, 4k (”bell” shaped with 18 dB of Lift) and 10k ( shelving with 20dB Lift ) respectively. The 6 position bass cut is straight off the Earlybird 2 pre-amp.

The new ‘ Attitude’ section uses a 5725- Culture Vulture distortion tube offering subtle distortion characteristic in the triode position, more so than a Culture Vulture due to the higher HT voltage, and so has a very low (about 0.01%) distortion when the Attitude control is set to 1. In the pentode mode it generates more 3rd harmonic distortion. Distortion can be pretty radical when Attitude is set to Max and the input is high. The output valve is ECF80 which combines high output with low impedance (less than 100 ohms). There is +48v phantom power, and phase reverse. The output is unbalanced standard but a balancing transformer option will be available.

Price £1395.00 ex VAT

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Thermionic Culture - Fat Bustard 12 channel valve mixer

Posted on March 11th, 2008 by admin.
Categories: New Technology, What's In With Outboard?.

Unity Audio are showing two new Thermionic Culture items at this years Frankfurt Music Messe in Hall 5.1 stand D48.

The first is the Fat Bustard 12 channel valve mixer, and Audiotechnews thinks its something to be really excited about.

The final production model of the new Thermionic Culture FAT BUSTARD Valve mixer will be launched at this years Music Messe. It now has a total of 12 inputs instead of the 8 that were on the version previewed at the last AES NYC show, the inputs are arranged as 4x stereo pairs, 4x mono with pan controls, and all the channels have toggle mute switches. The simple but amazing Bass and Treble EQ now has 0.5dB stepped Lift controls while there are 6 way stepped Bass & Treble Cut controls.

Designer and owner Vic Keary has also come up with something new, a really sweet and effective stereo width control, a little reminiscent of some vinyl lathe cutting EQ’s.

Four valves are used on the master buss, a pair of 5965 double triodes, the first half of which is pre-amp/eq, the second half is gain makeup in conjunction with the dedicated ‘Attitude’ feedback control which determines the amount of THD. The Attitude control can yield a clean signal or add gain and some “valvy” 2nd harmonic distortion. The other pair of valves is the larger 6SN7 double triode connected in parallel to give massive headroom cleanly (approaching +30 dBm).

Additional pair of AUX inputs is also provided for future channel expansion by adding the optional Little Bustard 16 channel expander, which will be due later this year.

Retail will be approximately £2800.00 ex VAT

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All the news from NAMM Winter 08

Posted on January 21st, 2008 by admin.
Categories: Analogue Anarchy, Computers & Hardware, Digital Demons, New Technology, Software And Plug-ins, Studio Shenanigans, Take A Walk On The Live Side, What's In With Outboard?.

I think it was Thursday or Friday I got an email from Stiff over at ProToolerBlog, telling me it was ok to borrow his news from the NAMM Winter 08 Show, as long as I credited him with it, which seemed more than fair enough. In fact, it was really good of the fella.

Since then, I don’t think I’ve seen him NOT be online more than a couple of times, he’s been working almost 24/7 to bring his readers the latest news.

So I think it’s only fair that I just link over to some of his headlines and let the NAMM Vet himself tell you about the latest industry news.

Cheers Stiff!

____

Universal Audio partners with SPL, Empirical Labs and Valley People

UA reveals LA-610 Signature Edition – prestige tube recording channel

EastWest introduces Forbidden Planet

M-Audio introduces ProFire 2626

New Studiophile monitors from M-Audio

Spectrasonics previews flagship V.I. “Omnisphere” at NAMM 08

Complete Pro Tools “studios”

Digidesign D-Show 2.7 software upgrade

URS Classic Console Strip Pro v1.1 for Mac OSX PPC/ Intel

Overloud debuts TH1 Guitar Amp

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Nocturn controller by Novation

Posted on January 14th, 2008 by admin.
Categories: Digital Demons, Software And Plug-ins, What's In With Outboard?.

The Nocturn controller, by Novation, is designed for use with Automap Universal 2.0, for the automatic, instant and intelligent control of all automatable plug-ins within every major sequencer, including Pro Tools.

Novation Nocturn features eight touch-sensitive rotary encoders, each equipped with a bright eleven-LED ring. These are accompanied by eight user-assignable illuminated buttons and a 45mm cross-fader. Also featured is a touch-sensitive rotary encoder that instantly takes control of whatever your mouse is focused on!

Novation says:

Little or no user setup is required, and plug-in control can be customized to be laid out just the way you like it, no matter what music software you use. Simply boot up the plug-in, and you’ll see at a glance how the parameters are automatically assigned to each of Nocturn’s controls. An instant click and control ‘learn’ function is also available for quick re-assigning of controls, or for creating your own controller map in seconds. Multiple page options mean that you can assign a potentially infinite number of parameters for each plug-in.

The combination of Automap Universal 2.0’s heads-up transparent control GUI and Nocturn’s touch-sensitive dials remove the pain inherent in controlling multiple instruments and effects, allowing you to jump instantly from one plug-in to the next; so you’re free to focus on what matter most – your music.

2 comments.

The new Focusrite ISA One – single-channel pre-amp

Posted on January 14th, 2008 by admin.
Categories: Analogue Anarchy, What's In With Outboard?.

Speaking of NAMM 2008, Focusrite’s new ‘ISA One’ microphone pre-amplifier is getting an airing at the industry trade show too. ISA One delivers Focusrite’s prestigious ISA transformer-based pre amp in a rugged and portable chassis, even if it does look like part of a Sci-Fi films set.

ISA One features the classic vintage microphone pre-amplifier topology from the original ISA110 module, including the Lundahl L1538 transformer and bespoke zobel network. (The original 110 pre amp formed the cornerstone of each channel of Focusrite’s Forte console.)

The pre amp is featuresa line input (XLR and TRS Jack) and an independent D.I. channel, complete with dedicated gain control, active or passive impedance switch, a TRS Jack output for routing to an amp and an independent XLR output on the rear.

Here’s how Focusrite roll:

A variable impedance circuit has been added, allowing the user to switch between four carefully selected input impedance settings. In addition to the original ISA110 impedance, three further impedance settings allow perfect matching, or creative mismatching of the pre amp with any microphone.

ISA One also features an insert point, should the need arise to place extra processing between the pre amp or D.I. and the optional converter. Phantom power, phase reverse and a 75Hz, 18dB/octave high-pass filter are also available from the angled front fascia.

Oh, and it’s got a headphone socket with a dedicated volume control too, because it’s groundbreaking…

An optional stereo A-D converter is also available, which can be retrofitted at any time and provides two channels of 24 bit/192kHz A-D conversion with a dynamic range of 119dB.

0 comments.

Eclipsed by a legend.

Posted on December 13th, 2007 by admin.
Categories: Analogue Anarchy, Take A Walk On The Live Side, What's In With Outboard?.

Eclipse Sound & Light in Suffolk, UK has decided to become a player, as it’s just bought an Electro-Voice XLD compact line array system.  The speaker configuration consists of 12 XLD281 top boxes plus four XLC215 bass bins, powered by EV’s Tour Grade amps.

Eclipse have gone for a  48-channel Midas Legend L3000, so Audiotechnews would love to hire in the speakers, but will bring the desk himself, thanks very much.

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Big Mick storms the O2 Arena by using more than one fader

Posted on December 12th, 2007 by admin.
Categories: Digital Demons, In The Spotlight, Take A Walk On The Live Side, What's In With Outboard?.

So Led Zeppelin’s reunion gig - did anyone here go? Are you “Big Mick” Hughes? Audiotechnews would love it if you were, you and your wife.

Robert Plant’s personal sound engineer, Roy Williams, was on the desk too! I suppose it was a case of one hand each on the desk, and the remaining digits meeting to form a bond of fear and mutual respect. Yes I mean holding hands.
Pro Sound News report this

As Big Mick admitted afterwards, “The pressure for this gig was definitely on!”

With that in mind, audio for the show was supplied by various UK-based sound rental companies, including Britannia Row and Major Tom Ltd., the latter of which brought an enormous Meyer Sound PA based around Milo and Mica loudspeakers, while the former had, among other gear, a Midas XL8 digital mixing system on hand for the FOH position and a Midas Heritage 3000 handling monitors at stage-side. Making an unofficial real-world debut, Klark Teknik’s DN9696 high resolution hard disk recorder was used to record the event for posterity.

To be fair, more than a few (reporters) remarked on rough spots in the mix early on, but The Independent, Billboard and Uncut all conceded that the sound was on track by the time “Black Dog,” the evening’s third number, began–and fans quoted in The Telegraph went so far as to call the evening’s audio “fabulous.”

“It was like a rollercoaster ride,” Big Mick laughed. “You had better hold on tight!”

Fantastic. Audiotechnews knew he wasn’t going to get tickets, so decided to forget all about it. All of a sudden, he wishes he’d had the kick drum fader, and maybe some toms.

1 comment.

I’m a miserable cynic

Posted on November 27th, 2007 by admin.
Categories: Analogue Anarchy, Audio Visual, Digital Demons, Software And Plug-ins, Studio Shenanigans, Take A Walk On The Live Side, What's In With Outboard?.

“Sound Pro Latin America is a new serious proposal, created by professionals, that has a main goal to educate on new technologies for professional audio, promoting y teaching technical knowledge (theory and practice) for professional growing” Technoprofile magazine reports

Now, even taking into consideration the language barrier - being the sensitive, fair and well meaning individual I am - this sounds like a load of rubbish.

I am of the view that it’s more fun to learn things yourself, as well as almost always being more productive. I have friends who can recite text book perfect theory of sound design, acoustic treatment techniques, reverb wave forms and anything else on the university course they wasted their time on.

They couldn’t work a PA though. In fact, one of them got a job at a venue and didn’t realise the subs were still switched off.

Anyway - my jaded and cynical attitude aside, here’s some more about this Latin American course, which some readers may find of use. And looking into it more - it’s feasible that it might possibly JUST be ok

EDUCATIVE PROPOSALS
In every event organized by Sound Pro Latin America an official AES attendance certificate will be provided.

Recording and mixing techniques:
-Digital audio
-MIDI
-Signals processing
-Wiring and connections on a studio
-Home studios acoustics
-Electronic and acoustic metering
-Audio electronics
Speaker: Carlos Gauvron

Musical production:
-Recording
-Mixing
-Musical production
-Artistic creativity
-Clinic on musical production
Speaker: Pedro Aznar

Mastering/Full DVD production:
-CD mastering
-Full DVD production
-CD and DVD mastering
-Full DVD production seminar
Speaker: Eng. Andres Mayo

Live sound:
-Sound and listening basis
-Consoles and signals processing
-Microphones and their frequency processing, dynamics and timing
-Speakers calibration and electro-acoustic control
-Design, use and setting of conventional systems
-Design, use and setting of linear systems
-Design, use and setting of sound reinforcement systems
-Advanced tools for electro-acoustic analysis
Speakers: Salvador Castaneda, Oscar Gamas

Live sound recording:
-Live recording, lay-out, logistics, synchronization, timing
-Mixing for radio and TV, their differences to musical production
-Levels, headroom and equalization control
-Production for analogue and digital broadcasting. Differences and considerations
-Examples in theory and practice of recordings made
Speaker: Martin Sznaider

Acoustic design:
-Acoustic design and setting for recording studios
-Problems and solutions
-Examples in the practice
-Presentation and description of several of the 400 projects made in Latin America
Speaker: Sergio Molho (WSDG)

Drums & Percussion:
-Clinic-Concert
-Workshop-Seminar
Speaker: Cristian Judurcha / Facundo Guevara

They haven’t got an English translation going yet on the official website, but if you don’t need one, click here

0 comments.

Fold up your speakers

Posted on November 26th, 2007 by admin.
Categories: Analogue Anarchy, Audio Visual, Digital Demons, Studio Shenanigans, What's In With Outboard?.

I might come under fire for even bringing this up, but I’d be interested to hear from people who’ve tried these MUJI Cardboard Speakers.

“These Lightweight, collapsible speakers are portable and can be folded away and placed in the included pouch when not in use. Plug them into your personal stereo’s headphone jack to enjoy quality sound.”

Novel, yes. Quality? I doubt they were in the running for this:

The Stereophile ‘Products of 2007′.

I’ll summarize, but you can go and read the piece in full here

2007 Joint Loudspeakers

Dynaudio Confidence C4
Wilson Audio Specialties WATT/Puppy 8

2007 Accessory

RealTraps MondoTraps

2007 Budget Product of the Year

PSB Alpha B1 loudspeaker

2007 Product of the year

Ayre Acoustics MX-R monoblock power amplifier

I hope this is of some use to somebody somewhere.

0 comments.

You can’t REALLY offset that

Posted on November 26th, 2007 by admin.
Categories: Analogue Anarchy, Audio Visual, Digital Demons, Studio Shenanigans, Take A Walk On The Live Side, What's In With Outboard?, You Might Not Care But We Do.

The world’s largest international trade show for consumer technologies have announced plans for a more Green Friendly ethos for their 2008 outing.

“We will do so by reducing energy consumption, increasing our recycling efforts, improving efficiency where possible, and making strides toward offsetting our unavoidable emissions. “ Says CEO Gary Shapiro of Consumer Electronics Assosiation.

You can read the article in full here

Unfortunately it seems to be the case that if you say ‘Carbon footprint’ and ‘Offsetting’ a lot, then it entitles you to a lot of publicity and a holier than thou attitude.

But I’ll leave that kind of reporting to GREENBANG

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