Edirol R-44 4 track field recorder
Posted on March 20, 2008
Filed Under Take A Walk On The Live Side | Leave a Comment
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EDIROL is still in shoving around in the moshpit of field recording technology, and with its new R-44, the company has its most compact, powerful and lightweight recorder to date.
It’s taken just four years for EDIROL to establish themselves as major players in the field recorder market. The ‘R’ range of recorders has already become the industry standard and has been used in every situation requiring professional quality audio recording. Musicians, journalists, podcasters, video editors, educators and broadcasters who need crystal clear, reliable and dependable audio recording have all become fans of the ‘R’ range.
The new R-44 picks up where the R-4 left off – a four-channel recorder that uses SD or large capacity SDHC card storage media for the ultimate in quiet and reliable recordings. It offers very flexible recording options with up to four channels of uncompressed audio available at selectable bit depths (16- or 24-bit) with sampling frequencies between 44.1kHz and 192kHz (stereo mode only). Broadcast wave is also supported and two R-44s can be synced together to offer up to 8-channel recording for surround sound applications.
The R-44 weighs in at just three pounds – despite the metal chassis – for true field recorder strength and features both XLR and ¼-inch TRS jack inputs. The high quality XLR inputs are derived from the EDIROL R-4PRO and come equipped with individual phantom power as well as a limiter. Eleven steps of input sensitivity enable the connection of multiple devices with a variety of input levels from microphones to musical instruments. The high-speed USB 2.0 port allows for quick and easy copy and archive to a computer. Conveniently the R-44 can also operate as a USB host.
Power is supplied by external PSU or onboard AA batteries.
The R-44 also offers comprehensive effects, including limiter, low-cut filter, 3-band EQ, 6-band GEQ, enhancer and de-esser, making it the ideal high-quality recording solution.
The R-44 will be available from March, price £499.
Key Features of the R-44
Records up to four channels of audio at selectable bit rates (16- & 24-bit) and sampling frequencies (44.1, 48, 96kHz – 192kHz for stereo recording only)
Wide variety of input sensitivity levels
Uses SD and SDHC cards for quiet and reliable operation
Onboard effects
XLR and ¼-inch TRS jack inputs
Canada recording and music publishing industies maintain profitability
Posted on March 19, 2008
Filed Under Business News | 1 Comment
Canada’s sound recording and music publishing industries maintained profitability for the second consecutive year in 2006 according to Exchange Magazine.
Statscan - Operating revenues exceeded operating expenditures for each of the three major segments of Canada’s music industry (record production, music publishing and sound recording studios), but music publishing was the only industry able to achieve true revenue growth in 2006.
The majority of record production industry revenues, roughly 63%, continued to be generated by foreign-controlled companies.
Oli Larkin releases pMix preset mixer
Posted on March 17, 2008
Filed Under Software And Plug-ins | Leave a Comment
Oli Larkin has just released pMix (short for preset mixer), free (available for Mac only).
pMix (short for preset mixer) is a new composition and performance tool that facilitates the control of multiple plugin parameters using an intuitive graphical interface. pMix hosts four VST plugins and lets you interpolate between presets by navigating a 2D visual environment.
Presets are represented by coloured balls that are positioned on a plane. The size of each ball and its proximity to the cursor affects the weight of the associated preset in the interpolation. pMix is easy to use and has some fun features such as automation, real time visual feedback and randomisation.
Panasonic Strada CN-GP50 review
Posted on March 14, 2008
Filed Under Take A Walk On The Live Side, You Might Not Care But We Do | Leave a Comment
Somehow Audiotechnews gets quite a few requests to review Sat Nav units, which has proved to be quite handy as he has recently taken over the position as tour manager.
Putting his trust in the Panasonic Strada CN-GP50 this time, and without the aid of multimap, Audiotechnews trooped off to Sommerset last week.
Multimap wouldn’t have convinced me that driving a van along narrow footpaths was the correct way to reach the venue in question. As it turns out, it was the only way, so the Strada was an absolute miracle.
The Panasonic Strada offers a comprehensive approach to in-car entertainment that encompasses the pinnacle of Panasonic’s mobile audio-visual technologies exemplified by ‘Strada Picture’ (high picture quality technology), Strada Sound (high sound quality design) and Strada Link (multi-media networking). The CN-GP50 is the first of these core units to be sold in the European market.
With its compact dimensions of 128 (W) x 84 (H) x 30 (D) mm, this slim package is designed for easy portability. Having parked the car, users can easily remove and carry the CN-GP50N, rather than leave it in the vehicle as a temptation for would-be thieves. The unit can also be used outside the vehicle or at home as a storage device for images, thanks to its built-in battery and charging adaptor offering approximately four hours of operation*.
Input of addresses is easy - the touch screen being responsive and accurate with large displays that even a sausage fingered alcoholic could operate.
Map data covers 37 European nations in total and multi-lingual Voice Guidance allows the user to choose from 19 different languages. When traveling across borders, the ability to receive guidance on routes in one’s native language helps support safe driving by avoiding the distraction of referring to maps.
Obstacles such as tall buildings or hills can often block reception of GPS data, but the GPS Assist system compensates by applying other available information. This enables a more viable representation of vehicle position on the navigation display.
Panasonic has also enhanced the convenience of map updating by enabling a USB connection as one of the media options. For greater driving comfort and convenience, the Strada system offers many feature enhancements including 3D Landmark display of major landmarks as three-dimensional icons, Lane Assistant to support smooth lane changing, and Speed Information to warn the driver when the vehicle exceeds the speed limit. The CN-GP50N also has Real-Time Traffic Information (RDS-TMC) display capability when used with a separately available receiver.
The CN-GP50N provides extensive support for Bluetooth capable mobile telephones, including not only hands-free operation, but transfer of mobile phonebooks and direct dialling of numbers listed for points of interest in the map database. The system can also display still photos stored in SD Memory Cards.
CN-GP50N has full built-in GPS antenna and fixing bracket included, however a full list of accessories is proposed such as external GPS antenna, charging adaptors, fixing bracket and TMC antenna among others.
Map Coverage (37 Countries):
• Albania • Andorra • Austria • Belgium • Bosnia-Herzegovina • Bulgaria • Croatia • Czech Republic • Denmark • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Great Britain • Greece • Hungary • Italy • Latvia • Liechtenstein • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Macedonia • Monaco • the Netherlands • Norway • Poland • Portugal • Republic of Ireland • Romania • San Marino • Serbia and Montenegro • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • Vatican
19 Language Voice Guidance:
Czech • Danish • Dutch • English (UK) • English (US) • Finnish • Flemish • French • German • Greek • Hungarian • Italian • Norwegian • Polish • Portuguese • Russian • Spanish • Swedish • Turkish
Venue Technician required
Posted on March 13, 2008
Filed Under Jobs | Leave a Comment
UK Music Jobs have got a position up for a Venue Technician.
Salary £18K.
Location London
Thermionic Culture - Rooster
Posted on March 11, 2008
Filed Under Preamp/DI, What's In With Outboard? | Leave a Comment
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
Thermionic Culture - Fat Bustard 12 channel valve mixer
Posted on March 11, 2008
Filed Under New Technology, What's In With Outboard? | Leave a Comment
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
Dance producers contest
Posted on March 10, 2008
Filed Under Software And Plug-ins, Studio Shenanigans | Leave a Comment
SAE, M-Audio and I-dance.com are proud to announce a new dance producers contest with a great range of prizes up for grabs.
Contestants are free to choose their dance music style and joining the contest is free. All producers are asked to do is sign up for the Global XS Trial HERE, post their competing track(s) in the community and write reviews on at least 5 other tracks. The competition closes on April 3rd.
The winner will receive an M-Audio Project Mix, two days of studio time in the SAE studios complete with engineer, i-dance Global XS Artist membership for one year, plus a whole load of other goodies!
AV Concepts provides support for Conservation International
Posted on March 10, 2008
Filed Under Business News, Jobs | Leave a Comment
AV Concepts has signed a 2-year agreement to be the Audio-Visual provider for Conservation International, Exhibitor Online report.
Conservation International is a high-profile international nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting Earth’s natural heritage. Under the agreement, AV Concepts will provide audio-visual services for all of Conservation International’s benefit fundraisers for the next 2 years.
Audiotechnews would suggest it’s a good time to approach the company for some AV work.
TL Audio appoint two new company directors
Posted on March 6, 2008
Filed Under Business News | Leave a Comment
TL Audio has appointed two new company directors. They’re pretty foxy.
The move comes after a number of years of growing success for the Pro Audio brand that is known for its high quality analogue and tube recording equipment. In recent months, they have overseen the introduction of a brand new Discrete Class A outboard range, titled the ‘Ebony Series’ as well as an award-winning and innovative tracking, summing and monitoring all-in-one device, the ‘Fat Track’.
TL Audio have also enjoyed the rapid growth of their sister brand ‘Fatman‘, which has taken the consumer world by storm with its high quality tube docking station, the award-winning ‘iTube’.
Sarah Crone AAT/CIMA (28) who joined the company in 1998 is being promoted to Finance Director for the TL Audio Group. Sarah Yule BA (hons) (25) who joined the company in 2005 is being promoted to Sales Director for TL Audio Ltd.
Tony Larking, Managing Director, comments
“I am very pleased to welcome Sarah Yule & Sarah Crone to the board of directors, their energy and professionalism has helped TL Audio improve product ranges and increase sales and profitability over recent years. I’m looking forward to working together with them as a successful team for many years to come”.
