Pro Tools 11
Pro Tools 11
More Power, Greater Speed and 64 Bits
The much-anticipated release of Pro Tools 11 brings a bevy of upgrades, with the most striking of them under the hood. The fully redesigned audio engine brings 64-bit architecture and many times the processing power of Pro Tools 10 on the same hardware configurations. Other features include offline bouncing, a low-latency input buffer and dynamic host processing, which maximizes plug-in count by reallocating processing resources as needed. There is now support for a broad range of built-in metering standards, from peak and average to VU and PPM, a built-in Avid Video Engine and much more. The full version price is $699. Crossgrade and upgrade pricing information is available at avid.com.
Genelec M030 and M040
Genelec M Series Monitors
Forward-Looking Design
The Genelec (genelec.com) M Series Bi-amplified Active Monitors take a new approach to speaker design as part of Genelec’s ongoing sustainable initiative known as GES (Genelec Embedded Sustainability). The first two models being introduced are the M030 ($695) and the M040 ($995) bi-amplified active monitors, which employ a natural composite enclosure manufactured from wood fiber and recyclable material. Features include new Class-D amplifiers, Intelligent Signal Sensing power management with auto power-off/auto power-on, and with the standby power consumption of less than 0.5W, in accordance with upcoming European Union standards, the M030 uses a 5-inch woofer and 0.75-inch metal dome tweeter, powered by a 50-watt and 30-watt amplifier, respectively. The M040 employs a 6.5-inch woofer with a 1-inch metal dome tweeter, powered by an 80-watt and 50-watt amplifier, respectively.
Pearl Lab Priority Mic
Pearl Lab Priority Microphone
Affordable, Rectangular Condenser
The Pearl Priority (independentaudio.com, $999) is a large-membrane, handmade condenser microphone with a fixed cardioid pattern. As with other Pearl mics, the Priority has a rectangular capsule that features an unusually large surface area for a single-membrane capsule. The Priority promises a flat frequency response curve and is targeted for use in recording acoustic instruments or vocals. The capsule has been tuned for a slight increase (2 to 3 dB) around 5 kHz, which corresponds to the presence bump often sought for vocal recording.
Lightning Boy Audio Rectified Leveler
Lightning Boy Audio Rectified Leveler
Tube/Optical Gain Controller
The Lightning Boy Audio Rectified Leveler (lightningboyaudio.com, $2,599.99) promises high fidelity and tonal flexibility by using paper-in-oil capacitors, low-noise resistors, NOS tubes, and a selectable tube or solid-state rectifier stage. The unit is based on the LA-2A with all of its familiar controls, plus two new features. A Vintage/Modern toggle switch allows the user to choose between the compression characteristics of a traditional LA-2A, or a Modern setting that introduces a low-cut sidechain. The second switch, Tube/Silicon, selects either the smaller, more up-front sound of LA-2A-style silicon diodes or the bigger, more open sound of a 6X4 rectifier tube.
SPL Madison Converter
SPL Madison Converter
16×16 MADI I/O
The Madison Converter from SPL (spl-usa.com, $1,899) offers 16 I/O, 36-volt audio rails, +24 dBu output level, 44.1 Hz to 192 kHz, ±10 percent vari-speed and SPL clock-shop for jitter-free operation. Other features include simple operation and setup from the front panel controls, expandability up to 64 I/O using four units, four directly selectable reference levels (15/18/22/24), and an optional redundant power supply. The Madison will be available in June 2013.
Universal Audio Apollo 16
Universal Audio Apollo 16
Scalable I/O with DSP
Universal Audio’s Apollo 16 Audio Interface (uaudio.com, $2,999) features 16×16 analog I/O, flexible routing and UAD-2 Quad processing onboard, providing real-time processing with UAD Powered Plug-Ins. Analog connections are via DB-25 with the ability to cascade two units via MADI for up to 32×32 analog I/O and eight processors. Other features include dedicated XLR monitor outputs, stereo AES-EBU digital I/O and compatibility with Intel’s high-bandwidth Thunderbolt technology via a user-installable dual-port Thunderbolt Option Card ($499).
Small Tree TitaniumZ-5
Small Tree TitaniumZ-5
Five Ways to Save
Formerly known as Titanium4, Small Tree’s TitaniumZ-5 (small-tree.com, starting at $6,500) provides up to 15 TB of usable capacity while scaling to nine ProRes 422 streams. TitaniumZ-5’s all-in-one portable design meets rigorous on-site editing demands at an affordable price. TitaniumZ-5 offers ZFS, AFP, SMB (CIFS), NFS and iSCSI protocol support and works seamlessly with Adobe Creative Suite, Avid Media Composer, Avid Pro Tools, Apple Final Cut Pro 7, Apple Final Cut Pro X and Autodesk Smoke.
Fairlight 3DAW Plug-in
Fairlight 3DAW Plug-in
Pro Tools Object-Based Panning
The Fairlight 3DAW plug-in for Pro Tools (fairlight.com.au, $TBA) is the result of a collaboration between Fairlight and DTS and brings object-based panning to the DAW with DSP supplied by Fairlight’s Crystal Core Media processor. The plug-in uses DTS’s open-source MDA format, allowing users to truly mix object-based audio in unrestricted 3-D space, monitor on any configuration, and output in DTS’s proposed future specification, MDA. Additionally, Fairlight’s 3DAW will feature the ability to mix soundtracks for DTS Neo:X, a channel-based audio solution designed to support up to an 11.1 speaker system.
Waves Manny Marroquin Collection
Waves Manny Marroquin Collection
Hybrid Plug-ins With a Hip, Modern Touch
This collection of custom plug-ins from Waves was developed in collaboration with mixing engineer Manny Marroquin (Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Maroon 5, Shakira). The collection showcases his unique workflow, including personalized versions of his EQ, reverb, delay, distortion and the new Tone Shaper and Triple D plug-ins. The plug-ins are available for download at waves.com for $500.
NEW LIVE SOUND PRODUCTS
Allen & Heath ME Personal Mixing System
Allen & Heath ME Personal Mixing System
For When You Want More of You
The ME system from Allen & Heath (allen-heath.com) is universally compatible with the company’s own and other pro digital mixers. The system comprises the customizable ME-1 personal mixer ($799), powered and connected via Cat-5 and capable of managing up to 42 sources. ME-1’s layout incorporates backlit keys, soft rotary control, separate mic and mix levels, and an OLED display for custom channel naming. The accompanying ME-U hub ($TBA) offers star connection of multiple ME-1 mixers and interconnection to other professional digital mixers via MADI, Dante or EtherSound. ME-1 receives 40 sources and has a built-in ambient mic and local stereo aux input. Up to 16 presets can be stored, recalled and transferred via USB key for quick setups or archiving.
SSL Live Console
SSL Live Console
Debut Product for FOH, Monitors
SSL’s first-ever live console brings the company’s studio and broadcast expertise to the venue (solidstatelogic.com, starting at $84,000). It features studio-grade SuperAnalogue mic preamps, 24-bit/96kHz A/D D/A conversion, 64-bit internal processing and 96kHz operation throughout. Live also offers an impressive collection of 30 new effects, 976 inputs and outputs, 192 full-processing audio “paths” at 96 kHz and processing built into the console surface. A full range of Stagebox I/O connects to the console via MADI with the potential for larger systems to make use of SSL’s own Blacklight technology that carries up to 256 channels of bi-directional audio and control via a single Fiber connection.
