Lindell Audio 17X Compressor
The 17X ($2,995) from Lindell Audio of Sweden is a single-channel, transformer-coupled compressor/limiter designed to bring classic 1176-style compression to any track. This FET gain squeezer features a highpass sidechain filter to reduce pumping and a wet/dry Mix control for parallel compression. I/O is simple with a balanced XLR line in and two line outputs, one before and one after the Mix control. The unit also features signal high- and lowpass filters set at 6dB per octave. The unit is made with the best parts available, including Alps pots, Carnhill transformers, Wima caps, Original Fender super-switches, gold-plated XLRs and more.
LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt Series Drives
The Little Big Disk Thunderbolt Series (starting at $399, 1 TB) from LaCie features a pair of 2.5-inch drives in a Mac OS RAID configuration, delivering read speeds of more than 480 MB/s in SSD and up to 190 MB/s in HDD. The more Little Big Disks chained together, the more impressive the performance. Users can daisy-chain several Little Big Disks to maximize the interface’s capabilities and reach transfer rates around 800 MB/s—rackmount storage speeds in a portable package. The drives are available at the Apple store or through LaCie.com.
Steinberg CMC Series Cubase Controllers
The CMC Series (starting at $199) of controllers from Steinberg is equipped with a combination of elements that provide tactile control over many Cubase functions. Each unit can be used separately or hooked together with the included joint plate. The CMC-CH channel controller houses 16 illuminated rubber push-buttons, one rotary encoder and a touch fader covering a wide range of mix and instrument functions. The CMC-FD fader controller features four high-precision touch faders with LED-based metering and a solo/mute function. The CMC-QC quick controller boasts 13 illuminated buttons and eight rotary encoders in three different modes: EQ, Quick Control and MIDI. The CMC-PD pad controller features 16 highly responsive backlit pads and one rotary encoder. The CMC-TP transport controller houses 17 buttons and a touch slider. And the CMC-AI controller highlights Steinberg’s universal AI Knob, together with its 10-function buttons. CMC accessories comprise the CMC Studio Frame 4 and the CMC CC121 Extension Frame.
Chandler Little Devil Preamp
The Little Devil 500 Series ($999) tone-shaping preamp from Chandler features three different input types. Switching to line input processes any line-level source such as tape or DAW tracks, bus submixes or the complete stereo bus. For unbalanced sources, such as bass and keyboards, select the DI input or gas any mic up to 6 dB, then use the Feedback/Bias to drive and shape the unit’s tone. Other features include two-way impedance switching for mic and line, output control, brightness switch, low cut from 100 Hz, DI input, phantom power and polarity reverse.
Dangerous Music Liaison
Dangerous Music is now shipping the Liaison ($2,399), a Mix Certified Hit from Winter NAMM 2011. The unit features six stereo-insert loops, assignable to two stereo buses; flexible and parallel processing; instant recall of any gear patched through the unit; and seamless integration with Dangerous Master. Scenarios include recall of gear chains for recording vocals and instruments, storage and recall of two custom-mix processing chains for mixing, and switching of processors in any order for mastering.
Antares Auto-Tune EFX 2
Antares Auto-Tune EFX 2 ($129) is the newest generation of the popular tool for real-time pitch correction and the iconic Auto-Tune Vocal Effect. Features include Auto-Motion™ Vocal Pattern Generation, allowing users to add a variety of intricate musical patterns to their tracks for an entirely new (and sonically dramatic) vocal effect. Designed to make almost everything automatic, Auto-Tune EFX 2 provides two different flavors of the Auto-Tune Vocal Effect, as well as Antares’ real-time pitch correction. For songs with complex chord progressions or modulations, users can optionally set up custom scales or use their host’s automation facility to allow the processing of virtually any vocal line. Auto-Tune EFX 2 is available now for RTAS (Mac OS X and PC), VST (Mac OS X and PC) and AU (Mac OS X).
ADAM A77X Monitors
The A77X monitor ($1,399 each) from ADAM features the company’s X-ART tweeter, new woofers and amplifiers, and completely redesigned speaker cabinets. The new A77X is equipped with the same advanced technologies as its popular counterpart, the A7X, but produces much higher, compression-free maximum SPLs and dynamics. Due to its power and radiation characteristics, it is ideally suited for near- and mid-field monitoring. The A77X’s two 7-inch woofers feature 1.5-inch large voice coils and powerful 100W PWM amplifiers. Both are capable of deep lower-register reproduction. The woofers cover different frequency bands: One handles the (sub) bass frequencies to approximately 400 Hz, while the other reproduces most of the midrange, eliminating interference between the two drivers.
Waves Bass Rider
A companion to Waves’ Vocal Rider plug-in, Bass Rider (Native, $200; TDM, $300) delivers perfect bass levels without changing the natural sound of a user’s bass. Optimized for the frequency range and envelope characteristics of bass instruments, Bass Rider features operation up to 24-bit 192kHz; support for TDM, RTAS, Audio Suite, VST and AU; and target energy meter and a target slider for setting the desired bass-level range and calibrating the Rider Fader “0” position. Other features include sensitivity control, artifact-tolerance control, maximum and minimum range, and output trim.
New Sound Reinforcement Products
L-Acoustics ARCS II
Unveiled at this year’s PLASA show, L-Acoustics ARCS II constant-curvature line source uses the company’s Wavefront Sculpture Technology and K1-grade transducers (for a 140dB increased SPL) and is based on a two-way active design. The array can be deployed either horizontally or vertically, with a coverage angle proportional to the number of enclosures in the array. The orientation of the ARCS II enclosures within the array determines asymmetric distribution, allowing the use of a horizontal ARCS II line source either for upward or downward coverage. The LA-RAK touring rack and LA8 amplified controller preset library deliver an advanced and precise drive system for ARCS II. Additional features include the L-DRIVE intelligent two-way transducer protection circuit (peak and RMS limiting) and Array Morphing EQ interface, allowing the engineer to quickly adjust the tonal balance of the system to produce a reference curve or ensure consistency of the system’s sonic signature with multiple arrays of different types and sizes.
Community dSPEC226
Community’s new loudspeaker processor uses a high-speed SHARC DSP and a Xilinx Spartan FGA, and features a 4-input/6-output fixed-chain DPS architecture that includes 2×6 native analog I/Os. Various expansion cards provide two additional analog inputs, two AES-3 dual-channel digital inputs or eight CobraNet I/Os. Users select from a library of Community loudspeakers, and dSPEC will automatically assign factory-recommended lowpass and highpass filters, corrective EQ (including 1,024 points of FIR EQ via CONEQ), protective limiters, phase compensation and more. dSPEC also configures LF and HF outputs with optimal crossover slopes for bi-amplified loudspeaker models.
Bag End Updates TA Series
This range of full-range loudspeakers now features a high-performance, high-frequency E-700 driver, providing an improved HF response with lower distortion at extreme levels. The new systems are compatible with previous Bag End models and are available at the same prices. The updated models include the TA1202, TA2002 and TA6002; these loudspeakers replace the earlier models TA1200, TA2000, and TA6000, respectively.
DPA d:fine Headsets
Available in omnidirectional and directional versions, the new DPA d:fine™ headsets feature earpieces made from a sprung material used to manufacture hearing aids, ensuring comfort and user-adjustability. The mics use a smaller version of the 5mm miniature capsules in the company’s 4066s and 4088s. The new model can be easily switched between omni and directional modes. D:fine is delivered with different-colored cable steer clips, allowing cable runs from in-ear devices to be fixed in the clip. A neck cable clip attaches the cable to the cloth to relieve the cable draw.
