WHAT'S NEW

May 1, 2004 12:00 PM, By Geary Yelton

AUDIX I5

Audix recently introduced the i5 ($179), a dynamic microphone for recording and sound-reinforcement applications. Unlike models specifically designed for vocals or drums, the i5 is a general-purpose instrument mic that should be equally well suited for miking everything from acoustic pianos to guitar amplifiers.

The i5 has a cardioid polar pattern and off-axis rejection greater than 23 dB. Its specifications state that the i5's frequency response is uniform from 50 Hz to 16 kHz, and that it can withstand sound pressure levels exceeding 140 dB. The i5's rugged cast-zinc-alloy body has a black finish, and the serial number has been laser-etched into each one. A microphone clip and a carrying pouch are included. Audix USA; tel. (800) 966-8261 or (503) 682-6933; e-mail info@audixusa.com; Web www.audixusa.com.

BOSS BR-1600CD

The new BR-1600CD ($1,595) can record 256 audio tracks (8 of them simultaneously) and play back 16 tracks at a time — more than any previous Boss portable digital recording studio. It records directly to an internal 40 GB hard drive. A built-in CD-RW drive allows you to burn audio CDs and load and save data. To accompany your performances, the BR-1600CD supplies drum, bass, and loop patterns that you can arrange according to your needs, and you can import sampled loops. Polish your mixes with 16 compressors and 16 3-band track EQs, and apply multiband compression for mastering CDs. A selection of onboard COSM effects includes reverb, chorus, delay, pitch correction, harmony sequencing, mic modeling, overdrive/distortion, and guitar-amp modeling.

In addition to eight unbalanced ¼-inch and eight balanced XLR inputs with 48V phantom power, the rear panel furnishes two RCA line outputs, coaxial S/PDIF I/O, one USB port, and MIDI I/O (for synchronization with a sequencer). A high-impedance instrument input and two headphone outputs are located in front. Ample front-panel controls and a backlit graphical LCD simplify recording and mixing. Foot-switch and pedal jacks permit hands-free operation. Other features include user-definable markers, tap tempo, speaker modeling, and a chromatic tuner. A Discrete Drums sample CD-ROM is also included. Boss/Roland Corporation U.S.; tel. (323) 890-3700; Web www.rolandus.com.

GFORCE IMPOSCAR

Virtual-instrument maker GForce (formerly GMedia) is shipping impOSCar (Mac/Win, $249), a plug-in emulation of the OSCar, a mid-'80s Oxford Synthesizer Company monosynth (see the March 2002 issue of EM, online at www.emusician.com). The OSCar had two digital oscillators, two analog multimode filters, and an arpeggiator, and stored 24 user-defined waveforms generated by additive synthesis.

ImpOSCar duplicates the OSCar in almost every respect. Like its namesake, impOSCar can generate sounds impossible to achieve by any other means. It ships with over a dozen banks of 36 Patches, and it can import programs created for the OSCar in SysEx format. New features include 16-note polyphony, Velocity response, additional filter modes, and chorus and delay effects. You can define user waves by specifying 36 harmonics, and you can assign every control to MIDI CC.

ImpOSCar supports Audio Units in Mac OS X and VST in Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, and Windows. PC users need a minimum Pentium II/400 MHz and Windows 98, 2000, ME, or XP. Mac users need at least a G4/400 MHz and Mac OS 9 or OS X 10.1. Both platforms require 64 MB of RAM and 25 MB of hard-drive space. GForce/eBlitz Audio Labs (distributor); tel. (805) 258-1465; e-mail contact@eblitzaudiolabs.com; Web www.gmediamusic.com.

M-AUDIO OCTANE

M-Audio continues its tradition of bringing down the cost of pro audio with its new 8-channel microphone preamp, the Octane ($749). Its 8-channel ADAT Lightpipe output and two BNC word-clock connectors make it suitable for multichannel digital recording setups. The 2U Octane can also operate as a 24-bit, 8-channel A/D converter. You can switch its clock rate from 44.1 to 48 kHz, and it slaves to external sync rates from 33 to 59 kHz. If eight channels aren't enough, you can link together as many Octanes as necessary.

On the rear panel are eight balanced XLR mic inputs, eight balanced ¼-inch TRS line inputs, and eight balanced ¼-inch TRS outputs, which allow interconnection with analog mixers and recorders. Additional ¼-inch instrument inputs for channels 1 and 2 are on the front panel, and channel 1 has a 12 db-per-octave low-cut rumble filter. Channels 7 and 8 offer optional M-S matrix encoding with a Width knob for controlling stereo imaging. Channels 1 through 4 and 5 through 8 have switchable 48V phantom power, and a phase-reverse switch is available for each channel. The Octane employs the same technology used in M-Audio's DMP3 mic preamp. M-Audio; tel. (800) 969-6434 or (626) 633-9050; e-mail info@m-audio.com; Web www.m-audio.com.

ARTURIA MINIMOOG V

Arturia, the company that developed the Moog Modular V and CS-80V virtual synthesizers, is shipping a software emulation of the Minimoog Model D. Like Moog Music's more recent Voyager synth, Minimoog V (Mac/Win, $199) offers modern features such as preset storage, MIDI control, and expanded modulation routing. Unlike the Voyager, Arturia's version offers 32-note polyphony, an arpeggiator, and stereo chorus and delay. The software handles sampling rates as high as 96 kHz with 64-bit floating-point resolution. The modulation matrix provides 6 connections with 12 sources and 32 destinations from which to choose. Minimoog V ships with a printed manual and more than 500 presets; additional presets will be made available for download on Arturia's Web site.

The installation CD includes standalone and plug-in versions for both platforms. The plug-in supports DX and HTDM in Windows; MAS in Mac OS 9; Audio Units and HTDM in Mac OS X; and VST and RTAS on all three operating systems. Minimum system requirements for the PC are a Pentium III/500 MHz, Windows 95 or later, 128 MB of RAM, and an ASIO or DirectX sound card. Macintosh users will need a minimum G3/500 MHz, Mac OS 9.2.2 or OS X 10.2, and 128 MB of RAM. (Because Minimoog V supports Sound Manager, an ASIO- or CoreAudio-compatible audio interface is optional on the Mac.) Arturia; tel. 33-438-020-555; e-mail info@arturia.com; Web www.arturia.com.

ELEKTRON MONOMACHINE SFX-6 AND SFX-60

From the manufacturer of the SidStation and the Machinedrum come two new synthesizer workstations: the Monomachine SFX-6 37-note keyboard ($1,950) and SFX-60 tabletop ($1,350). Five sound engines encompass synthesis techniques that Elektron calls SuperWave, SID, DigiPro, FM+, and VO. The Monomachine's pattern-based, 6-track step sequencer lets you select either a multi-effects processor or one monophonic sound engine for each track, or one track with 6-note polyphony.

SuperWave is analog-modeling synthesis; SID is based on the sound-generating capabilities of the Commodore 64. DigiPro furnishes digital waveforms and a percussive source called the BeatBox. FM+ supplies unique frequency-modulation algorithms, and VO synthesizes singing voices in any language or dialect, according to Elektron. Monomachine's five simultaneous track effects are resonant multimode filter, tempo-synced delay, distortion, sampling-rate reduction, and one band of EQ. Master effects include reverb and chorus.

The Monomachine's drum-machine-style sequencer provides comprehensive control over synthesis and effects parameters. Pitch sequencing is separate from envelope sequencing, with individual triggers for filter envelope, amplitude envelope, and LFO. Three tempo-synced LFOs for each track are assignable to any of 56 parameters. Other features include external audio processing and an assignable joystick. GSF Agency/TSI International Sales (distributor); tel. (310) 452-6216; e-mail info@elektron.se; Web www.elektron.se or www.monomachine.com.