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Shure wants dedicated spectrum for wireless audio gear in the UK
The proliferation of mobile phones is great, and so is the availability of 4G in the UK. However, dwindling spectrum available for wireless audio gear could cause problems at your local music venue or playhouse -- especially in the UK. Shure, the pro audio company, wants a dedicated radio spectrum for wireless microphones, in-ear monitors and other tech. As the company puts it, the best area for the audio gadgets to work is UHF bands IV and V or 470 – 854MHz. In the UK specifically, the 800MHz band has been approved for use by 4G networks and 700MHz is next. Those bands were made available after television service switched from analog to digital a few years back.
Native Instruments rolls out Traktor 2, Maschine 1.6 update
There isn't any hardware that will make you a better (or hell, a good) DJ, although we always seem to forget this whenever we see one of Native Instruments' invariably mind-blowing product demos. If you're a DMC-level DJ, it certainly looks like the newly available Traktor 2 will suit all of your needs nicely. If you're not? Well, you can always enjoy DJ Craze going wild on the video after the break (be advised, however, that the F-bomb drops about a gazillion times on the thing, so this might not be safe for your workplace). And while we're at it, if you own NI's Maschine, the 1.6 software that we first got a look at in early February is available: launch the NI Service Center app to upgrade.
Freescale partners with Savannah school for some leg-stretching tablet concepts, makes a nice use case for Light Peak
Normally when you've got industrial design students going wild on computer concepts, you get a lot of wild, unrealistic computer concepts. There's plenty of that here, but this 10 week collaboration between Freescale, some of its top partners, and Savannah College of Art and Design students is yielding a bit of fruit. We particularly like this docking tablet that can slot into different docks depending on use case -- the two primary ones shown being a home entertainment setup and a pro audio breakout. Sure, it's still not the most realistic way to use a tablet -- we'd much rather have solid support for 3rd party USB devices in the near term -- but with a bit of Light Peak and some as-ye-unseen pricing, this could make for some pretty slick use cases.
Pioneer's new CD deck and mixer feature MIDI integration, USB for external storage
If you're looking for a product designed to "transform novices" (that is, you) into "the next generation DJ" (that is, Sven Vath) you're in luck: Pioneer has just announced a CD deck / mixer combo that includes the usual compliment of features (looping capabilities, a visual beat display, BPM lock, so on, and so forth) as well as some computer-friendly touches, including MIDI integration -- allowing you to use either as a control surface for your fave DJ software. The CDJ will also play music off your thumb drive, and the mixer itself accepts external USB storage device for saving your mixes as WAV files. Sure, in our day all one needed were two turntables and a crossfader to rock the party -- but that was a long time ago, kids. The CDJ-350 and DJM-350 will be available in June 2010 for $850 and $750, respectively. We've only scratched the surface here, however -- peep the PR below for all the vital details.
Vivace portable music studio features multitouch interface, loads of style
It was not too long ago that we were lusting over OpenLabs' attempt to bring us a dedicated digital audio workstation as a single device, and now it looks like the ante's been upped yet again. Sure, the Vivace is but a mere concept at the moment, but designers Young-Shin Lee and Hae-Jin Jung clearly know what we want. This guy has the same form factor as a laptop, but instead of a keyboard features a second multi-touch display. On the downside, we can't imagine that playing a "keyboard" on a smooth surface would give one anywhere near the control of honest-to-goodness keys. But on the upside? This thing looks really, really sweet. Check out the gallery below for some more mouth-waterin' pics.[Via SlashGear]
Apogee Duet: BREAKOUT box simplifies connections
Generally speaking, folks who sprung for Apogee's Duet have been pleased with the performance, but as we learn each and every week, there's nothing that can't be improved upon. Take the Duet's factory breakout cable, for instance. Sure, it provides a plethora of connection options, but it also creates a rat's nest in no time flat. Thankfully, a few engineering souls decided to take matters into their own hands, create a much better alternative, and then offer the thing up for sale for the lazy folks (read: us) on the outside. The duet:BREAKOUT box provides one simple box-to-Duet connection, after which you can run XLR / 1/4" cables straight to the ultra-rugged accessory. Get yours now with 1/4" or RCA outputs for $100 apiece.
Alesis' ProTrack turns your iPod into portable digital recorder
Though not the first audio recorder we've seen to get buddy-buddy with Apple's darling for storage -- nor the first Alesis product to partner up with the iPod -- the ProTrack is still pretty swank in its own right. Hailed as a "professional handheld digital stereo recorder for iPod," this unit enables direct-to-iPod stereo digital recording for folks needing gobs of storage space. You'll find a pair of condenser microphones built-in along with twin XLR - 1/4-inch inputs for connecting external mics and line sources. Folks who can't locate an AC outlet can count on four to five hours of use from four AAA cells, but it should be noted that only select iPods (2G / 3G nanos, 5G iPods and the iPod classic) are supported. Look for this one to land in Q3 for a currently undisclosed price.[Via Brad Linder's Blog]
Teac's HD-R1 recorder stores audio on CompactFlash
Scouting a 1U, rackmountable two-channel audio recorder? What about a solid state version? If you just so happened to answer yes to the previous questions, Teac's got you covered. The outfit's HD-R1 Recorder relies on CompactFlash cards to store up to 24-bit / 48kHz PCM or MP3 files and can be controlled remotely via LAN or RS-232C. Additionally, the unit touts a USB port, mic preamps, phantom power, RCA, XLR, Euroblock and S/PDIF inputs, and the blue-backlit display is a nice touch, too. Teac has apparently been busy showing its new toy off at Inter BEE 2007, but those tempted by the above specs can secure their own for around $1,100.[Image courtesy of Sweetwater]
Apogee's Duet: pro audio at a mini size
If you've been in the market for a small, handsome, and high-quality portable audio recording solution, Apogee (makers of some of the finest AD/DA converters and interfaces in the industry) may have just what you're looking for. Say hello to the Duet, a two-channel, 24bit / 96kHz interface that should make your next field job or impromptu jam recording nothing but net. The Duet's breakout cable provides two phantom powered, XLR inputs, two unbalanced instrument inputs, and two unbalanced monitor outs; a headphone jack, multi-function knob, LED meters, and Firewire port (for getting the audio to your computer) are located on the unit. Apogee is known for its rugged, low-noise, high-performance audio tools, and the Duet is likely no exception -- despite the fact that the need for an interface this small is certainly up for debate. Available in September for $495.[Thanks, Tyler M]
Digidesign Pro Tools 7.3
Digidesign is now shipping Pro Tools 7.3, an update to the de facto standard in professional audio recording and mixing software. The new release delivers feature and speed enhancements for Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools LE, and Pro Tools M-Powered systems, and includes new music composition tools, customizable user enhancements, and improved post production workflows, This version is priced between $49 and $199 USD, depending on the package, but if you purchased and registered Pro Tools 7.2 on or after November 5, 2006, your upgrade is free. If you're new to Pro Tools, be sure to check the system requirements before you buy.
