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What we're buying: Steinberg UR22C audio interface
This week, Contributing Writer Marc DeAngelis tells us about his new Steinberg audio interface.
The best USB audio interface
By Al Griffin This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. For beginners looking to branch out into DIY recording, we recommend the Tascam US-2×2. After spending 30 hours researching the category, discussing key features with audio pros, and recording instrument and vocal samples on five models for evaluation by a panel of trained listeners, we chose the US-2×2 as our favorite. We found it to be the easiest model to work with, and setup in most cases is plug and play. It's also one of the more affordable two-channel USB audio interfaces on the market.
Steinberg CMC modular USB controllers, stack 'em how you want 'em (video)
The mere mention of the word modular is usually enough to get any self-respecting music geek hot under the collar, so when Steinberg announced its latest stackable collection of dedicated USB music production controllers, hardware fans will have felt a collective twitch of excitement. Specifically built for its much loved Cubase and Nuendo programs, each of the six units has its own speciality, and has been designed to let you get your tactile funk on, be it mixing melodies or mashing in beats. Plonk up to nine of these sleek, luminous lovelies on your desk for the music control surface of your dreams, but with no mention of price just yet, you might want to keep the plastic wrapped up until they hit the stores in October. Ogle the video after the break for the full company promo.
Sony underestimated 80GB PS3 demand
Sony America VP of marketing, Scott Steinberg, admits in an extensive interview with GameDaily that the company underestimated the demand for the 80GB PS3. He says the $100 extra for the 80GB model at $499 didn't seem "that big of a deal" to certain consumers. Beyond the price and obvious drive space difference, the 80GB enjoys backwards compatibility with many PS2 games, which the 40GB does not.Steinberg states Sony is replenishing the marketplace with the 80GB model and expects to see "mass market appeal" from the upcoming $500 Metal Gear Solid bundle. At a minimum, expect one significant change in future PS3 models with the Sixaxis being tossed out and the DualShock 3 becoming the new hotness.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Sony exec. downplays Xbox 360 GTA IV DLC
Scott Steinberg, VP of product marketing at Sony America, isn't concerned about Microsoft's exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV content. Speaking with GameDaily, Steinberg believes anyone who's played GTA: San Andreas knows there's plenty to do in a GTA game without adding extra content, but he really drives the point home with a zinger saying Microsoft "spent the GNP of several small Latin American countries to get that [content]."Steinberg surmises that not a huge percentage of customers are going to jump for the downloadable content when GTA IV is so huge and they're still playing through the core game. He also contends that consumers who are still fence sitting about purchasing a console will want a PS3 after noticing that GTA IV, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue are all on PS3.
SCEA's Steinberg: Sony will lead the way
Scott Steinberg, SCEA VP of product marketing, had a lot of aggressively frank comments to say in an interview with Next Generation. In fact, he comes off quite arrogant, taking pundit jabs at his company's competitors; however, we actually love this no-holds-barred, non-political, cocky confidence that he displays. It's refreshing to hear such unabashed statements such as "[Our] focus and dedication is unparalleled with any other first party company. Our first-party games will lead the way."It appears that Steinberg's confidence stems from the PS3's strong holiday sales, and then the ending of the format wars. He says now that the "Berlin Wall" of HD-DVD is torn down, they can focus on one less front and work on pushing the company's 2008 line-up of new IP and "comfort food IP." Yes, he actually used the terms "Berlin Wall" and "comfort food IP."He no doubt symbolizes SCEA's high spirit and rightfully so as he brings out some very good points. Take this one for example, "In the years ahead our games will begin to distance themselves from other next-gen games ... you'll see games begin to tip the scale at thirty gigs, forty gigs, fifty gigs. You can't possibly fit that on HD-DVD unless you want to do the old floppy disk swaps of years past." This is especially a good point since the PS3 will stick in the game for the long run with plans to last ten years. "The pendulum is swinging," he said referring to developers who once worked on the Xbox 360 and ported to the PS3; he believes there is going to be a huge reversal of this dev ritual. In the end, he believes consumers will naturally see the PS3's advantages and will make the right choice when he says, "Once Grand Theft Auto ships on the platform I think you'll see those folks on the side line saying 'I don't want to get stuck with the wrong one. I'm a PlayStation fan. I waited out the HD-DVD thing and I listened to a lot of misinformation. Now I don't need to wait.' There are lots of reasons to jump in, and PS3's by far the strongest choice."
Strong PS3 sales might mean more consistent price level
Now that the latest PS3 price drop has finally kick-started the system's position in the sales race, Sony seems to have come to the logical conclusion that further price drops probably aren't an immediate necessity.Talking to Reuters, SCEA VP of Marketing Scott Steinberg said Sony was surprised to see a rough parity between sales of the $500 and $400 PS3 models since the November price drops. According the Steinberg, that suggests "the hard-core gamer is not afraid to throw another $100 at the PlayStation 3," and that the pricing pressure many analysts predicted has not materialized. While Steinberg said the company was "studying what this means for the potential roadmap for the year," the clear implication seems to be that the company is happy with the system's current pricing ... at least for the time beingSteinberg also seems bullish on the PS3's future in light of the success of Blu-ray in the HD movie format wars. "The year of the PlayStation 3 started in fall 2007," he said. "I think it will be an extended year, we are feeling positive momentum."
Dr. Phil talks Manhunt, but Steinberg steals the show
We're totally enjoying CBS' coverage of Manhunt 2. After Katie Couric's eye-roll inducing Notebook entry two days ago, the odiously designed CBS.com site bubbles up a clip of Dr. Phil with Early Show host Harry Smith and journalist Scott Steinberg. We're sorry, but just try not to laugh as Smith introduces Dr. Phil to the show and Steinberg starts flailing the Wiimote trying to execute the guy on screen. Of course, you'll have to go to CBS.com to watch it. We're sorry, but the networks haven't discovered the basics of embeddable code.Dr. Phil is far more careful here then the last time he talked about video game violence's effect on children during the Virginia Tech massacre -- probably because his hypothesis was dead wrong last time and he looked like a total (insult of choice goes here). Dr. Phil says about Manhunt 2, "Now the truth is, if somebody plays this game and then they go and do this in their life, there was something seriously wrong with them before they got the game. But it's modeling." We'd prefer if the mainstream media did a simple PSA and told parents not to let their children play M-rated games instead of all this fear mongering.[Via GamePolitics]
Sega's Scott Steinberg cheers on Sony
In an interview with Game Daily.biz, Sega of America's VP of Marketing recently spoke on the company's next-gen approach, and more importantly to you fine readers, just how awesome the PS3 is going to be. Of course they talked about the price, but more interesting were Scott's views on Sony's success depending on both the company's ability to market their console to gamers, but also to get the Blu-ray player to non-gamers alike, driving up appeal to consumers who are interested in electronics, yet may not be the biggest game-lovers around. Scott also goes on to discuss his company's recent acquisitions of Creative Assembly and Sports Interactive.
