Recording - April 2014 - 12

is aimed at both studio and field recording; and the ATH-M40x offers two detachable cables, swivelling earcups for one-ear and DJ use, and are tuned flat for accuracy. Look for reviews soon.
Avid (avid.com): Eleven Rack Editor (free) is a downloadable editing system
for the Eleven Rack audio interface/guitar DSP system. This allows users to
work seamlessly with Pro Tools 11, while offering a simple graphical interface
and standalone operation for use with other DAWs as well. Avid also
announced Sibelius 7.5 ($599.95, upgrades available), offering improvements in navigation, customized rhythmic feel on playback, better notation
interpretation, enhanced collaboration and sharing, and more.
Behringer (behringer.com): The new X-Touch universal control surfaces come
in three sizes: The X-Touch ($599.99) with 9 touch-sensitive faders, 8 LCD
scribble strips, 8 rotary controls, dedicated mixer and transport controls, a
time display, and built-in Ethernet, USB, and MIDI interfacing; the X-Touch
Compact ($399.99) with 9 touch-sensitive faders, 16 rotary controls, and a
variety of assignable buttons; and the X-Touch Mini ($99.99), with 8 rotary
controls, 16 buttons, and one 60 mm fader. Behringer also announced the
MOTÖR 49 and MOTÖR 61 USB control surface/keyboards ($249.99 and
$299.99), which feature motorized faders in addition to 8 rotary controls, 8
drum pads, transport controls, and more. The Nekkst monitor line added the
K6 monitor ($179.99 each) and K10S subwoofer ($249.99).
Benchmark (benchmarkmedia.com) announced small improvements to the
AHB2 stereo power amplifier premiered at AES ($2995), in response to initial
feedback from early users. Benchmark also gave showgoers a sneak peek at
prototype speakers, price and availability TBA.
Blue (bluemic.com): While the big push at the show was for the company's
new Mo-Fi line of headphones (details and pricing all still secret), there was a
glimpse of a new professional microphone: a small-diaphragm pencil condenser mic code-named "Hampton" (price and availability TBA). The prototypes on display under glass looked intriguing, with rotating capsules for easy
positioning in tight places. They will feature the B1 capsule used in other Blue
mics, and will come singly and in matched pairs with a stereo mount.
Cakewalk (cakewalk.com): SONAR X3 is now available in three versions,
depending on bundled plug-ins and content (SONAR X3 $99, SONAR X3
Studio $199, SONAR X3 Producer $499). The newest version of Cakewalk's
flagship DAW adds a new Comping workflow for quickly assembling takes
into clean and effective comp tracks; full VST3 support without the need for rescanning; improved organization and labeling; integrated publishing features
for SoundCloud and YouTube and integrated cloud backup/file transfer
through Gobbler; and many more virtual instruments and audio and MIDI
effects including plug-ins by Celemony, Applied Acoustics Systems, XLN Audio,
Tone2, Nomad Factory, Overloud, and more. Look for a review soon.
Chandler Limited (chandlerlimited.com): The TG2 500 (price and availability TBA)
is a 500 Series module version of the TG2 mic preamp/DI rack. It uses the same circuit, transistors, and transformers as the TG2, which itself was based on the famous
EMI 12428 preamp from the 1960s. It offers coarse and fine gain controls with up
to 60 dB of gain, switchable 300 and 1200 ohm input impedance, output control, phantom power, and phase invert, along
with the TG2's well-loved frequency response and warmth.
CME (cme-pro.com): The Xkey ($99.99), the innovative
USB MIDI keyboard reviewed in this issue, will soon be shipping in a variety of designer colors. We also got word of a
37-key version (price TBA) to be officially announced at the
Frankfurt Musik Messe around the time this issue sees print.
DPA Microphones (dpamicrophones.com): The new d:vote
Rock Touring Kits are neatly packaged sets of DPA's d:vote
4099 instrument mics, intended for miking anything from drum
kits to brass sections. The kits come with either four ($2499.95)
From top: Fender SLIDE; Focusrite iTrack Dock; Hotone Skyline pedals and
Nano Legacy amp; Avid Eleven Rack Editor and Sibelius 7.5
12

RECORDING April 2014

http://www.avid.com http://www.behringer.com http://www.benchmarkmedia.com http://www.bluemic.com http://www.cakewalk.com http://www.chandlerlimited.com http://www.cme-pro.com http://www.dpamicrophones.com

Recording - April 2014

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