Recording - January 2010 - 9

Audio-Technica (www.audio-technica.com) emphasized the first public showing of its new ribbon microphones (see Fast Forward, November 2009), but also had one more new mic on display: the AT4047MP ($1055), a multipattern (omni/cardioid/figure-8) version of the well-established AT4047/SV mic design. Avenson Audio (www.avensonaudio.com) was on hand with prototypes of two new units (prices TBA): the Blend, a half-rack 2 x 2 mixer with crossfader and phase switch, and the Mid-Side, an M-S to stereo conversion box with Width and Side strength controls and highpass filtering on the Side signal. Benchmark Media Systems (www.benchmark media.com) showed the DAC1 HDR ($1895), a remote-controllable D/A converter with specialized USB interface and HPA2 headphone amp for reference-quality computer music playback. Chameleon Labs (www.chameleonlabs.com) premiered its new 7681 ($399), a 500-Series mic preamp with transformer-balanced input and output, impedance selector, and front-panel DI input. The CPS-501 ($199) is a powered chassis for a single 500-Series module, that can be racked horizontally, or vertically in a 9-space frame. Chandler Limited (www.chandlerlimited.com) showed the Little Devil 500-Series modules: the Compressor ($1050), a FET design with Zener and Germanium diode knees, sidechain filter, and analog metering; and the Equalizer ($1250), a 4-band English-style inductor-based unit with 2position Q on the mids and a 3-position low cut filter. Cloud Microphones (www.cloudmicrophones.com) offers ribbon mics built following procedures used for the original RCA ribbons, in collaboration with Stephen Sank, son of original RCA developer Jon R. Sank, but with modern enhancements. The first Cloud products are the JRS-34 ribbon mic ($1299 passive, $1499 active), and the Cloudlifter ($329), a 2-channel portable preamp/boost that safely converts any passive ribbon mic to a phantom-powered active design. Look for reviews soon. Coles Electroacoustics (distributed by Independent Audio, www.independent audio.com) showed its first-ever stereo mic, the 4050 (price TBA). This unique design features two ribbon mic elements, each with the Coles 4040 ribbon element, which can be used as mono mics or magnetically attached to an angleadjustable stereo mount. Dangerous Music (www.dangerous music.com) showed its first signal processor, the BAX EQ (price TBA). This is a 1U rack “tilt control” eq based on the P. J. Clockwise from facing page top: ADK CHI Studio 2 x 6 Tool Kit; Audio-Technica AT4047MP mic; Avenson Audio Mid-Side and Blend; BIAS PitchCraft EZ; Blue enCORE 100 and 200 mics; Benchmark DAC1 HDR; API 527 Compressor. RECORDING JANUARY 2010 BIAS (www.bias-inc.com) debuted PitchCraft EZ ($99), a VST/AU/RTAS plug-in for pitch and formant control. It marries the core technology of BIAS’s high-end PitchCraft plug-in to a simplified user interface. Blue (www.bluemic.com) premiered the enCORE Series of live mics: the dynamic enCORE 100 ($99.99), the enCORE 200 ($149.99) with Active Dynamic circuitry for low noise in a dynamic design, and the enCORE 300 ($199.99), with a hand-selected condenser capsule and tuned enclosure. Brainworx (www.brainworx-music.de) was showing version 2 of bx_digital ($495), its high-end eq plug-in with unique features like extensive M-S support and built-in mastering features. Look for a review in an upcoming issue. CAD Audio (www.cadaudio.com) was showing the Equitek E100S mic we premiered in the September 2009 Fast Forward, as well as new install-mic solutions from its Astatic division. Cakewalk (www.cakewalk.com) was at the show demonstrating its new SONAR 8.5 upgrade features (see the December 2009 Fast Forward for details). Cascade Microphones (www.cascademicrophones.com) featured the Fat Head II figure-8 ribbon mic, sold alone ($219) or paired in a case with shockmounts and a Blumlein-capable stereo positioning bar ($399, $699 with Lundahl output transformers).

http://www.audio-technica.com http://www.audio-technica.com http://www.avensonaudio.com http://www.avensonaudio.com http://www.www.benchmark http://www.benchmarkmedia.com http://www.media.com http://www.benchmarkmedia.com http://www.chameleonlabs.com http://www.chameleonlabs.com http://www.chandlerlimited.com http://www.chandlerlimited.com http://www.bias-inc.com http://www.bias-inc.com http://www.cloudmicrophones.com http://www.cloudmicrophones.com http://www.bluemic.com http://www.bluemic.com http://www.brainworx-music.de http://www.brainworx-music.de http://www.cadaudio.com http://www.cadaudio.com http://www.www.independent http://www.independentaudio.com http://www.audio.com http://www.independentaudio.com http://www.cakewalk.com http://www.cakewalk.com http://www.cascademicrophones.com http://www.cascademicrophones.com http://www.www.dangerous http://www.dangerousmusic.com http://www.music.com http://www.dangerousmusic.com

Recording - January 2010

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