Recording - December 2012 - 14

Enter (highest C) key, like MIDI Program Change (with MSB and LSB data if desired) or setting the Data Slider to a Control Change value other than the ones given on the keyboard (7, 10, 91, and 93—Volume, Pan, Reverb Depth, and Chorus Depth, respectively). You can send a particular CC data type with a specific value by typing in numbers for each followed by the Enter key, for example to send a MIDI CC 64 message of 0 to reset a Sustain pedal that’s gotten stuck. I don’t see many people using the Q49 this way as a matter of course; it takes up to nine keystrokes to send a MIDI message, and way more than that to send a Program Change with Bank Select, and doing that on a dimly lit stage would be a nightmare. It’s a nice function to have in an emergency, but a separate USB control surface would be preferable under almost any other circumstances. One other gripe: the octave buttons illuminate if active, but they don’t change color or flash to indicate how far away you are from no transposition at all.

looking of the two, with a sleek straight tubelike body with a wind screen recessed into its unibody design. It is available in two color schemes: Silver with a black grille or black with a red grille. Judging by a frequency graph, the Tempo appears to offer a tad more low-mid oomph.

I regard the advanced functions of the Q49 as being nice extras, not what you’d shell out money for; in this case you’re paying for a snappy and playable keyboard that talks directly to your DAW, and the Q49 fits that role with little fuss.—MM

MXL Tempo and Studio 1 Red Dot USB microphones
$79 and $99; www.mxlmics.com

I remember when USB microphones were little more than a novelty, and now there are dozens upon dozens to choose from, ranging from high-end models that come close to many of their non-USB counterparts to entry-level models useful for simple podcasting, video chats and more. One company with perhaps the most variations to choose from is MXL, and for this year’s Gift Guide I checked out a pair of MXL’s entry-level models, the Tempo and the Studio 1 Red Dot recording kit. Both microphones are large-diaphragm cardioid condensers with metal-finished bodies (aluminum for the Tempo, steel for the Studio 1 Red Dot) and metal grilles. Each model has an onboard mini headphone jack and a standard USB port in the base. Both also come with a small tripod mic stand and USB cable. Additionally, the Studio 1 Red Dot includes a hard-shell plastic carrying case. They both have a stated 40 Hz—20 kHz frequency response and offer 16-bit recording at both 44.1 and 48 kHz. Both models are compatible with Mac and PC, and since they use generic drivers, computer operating systems Microsoft XP and up and most of the recent Apple big-cat versons (including Mountain Lion, which I now use) should be fine. As to differences, they are largely cosmetic. The Tempo, which measures 1.85" X 7.5" and weighs 0.65 lbs, is the more modern
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RECORDING December 2012

The Studio One Red Dot is visually the more “MXL-ish” of the two and looks similar to many of their other mic models. It has a silver body with a black head basket that measures 1.85" x 6.89" and weighs in at 0.7 lbs. Its frequency plot shows it to be the smoother of the two. I used both microphones for quick acoustic guitar and vocal demos in GarageBand and Cubase, podcasting, a quick video voiceover, and I even used the Tempo with Apple’s Facetime app (like Skype) for a videoconference. In each instance they were solid performers with a good clean sound, and although their frequency plots show slight variation, it is minimal and each one is well suited for any of the abovementioned tasks. Which one is right for you will come down to looks, accessories and price.—PV

Unit Audio Micro-Unit Summing Box
$199; www.unitaudio.com

Analog summing devices have become quite popular in recent years. They are designed to return analog smoothness and depth to otherwise sterile sounding digitally summed DAW mixes. Typically boutique specialty items, they tend to come with

http://www.mxlmics.com http://www.unitaudio.com

Recording - December 2012

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