Recording - January 2013 - 18

Sonic Farm Audio (sonicfarm.com) debuted the Creamliner ($2150), a 1U rackmount stereo line signal conditioner. It’s intended to warm up the sound of digital signals by running them through a dual Class A tube stage (pentode or triode) and a pair of transformers. The Creamliner is derived from the company’s flagship Creamer dual mic preamp ($2150, $2650 with extra line inputs for insertion into mastering signal chains). Sonnox (sonnox.com) was demonstrating version 2 of its Fraunhofer Pro-Codec ($499, free upgrade to registered users), which adds 64-bit support, Apple iTunes Plus codec, and realtime codec auditioning. Sony Creative Software (sonycreativesoft ware.com) demonstrated Sound Forge Pro Mac ($269.95 and up), the first Mac version of the famous waveform editor and audio processor. It includes up to 64bit/192 kHz audio recording, signal processing using plug-ins licensed from iZotope and Zplane, and a full suite of mastering tools. Also new at AES: SpectraLayers Pro ($374.95 and up), a Mac/PC audio processing/repair program with a wide variety of new tools for spectral editing and audio modification. Look for reviews soon. Sony Electronics (sony.com/proaudio) showed two new studio headphones, the MDR-7520 and MDR-7510 ($499.99 and $149.99). Both headphones offer 50 mm HD driver units, liquid crystal polymer film diaphragms on the MDR-7520 and PET diaphragms on the MDR-7510. The MDR-7520 features a lightweight magnesium alloy housing and noise-isolating earpad cushions. Sound Devices (sounddevices.com) had the AES debut of the 664 Production Mixer ($4595), a portable field mixer with six ultra-low-noise preamps (expandable to 12), built-in analog peak limiters on every input, four output buses, and up to 10 tracks of 24-bit audio recording to CompactFlash and/or SD cards with built-in time code generation. SoundToys (soundtoys.com) introduced the Radiator (price TBA), a plug-in based on the Altec 1567A tube mixer. The plug-in emulates the Altec’s bass and treble controls, has a wet/dry mix control for parallel processing, and a Noisy/Clean switch to emulate the Altec’s gritty sound and massive gain.

TC Electronic (tcelectronic.com) debuted the LM2 Radar Loudness Meter ($199), a stereo loudness metering plug-in that uses a rotating Radar Display to show history, short-term information, and peaks in an easy-to-understand format. It’s available in AAX, RTAS, and AudioSuite for Pro Tools, as well as VST for Mac and PC and Audio Units for Mac. A surround version, the LM6 ($599), also adds text-based log files. Telefunken (t-funk.com) displayed colorful new takes on its dynamic mics with custom Solid Colors for the M80, as well as a special M81 Reggae ($349) with custom paint scheme and decals. Also at the Telefunken booth: new matched stereo sets (with special 2-channel power supply) for the AR-51, AK-47 MkII, and CU-29 Copperhead, and a sneak peek at an intriguing kick drum mic prototype. Thermionic Culture (thermionicculture.com), British maker of tube based signal processors, is now distributed in the USA by Independent Audio (independent audio.com). The Thermionic booth featured the Nightingale ($3699), a dual mic pre and eq with a mono compressor in a unique 4U x half-rack format, and the new Solo Vulture ($1799), a single-channel version of the Culture Vulture tube distortion/audio enhancer with added distortion and filtering features. Vintage King Audio (vintageking.com) hosted a number of audio makers, including Shadow Hills Industries (shadowhillsindustries.com), which displayed the Mastering Compressor Class A VK Limited Edition ($8095), which adds an updated Class A discrete compressor section, Lundahl input transformers, and hand-wiring with Mogami cable. For those who may not have quite that much cash to spare, Universal Audio (uaudio.com) was at the Vintage King booth, providing information about the new Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor Plug-in ($299), licensed by Shadow Hills and created by brainworx, and the Precision K-Stereo Ambience Recovery Plug-in ($199) developed in collaboration with mastering engineer Bob Katz. Look for a review soon. Zynaptiq (zynaptiq.com; dist. by Eleven Dimensions Media, 11dmedia.com) demonstrated a new plug-in, PITCHMAP ($399), which analyzes polyphonic audio and shifts its pitches to nearby pitches on a fixed map (preset by hand or following a keyboard controller) in real time. In other words, play back a song recorded in C Major, hold down an F# Minor chord, instantly hear the song in F# Minor! A suitably miraculous end to a fascinating AES Show...!

From top: Slate Raven MTX, TC Electronic LM2 plug-in, Shure KSM9HS (as used and with grille removed), Sony MDR-7520, Sound Devices 664, Telefunken M81 Reggae
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RECORDING January 2013

http://www.sonicfarm.com http://www.tcelectronic.com http://www.sonnox.com http://www.t-funk.com http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com http://www.thermionicculture.com http://www.independentaudio.com http://www.independentaudio.com http://www.sony.com/proaudio http://www.vintageking.com http://www.shadowhillsindustries.com http://www.uaudio.com http://www.sounddevices.com http://www.zynaptiq.com http://www.11dmedia.com http://www.soundtoys.com

Recording - January 2013

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