VERY slow past week in pro audio. Even the really stupid non funny recording websites are scraping the bottom of the barrel. At one point I considered starting a turf war with one of the sites just to get some content on here but didn’t feel like making enemies… yet.

After a long drought of info, we get this. Two new EQs made from SM Audio. I don’t know much about the company but from what I see, they look affordable and promising.

SM Pro Audio introduces two  new solid and versatile pieces that combine multi-band graphic  equalization with lightning fast compression. Available in two models,  the CQ15 dual 15-band and the CQ31 single 31-band, the units deliver  precision control of multiple bands of equalization plus optical  compression, providing dynamics and EQ control in a single unit.

The CQ15 and CQ31 are ideally suited for a variety of applications,  including live and installed (more…)

Well if you too have that awful Beyonce song stuck in your head that so egregiously shares the same name as this mic, well, there’s nothing I can do for you because I’m in the same boat. Let’s hope they don’t use it on the add campaign.

Anyways Sontronics is known for making mics that perform at a much higher value than their price tag while at the same time somehow find a way to look classy. Well this mic appears no different, and on top of that, it seems to have a specific task… guitar cabinets. The best part is the design of putting the capsule shockmounted to the ring to stop from getting jarred by all of those guitarist flailing around on stage. Too bad it couldn’t save you from THIS guitarist.

Sontronics HALO is a dynamic microphone that has been specifically designed for guitarists.

Sontronics HALO Guitar Microphone The microphone features a dynamic capsule suspended in a circular frame, similar to the Sontronics SATURN and again, inspired by vintage radio mics of the 1940s.

The HALO is based on the technology found inside Sontronics’ STC-80 handheld dynamic mic, which gives great results on guitar amps and cabs as well as the vocals it was originally designed to handle. HALO reproduces all the bite, crunch and power that you want from a guitar amp but without needing to touch the EQ. What’s more, the springs that are built into the smart circular design help to isolate the mic from stage or floor vibrations.

This striking microphone has been designed and developed here in the UK by Sontronics’ founder and mic designer, Trevor Coley. “As a guitarist myself, I’ve always longed for something more (more…)

It’s crazy but when I turned 15, I didn’t give away a bunch of my pairs of JNCO jeans, Doc Martins, and Flannel shirts, yet IK Multimedia, in their infinite kindness turned 15 and is doing just that.

Remember when I said that IK does CRAZY promotions that allow you to get TONs of software at insane prices? Well today is your lucky day. Not only could you get a great deal on those two new T-RackS Singles, The Black 76 and the White 2A, but you could also win free stuff!! After reading that review I wrote on the two new T-RackS Singles, you shouldn’t be here reading this nonsense. You should be over there BUYING THEM. LOOK! This link goes RIGHT THERE.

IK Multimedia is proud to announce our 15th Anniversary Promotion. To celebrate this milestone, IK Multimedia is bringing you some amazing deals and giveaways from June 15 to September 15, 2011 as we celebrate this history of hard work and success with an unprecedented series of prizes and promotions.

15 FREE JamPoints™ to every Registered IK User
JamPoints are IK’s loyalty rewards system and are like $/€ that IK Users earn with every purchase to redeem as a discount on future purchases. During our (more…)

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” -Leonardo da Vinci

OK with that quoted by Waves, here’s my take:
“A simple plug-in bundle deserves a simple review”

Today we’re gonna look into the Waves One Knob Series Plug-ins. I’m gonna be honest about this one, I was actually somewhat excited about this bundle. Sometimes I just don’t feel like trying to dial in the perfect setting with EQ and Compression and want to just get it over with. With that being said, now for the bad news, and this might upset a few loyal readers: this is NOT the plug-in bundle for that.

Let’s start with the slogan for these.

The cure for tweak fatigue.
Mixing has never been this fast—or this much fun.

Mixing with these plug-ins are about as fun as letting your friend’s wife wax your “treasure trail.” I know these plug-ins are (more…)

Just look at that smug smile on the front of that box. That’s the smile of someone who knows what they’re doing behind a console. Mark Needham has a laundry list of artists he’s worked with and it’s very easy to see why ToonTrack tasked him with making presets for their stellar EZ Mix Plug-in. I personally own quite a few of the Toon Track EZ Drummer packs and this just might be the next in line of purchases. I mean, who wouldn’t want a software box with that sly fox’s grin on it?!!

Chris Isaak, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, The Killers, O.A.R., Fleetwood Mac, The Academy Is, Shakira, My Chemical Romance, Bruce Hornsby, Cobra Starship, Michelle Branch, Cake and John Hiatt. Even if you don’t know the name of the man responsible for mixing these artists’ albums, you certainly can’t deny his work and the fact that his recipe for making successful albums seems to work. Meet Mark Needham; producer, mix engineer and (more…)

It’s been a while since I’ve done a review so what better way to get back on the horse than with a review of IK Multimedia’s new T-RackS Singles, the Black 76 and the White 2A. The good folks at IK Multimedia generously gave me a first look at these two vintage style compressor plug-ins and at first I have to admit, I was skeptical.

You see, I can probably give you more than a few companies who have had a run at emulating these two compressors, so my question was, “Why take a run at something that’s been done so many times?” The answer might surprise you.

I did a review a while back on the T-RackS Singles I purchased (can be found HERE and HERE) and was very impressed with the level of character that each of the models presented. The thing I liked about all of these singles is that they tackled a few very tough compressor models as well as creating their own, all of which had their own flavor you can add to the mix. Since that review, I have moved up to the T-RackS Deluxe model and it only gets better from there. One of the benefits of buying the T-RackS bundles over the singles is (more…)

Now THIS is what I’m talking about. I’ve been waiting for this 500 Series rack to come out since I saw it, and they’ve made it even better by offering a model without the summing mixer. You can still put the mixer in later if you want, but this makes getting the workhorse a little more cost effective by allowing you to buy the summing mixer at a later date. Speaking of dates, I haven’t been on one in almost 2 years… True story

Radial Engineering Ltd. is pleased to announce the availability of the  stand-alone Workhorse WR8 500 series rack and optional WM8 8 channel summing  mixer.

According to Radial sales manager Steve McKay: “Our plan was to  start shipping the Workhorse into the North American market and then expand to  Europe after the product proved to be both stable and trouble-free. After  shipping hundreds, we are pleased to say (more…)

Ever heard a song and wish you could figure out what frequencies the engineer was boosting to get the mix? Me neither, because I know everything about audio engineering and could out mix Chris Lord Alge in my sleep. (Shifts eyes) But for the rest of us idiots (crap I blew my cover by including myself in the word idiots) there’s Quiztones. This app for iOS will train your ears using tones with frequencies boosted as well as loops to further your mixing skills.

Audiofile Engineering, creators of professional audio software for Mac OS X and iOS, have recently acquired Quiztones (http://quiztones.net), an ear training application for audio professionals and musicians, and released it as an App for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Quiztones founder Dan Comerchero joins Audiofile Engineering as a Product Manager.

Quiztones is designed to train the ears to instantly and intuitively recognize frequencies. This is useful for tasks like mixing, adjusting EQ settings, and identifying and eliminating feedback.

As musicians and audio professionals, we spend a great deal of time analyzing frequencies, whether we’re adjusting them for a good mix in the studio,  for  immediate  release (more…)

Oh look, another 1176, LA-2A compressor plug-in. Native Instruments decided that the Guitar Rig bundle needed some vintage flavor to it so they tasked one of the best analog emulation software companies in the biz, Softube to build these. Good move NI, good move.

Speaking of the 1176 and LA-2A, I’m actually working on a review as we speak of IK Multimedia’s versions of these two compressors. Maybe I can get my hands on these plug-ins and see how they do in comparison to the IK version.

Native Instruments has just introduced VINTAGE  COMPRESSORS, a set of faithfully modeled classic dynamic processors for  use in GUITAR RIG 4 and in the free GUITAR RIG PLAYER. Produced in  collaboration with DSP experts Softube, the collection comprises three  of the most distinctive and revered high-end studio compressors, and can  be used to creatively treat a comprehensive range of instruments and  sounds with the highest level of sonic fidelity and profound vintage charm.

VINTAGE COMPRESSORS is the first release in a new range of professional  studio effects based on the GUITAR RIG effects framework. Developed in  collaboration with (more…)

MORE Analog emulation. Waves have decided to tackle the daunting task of recreating another piece of analog gear. This time we’re looking at a very rare machine made out of an Ampex 350 transport with 351 electronics. This is similar to Magnetic, but offers extra effects like wow, flutter, and delay.

Wait… so you’re saying I can use this program to add wow and flutter THEN use Capstan to take the flutter out of a track. Studio owners, take note… This could add a few extra hours to the bill for the artist for “unexpected issues.” It’s like they say, “The customer is always a moron right.”

Developed in association with Eddie Kramer, the MPX Master Tape plugin is modeled on a rare machine consisting of an Ampex 350 transport and 351 electronics. With adjustable tape speed, bias, flux, wow & flutter, and noise parameters, the MPX provides comprehensive (more…)