Once again, the guys at Native Instruments have updated one of my favorite rhythm sequencing programs. They even have new controllers coming out that feature something I’ve wanted since I bought it, color changing buttons. Now you can make your snares blue, your hats red, and your kicks pink (you know, because a good kick drum gets ladies). The new update even comes with Massive, Native instruments flagship synth program AND the Transient Master.

The free MASCHINE 1.8 update is now available. Workflow enhancements and new effects like TRANSIENT MASTER and time stretch add new flexibility to your MASCHINE projects. And starting with MASCHINE 1.8, all MASCHINE owners also get the legendary MASSIVE for free*, adding powerful synthesis to the premier groove production studio.

The MASCHINE 1.8 update is compatible with all versions of MASCHINE and MASCHINE MIKRO, not only the new MK2 hardware. Open the Native Instruments Service Center now to download and install your free update.

For more info, and to buy Maschine or preorder the new controller, click HERE.

Focusrite is at it again, catering to the portable market with two new interfaces. First we have the Forte, which is an impressive 2 in 4 out USB interface for Windows and Mac. What I’m curious about is the preamps they adopted from the RedNet series. I really want to hear those. Next we have the iTrack Solo, which is built exclusively for iPad. I haven’t quite got into the notion of recording on an ipad yet. I love using the iPad as a Pro Tools controller when I’m away from the desk, but just like the generation before me that didn’t like using a mouse, I’m stuck in my ways.

Focusrite Forte is a professional 2 in, 4 out portable USB audio interface for Mac and Windows, designed to deliver analogue sources to your DAW at the highest possible quality. It features two remote-controlled mic preamps with the unrivalled sound quality you would expect from Focusrite. Forte partners these with superb digital conversion at up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution. Built into a solid aluminium case, Forte features a colour OLED display, touch controls and a single large control knob for intuitive operation, with DAW integration transforming it into a control interface.

iTrack Solo brings Focusrite’s expertise in pre-amp design and digital conversion to an audio interface designed specifically for iPad – it’s also fully compatible with Mac and PC computers. It has separate microphone and instrument inputs as well as stereo outs and a headphone output. iTrack Solo also features gain-halo level indicators which glow green on a healthy input and red on a hot signal.

I’m not sure on prices yet but both of these products look very promising. I’ll keep you up to date as prices unfold.
For more info, click HERE and HERE.

Would you like complete control over the entire dynamic shaping of a signal? Who wouldn’t? Due to the insane popularity of the 500 series version of Elysia’s Nvelope 500 Series unit, our good friends at this ground breaking company have once again heard our requests and answered. Now you can bring home the astonishingly powerful dynamics processor, without having a 500 Series rack. (But seriously, you probably should get a rack soon). These guys have somehow taken intricate dynamic sculpting tools and put them in a format that almost anyone can use. So now there’s no excuse for you not to own one of these. Need more convincing? Here’s a video.

High-end studio processor manufacturer elysia is pleased to announce the release of a rack version of their successful nvelope impulse shaper. This stereo dynamics processor is capable of making subtle or drastic changes to a sound by altering its impulse structure, providing direct control over the envelope of a signal by shaping the intensity of its attack and sustain.

It is primarily intended to shape individual signals, but it can also be useful while mixing, as it can subtly shift a sound towards the front of a mix using more attack and less sustain, or blend it gently into the background by reducing its attack and increasing its sustain.  Another powerful and unique feature of the nvelope is the enhanced tweakability offered in Dual Band mode.  Individual frequency controls for attack and sustain yield precise results while avoiding unwanted artifacts, even when utilized on complex material like a summing bus.

“Since releasing the 500 series nvelope in May 2012, we’ve had quite a few requests for a stand-alone version”, says elysia co-founder Dominik Klassen. “Consequently, we expect the rack version to be very well received.”

The nvelope offers true dual mono or linked stereo operation in Full Range, Dual Band or EQ mode. It is made in Germany exclusively using top quality components, gold plated PCBs, a rugged 4mm aluminum front panel and solid aluminum knobs.

I love what these guys put out. I’ve even featured a review on the Plug-In version of the Elysia Alpha HERE. It made number 3 of EverythingRecording’s top 10 of 2010.  I use this plug-in on every mastering session I do, so I can only imagine what a hardware dynamics processor with their name bears.

Price: It is available immediately at $1679 MSRP ($1499 MAP).
For more info, click HERE.

Do you have a dollar I can borrow because I suck at geometry? I want this App but spent all of my money on Apps that make fart sounds (worth it). This is actually good use of an iPhone because even using the eyeball method to get your speakers lined up can have flaws. This App uses your phone to determine the right angle for the sweet spot.

Genelec, the world’s longstanding pioneer in active monitoring, is proud to present the SpeakerAngle app for iOS devices, the first digital tool which allows anyone to correctly set and match the angling (“toe-in”) of both stereo and 7.1 surround sound speakers, helping to ensure optimum audio fidelity. Easy and intuitive to use, SpeakerAngle was co-developed by Genelec and AudioApps (a new mobile apps company) and is compatible with iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later and iPhone Touch 4th Generation and later. SpeakerAngle is available now at the iTunes App Store , at a price of just 99 cents.

In the app, dedicated onscreen speaker icons move as the actual speaker is rotated, while number boxes below each speaker icon continuously display the angle of the speaker. The number boxes also change color to let users know when their speaker is angled within industry recommendations, and when it is angled to the same degree as the other one in the pair (i.e. left and right in stereo systems; front left / front right, rear left / rear right and side left / side right in 7.1 surround systems). Detailed information screens provide a tutorial on speaker angling, as well as step-by-step instructions for using SpeakerAngle.

Not a bad idea right? Now.. back to my fart Apps

In continuation of a bunch of people on Gear Slutz having both positive and verbose feedback (Gotta love those guys though!) Tech Breakfast has pulled Evil Joe Barresi out of his lair of Kit Kats and back in front of a camera to both show off his collection of insane gear AND show all of us mortals how it’s done in the mix. I actually bought the Tracking Rock video and loved it. Sure he isn’t a man of many words and just does what he does, but if you pay attention enough to the subtleties , you can get a great deal of insight from him. Personally, he reminds me of my dad. When I was about 11, I walked over to my dad and said, “I want to learn to play guitar.” He walked over to his guitar case, pulled the guitar out, handed it to me and said “Good Luck.” Joe basically hands you the tools and even gives you exact signal chain. You have to learn the rest.

FINALLY, Looks like Analog Laboratory might be replaced in my soft synth arsenal. Modeled after one of the most prized synths of all time and very hard to access even in its hay day. This unit was actually the precursor to the soft synth, basically the first synth to employ a computer to run the program, this synth still goes for $100,000 and is extremely rare. Well now the masses get to experience it in its full glory with UVI’s Darklight IIx.

UVI is very pleased to present Darklight IIx, a brand-new UVIinstrument inspired by one of the most mythical Computer Music Instrument of the 80?s.

Costing upwards of $100 000, the desirable dream machine of the 80?s was unattainable by most.

Used by countless prominent artists, including Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Kate Bush, Herbie Hancock, Jean Michel Jarre, Thomas Dolby and many more, it remains a highly regarded and sought after instrument. We took our obsession to the next level, creating a complete set of instruments, sounds and sonic tools deeply inspired by the original digital monster. A unique, hybrid process of exhaustive multi-sampling, analysis, and advanced scripts for audio processing allowed us to not only capture the original character of this machine but to enhance its ability with a host of today’s most powerful analog modeled filters, LFOs, envelopes and effects–packaged beautifully in an old-school interface.

I could NOT be more excited about this synth and it’s available now so go get it!

Price: $199 You need UVI Workstation of Mach5 Ver 3 to run it.

For more info, click HERE

Tone2 has quickly started offering new sound sets for their stellar synth Saurus. This package focuses on more vintage analog sounds. And even some of my sources hint that there will be a modern soundset coming sometime in the future as well. This package however gives us alot of the “days of yore” synth emulations like the Jupiter and Moog.

Taking you on a journey through an analog world, the Analog soundset digs deeper into Saurus’
offerings with a strong emphasis on authentic vintage sounds.

A collection of 200 classic synth sounds including emulations of the Moog, Oberheim, Jupiter,
Arp Solina, Clavinet and many others that suit almost every style of Electronic music.
Let Analog take you back to a time when these machines were at the center of every studio and
now be the source for your creative productions

Enjoy its warm strings, expressive brass, dirty leads, squelchy basses, screaming synths, vibrant
pads and just let it inspire you.

 

I have already reviewed Saurus (HERE) AND there is a contest to see who can make the best track with Saurus presets.

Price for soundset: $49.00
For more info, click HERE

Look guys! Everyone’s favorite in-studio friend has come back with more tricks! Technical Grammy award winning Celemony (in reality every vocalist should share their Grammy with them as well) has updated its critically acclaimed pitch and time editing software to Version 2.1 for Editor, Essentials, and Assistant. This update comes with a few performance enhancing features as well as some visual toys to make correcting self absorbed obliviously untalented a little more enjoyable.

In addition to Melodyne’s pitch correction, which is used and valued all over the world, Melodyne editor offers additional editing functions that make day-to-day music production simpler and inspire users to greater heights of creativity in their handling of audio. Released at the end of last year, Version 2 brought extended timing tools, comprehensive scale functions and – like the smaller editions – Rewire support. With Version 2.1, Celemony has now introduced further improvements from which all three editions benefit.

Version 2.1 brings workflow improvements, including a new zoom function and an intelligent compare function in ARA mode. Other improvements result in enhanced reliability and performance. These include the ability to reduce the maximum number of undo steps in order to reduce RAM consumption. A variety of bug fixes enhance both stability and compatibility: the program’s interaction, for example, with Cakewalk Sonar and Presonus Studio One. The update from Version 2.0 to Version 2.1 is free of charge and recommended to all users.

You may remember in THIS review that I stated one of my complaints was that Reason didn’t allow plug-ins. Well they’ve sorta listened and have now started allowing developers to make plug-ins that go with their program. This ensures that each “rack extention” you get is up to spec with Propellerhead’s meticulous standards of sonic perfection. You know what… I actually can get behind this. How many times have you bought a program, and it completely ruin your DAW? COUGH… COUGH (Analog Laboratory). Well Reason is allowing people to take a swing at making great versions of synths and processing for their DAW. It’s a proud time for this site that I single-handedly am responsible for a HUGE decision like this. Sure its delusional and probably wrong, but I want this win.

Introducing the first active ribbon mic! Cascade is world renown in many home and professional studios for it’s award winning Fat Head ribbon mic, and now they’ve stepped it up a notch with the Fat Head 2 Active / Passive. No more worrying about the what if’s of phantom power with your ribbon mics. You also get alot more gain, making those higher dB ribbon pres a thing of the past. These ALSO come stock with Lundahl transformers.

Phantom-powered Active electronics provide stable impedance and higher output for maximum compatibility with microphone preamplifiers

Passive mode provides the option for use with a high-gain preamp (where extra gain is not needed)

Smooth, warm and natural voicing for instrument reproduction High-SPL capability and extended frequency response

High sensitivity and low self-noise

This microphone is perfect for use on a wide range of instruments (guitar cabs, vocals, strings, horns drum overheads, orchestras and more) and live-stage settings.

Active or Passive mode is activated by a simple flick-of-a-switch Active electronics are designed, manufactured and fitted in the USA

Versatility, compatibility with the widest range of mic preamps, we have also made the active gain stage internally switchable, so that you can bypass the active gain stage, using a high quality switch with gold contacts.

Stock with a Lundahl LL2913 transformer

ACTIVE/PASSIVE switch is mounted internally for safety (caution should be used when engaging the Active switch, an additional 25db of gain will be added to the signal path)

Each Includes:
Active/Passive ribbon microphone
Heavy Duty Aluminum case
Padded storage pouch
Premium suspension mount
Micro-fiber cleaning cloth
Drawcord cloth storage pouch
Your choice of Silver Body/Nickel Grill or Black Body/Nickel Grill

And right now you can get one Fat Head 2 Active Passive at a great introductory price of $599.00 AND get a free pop filter.
OR
Buy two for $1198.00 and get a free Blumlein bar.

For more info and to buy, Click HERE