Recording - April 2012 - 11

(one full featured and one compact) that attach to computers; and the iPad-friendly MPC Fly (price TBA). Alesis premiered the Vortex ($249 street), a USB/MIDI keytar with 37 keys, 8 pads, a variety of control surfaces, and an accelerometer that translates lifting the instrument’s neck into a control signal; and the AmpDock ($499), an iPad cradle with foot controller that turns an iPad into a guitar effects pedalboard. Alto showed a prototype of the MasterLink Live (price TBA), an analog/digital live mixer with a dock for an iPad running an app called LiveDrive for signal processing, metering, analysis, and recording. American Music & Sound (americanmusicand sound.com) showed new products from many of the lines it distributes. Allen & Heath (allen-heath.com/ US) showed the new Zed-16FX and Zed-18 USBenabled mixers ($599 and up); beyerdynamic (beyerdynamic.com) announced 88th Anniversary versions of the M 88 TG microphone and DT 770 PRO headphones (prices TBA); and Studiologic (studiologic-music.com), best known for keyboards like the new NumaCompact 88-key piano/controller, showed the Sledge (price TBA), a new keyboard synthesizer based on analog modeling by Waldorf. Aphex (aphex.com) showed the HeadPod 4 ($249), a new 4-channel headphone amplifier with analog balanced and unbalanced plus S/PDIF digital inputs, and the EX•BB 500 ($299), a 500 Series module of the famous Aural Exciter with Big Bottom. API (apiaudio.com) was showing its Channel Strip ($2995), with 512C mic preamp, 550a equalizer, 527 compressor, and 325 line driver. Look for a review soon.

ART (artproaudio.com) showed the Pro Channel II tube-based channel strip ($379) and Project Series additions ($79 and up) mentioned in detail in our February 2012 Fast Forward; also new at the show is the Dual RDB ($99), a 2-channel reamping box that converts balanced line-level signals on XLR or TRS to XLR or Hi-Z 1/4" outputs. It includes variable level controls and dual isolation transformers to prevent ground loops. Arturia (arturia.com) debuted the MiniBrute ($549), a true analog hardware synthesizer with the multimode filter from the legendary Steiner-Parker Synthacon and modern touches like USB connectivity and unusual oscillator choices like Ultrasaw and Metalizer. Also new from Arturia: Oberheim SEM V ($249), a virtual version of the Oberheim Synthesizer Expander Module (with 8-Voice Programmer and Keyboard Follow) that adds new features like polyphony, MIDI, arpeggiation, and new modulation routings.

Audio-Technica (audio-technica.com) celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a huge party at the show, and released a line of seven commemorative products with special finishes and artwork. Of particular note: the ATM25/LE ($489), a reissue of the legendary ATM25 hypercardioid dynamic instrument mic well-suited to kick, toms, and other high-SPL instruments; and the AT4050URUSHI ($2495), a special model of the AT4050 multi-pattern large-diaphragm condenser mic with an urushi lacquer finish and hand-painted Japanese maple leaf decorations. Also new: the AT2005USB ($149), a cardioid dynamic mic that can be used with either an XLR or USB connection. Audix (audixusa.com) showed the TM1 Plus measurement mic kit detailed in the February 2012 Fast Forward ($450). Auralex Acoustics (www.auralex.com) premiered the new ProMAX Panels ($549.99), flexible absorption panels mounted on collapsible stands that have many uses, from creating portable iso booths to tuning a drum kit’s room sound. Coming soon: The SuperMat drummer’s rug and HoverDeck Lite portable drum riser (prices TBA), which decouple a drum kit from the stage or floor and minimize resonances that rob it of tone and power.

Apogee Electronics (apogeedigital.com) announced an interface card that will connect Symphony I/O and XSymphony equipped Apogee converters to Thunderbolt devices (price and availability TBA). Also new: a 16x16 Analog I/O Module for the Symphony I/O ($3495), with analog inputs and outputs on 25-pin D-SUB connectors, plus stereo coaxial S/PDIF, and an 8-channel Mic Preamp Module ($1995) with 8 inserts and 4 Hi-Z instrument inputs.

Behringer (behringer.com): The UFX1204 (price TBA) and UFX1604 ($1599.99) are the two newest XENYX 4-bus mixers, with a built-in 16x4 USB/FireWire audio interface and the ability Clockwise from top right: Aphex HeadPod 4 and EX•BB 500; Audio-Technica ATM25/LE and AT4050URUSHI; Arturia MiniBrute and Oberheim SEM V; Alesis Vortex, Akai MAX49 and MPC Fly; 2box Drumit Five

RECORDING APRIL 2012

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http://www.artproaudio.com http://www.arturia.com http://www.americanmusicandsound.com http://www.americanmusicandsound.com http://www.allen-heath.com/ http://www.allen-heath.com/ http://www.beyerdynamic.com http://www.studiologic-music.com http://www.studiologic-music.com http://www.aphex.com http://www.audio-technica.com http://www.apiaudio.com http://www.audixusa.com http://www.auralex.com http://www.apogeedigital.com http://www.behringer.com

Recording - April 2012

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