Monthly Archives: April 2015

Computer Music - Software

FL Studio 12 Gets A Full Release

After being in beta for a number of months now, Fruity Loops 12 goes gold. With a host of updates to the engine, new features and being a free upgrade to owners of previous editions thanks to their free lifetime upgrade scheme.

 

Notable new features

  • Updated Editions with more value – FL Studio Fruity edition gains Automation Clips. Producer edition gains Sytrus & Maximus. Signature Bundle gains Harmless, Newtone, Gross Beat and Pitcher. Existing owners also get these great additions.
  • Vectorial UI – FL Studio is now 100% vectorial allowing it to be used on 4, 5 or even 8K monitors with pin-sharp fidelity.
  • Mixer – Completely redesigned mixer, dynamically resizable with 6 layout styles plus 3-user configurable docking panels (left, centre and right) for track management. Multi-fader selection and adjustment. Improved mixer track grouping. Multi-touch support. 10 FX slots per track. Many new multi-track routing automated options. Enhanced grouping and submix functions. The dedicated ‘Send’ channels have been replaced with general purpose send tracks and added to the overall track-pool.
  • Updated plugins – 3xOSC, Edison, Formula Controller, Peak Controller, Keyboard Controller gain vectorial UIs. Envelope Controller (8 articulators, Mod X/Y envelopes & vectorial UI), Send (can now send to any mixer track & vectorial UI), Hardcore (new tube distortion effect & convolution based cabinet simulation), Patcher (Plugins open outside patcher. Auto patcherizing of existing plugins & multi-touch support). Fruity Convolver new impulse library by Soundiron. Finally, the Channel Settings are now integrated into the Wrapper. ZGameEditor Visualizer – Loads all popular video formats and gains 4K+ rendering.
  • Piano roll – Time markers added for labelling and looping purposes. Auto-zoom can now be switched off in the General Settings. Stamp tool replaces chord tool and allows users to click in chords from a selector. Macro to find overlapping notes.
  • Playlist – Drop multiple stems or Audio Clips on the Playlist from any Windows file browser.
  • Browser – Improved layout with user configurable category tabs (name and icon). The default categories include Files, Plugins and Current Project providing key content at a glance. Improved file management with Right-click delete options for most content.
  • Multi-touch support – Multi-touch has been extended to Mixer functions, Channel settings and Control Surface. Swap between Windows Multi-touch and FL Studio Multi-touch modes.
  • Improved 32 & 64 Bit VST plugin support – The wrapper has been redesigned to improve stability and compatibility. The FL Studio Plugin scan tool now allows unlimited VST search locations and quick favoriting.

FL Studio @ Scan

Promotion & Exposure

Musical Geisha Nights : Manchester 27th April

Musical Geisha Nights : Manchester 27th April

 

For those of you who haven’t yet experienced the unadulterated joy that is a Geisha Night, then be advised, the next one is coming very soon!

Following on 3 years of successful networking events, Scan are pleased to confirm the 3rd Manchester Musical  Geisha evening to be  held at Blueprint  studios in Salford on April 27th.

There’ll be a bar, and a chance to look around one of the top studios in the North West, (This is where Elbow make their home when they’re not touring…)

blueprint-studios-ethos-630-80

For those of you in the know, these nights  are an exclusive ‘invitation only’ event that allows people from the Music industry to mix and network with others  with the aim of collaboration and education.

Rowena Morgan is the self-confessed ‘Musical Geisha’,  (She has a little black book full of incredibly important people’s  names and numbers)  and on Geisha nights she can be seen moving  effortlessly through the room, introducing writers to singers, and singers to managers, producers all in the spirit of collaboration. And it works. Very well in fact…..

If you feel you could benefit from an introduction to someone who could help move your career along, or indeed someone who could just answer your questions about the industry and how to get on, then why not contact Rowena at:

musicalgeisha@hotmail.com

RM Glam

Let her know who you are, who you’d like to meet, and why you think you should be there, and then wait and see if you get an invite!

Computer Music - Hardware

Tascam Releases The US-20×20 USB 3.0 Interface

Tascam US-20x20 Audio Interface

 

Just like buses, you wait so long for a high track count USB 3 interface and 2 come along at once. Following hot on the heels of last weeks Presonus Studio 192 interface, Tascam get in on the act with their new flagship interface in the shape of the US-20X20 USB 3 interface.

Utilizing a high-performance Blackfin processor, the US-20×20 offers an advanced DSP mixer including EQ, compression and reverb effects on each channel.  The inputs on the Tascam US-20×20 include eight Tascam Ultra-HDDA mic preamps have an equivalent input noise (EIN) of –125 dBu. And 20 dB of headroom on the microphone and line inputs allow to easily handle high SPL transients from percussion and instruments. With a total of eight XLR/TRS inputs, two TRS inputs, multi-channel digital inputs via S/PDIF coaxial, and optical digital connectors, a total of 20 simultaneous inputs is possible when operating at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz. As with the inputs, 20 simultaneous outputs is possible at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz utilizing the ten TRS outputs, S/PDIF coaxial and optical digital outputs. The optical input/output support S/MUX2 and S/MUX4 – required for high sampling rates. Using two US-20×20 and the optical digital connections, it is possible to configure a 16-microphone recording system.

The US-20×20 features mode switching which provides the options of using the US-20×20 as a standalone mic preamp, an audio interface, or as a mixer for sound reinforcement applications and complete connectivity to various types of audio equipment is achieved by utilizing the analogue inputs and outputs, digital input and output via coaxial and optical connectors, MIDI, and word clock BNC connectors.

Tascam US-20×20 Key Features

  • High-quality Ultra-HDDA (High Definition Discrete Architecture) microphone pre-amps with ultra-low noise (EIN: –125 dBu)
  • Recording at up to 192 kHz/24 bit
  • Support for Windows and Mac operating systems
  • USB 3.0 computer connection for 40-channel audio transmission at 44.1/48 kHz or 24-channel audio transmission at 176.4/192 kHz
    • 20 inputs/20 outputs available at 44.1/48 kHz/24 bit (10 analogue channels + 2 digital S/PDIF channels + 8 optical channels)
    • 16 inputs/16 outputs available at 88.2/96 kHz/24 bit (10 analogue channels + 2 digital S/PDIF channels + 4 S/MUX optical channels)
    • 12 inputs/12 outputs available at 176.4/192 kHz/24 bit (10 analogue channels + 2 digital S/PDIF channels)
  • Three selectable operation modes: audio interface, standalone micpreamp, digital mixer
  • DSP mixer with 4-band EQ and compression on each input channel (can be used in
  • Interface/Mixer mode)
  • Patch bay allows outputs to be assigned freely (can be used in Interface/Mixer mode)
  • DSP mixer settings can be stored in up to 10 scenes
  • USB Audio Compliance 2.0 for iPads and other iOS devices
  • Reverb effect can be added to the monitored audio
  • Low-latency monitoring via the DSP mixer

Inputs and outputs

  • Eight XLR/TRS combo jack analogue inputs with switchable phantom power (48 V)
  • Inputs 1 and 2 can be used for direct guitar input
  • Two TRS (balanced) inputs on rear panel
  • Input level range of 56 dB for using dynamic mics
  • Ten TRS (balanced) analogue outputs
  • TOS LINK optical digital multi-channel input and output (8 channels at 44.1/48 kHz, supporting S/MUX2 and S/MUX4)
  • S/PDIF coaxial digital input and output
  • BNC word clock input and output
  • Two standard TRS headphones outputs with 2 x 70 mW output power
  • MIDI input/output

Tascam US-20×20 Homepage

Tascam Audio Interfaces @ Scan

Equipment & Instruments

Tascam Releases The DP-24SD Digital Portastudio

Tascam DP-24SD Digital PortastudioFilling out it’s Portastudio range Tascams latest announcement brings us the DP-24SD portastudio which as you may expect from the name, sits in the middle of the range between the 8 channel and 32 channel models. The range offers a modern take on the classic portastudio concept, with this model offering 8 concurrent channels of recording inputs through a combination XLR and 6.3-mm combo jacks with a total of 24 recording tracks to work with in total.  This model also offers input processing including compression and limiting during the recording process, as well as guitar amp simulation and multi-effects for use with the instrument-level input.

Once recorded, tracks can be viewed on the large display and mixed with dedicated mixing controls like nineteen linear faders and a dozen channel strip encoders. Two mixdown effects including reverb and chorus are also available, as well as a mastering effect. Once finished, songs can be transferred to computer over USB for further processing or sharing with other people.

Tascam DP-24SD Key Features

  • 24-track digital Portastudio
  • 12 mono tracks + 6 stereo tracks, 19 faders
  • Simultaneous playback of 24 tracks
  • Simultaneous recording of 8 tracks
  • 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz sampling rate, 16 bit or 24 bit resolution
  • 8 XLR/TRS combo connectors for inputs
  • Phantom power supplied on all inputs (switchable A–D, E–H)
  • Instrument-level input for direct recording of guitar or bass
  • Inputs A–H and each track equipped with 3-band EQ
  • Colour LC display and 12-encoder channel strip for simple operation
  • Dedicated controls for EQ, pan and effect sends
  • Peak-hold function for level meters on display
  • 2 effect send outputs (6.3-mm TS jack)
  • Headphones output with 70 mW per channel
  • Remote connector for optional RC-3F footswitch to enable hands-free control of several functions
  • Automatic punch in/out
  • Track bounce function
  • 8 virtual tracks per track for alternative takes
  • Up to 99 locate marks per song
  • Various edit functions (copy insert, copy paste, move insert, move paste, open, cut, silence, clone track, clean out)
  • Editing on sub-frame level
  • Undo and Redo function with undo history
  • Dynamics effects for input (Limiter, Compressor, Noise Suppressor, Exciter)
  • Guitar multi-effects (Noise Suppression, Amp Simulation, Compression, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, Auto Wah, Delay)
  • Mix-down effects (Reverb, Delay, Stereo Chorus)
  • Mastering tools (Equalizer, Multi-band Compressor, Normalizer)
  • Chromatic tuner
  • Metronome
  • Solid-state recording to SD cards for better shock resistance than hard drive recording
  • SD card included

Tascam DP-24SD Homepage

Tascam Portastudio Products @ Scan

Equipment & Instruments

MunroSonic Crack Open the Egg100 Studio Monitors

MunroSonic Egg100

The MunroSonic Egg100 setup is the smaller version of acclaimed Egg150 monitor system, based around the same curved, infinite baffle design concept of its bigger brother, housed in a smaller shell with a four inch driver.

This new system has been designed for greatest accuracy in near-field conditions, taking into account the fact that it will be used on consoles or flat surfaces. The frequency response is continuously adjustable to allow for the bass loading that can add up to 6dB to the sound level. The bass port is angled and placed as low as possible to take advantage of this effect without phase error.

Near-field monitors should, by definition, remain unaffected by room size and acoustic conditions but this is rarely the case. Typically, small, rectangular cabinets and a horizontal focus plane create diffraction and reflections that interfere with both frequency and phase, both of which adversely affect stereo imaging and mix accuracy. The Egg100 has a variable tilt base that allows perfect adjustment of the upward angle of the listening axis, so avoiding interfering reflections from the mixing console or desk surface.

This has enabled Munro Sonic to make a supremely efficient speaker system – the phase coherent bass energy results in up to 6dB low frequency headroom – which means they pack a lot of punch for such small speakers.

Munro Sonic The Egg100 Key Features:

· Unique monocoque shell construction (rigid and resonant neutral)

· Near zero diffraction interference (smooth frequency response)

· No internal standing waves (greatly reduced smearing)

· Perfect bass port integration (superb transient response)

· Free standing control unit and integrated amplification with 3m matched speaker cables

· Volume Level control and LED headroom indicator

· Class-A headphone amplifier

· Custom-designed speaker holder for adjustable vertical alignment (allows for perfect sweet spot in both vertical and horizontal planes)

· Precision trim pots for bass (LF) and High Frequency (HF) calibration

The Munro Sonic The Egg100 Homepage

Munro Sonic Hardware @ Scan

 

Computer Music - Hardware

The PreSonus Studio 192 Interface

Presonus Studio 192

Offering up to 26 inputs and 32 outputs at 48kHz or 8 x 14 at 192 kHz simultaneously streams the Presonus Studio 192 could be an ideal solution for those wishing to mic, record and mix the whole band together. Offering 8 built in XMAX preamps with zero latency monitoring and the forthcoming option to expand your I/O by added a DigiMax DP88 8-preamp converter later in the year, this could be a stong contender in a section of the market which currently feels like it has a lack of options in the midrange that this interface is likely to target.

The Studio 192 is designed to be the central hub for any project or professional studio. The onboard Talkback mic can be routed to any mix and the onboard dim and mono options let you take control of your Main mix. Listen to any mix from either headphone amp. Use the ten balanced outputs for monitor mixing, speaker switching, or both, depending on how you work

Presonus Studio 192 rearControlling the Studio 192 you have the Presonus UC Surface control software with clients available for Windows, Mac and the Ipad allowing you quick and easy access to your recording and routing options no matter where you are in the studio.

The Presonus Studio 192 Homepage

Presonus Hardware @ Scan

Computer Music - Hardware

Universal Audio Announces Their Apollo Thunderbolt 2 Range

UAD Apollo Thunderbolt 2Another highend interface company with new goods to show off at Musikmesse is UAD with a number of Thunderbolt 2 updates to their range. Known for their co-processing abilities and great signal paths for recording, this refresh an upgrade to those superb convertors along with the ability to cascade upto 4 Apollo interfaces or 6 UAD devices total over Thunderbolt.

The are 4 different models with the following features:

Apollo 8
The Apollo 8 is shipping with both Duo and Quad processing options for your UAD powered plug ins. It features four Unison enabled mic preamps and Hi-Z inputs for tracking, complete with classic preamp emulations from Neve, API, and Universal Audio.

Apollo 8p
The Apollo 8p ships with a UAD quad processor and features eight Unison enabled mic preamps and Hi-Z inputs, allowing recordists to track larger through classic preamp emulations from Neve, API, and Universal Audio.

Apollo 16
The Apollo 8p ships with a UAD quad processor and features 16 x 16 analog I/O via DB-25 connectors making it ideal for pairing with mixing consoles and other dedicated outboard preamps.

Apollo FireWire
Lastly the Apollo FireWire which also ships with quad Processing allows systems running firewire to access the same features that are now available to Thunderbolt 2 users.

UAD Apollo Homepage

UAD Hardware @ Scan

Computer Music - Hardware, Equipment & Instruments

RME Babyface Pro, More Than Just a Remaster

RME releases always peek our interest here at Scan when they happen as they constantly appear at the top of benchmarking tables, meaning RME drivers are quite often the ones to beat when we do group testing. The Babyface range itself  have been the entry level introduction to the range for a good few years now, with a feature set that that makes them perfect for the home or on the move recording artist.

So with the news reaching us that they’ve released an upgrade to this workhorse interface and the claims that it isn’t just a remaster, rather a whole reengineered beast, well of course we’re going to be intrigued.

RME babyface pro front rightThe first thing that leaps out at you is the physical redesign of the RME Babyface Pro over its early version. The overall shape has been refined althrough it does keep it’s light, yet strong, aluminum case design but overall no big suprise here.

However if we take a look around the back of the RME Babyface Pro we see a different story altogether.

RME Babyface Pro RearThe original design had those connectors now found on the side, at the rear and the XLR and a number of other connections, hanging off a breakout cable from the rear of the unit. This meant that if you wanted a 2 in / 2 out on the road you could carry just the main interface, but if you wanted a balanced solution or a bit more I/O, then the only way to do so, was carry the breakout cable. Having checked the early discussions on this new design, it appears that some people love the removal of the breakout cable, where others are not so sure on the design of having cables plugged into 3 sides of the unit. Personally we’re liking the fact that without the breakout cable, its one less thing to forget or lose out on the road and feel that it only adds to the portability of the unit itself.

For monitoring purposes the RME Babyface Pro has twin headphone jacks come in both TRS and mini-jack form factors both with their own driver stages in order to offer better matching with both low and high impedence headphones. For audio going into the unit the two digitally controlled preamps provide individually switchable 48V ‘phantom power. These brand new circuits feature gain of up to 70 dB, adjustable in steps of 3 dB, plus a relay-driven PAD, resulting in exceptional EIN (Equivalent Input Noise) performance as well as line overload protection, and enough gain for even the lowest level microphones.

Finishing off the I/O options the feature set continues with an optical TOSLINK I/O; use as either an ADAT port with SMUX support or SPDIF for sessions up to 192 kHz. In combination with an external ADAT converter, the Babyface Pro fully supports 12 analog inputs as well as 12 outputs, making it ideal for both live and studio multi-track applications. You can plug any instrument, line or high impedance, into Babyface Pro’s jack inputs 3 & 4. Record your guitar on the go, with no additional hardware required. MIDI I/O via an included breakout cable completes the package.

Software wise the RME Babyface Pro ships with the RME ever superb Totalmix and we’re infromed the has been a convertor upgrade as well meaning an even better signal path on this version over the previous generation.

Lastly but no doubt pretty important for those users with an interface on the road, the RME Babyface Pro design almost never requires an external power supply, designed to run stable on the higher current USB 3 buss power found on most modern laptops and even most modern USB 2 ports, with no degradation in any technical specification.

RME Babyface Pro Connectivity

  • 12 Input and 12 Output channels
  • 4 x Analog Inputs (Mic, Line, Instrument)
  • 4 x Analog Outputs (2 x XLR, 2 x Phones)
  • 1 x ADAT I/O or 1 x SPDIF I/O optical
  • 1 x MIDI I/O
  • 1 x USB 2.0 (USB 3 compatible)
  • Digital Gain control on all inputs
  • Separate outputs for high and low impedance headphones

The RME Babyface Homepage

RME Hardware @ Scan

 

 

 

 

Equipment & Instruments

Roland Launches TD-25K and TD-25KV Electronic Kits

Roland TD-25K

 

Roland hasn’t just been focusing on synths at Musikmesse, they’ve also brought in some new midrange kits in their V-Drums range. A direct replacement for the T15 kit and centered around a new module as well as their well loved mesh-head pads these kits hav ethe same great expressive playability as the larger TD-30’s at a keener price.

The new TD-25 sound modual features behavior modeling inherited from the top-of-the-line TD-30 with sounds that respond organically to the player’s touch meaning that the TD-25 module provides the dynamic, interactive feel that’s essential for reaching the highest levels of musical expression. From rim shots, rolls, flams, and ghost notes on the snare to dramatic crash hits and sustained cymbal swells, every nuance is detailed, accurate, and ultra-smooth.

Additionally, the pads and cymbals in the TD-25KV and TD-25K kits offer the natural playability that have made V-Drums the top choice of pro drummers everywhere. Both kits include mesh-head pads for the snare and toms, providing exceptional feel and response. The TD-25 module supports positional sensing on the snare, and the PDX-100 10-inch snare pad is ideal for taking full advantage of this highly expressive feature.

The TD-25KV includes two PD-85BK 8-inch pads for rack toms and one PDX-100 10-inch pad for floor tom, while the more affordable TD-25K includes two PDX-6 6.5-inch pads for rack toms and one PDX-8 8-inch pad for floor tom. In addition, the TD-25KV comes with two CY-12C 12-inch crash cymbals, while the TD-25K includes one. Both kits also come with one CY-13R 13-inch ride cymbal. The cymbals offer a natural swinging motion and support chokes, bow/edge sounds on crash, and bow/edge/bell sounds on the ride.

Mounting on a standard acoustic hi-hat stand, the VH-11 V-Hi-Hat features up/down motion and bow/edge sounds for an authentic response. Rounding out the kits is the KD-9 Kick Pad, which provides a natural-feel cloth head and rock-solid playability.

To compliment its expressive sound engine, the TD-25 module includes a streamlined interface that makes it easy to select and adjust sounds. A large center dial allows users to quickly choose kits based on the music style they want to play, and sounds can be edited simply by striking a pad and using the module’s knobs to change instruments and adjust tuning, muffling, and levels. Toms can be edited as a group, greatly speeding up the process. Changes to kits are saved automatically, eliminating the need to fuss with extra steps.

The TD-25 module also includes many beneficial features for music practice. Users can play along with WAV and MP3 music tracks stored on USB memory, and songs can be slowed down or looped in specific areas to learn parts. It’s also possible to record drumming performances (along with music playback) as audio files to USB memory for evaluation and sharing. Additionally, users can develop their drumming skills with the convenient onboard Coach functions.

The TD-25 sound module is equipped with a USB host port as well, providing a convenient connection for recording audio and MIDI data directly into DAW software.

Very much the complete package at a midrange price point with the right features to help your drumming abilites grow.

Roland TD-25K Homepage

Roland Hardware @ Scan

Computer Music - Hardware, Equipment & Instruments

Akai Launches MIDImix DAW Controller

Akai MIDImix

Cheap, cheerful and potentially very handy, its a combination we all love and the Akai MIDImix controller threatens to do all that when it ships in a few months and could find itself appearing in a lot of setups.

Its an 8 channel mixer, 3 mapable knobs per channel and 2 buttons per channel with default 1 – 1 mapping to Ableton live out of the box.

That’s pretty much it. Simple, portable and a problem solver, all for around £60 when it launches, which is a price point we’re sure will help it find a home in many a studio and artists kit bags on the road.

Akai MIDImix Homepage

Akai Hardware @ Scan