EDINBURGH, UK: having ‘softly’ set out its software stall late last year with a low-key launch of STRING MURMURATIONS that saw decades of award-winning experience in the music tech sector and at the composing coalface distilled into an easy-to-use, intuitive, and comprehensive sample-based virtual instrument plug-in and GUI (Graphical User Interface) introducing the cutting-edge concept of Gestures (whereby an orchestra interpreting its user’s composition and making it into music and art lies behind every key played), music-making community tools-maker The Crow Hill Company is proud to announce availability of SMALL STRING GESTURES as the latest incarnation of that concept — creating a set of tools where individual instruments and the playing style, strengths, and frailties of the intimate interpretative (3, 3, 3, 3) band behind each key are available for the user to dial up the personality of their composition, created from a collection of master recordings that have been mixed and edited into a sample-based virtual instrument plug-in with a GUI and preset browser that are as easy on the eye as they are in use — as of January 26…
An armada of strings can create awe — an epic tidal wave of human emotion, of scale, of wonder. While STRING MURMURATIONS makes it easy and intuitive to make music that sounds human thanks to three
distinct palettes of expressions, each designed to feel like the user is collaborating with an orchestra of real musicians, creating endless harmonic possibilities that inspire from the moment a key is touched, sometimes music-makers need it to be intimate, truthful, personal, human — hence The Crow Hill Company creating SMALL STRING GESTURES as a set of tools where individual instruments and the playing style, strengths, and frailties of the instrumentalists involved are available for the user to dial up the personality of their composition. Cue humanity, in other words.
With this in mind, The Crow Hill Company specifically selected a 3, 3, 3, 3 — three Violin 1, three Violin 2, three Violas, and three Cellos — band size that ensured its sampling style brought every individual within that ensemble into beautifully detailed and intimate focus for SMALL STRING GESTURES. This toolset is provided with a different lens and aperture to play through.
The Crow Hill Company collectively likes to keep things moving, so while this latest incarnation of its Gestures concept is very much related to one of those distinct palettes of expression available in STRING MURMURATIONS, it is worth highlighting hysteresis — dictionary-defined as the phenomenon in which the value of a physical property lags behind changes in the effect causing it, such as when magnetic induction lags behind the magnetizing force, for instance — in relation to SMALL STRING GESTURES. Getting in on the act of creating sample libraries involves always asking the instrumentalists involved to perform musical material that is incredibly easy to play in order for the end result to always be ‘together’. That is fine for programming or composing simple stuff since that would sound true to real life, but it becomes harder, however, for players to remain totally locked to each other’s tuning or timekeeping when playing more difficult passages. Pure sound becomes more problematic as a result — reduced fundamental meaning more character, which is why a lot of sample-based music used in films, games, and TV sounds ‘characterless’. Clearly the samples involved therein lack hysteresis as they were easy to play, yet playing something difficult with them does not sound natural, real, or human. Indeed, it is fair to say that what makes musicians ‘hysterical’ is speed — faster playing means looser playing that is less in time and also less in tune; reach — the wider the gap between the notes, the further they have to reach, resulting in less perfectly in tune playing; and pitch — the higher a player plays, the harder it becomes as it involves more intense accuracy from string players performing on fretless instruments.
It is for this reason that The Crow Hill Company decided to get its players to perform the hard stuff — not compositions, but mere fragments, which is why anyone working with SMALL STRING GESTURES will not feel like they are playing phrases; instead, it is rather like having a string band under their fingertips. For Gestures are the very real sound of reach and performance. But by not giving the musicians behind SMALL STRING GESTURES simple stuff to play prevented them from getting bored. Better still, SMALL STRING GESTURES users are accessing the sound that musicians make when they are smiling… hysterically!
It is also fair to say, therefore, that the effect of hysteresis on a large string section — including that which was involved in the creation of STRING MURMURATIONS, for instance — is a silky, blurry sound. An audible example of this might be the fast string runs in John Williams’ ‘Hedwig’s Theme’ from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — ditto the closing bars of ‘Mars, the Bringer of War’ from Holst’s The Planets suite. Saying that, though, there are times when music-makers do not need awe, epic, and huge scale in pursuit of their compositional craft, but instead seek something more intimate, more personal, more human. The theory that led to SMALL STRING GESTURES revolved around if The Crow Hill Company could get a string band small enough then the impact of hysteresis would not be a musical blurring, but rather an exposure of each player involved in its creation — their own style of bowing and vibrato, their own fragilities to help the user’s audience connect more with the human nature of their music.
Making that happen meant designing SMALL STRING GESTURES to make its users approach composing and making music from a totally new angle, one where it feels like there are musicians at their fingertips — not samples. SMALL STRING GESTURES is a collection of master recordings — made by world-class producers and engineers at Glasgow’s Clockwork Studios, a new custom-designed scoring stage for the UK comprising of a large hall for full orchestra (up to 80 players) with a balanced and focused sound ideal for modern orchestral recording, as well as a smaller dry space in Studio B (up to 15 players), with the world-class Scottish Session Orchestra playing some of the finest instruments through the finest microphones and mic pre-amps — that have been mixed and edited into a sample-based virtual instrument plug-in with a GUI and a preset browser that are as easy on the eye as they are in use. Ultimately, it works within anyone’s favorite DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) with 25 presets — presented as six Gestures, four Longs, 10 Presets, and five Bonus — and additional hand-crafted Selects designed by The Crow Hill Company team. There are three mix-ready stereo signals — namely, CLOSE, WIDE, and AMBIENT, as well as unique REVERB controls and a granular effects processor.
Duly designed by professional composers with the sonic connoisseur in mind, The Crow Hill Company’s collective conclusion certainly rings true, stating, “We’re a small team and have worked hard to make everything as intuitive as possible.” Put it this way: with SMALL STRING GESTURES it is perfectly possible to make music that sounds intimate, truthful, personal, human! Hysteresis, of course, comes into play here, albeit with the desired effect — exposure of each player involved in its creation.
Clearly, then, big messages come in small packages when it comes to working with the diminutive-sized SMALL STRING GESTURES as another easy-to-use and intuitive virtual instrument plug-in from The Crow Hill Company, one which is also easy on the wallet for those wishing to step into this new world of gesture-based sampling.
SMALL STRING GESTURES is available to purchase — as an AAX-, AU-, VST-, and VST3-format-compatible sample-based virtual instrument plug-in comprising 8 GB of uncompressed material (compressed losslessly to 4.4 GB) that loads directly into a DAW — for £49.00 GBP (including VAT) directly from The Crow Hill Company here: https://thecrowhillcompany.com/small-string-gestures
SMALL STRING GESTURES is available for free until February 29, 2024 when purchasing STRING MURMURATIONS for £199.00 GBP (including VAT) directly from The Crow Hill Company here: https://thecrowhillcompany.com/string-murmurations/ (Note that SMALL STRING GESTURES is also available for free to existing owners of STRING MURMURATIONS until February 29, 2024.)
Watch The Crow Hill Company founder and composer Christian Henson’s must-see SMALL STRING GESTURES walkthrough video here:
Free sounds for all are available by simply signing up to become a Crow Hill member here: https://thecrowhillcompany.com/join-crow-hill/
About The Crow Hill Company (www.thecrowhillcompany.com)
Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, The Crow Hill Company is a small team obsessed with all things audio, existing to make tools that support the music-making community. From free plug-ins and resources all the way through to premium professional-grade libraries, its aim is to build and nurture an inclusive community of sound enthusiasts, music-makers, and VST (Virtual Studio Technology) advocates alike, all the while abiding by its motto: Make Music, Your Music
© 2024 Crow Hill Productions Ltd
Music software innovators UJAM are proud to announce the release of Virtual Guitarist SILK 2, the highly anticipated upgrade to one of their most beloved and successful Virtual Guitarist instruments. Designed to meet the evolving needs of musicians, SILK2 offers an array of new features that UJAM claims to be “the most authentic, playable and versatile virtual nylon guitarist on the market.”
https://bit.ly/UJam_Virtual_Instruments
Use Code: PRAISETRACKS-20 to save even more
More than just an upgrade, SILK2 is a significant leap forward in virtual guitar technology. The development team at UJAM fielded their user feedback and requests for SILK2, to deliver a product that they expect to meet and exceed expectations with its plethora of enhancements.
SILK2 unfolds a comprehensive list of features, including a new cutting-edge engine, a guitar model recorded with exceptional detail, thousands of recordings, the long-awaited addition of Instrument Mode, a completely rebuilt Player Mode with new styles (including strumming), Stompboxes, Finishers, and more. These features build upon the success of previous upgrades to IRON, SPARKLE, and AMBER, offering users a familiar
yet enhanced experience.
Virtual Guitarist SILK 2 contains the following features:
● NEW Instrument mode
● Picking and strumming styles
● NEW Open Chords feature
● 40 Stomp box emulations, 75 Finisher FX Modes
“The nylon guitar model in SILK2 captures the warmth and traditional essence of a real nylon guitar, creating a sound that feels authentic and adds a layer of richness to any musical composition. The styles crafted in SILK2 aren’t just patterns; they’re musical narratives, incorporating musicality and leveraging the intricacies of the new engine to breathe life into each performance.” UJAM Product Manager Dan Oliver Finke
Virtual Guitarist SILK 2 is available now in VST2, VST3, AU 2 and AAX formats today and also as a free fully functional 7-day trial at ujam.com. Don’t miss this opportunity to redefine your creative boundaries as SILK2 adapts seamlessly to diverse musical genres and styles. It also runs natively on Apple Silicon systems.
by UJAM Music Technology GmbH
Pricing and availability
Virtual Guitarist SILK 2 is now available at ujam.com for 49 EUR / USD Intro Price and 29
EUR / USD Loyalty Price. If you already own SILK 1 you can upgrade to version 2 for just 19 EUR / USD.The Guitarist Bundle is available for 149 EUR / USD, including all five Guitarist titles (IRON, CARBON, SPARKLE, AMBER, SILK) but hurry, this offer lasts only until the 25th February.
For more information visit UJAM here:
https://bit.ly/UJam_Virtual_Instruments
About UJAM
UJAM is a German-American maker of music technology co-founded by Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams that develops Virtual Instrument and Effects Plug-ins. With the Plug-in series Virtual Pianist, Usynth, Groovemate, Symphonic Elements, Virtual Guitarist, Virtual Bassist, Virtual Drummer, Beatmaker and Finisher UJAM helps people to make music.
Paris, January 24th, 2024 – UVI release Glass Orchestra, a stunning and one-of-a-kind collection of hand-made glass instruments revealing an otherworld of ethereal, mysterious, and wholly unique sounds and timbres. An ode to the lifelong passion of master craftsman Jean-Claude Chapuis, and his singular ensemble at the prestigious Philharmonie de Paris, Glass Orchestra delivers 14 exquisitely crafted and expertly sampled instruments, recorded in numerous playing styles, and presented in an expansive sound design environment with native MPE support. Glass Orchestra is available now, with a special introductory price of $129 / 129€ available through February 5th, 2024 (regularly $199 / 199€).
Delicate to thunderous, angelic to atonal, and a true embodiment of the unconventional, Glass Orchestra offers an incredible range of sounds, rich with inspiration and creative possibility for musicians, producers, and sound designers alike. Discover 14 hand-crafted instruments including
the Gamelan, Glass Bells, Seraphin, Cristal Baschet, Marimba, Harp, Glass Armonica, Cymbal Bells, Verrophone, Chimes, Tympanon, Balafon, Carillon, and Triangle, each available in multiple playing styles ranging from traditional to experimental.
Glass Orchestra comes with a choice selection of 400+ hand-crafted presets built from a library of over 75,000 samples. Glass Orchestra’s creative architecture includes powerful tone sculpting thanks to 3 mixable microphones, familiar synth-style amplitude and filter controls with True Release, deep internal modulation, inspiring macro and bus effects, and a featured arpeggiator/phrasor, giving you everything you need to shape the included sounds to taste, or design your very own from scratch.
Glass Orchestra offers native 64-bit standalone operation by way of Falcon or the free UVI Workstation, providing comprehensive support for all modern DAWs and simultaneous authorization on up to 3 computers or iLok keys.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Glass Orchestra is available immediately with a special introductory price of $129 / 129€ through February 5th, 2024 (regularly $199 / 199€)
ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION
Additional information on Glass Orchestra is available at:
http://www.uvi.net/glass-orchestra
About UVI
UVI is a developer of software instruments, effects and soundware. We leverage leading-edge synthesis, DSP research and design to provide unique and expressive tools for musicians and audio professionals. Our goal is to help you achieve the highest-quality sound possible with innovative and reliable solutions. You can hear our work around the world at live shows, on hit-records, in blockbuster films and AAA games.
We’re a small but spirited team with a global footprint, music and sound lovers eager to share our passion. We’re honored to be a part of your creative journey and are thankful to you for sharing ours.
https://www.uvi.net
Steinberg releases the latest version of WaveLab, with completely new workflows, invaluable time-saving features and many improvements for world-class mastering facilities, music studios, and the home spaces of
ambitious hobbyists.
January 24, 2024 HAMBURG, Germany — Steinberg has today announced the immediate availability of WaveLab 12, which features close to 80 new features and improvements, making it the biggest ever release for audio mastering and editing. Whether its for mastering, editing, or harnessing its array of state-of-the-art tools for any other audio task, WaveLab 12 has something for everyone working with sound.
Delivering a unique editing experience
ARA compatibility means WaveLab’s advanced editing features can now be used from within another DAW, such as Cubase 13, Nuendo 13, Reaper 7, Studio One 6.5, and others. Any audio range, with or without effects, can be seamlessly transferred from WaveLab to
any other application, without any limits or restrictions. New drag and drop and copy/paste functions help to radically streamline the workflow across diverse platforms. Automatic transient markers offer optimal visual guidance, assisting with snapping audio
selections to transient and release points, and so streamlining the editing process. Users can also use the tab key for swift forward and backward navigation across transient points, speeding up their workflow.
Extra visual analysis tools, including audio waveforms in multiple colors, is another addition. These allow users to highlight the details of audio files and montages across the frequency spectrum. Also now available is fully customizable coloration which assists with the instant recognition of specific audio features. User can now optionally associate all standard editing actions with a crossfade option,
enabling smooth transitions throughout the editing process.
Keeping levels in check
The loudness of reference tracks can be matched for accurate A/B comparisons between mastered audio and reference sources.
The Audio Montage meta normalizer has been enhanced with three new functions: to set the active clip’s loudness and shift others; to peak normalize the predominant clip and shift others; and to normalize the peak level. Personalized reports can be generated, which detail all aspects of loudness and peak levels within audio files and montages.
Enhanced workflow and creativity
Null Test Tracks for the Audio Montage have been introduced for a widely used audio measurement technique known as null testing or null difference, aiding quality assurance, troubleshooting, and audio analysis. Tracks can now be hidden to declutter screen space, while also freeing up CPU resources for other tracks. WaveLab’s project system has been redesigned for enhanced ease of use. Entire projects
can be backed up as a consolidated folder or a ZIP archive, containing all files. Audio montages also have a simplified structure, which operates from a central folder and can be backed up with all media files.
There’s more than meets the eye
WaveLab 12 includes many more new features for audio editing, mastering, sound design, and batch processing:
• Extended copy and paste functionality
• Synchronized audio file and montage navigation
• New Startup Assistant
• Built-in Steinberg ASIO driver for Windows
• Frequency band monitoring
• Plug-in settings replicator
• Enhanced album wizard
• Audio Editor display options
• Speaker configurations with playback plug-ins
• New Black Valve and VoxComp compressors, EQ-P1A and EQ-M5 equalizers,
SampleAlign, and Raiser limiter
• A myriad of improvements to the Audio Editor, Audio Montage, Batch Processor, and for
content creation and productivity
“With almost 80 exciting additions and improvements, most of which have been requested by our trusted users, WaveLab 12 is the most feature-rich version that we have ever released,” says Marketing Manager Luis Dongo. “WaveLab also now includes ARA support,
so everyone can integrate the mastering and editing power of WaveLab into their workflow, regardless of which DAW they use. This opens a huge door of possibilities to the widest possible array of users.”
Availability and pricing
WaveLab 12 is available from resellers and through the Steinberg Online Shop. The suggested retail price for WaveLab Pro 12 is 499 euros or 499 US dollars. The suggested retail price for WaveLab Elements 12 is 99.99 euros or 99.99 US dollars. Prices may vary
according to region.
Updates are exclusively available through the Steinberg Online Shop. Updates to WaveLab Pro 12 from previous WaveLab Pro versions start at 99.99 euros or 99.99 US dollars.
Updates to WaveLab Elements 12 from previous WaveLab Elements versions start at 34.99
euros or 34.99 US dollars.
Customers who have activated WaveLab Pro 11, WaveLab Elements 11, or earlier versions from December 27, 2023, are eligible for a free, downloadable grace period update to the respective latest version.
Key features
• WaveLab inside your favorite DAW: Use WaveLab’s powerful Audio Editor as an ARA
plug-in within the chosen DAW
• Multi-color waveform: Visualize audio waveforms in multiple colors which highlight the
spectral content
• Drag & Drop audio exchange with other DAWs: Transfer any audio range, with or
without effects, from WaveLab to any other application, without any limits or restrictions
• Loudness analysis and reporting: Generate personalized reports detailing all aspects of
loudness and peak levels within audio files and montages
• Loudness matching: Match the loudness of reference tracks to the Audio Montage
output and vice versa, for instant, accurate A/B comparisons between mastered audio
and reference sources
• Automatic transient markers offer optional visual guidance which aids for snapping
audio selections to transient and release points
• Visual analysis. Explore the spectral details of audio files and montages in minute detail
with this wide range of visual analysis tools
• New Startup Assistant features an extended session management section and a web
display panel
• Streamlined Audio Montage asset management: Simplify the organization of audio montages with a revamped structure which operates from a central folder housing files and other folders
• Extended quality assurance: New Null Test Track audio measurement method for quality assurance
• New plug-ins: SampleAlign, BlackValve, VoxComp, Raiser, EQ-P1A, and EQ-M5 have been added to WaveLab’s plug-in arsenal
• Plus more than 60 productivity features
Product page: www.steinberg.net/wavelab
YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/wavelab
About Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH
Steinberg is known the world over for its music and audio software and hardware solutions.
The company has been developing, manufacturing and selling innovative products for
musicians and producers in the music, film, post-production and multimedia industries since
1984. Steinberg products are used by Grammy and Oscar award-winning composers,
engineers and producers.
Visit www.steinberg.net for further details.
All trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective owners.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC: independent development teams federation United Plugins is proud to announce availability of Dropkick from founding partner JMG Sound — suitably billed as the ultimate solution for transforming kick drums into powerful, focused, and impeccably controlled sonic masterpieces thanks to eight processors that have been extensively tested and fine-tuned to work with kicks and make them stand out from the sound of the plug-in crowd, or, indeed, any crowd — as of January 23…
Ultimately, United Plugins founding partner JMG Sound developed Dropkick for sound designers and electronic-based music producers alike; as such, it has been extensively tested and fine-tuned to work well across multiple genres, including drum ’n’ bass, EDM (Electronic Dance Music), house, techno, trap, and more. Moreover, with so much having been packed into a single plug-in, Dropkick really represents the ultimate electronic kick drum toolkit! The eight processors involved in doing that all have much more going on under their respective hoods than might first meet the eye; each of them could well have been a one-knob plug-in in their own right, in fact, but JMG Sound’s selflessness shines through for all to see and hear by including them all in one place for anyone to use as they see fit.
With PHASE, for example, it is possible to offset the lower FREQ (frequencies) to shape the character of the transient and lower the peak level — not necessarily a new concept, yet one which Dropkick takes up a notch by using analogue-modelled filters to create non-linearities that make for extremely smooth transitions and also add a little extra warmth. WARP progressively shifts the frequencies in time; the lower the frequency, the more it is delayed — low values concentrating the phase shift closer to the attack, shaping the character of the transient, while high values extend the low frequencies, changing the character of the entire kick. Fortunately for all concerned, the filters involved here have been fine-tuned to work well on kick drums so users will arrive at their desired sweet spot far faster, which is also the case when working with Dropkick’s other processors.
Dropkick duly puts POWER in the hands of its users by taking the tried-and-tested technique of using a high-pass filter to enhance the low end — setting the frequency of the filter at the fundamental and adding a little resonance not only boosts the bass but also removes unwanted sub-harmonics — to another level as its surgical peak can resonate a single frequency, making it possible to strengthen and extend the fundamental; RESO, meanwhile, controls the level of the resonant peak, the special peak filter used being extremely narrow so as to focus on a single frequency and not necessarily boost neighboring frequencies but rather add power and definition to the fundamental while extending it as the control is increased — an effect so powerful that it can even be used to re-pitch the fundamental of the kick, completely transforming the character!
Controlling kicks and enhancing them comes quickly to Dropkick users, thanks to the creative possibilities offered by several straightforward settings: CLEAN — dynamically removes boxiness and muddiness, freeing up precious headroom and helping the kick to translate better in the mix; DAMP — progressively removes higher frequencies while still allowing the transient to cut through, letting users reshape the frequency content of their kicks; FIRE — uses psychoacoustic techniques to enhance the sound of the kick; OVER — a dynamics processor based on an ‘over the top’ compression technique that has been fine-tuned for kicks; SNAP — enhances the attack and punch of the kick using an advanced transient processor that dynamically shapes the attack stage based on frequency content, fine-tuned for kicks; and TRIM — shortens the length of the kick tail to keep it tight and prevent boominess… simply listen in real time and adjust a single knob until achieving the perfect balance!
Last, but by no means least, a LIMIT section selects whether or not the three-mode limiter will be enabled: CLEAN limits the peaks as transparently as possible, introducing only 1ms of latency; WARM behaves like a soft clipper with some gentle distortion; and HOT heavily distorts the signal while hard clipping. And a DRIVE control adds up to 12dB of additional gain to drive the limiter; this can be used to create extra loudness, or — if one of the limiter’s distortion modes is selected — overdrive it to get super-fat- and aggressive-sounding kicks.
Key features:
∙ Ultimate electronic kick drum toolkit that transforms kick drums into powerful, focused, and impeccably controlled sonic masterpieces.
∙ Eight processors tested and fine-tuned to work well across multiple genres, allowing users to arrive at their desired sweet spot far faster than when working with separate plug-ins
JMG Sound’s Dropkick is available to purchase for a time-limited introductory promo price of only €19.00 EUR until February 29, 2024 — rising thereafter to its regular price of €69.00 EUR — as an AAX-, AU-, VST-, and VST3-compatible plug-in (using internal 64-bit audio processing capable of handling any sample rate) directly from its dedicated webpage (https://unitedplugins.com/Dropkick/), where a 15-day, fully-functional trial version for macOS 10.10 and newer and Windows 8/10/11 can also be downloaded for free.
Note that no iLok, dongle, or internet access is required for Dropkick activation. (All United Plugins software uses license files for activation and owners can freely use purchased software — with free-for-life updates — on all their computers, as long as they are the user.)
See and hear Dropkick in action while watching United Plugins’ illuminating introductory video here:
About United Plugins
As implied in the carefully chosen wording for an apt appellation that really represents how the Prague-registered Limited Company came about and what it collectively creates, United Plugins is a federation of small, independent development teams comprised of individuals involved in the music industry. Indeed, the founding triad of FireSonic, JMG Sound, and SounDevice Digital can count engineers, producers, and artists amongst their ‘united’ names. Needless to say, all were seeking the freedom to create the tools that they would like to use in their studios and on their projects. And all agreed that this could be better achieved when working together. Though United Plugins’ proliferating product portfolio may not always be for the musical masses, surely someone, somewhere will always find those tools to be a perfect fit for their own music productions… just like those inventive individuals behind United Plugins’ partner brands, the ranks of which have since swelled to include Muramasa Audio and MeldaProduction. Thanks to the latter letting United Plugins utilizes its super-easy licensing system, which is why selected MeldaProduction products are also available from the United Plugins website (https://unitedplugins.com), a thriving future for the federation is assured.
© 2024 United Plugins
MADRID, SPAIN: European pro audio manufacturer Heritage Audio is thrilled to introduce its i73® PRO family offering varying I/O and features as the first-ever USB-C audio interfaces with built-in Class A 73-style preamps — proudly presenting i73® PRO ONE as a 2-in/4-out USB-C-based desktop design with an integrated 73-style preamp, i73® PRO 2 as a 2-in/4-out USB-C-based desktop design with dual integrated 73-style preamps, and i73® PRO EDGE as a 12-in/16-out USB-C-based desktop design (digitally expandable by up to eight channels over ADAT) with dual integrated 73-style preamps — making the full-analogue experience of the ‘Golden Era’ of recording available to everyone, everywhere, and anywhere, as of January 22…
Readily representing easy entry into its two-years-in-the-making i73® PRO family of USB-C audio interfaces with built-in Class A 73-style preamps, Heritage Audio’s i73® PRO ONE aims to provide musicians, producers, and audio engineers with an easy pathway to the cherished analogue experience that has inspired music creation since the early Seventies. Since i73® PRO ONE offers the same Class A transformer-balanced circuitry found in the European pro audio manufacturer’s classic 73-style preamps, users will not only be able to capture signals with all that classic mojo and vibe but — for the first time — also achieve that straight from the audio interface itself into their computer. And, as is the case with any of Heritage Audio’s 73-style preamps, a three-way input is implemented so routing whatever connection the signal may be on — whether users want to track vocals through that hearty mic preamp with up to 70dB of gain, an electric guitar or bass through the fast, dynamic JEFT DI or the clean line inputs — to the DAW (Digital Audio Interface) with true studio quality is simplicity itself. Indeed, a low-latency monitoring mixing console has been developed from the ground up so users will always hear what they need to, either through the analogue stereo monitor output over TRS or stereo headphone output, each independently controlled by Heritage Audio’s mixer running inside the i73® PRO ONE itself. It is also possible to process tracks in realtime within that mixer with an ever-growing comprehensive set of tools modelled after Heritage Audio’s own outboard and private gear collection running internally over i73® PRO ONE’s DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Put it this way: it is possible to simultaneously record both dry and wet streams from Heritage Audio’s mixer to the DAW, and even insert third-party native plug-ins via said mixer’s aux channels! Class-leading AD/DA conversion, of course, comes naturally to i73® PRO ONE, with recording, mixing, and playback up to 24-bit/192kHz. Further features include +48V phantom power, PAD, and PHASE, plus MONO, MUTE, and DIM; USB-C computer connection (cable included), and MIDI (Mini-DIN in/out) connector, all housed in an attractive, classic European console-inspired desktop design.
It is worth noting here that all of the included plug-ins — namely, BritStrip (channel strip), HA 15 PRO (bass amp), Small Recording Amp Serial # C 17744, HA 1200 TapeSat, HA 240 Gold Foil Verb, and Heritage TAPEoPLEX, with a combined street value of up to €900.00 EUR/$900.00 USD — will also be made available to owners of any i73® PRO audio interface in native AAX/AU/VST3 formats, so once both streams are recorded into the DAW they can then use the dry track and easily recall the effect used with any of Heritage Audio’s plug-ins directly in the DAW during mixing.
Its increased footprint readily reflecting its increased I/O and features, i73® PRO 2 joins its smaller sibling as another 2-in/4-out USB-C audio interface, but benefits from the inclusion of two Class A 73-style preamps with up to 70dB gain for true studio-quality recordings. It is worth noting here that each of those preamps include independent +48V phantom power, PAD, and PHASE controls together with independent microphone/line inputs on combo XLR jacks, whereas i73® PRO ONE offers an extra line input on 1/4” jack only. On the face of it, then, this differentiates the two USB-C audio interfaces in question as all other functionality is identical, so purchasers can choose whatever device best suits their needs.
Needless to say, i73® PRO EDGE effectively represents the pinnacle of that two-year technological journey from ‘make-believe’ to must-have as a 12-in/16-out USB-C audio interface with dual integrated 73-style preamps, although admittedly when viewed from above it appears to be identical to its i73® PRO 2 sibling… well, almost — almost being the operative word here, for a quick glance at i73® PRO EDGE’s feature-packed back panel is all it takes to convince anyone that this audio interface is truly worthy of taking its rightful place at the head of the i73® PRO family feature-packed production table. By benefitting from two extra line inputs; two analogue stereo monitor outputs over TRS independently controlled by Heritage Audio’s mixer running inside the i73® PRO EDGE itself (with one mix per stereo out); two independent stereo headphone outputs (with dedicated cue mixes controlled by Heritage Audio’s mixer); and last, but by no means least, up to eight channels of expandability over ADAT, the Heritage Audio Full Analog Experience — as highlighted on each i73® PRO family member’s top panel as a tasteful reminder — offered by the top-tier i73® PRO EDGE evidently takes some beating!
But whether opting for the easy-entry i73® PRO ONE or the top-tier i73® PRO EDGE, make no mistake: the full-analogue experience of the ‘Golden Era’ of recording is, indeed, available to everyone, everywhere, and anywhere, thanks to Heritage Audio’s introduction of its i73® PRO family as the first-ever USB-C audio interfaces with built-in Class A 73-style preamps! Paying money and making choices has surely never been easier.
i73® PRO ONE, i73® PRO 2, and i73® PRO EDGE are shipping and available via Heritage Audio’s growing global network of dealers (https://heritageaudio.com/where-to-buy-international/) with an MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) in the EU of €649.00 EUR (including VAT), €999.00 EUR (including VAT), and €1,499.00 EUR (including VAT), respectively, and a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $649.00 USD, $999.00 USD, and $1,499.00 USD, respectively, US distribution being handled via RAD Distribution (https://raddist.com/en/brands/heritage-audio).
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated i73® PRO ONE webpage here: https://heritageaudio.com/i73-pro-one
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated i73® PRO 2 webpage here: https://heritageaudio.com/i73-pro-2
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated i73® PRO EDGE webpage here: https://heritageaudio.com/i73-pro-edge
Watch Heritage Audio’s illuminating introductory video for the i73® PRO family of USB-C audio interfaces with built-in Class A 73-style preamps here:
About Heritage Audio (www.heritageaudio.com)
Heritage Audio was founded in 2011 by Peter Rodriguez. As a civil engineer and music producer, he went from building wind turbines to following his true passion — developing recording equipment with the vintage sound that he himself admired so much and so many others yearned for. Fortunately for all, he was able to master the key elements necessary to make high-quality recording gear affordable and reliable by combining his analytical mindset with his experience as a producer within a relatively short space of time. Today, the 15-person team has expanded its production plant located in the heart of Madrid, Spain, where it collectively continues to follow a philosophy of making vintage sound possible for today’s studios, successfully introducing innovative products to rank amongst the most popular brands with top retailers throughout the world.
© 2024 Heritage Audio
LOS Angeles, CA, USA: audio accessories brand Analog Cases, acclaimed for their line of over 100 custom-fitted cases for electronic music production gear, is excited to announce its expansion into DJ equipment cases with an all-new range of UNISON Cases For DJ Controllers — custom-fitted for nine different devices and crafted with ultra-lightweight aluminum materials as the perfect solution for modern DJs on the move — as of January 18…
Ultimately, UNISON Cases for DJ Controllers are only one-third of the weight of other available hard cases — think typical DJ ‘coffin cases and road cases. And all nine products comprising the UNISON Cases for DJ Controllers range come complete with a customized dense foam insert that is die-cut to the precise dimensions of the DJ controller that it is designed to accommodate. A padded handle and storage space for cables complete the sleek design that showcases the unique black-on-black aesthetic of the Analog Cases brand.
Readily reflecting popular DJ controllers that they are specifically designed to accommodate by name, the UNISON Cases For DJ Controllers range includes the UNISON Case for Denon DJ Prime GO (custom-fitted hard case for the Denon DJ Prime Go), UNISON Case for Hercules DJControl Inpulse 500 (custom-fitted hard case for the Hercules DJControl Inpulse 500), UNISON Case for Numark Mixstream Pro Go (custom-fitted hard case for the Numark Mixstream Pro Go), UNISON Case for Pioneer DDJ-800 (custom-fitted hard case for the Pioneer DDJ-800), UNISON Case for Pioneer DDJ-1000 (custom-fitted hard case for the Pioneer DDJ-1000), UNISON Case for Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 (custom-fitted hard case for the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4), UNISON Case for Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6 (custom-fitted hard case for the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6), UNISON Case for Pioneer DDJ-SR2 / DDJ-SR (custom-fitted hard case for the Pioneer DDJ-SR2 or DDJ-SR), and UNISON Case for Roland DJ202 (custom-fitted hard case for the Roland DJ-202).
According to company CEO Greg Pritchard, “Today’s DJ controllers are sleek and compact, but the design of most road cases haven’t evolved since the 1960s, so we set out to change that by offering a real alternative for DJs on the move.”
Moving onwards and upwards, the results surely speak for themselves, as attested to by an appreciative Analog Cases’ Greg Pritchard’s closing word: “We designed the UNISON Cases For DJ Controllers with a focus on comfort and ease of travel. They’re a game changer for gigging DJs, who’ll immediately notice the difference when lifting them; once they’ve tried one, they’ll never want to go back to those bulky, heavy DJ ‘coffin cases’!”
The nine new UNISON Cases For DJ Controllers are exclusively available in the USA from Analog Cases (https://analogcases.com) and Amazon.com, retailing as follows: $149.00 USD (UNISON Case for Denon DJ Prime GO), $144.00 USD (UNISON Case for Hercules DJControl Inpulse 500), $189.00 USD (UNISON Case for Numark Mixstream Pro Go), $189.00 USD (UNISON Case for Pioneer DDJ-800), $219.00 USD (UNISON Case for Pioneer DDJ-1000), $144.00 USD (UNISON Case for Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4), $189.00 USD (UNISON Case for Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX6), $179.00 USD (UNISON Case for Pioneer DDJ-SR2 / DDJ-SR), and $144.00 USD (UNISON Case for Roland DJ202).
International distributors and retailers that will be carrying the products include:
• CANADA: Moog Audio (https://moogaudio.com/)
• EU: Bax Music (https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/)
Elevator (https://www.elevator.de/)
Sonic Sales (https://www.sonic-sales.de/)
• JAPAN: REV3 (https://www.rev3japan.com/)
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated UNISON Cases For DJ Controllers webpage here: https://analogcases.com/dj
Watch Analog Cases’ UNISON Cases For DJ Controllers overview video here:
About Analog Cases (www.analogcases.com)
Analog Cases is an audio accessories brand designing innovative products for music producers and DJs. Founded in 2018 in Los Angeles, Analog Cases has reinvented cases for a new generation of mobile musicians, with ultra-lightweight materials and sleek aesthetics. From DJ cases and keyboard cases, to desktop gear stands and backpacks, Analog Cases offers a complete solution for artists, from the studio to the stage.
© 2024 Analog Cases
New Mac/PC condenser microphone and stereo audio interface lets podcasters
and musicians easily combine voice and audio for streaming and recording
Cardioid Condenser Microphone
iRig Stream Mic’s unidirectional, cardioid pattern is ideal for focusing in on the speaker or singer and rejecting any background noise, while its gold-sputtered, ½” capsule delivers a crisp and detailed audio signal with easily adjustable gain and selectable high-pass filter to eliminate rumble and noise.
Integrated Audio Interface
Media players, keyboards, mixers, turntables, soundboards and more can be connected via a high-grade stereo 3.5 mm audio input right on the mic. With its monitoring mix control, users can blend the direct or recorded audio via the headphone output, keeping their entire setup in one elegant, compact solution that travels well and fits on any desktop.
Add Backing Tracks and Music
In addition to what’s captured by the mic and stereo line in, iRig Stream Mic USB offers Loopback which allows audio from a Mac/PC to be mixed into any recording or stream. Whether it’s backing tracks, sound effects or a theme song, it’s easy to add more audio content before sending streams to apps like Instagram or TikTok.
Serious Sound Quality
iRig Stream Mic USB delivers serious sound throughout. A headphone output with direct monitoring lets users check levels with any app, even before hitting record, and 16-bit, 48 kHz converters ensure broadcast-ready sound for both the mic and stereo aux input.
Volume Management
Bright LED level indicators make it easy to keep tabs on gain levels without being tied down by headphones. Further, each input has its own volume control to make quick and easy adjustments, even live on camera.
True Stereo Sound
iRig Stream Mic USB operates in stereo and pre-mixes multiple sources of audio – line stereo inputs (+ Loopback) and mic capsule – down to a stereo track, ready to send to popular streaming apps like Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, etc.
Staying Connected
iRig Stream Mic USB is powered by its host and connects to any Mac/PC right out of the box with the included USB-C to USB-C cable. No matter the situation, iRig Stream Mic USB is the streamlined solution of choice to share content and music with the world. Just one mic connects it all.
Software and Apps In-the-box
iRig Stream Mic USB works with any application that records or streams audio or video including on iPad with a USB-C adapter. To get started, it includes iRig Recorder 3 LE (iPhone/iPad/Android), an easy-to-use, high-quality audio and video recording app; as well as MixBox CS (iPad) and MixBox SE (Mac/PC), a powerful suite of FX including dynamics, EQ, reverb and more to help shape professional quality audio.
Pricing and Availability
iRig Stream Mic USB is shipping now and available from the IK Multimedia online store and from IK authorized dealers worldwide. The iRig Stream Mic family now includes both:
iRig Stream Mic USB $/€99.99* – Includes iRig Stream Mic USB, table stand and USB-C cable for Mac, PC, iPad and iPhone 15.
iRig Stream Mic Pro $/€169.99* – Includes iRig Stream Mic Pro, table stand, Lightning and USB-C cables for Mac, PC, iPad and all iPhones.
*Pricing excludes taxes.
For more information about iRig Stream Mic USB or to see it in action, please visit:
www.ikmultimedia.com/
www.ikmultimedia.com/
I had the privilege of being a guest on Breakfast with Roger and Friends on 90.7 WAZU Peoria, IL. It was fun sharing my story with them and how music has always seemed to be a part of my life. I appreciate them having me on.
You can listen to previous programs by following them on Mixcloud here:
The Iconic Sound of Cinema
January 11th, 2024, 5pm GMT
Spitfire Audio releases the highly anticipated final addition to their lauded ‘Abbey Road One’ series in collaboration with Abbey Road Studios. The hugely sought-after high strings section, entitled Abbey Road One: Soaring High Strings, offers a harmonious and rich sound, tailored for romantic, lyrical passages without sacrificing high speed runs.
Completing the collection of Spitfire Audio’s most regarded series, the new sample library featuring brand new recordings in Abbey Road’s Studio One, is a blend of 16 1st Violins and 14 2nd Violins that play in unison to create a passionate and lush sonic tapestry, ideal for crafting a resonant composition. There are 12 signals, expertly recorded by GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer Simon Rhodes, and an expressive, slurring legato, ideal for adding emotion to tracks.
Abbey Road’s Studio One is considered one of the finest acoustical spaces in the world and a room most composers can only dream of. Its history has an indelible connection with the scores recorded there, providing emotion, mood, and magic for many of the most renowned and successful films ever made – such classics as Return of the Jedi, The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, Harry Potter, and Avengers: Endgame.
With its rich tonality, deep low end, and famed reverb, Studio One’s sound is widescreen and epic. It’s the iconic sound of cinema, and a sound that has been significantly captured in Spitfire Audio’s ‘Abbey Road One’ series.
BUILDING ON ORCHESTRAL FOUNDATIONS
The sonic journey through the ‘Abbey Road One’ series began with the groundbreaking release of Abbey Road One: Orchestral Foundations; a meticulously crafted 90-piece symphonic orchestra that focused on delivering essential elements such as strings, brass, and woodwinds.
Responding to the feedback from the music-making community, the series has evolved over the years, culminating in the latest addition Abbey Road One: Soaring High Strings to complete the collection. It serves as a standalone sample library, and for those seeking the addition of soaring, romantic legatos, it also seamlessly integrates with Abbey Road One: Orchestral Foundations.
Capturing the essence of how your favorite composer would record, the series has continuously embraced the unmistakable acoustics of Abbey Road Studio One, enlisted exceptional players, employed award-winning sound engineers, and utilized priceless microphones. The result is a seamless experience, empowering music makers to effortlessly weave together their own cinematic masterpieces.
As the series completes, it leaves behind a legacy of tradition and innovative technology that has changed the landscape for composers and music makers alike.
KEY FEATURES
Product page URL: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-road-one-soaring-high-strings (will be live when the product is on sale)
AVAILABILITY & PRICING
Product link: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-road-one-soaring-high-strings
Abbey Road One Product Range link: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/abbey-road-one
Available: January 11th, 2024 at 5pm GMT
Price: £49 / $49 / €49 *
* Purchase as part of Abbey Road One: The Collection and save – head to the Spitfire Audio website for more details+-
