Tag Archives: Hardware

PreSonus ships BlueTube DP V2 and TubePre V2 tube preamps

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Enjoy solid-state clarity or tube warmth with the BlueTube DP V2 dual-path mic/instrument preamp. The solid-state path feeds PreSonus’ Class A XMAX™ mic preamplifier with 80 dB of variable gain—an upgrade from the original BlueTube DP. The tube path features a 12AX7 tube that operates on voltages double that of other preamplifiers in its class, producing lots of headroom and big tone. The Tube Drive enables you to achieve anything from gentle warmth to edgy distortion. You also get 48V phantom power, an 80 Hz high-pass filter, -20 dB pad, and polarity reverse.

With two combo mic/instrument inputs, the half-rackspace BlueTube DP V2 is a great choice for guitars as well as vocals. Singer-songwriters can run their vocal through one channel and their guitar through the other, feeding both to the P.A.—no guitar amp needed. It also serves as a DI box, thanks to balanced XLR and unbalanced ¼” outputs, and is housed in a new, rugged, 1/2U case. Try the BlueTube DP V2 as a front end for a DAW, too. The BlueTube DP V2 is available immediately; MAP/street price is expected to be USD 229.95.

The single-channel TubePre V2 tube preamp is an affordable way to add high quality tube warmth and character to your sound. This new version provides an even wider palette of sound options, and a much more focused tube saturation, than the original TubePre. It has been upgraded to employ PreSonus’ popular XMAX Class A solid-state preamp, which is followed in the signal path by a 12AX7 vacuum-tube stage with Tube Drive tube-saturation control.

Housed in a rugged, 1/3-rackspace case, the TubePre V2 rear panel sports separate unbalanced, ¼” instrument and balanced, XLR mic inputs and unbalanced ¼” and balanced XLR line outputs. The front panel offers controls for gain, 48V phantom power, 80 Hz high-pass filter, and polarity-reverse, as well as a mic/instrument input switch. A lighted VU meter and a clip LED help you keep an eye on your levels. The TubePre V2 is available immediately; MAP/street price is expected to be USD 129.95.

Visit: PreSonus

Korg intros mini KAOSS PAD 2

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Korg’s Kaoss Pad Series products have become the must-have effect units on in every musician’s rig – especially on the DJ scene. In addition to inheriting powerful effect programs from the Kaoss Pad KP3 and the Kaoss Pad Quad, the Mini Kaoss Pad 2 provides an MP3 player with adjustable pitch, making it ideal for creating DJ-Style performances. Use it as a DJ playback device, or use it to process the entire output of your DJ rig with Korg’s famous KAOSS effects. Instrumentalists, guitarists, sound designers and even just music fans will enjoy using the Mini Kaoss Pad 2. Offering a built-in mic, onboard speaker, and convenient battery power, the Mini KAOSS Pad 2 is completely self-contained and ready wherever you go!

Price: The mini KAOSS PAD 2 will be available May 2012, priced May MSRP USD 220.00.

Visit: korg.com/The mini

Alesis intros Q61, QX61 and QX25 USB MIDI keyboard controllers

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The Q-series USB MIDI controllers are the no-nonsense way to add expressive MIDI control to any production or performance. Each controller features USB MIDI for easy connection to Mac, PC, iOS devices* and traditional MIDI hardware modules, samplers and synthesizers.

The Q61 is a 61-note keyboard controller that works with virtually any music software and MIDI hardware devices. With velocity-sensitive keys, the Q61 offers a five-octave range of expression in a sleek, portable controller, built for the studio or stage. A full array of essential controls is onboard, including pitch and modulation wheels, octave up and down buttons, an assignable data slider, and the ability to send program changes from the keys.

The QX25 and QX61 are 25-note and 61-note keyboard controllers, respectively, that deliver powerful tactile control over any parameter of any favorite music software. Both controllers enable musicians to punch out a drumbeat on great-feeling pads, open up a filter with smooth, tight knobs, or adjust volume and playback of sequencing software with long faders and snappy buttons. The QX25 and QX61 bring immense parameter control and velocity-sensitive keyboards that get the composer’s hands off of the mouse and into the action for a more efficient, visceral music-making experience.

Whether someone is looking to trigger drum samples, tweak a software synthesizer or adjust individual tracks in a mix, the QX25 and QX61′s extensive layouts ensure appropriate feel and proper response thanks to their eight sliders and rotary knobs, four backlit drum pads and dedicated transport controls.

Visit: alesis.com/synths

Roland announces JUPITER-80

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Sam Ash : Who’s going to be the first in your area to experience the brand new JUPITER-80? Will it be you? Check out exclusive debuts to see an unprecedented leap in synthesizer technology.

Roland’s Scott Tibbs, known for making music with everyone from Beyoncé to Bruce Springsteen, will showcase the JUPITER-80 and its amazing mix of expressive acoustic instrument sounds and powerful synthesizer textures.

Scott’s heart-pounding, film-scoring style multimedia performance and his nostalgic dash through iconic synthesizer driven hit songs is not only jaw-dropping, it highlights the coolest of the cool in the JUPITER-80’s seemingly infinite musical palette. You won’t want to miss this!

Visit: Roland

TC-Helicon VoiceLive H1, E1 and X1 vocal pedals

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TC-Helicon offers its renowned vocal harmony to an even wider audience with VoiceTone H1 – a two-part vocal harmony processor combining NaturalPlay guitar control and key/scale operation to allow vocalists of any musical background to get lush sounding background vocals. VoiceTone H1 is the ultimate in simplicity and the NaturalPlay harmony algorithms come directly from TC-Helicon’s flagship vocal processor VoiceLive 2, so there is no compromise on sonic quality.

“There is something addictive and fun about using such a small pedal to instantly produce pro sounding background vocals,” shares TC-Helicon Product Manager Tom Lang.

Controlling VoiceTone H1 is truly simple. Singers select from eight voicing combinations, then set harmony mix and choose between guitar control using the guitar pass-thru input or selecting a key and scale.

VoiceTone E1 gives any vocalist simple access to delays and echos used in hit music production. Slapback, Echo, Tap Echo and FX styles can easily be selected and then tuned with the Feedback and Analog controls. Singers can tap song tempo and turn the effect on and off with the footswitch.

VoiceTone X1 borrows technology from TC-Helicon’s infamous Transducer block to emulate the sounds of telephones, distortions and amps to make vocals stand out in a mix, and each style can be tuned with dedicated Drive and Filter controls.

Price: The VoiceLive pedals are available to purchase for USD 149.00 / EUR 149.00 (H1, E1) and USD 129.00 / EUR129.00 (X1).

Visit: TC-Helicon

Moog announces Moogerfooger MF-108M Cluster Flux

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Expansive functionality combined with warm, analog sound come from the state-of-the-art all-analog circuitry. Musical, flexible, playable, and durable, the Cluster Flux is capable of providing classic flanging, chorusing, and vibrato effects, but is also capable of a much wider range of modulated delay line effects than traditional stomp boxes in this class due to the wide range of the front panel controls, the multi-waveform LFO, as well as CV and MIDI Control.

The MF-108M Cluster Flux is more powerful than traditional chorus/flange effects offering musicians the added modulation of multiple LFO waveforms: Sine, Triangle, Square, Saw, Ramp and Random, to create many kinds of new modulated BBD Delay effects. MIDI IN allows control of Delay Time, Range, Feedback, Output Level, LFO Waveform, LFO Rate, LFO Amount and Mix.

MF-108M Cluster Flux features

  • The ability to sync LFO modulation effects to MIDI Clock or Tap Tempo.
  • The ability to control Delay Time w/ MIDI Notes for “tuned” flanger comb-filter effects.
  • CV control of Delay Time, LFO Rate, Feedback, LFO Amount, Mix.
  • Send/Return Insert for external processing of BBD signals.
  • A second output configurable via DIP switches for different types of stereo outputs.
  • A Spillover mode allows for creation of interesting drones and other feedback effects.
  • Control of Delay Time, Mix and Feedback in Chorus setting for extreme chorus effects.
  • Bi-polar feedback design creates Flanging effects w/ even or odd harmonic emphasis.
  • Wide-ranging LFO Rate for very slow to audio rate modulation.
  • Input/Output Level controls for use w/ wide range of devices.

Price: USD 599.00

Visit: Moog