Products of Interest

Magic Samplitude Pro X4 feature allows multiple recordings of with various playing techniques; a particular passage to be displayed Orchestra Ensemble, which is based ’s Samplitude is a and combined. on a recorded symphony orchestra; workstation (DAW) for recording, Along with the usual track editing Sansula, a virtual African thumb mixing, , and music pro- functions, Samplitude Pro X4 also has piano; as well as a Drum Engine, Bass duction (see Figure 1). The software object editing tools. These allow the Machine, Church Organ, and Pop application was designed to be sound user to apply nondestructive effects, Drums. neutral for recording and to provide editing, or routing at the object level. The newly added Independence optimal latency management. In The user can copy tracks within Sampler is a sampler workstation Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 terms of music production, it offers and between projects. A checklist with a large sound library (12 GB in options for producing scores, func- for settings to be copied is provided, theProX4and70GBintheProX4 tions for MIDI editing, and virtual and this includes VST plug-ins, AUX Suite), a live performance mode, and instruments, and it also allows the buses, submix buses, and VSTi return virtual effects. Analogue Modelling user to work on large arrangements of tracks. Suite Plus provides four analog tools, tracks with intuitive mixing, flexible A six-band equalizer has oversam- including an analog compressor routing, and automations. pling and linear phase modes, and with switchable tape saturation. The This latest version of Sampli- a multiband stereo enhancer allows essentialFX Suite also includes a tude, the Pro X4, adds new virtual the stereo image of an individual further 11 effects plug-ins, including instruments, new workflows, im- frequency range, or the entire mix, flanger, tremolo, chorus, compressor, provements to automation, editing of to be modified during mastering. A and a toll for optimizing speech and effects parameters, improvements to brickwall limiter with a number of vocal recordings. The Vintage Effects the MIDI editor, and a more efficient modes is also provided and in the Pro Suite includes three plug-ins: Corvex, workflow when using plug-ins. The X4 Suite version, intersample peaks Ecox, and Filtox. Corvex is used to software is available in two versions, are also taken into account. create natural sounding modulated the Samplitude Pro X4 and the Sam- The Red Book standard is sup- chorus and flanger effects. Ecox plitude Pro X4 Suite, a version that ported for creating masters, which emulates the echoes from analog tape includes more advanced tools and can be burned directly to disc in devices caused by fluctuations in the features. uncompressed linear pulse-code track. The Filtox is an Oberheim filter The DAW can now support central modulation (PCM) or compressed and is used to control the frequency processing units (CPUs) with up to formats. The Pro X4 Suite version response of a modulation source. 32 cores and new features include au- of the software also supports digi- A tube preamplifier, transient tomation lanes that give an overview tal DDP masters and has a preview designer, and mastering dynamics of track automation data, a new plug- plug-in for use with MP3 and AAC tool (with compressor, limiter, clip- in browser for quickly searching for formats so that the user can check for per and mid/wide editing), are also effects and instruments, new MIDI compression artefacts or other issues included with Pro X4 Suite. Also editing functions, 17 virtual instru- before exporting. only available in the Suite version of ments, and the Independence Pro Plus Celemony’s Melodyne Essential the software is a spectrogram-based sampler. Up to 999 tracks can be used plug-in for complex editing and cor- tool for identifying and removing and there can be up to 256 inputs and rection of audio recordings is included unwanted frequency-based sounds outputs. Both 16- and 32-bit floating with the purchase of the DAW. The such as coughing or clapping. There point audio formats are supported at latest version of zplane’s elastique is also a DeHisser, DeClipper, and sampling rates up to 384 kHz. Pro algorithm is also bundled with DeNoiser. Several subtracks or automation the application. It combines DSP The attack dynamics of MIDI lanes can be used to display and with psychoacoustic models for time notes can be adjusted with a Velocity edit track automation. Automated stretching and pitch shifting. Dynamics function. A MIDI editor parameters can include volume, Virtual instruments new to this has a new parameter editing tool pan, or Virtual Studio Technology version of Samplitude are Analog that allows the user to move, stretch, (VST) effects, and they can be edited Synth 2, a virtual vintage ; compress, and scale selected events in simultaneously. A Take Composer Century keys, a VST instrument relation to each other. MIDI data can with a range of piano sounds across be displayed as notes on a score in real musical styles; Grand Piano; Power time. Edits to note pitch, duration, doi:10.1162/COMJ r 00529 Guitar, a collection of guitar sounds and velocity in the score notation

172 Computer Music Journal Figure 1. A screenshot from the Samplitude Pro X4 DAW. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

are automatically updated in the comes in three forms: Mono Grid, hardware devices using modules that MIDI editor display. Lyrics are also Poly Grid, and FX Grid. send control, trigger, or pitch signals supported and imported MIDI files The Grid (see Figure 2) allows the as CV Out and receive CV In signals. that have lyric markers will result user to design sounds graphically, Contact: Bitwig GmbH, Schwedter in the text being displayed within by patching together the more than Str. 13, D-10119 Berlin, Germany; the score. The score notation can be 120 modules that are available. e-mail [email protected]; Web output in the form of sheet music. The output port of any module www.bitwig.com. Samplitude Pro X4 is listed for can be connected to the input port US$ 399 and the Pro X4 Suite for of another. New modules can be US$ 599. Contact: MAGIX Computer dropped directly onto ports to be 10 Products International Co., 280 Greg automatically wired into a patch. St., Suite 10 Reno, Nevada 89502- There is an option to wirelessly Tracktion’s Waveform is a music 2272, USA; Web www.magix.com. connect signals that are regularly production application for Mac OS, used. A set of phase modules are Windows, Ubuntu , and Rasp- included to drive time functions and berry Pi platforms. It offers users an 3 modulation synthesis. A stereo signal unlimited number of tracks with 80 path is used for control and audio built-in effects, plug-ins, and virtual Bitwig Studio is a cross-platform signals, and four-times oversampling instruments. DAW for Windows, Mac OSX, and is available. Devices created with The latest release of the applica- Linux. Details of the original appli- The Grid can be nested or layered tion, Waveform 10, has a new Actions cation and features were included with other devices or plug-ins and Panel that can be used to customize in Products of Interest, Computer they can be controlled from the the user interface. Common oper- Music Journal 38(4), 2014. This latest Open Controller API. The existing ations can be favorited and rarely release of the software, Bitwig Stu- modulators in Bitwig Studio can used ones hidden. Macro scripts dio 3, features a new open modular be used to control grid parameters. can be used to create actions and environment called The Grid, which The software can be integrated with key commands can be customized. A

Products of Interest 173 Figure 2. The new Grid sound design patching interface in Bitwig Studio. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

right-click menu makes actions quick Antares Technologies’ Auto-Tune which can be combined together to and easy to access. The Actions Panel Access plug-in is available for real- build rich effects. Users can create is also used to launch edit screens and time and vocal their own faceplates for plug-ins, de- plug-ins. effects. Celemony’s Melodyne is in- ciding what controls and parameters A new edit groups feature has also corporated as a plug-in. It displays are on view, and adding new controls been added, with an edit group panel a graphical representation of notes, to create a customized plug-in inter- to manage and access groups. Among which the user can click on to modify face. There is also a Multi-Sampler the new tools are a Groove Doctor, parameters such as pitch, vibrato, vol- instrument that can directly which can be used for phase accurate ume, and timing, as a more intuitive from other apps or a Web browser. quantization across multiple tracks and alternative method to working There are six new modifiers avail- such as multitrack drums and to with a waveform. Zplane’s Elastique able to the user for manipulating extract the time variances in a track Pro time-stretching algorithm is also parameters: LFO, Breakpoint, Step, as a groove template to be applied to included. Waveform 10 also comes Envelope Follower, Random, and other tracks. with Artisan Collection, a series of 62 MIDI Tracker. The LFO has a range There are a number of new plug- plug-ins, each with a specific function of shapes available, including random ins also included in Waveform 10. and a simple, easy to use interface, and noise. The user can drag points of

174 Computer Music Journal Figure 3. A screenshot from 10. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

the breakpoint oscillator to create a and hundreds of new virtual instru- to loops, clips, plug-in, and virtual customized shape. The step sequence ments are now available to users (see instruments, which can be dragged can be between 2 and 64 steps in Figure 3). and dropped to use in a project. length. The Envelope Follower maps A new Clips window is used for When mixing, a single fader can parameter changes to the audio signal triggering loops. It allows Audio and be used to control multiple tracks, of the track. The MIDI Tracker can MIDI clips to be dragged and dropped ensuring the relative volume stays the absolutely or relatively track the in- from the Content Window and then same. Multiple nested subgroups of coming pitch or velocity values and triggered in real time. Clip sequences faders can be created. Mix automation map these to output values. can be stacked ahead of time, with can be used with the faders and Prices for Waveform 10 range from clips being dynamically added or subfaders. US$ 119 to US$ 499, depending on the removed from the queue using a The waveform editor has also been bundle chosen. Contact: Tracktion; MIDI controller or laptop. improved in this latest version of the Web www.tracktion.com. The new Stretch Audio feature software. The user can zoom in to allows the user to quickly and easily edit at the sample level, edit beats, adjust the timing of individual audio stretch audio, and correct pitch from Digital Performer 10 beats or to modify an entire audio this editor. track to match a project’s tempo All Digital Performer functions Mark of the Unicorn has released and time line. A Beat Detection can now be accessed using a Run version 10 of their popular DAW function can be used on rhythmic Command window, allowing all for Windows and , Dig- audio passages, including individual functions to be found quickly and ital Performer. The workflow has loops and multichannel stems. easily, without having to navigate been improved, new features such as The new searchable Content through menus. a Content Browser, Clips window, Browser improves the workflow by In the transport section the skip and Stretch Audio have been added, providing easy and quick access forward and backward features can

Products of Interest 175 now be applied to beats or bars. easier to connect the DAW to an The Note repeat feature has also Presets can be created for Region external audio interface. Multiple been improved. There are now con- menu operations for quick and easy inputs and outputs can be added trols in the Record Panel for ac- recall, and they can be assigned in one step, with custom naming tivating/deactivating Note Repeat, keystrokes. When dragging MIDI and color coding available. A drag- selecting the repeat rate, and turning or audio to a track, the user can and-drop interface can be used to on or off Note Erase. The gate time now choose relative, absolute, or change the order of the inputs. New can be set for notes, with key or poly Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 automatic snap-to-grid. Two tools can Import and Export functions in the pressure controlling the note velocity. be designated as primary and alternate input/output setup section can be A remote mode allows the functions tools so that the user can quickly useful when switching between of the Note Repeat to be set from a and easily switch between them interfaces or studios. keyboard controller. using the “X” key on the computer Edit groups and mix groups can be The Advanced Authoring Format keyboard. defined by volume, pan, mute/solo, (AAF) is supported for exchanging Digital Performer now supports inserts, and sends attributes. A single data between DAWs. The user can VST3 instruments and plug-ins. click is used to edit, activate, and embed WAV or AIFF files, split stereo A new 5-GB library of more than suspend groups, and a new command tracks, and copy audio files in both 300 instruments, 1,100 instrument allows all groups to be immediately formats at a selected resolution and presets, , 500 loops, enabled or disabled. Groups can also sample rate. Pan automation can and phrases has been included. In be nested. also be exported. A legacy mode is addition, there are 6 GB of loops and A new Plug-In Manager displays providing for use with applications sample packs from other developers a list of all third-party plug-ins that that support the earlier AAF 1.0 and music producers included for were detected during a scan at startup. format. Videos can be exported with free. These include libraries from The user can choose to show or hide the audio mixdown used as the Big Fish Audio, Lucidsamples, and individual plug-ins or groups of plug- soundtrack. AAC (M4A) and ALAC Loopmasters. ins. The CPU for Native virtual (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) are now Digital Performer 10 is listed instrument plug-ins has been reduced supported. for US$ 499 with reduced pricing by 70 percent and third-party plug- The look of the External Device for existing users. Contact: Mark ins by 30 percent, according to the panel and the QWERTY keyboard of the Unicorn (MOTU), 1280 developer. have been improved. There is a Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, The user interface of the Pipeline scaling option for third-party plug-ins Massachusetts 02138, USA: Web XT plug-in has been changed and with standard resolution, that allows www.motu.com. additional features added. This plug- them to be displayed at the normal in allows the user to insert hardware size on high-resolution 4K and 5K processors into a session. The latency screens on Windows 10, and a high- PreSonus 4.5 is now automatically measured and DPI mode is available for use with compensated for, the maximum delay Windows 7. PreSonus has released an updated has been increased to 32,000 samples, A new Chord Track has been version of their Studio One DAW. and text notes can now be saved built in to Studio One to help make Version 4.5 improves efficiency and with presets, alongside customized the process of prototyping songs workflow, and adds new functionality background color, images, and device easier. It includes a chord detection to the application. names. function for extracting chords from A single interface gives access to Major changes have also been audio and instrument tracks, flexible audio tracks (an unlimited number are made to the MIDI editing features, transposition, key modulation, and available), editing tools, and virtual with a range of new note actions chord substitution features. instruments. The Input Channel added. These can be used manually The former Impact drum module section has been updated to include or assigned to keyboard shortcuts and has now been changed to the Impact hardware preamplifier controls for included in Macro commands which XT beat and loop production environ- PreSonus audio interfaces. There are in turn can be added to a Macro ment, which has more than 20 new software controls for input gain and Toolbar. Note actions include Fill features including beat quantization, phase on all inputs, as well as on with Notes, Randomize Notes, Apply real-time time stretching, automatic effects channels and buses. It is now Scale, and Mirror Notes. slicing of samples, color coding of

176 Computer Music Journal parts, and editing tools for pads and The user can export movies, with approximately US$ 20 and US$ 30. samples. or without the audio track, and using Contact: Non-Lethal Applications, The new Sample One XT is a a selection of video and audio codecs. Isarstrasse 14, 83026 Rosenheim, sampler with tools for slicing and re- H.264/AVC (Advanced Video Coding, Germany; e-mail info@non-lethal arranging loops and beats. Audio can MPEG-4 Part 10) and Apple’s Pro Res -applications.com; Web www.non be sampled from tracks, instruments, formats are supported. Overlays can -lethal-applications.com. inputs, buses, or outputs and sam- be superimposed on to the picture to Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 pled, automatically sliced, stretched, act as visual cues. These can range and processed. from on/off for timecode or frames, ADAPTR Metric AB Mix Studio One 4.5 Professional is to timed overlays for streamers, Reference Plug-In listed for US$ 399.95 and a reduced- markers, and flutter. Timed overlays feature Artist edition is listed for can be specified directly or set to The Metric AB plug-in allows the US$ 99.95. Contact: PreSonus Audio trigger from a DAW or MIDI devices. user to easily compare their current Electronics, Inc., 18011 Grand Bay Up to eight audio channels per mix to a reference mix (see Figure 4). Court, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809, track can be played. Audio files can It can be used on the master channel USA; Web www.presonus.com. be dragged to a track as you would to compare a particular mix to other with a DAW. The audio waveform versions, to mixes for a specific is displayed and features such as medium (for example, CD or iTunes), Non-Lethal Applications’ Video routing, solo, mute, volume, and pan, or to preferred mixes created by Slave 4 can be adjusted for individual tracks. other sound engineers. The plug-in is A Media Bin is provided to keep applied after all other processing has Video Slave 4 is an application for track of files. Video Slave projects can been carried out. Up to 16 reference synchronizing video playback using include several different timelines, tracks can be dragged and dropped MIDI time code (MTC) and MIDI each of which can be made up of into the plug-in for comparison. A Machine Control (MMC). It can be several video and audio tracks. large A/B button then allows users to used with any device that generates A Video Slave 4 Pro version of the easily switch between the current mix timecode as a source, including software is also available and this adds and the reference mix of their choice. all major DAWs. The developers support for movies that use the MXF There are a number of playback promote its fast locking time and container, for Blackmagic Design and modes, including options to synchro- tight synchronization as being among AJA devices with resolutions up to nize and latch the reference track its selling points. The application 4K, for genlock, and for the Syphon with a DAW. Users can adjust the has previously only been available framework that allows sharing videos gain by ±18 dB in 0.1-dB increments for Macintosh computers but this on Mac OS. It also allows importing of or they can chose a volume-matching latest version of the software has CSV, ADR Studio XML, and SRT/STL function that automatically matches been rewritten to allow for Windows subtitle formats. Pace licensing is the volume of the reference track to versions to be developed in the future. used for the software and this allows that of the current mix track. Among the biggest changes to users to move licenses between Up to four cue points can be Video Slave 4 is a change from studios, if needed. dragged and dropped onto the wave- a playlist-based to timeline-based Video Slave 4 is currently only form and dragged into position. Loops approach. Along with playing back available for Mac OS 10.10 or later. can also be set and they can be easily video and audio on a computer Eight GB RAM and 1 GB VRAM resized using double and half-size monitor, the application supports is recommended for optimal use. A buttons and moved forwards and video devices such as Blackmagic 14-day demonstration version with backwards in time. The graphical dis- Design’s DeckLink, UlstraStudio, video watermarking is available play can be set to show the waveform and Intensity products. If using an for download. The software can be of a selected signal (A or B), to show external device for video playback, purchased outright or on a monthly both tracks on separate panels, or to the video will also be displayed basis. Discounted pricing is available show both waveforms together in a on Video Slave’s built-in player at for existing users. layered single wave. the same time. A projection delay Video Slave 4 is listed for US$ 339 Filters are provided with 12- and compensation feature is available for and the Pro version for US$ 532. Al- 24-dB slopes and presets are included when using a projector. ternatively, a one-month license costs for sub, bass, low mid, mid, and

Products of Interest 177 Figure 4. ADAPTR’s Metric AB plug-in. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

high frequency ranges. The output frequency ranges to show where they users or they can select from a choice meters display peak and root mean are out of phase. The History meter of presets, and the difference between square (RMS) values for the A and B shows the correlation values over the current and target values is then signals. The user can zoom into the a specific duration of between 10 graphically displayed. Autoscaling, top section of the scale (−18 dB) or seconds and 10 minutes. A Stereo window size, and pre- and post-filter view the full range of −48 dB. There Image meter displays the tracks with options are available. The loudness are buttons for mono, left, right, and power on the x-axis and frequency meters show the values for integrated, sides monitoring options. on the y-axis, to allow comparisons short term, and momentary loudness, There are five different analysis in left and right gain across the as well as true peak, RMS, and peak to and metering options provided to frequency spectrum. The correlation loudness ratio. A target loudness level the user. A Spectrum Meter gives a and stereo image meters both have a full scale can be set and broadcast choice of plot, octave, third octave, choice of plot, octave, third octave, standards such as EBU R128 are critical, and multiband graph options critical, and multiband graphs, along supported. and peak, hold, and average buttons. with range, hold, and average buttons. The plug-in supports WAV, MP3, There are also two correlation meters: A dynamics meter uses a peak to AIFF, and FLAC audio formats. It is Meters and History. The first is a short-term ratio (PSR) algorithm to compatible with Mac OS 10 .9 to multiband correlation meter that analyze the dynamic range of the 10.13, and with Windows 7 to 10, measures the signals across different signal. A target value can be set by and is available in AAX Native, AAX

178 Computer Music Journal Figure 5. FabFilter’s Pro Q3 equalizer plug-in. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

AudioSuite, AU, VST2, and VST3 tures. Hundreds of instances of the formats up to Dolby Atmos 7.1.2 are formats. plug-in can be used simultaneously supported and the user can adjust The Metric AB plug-in is listed in a session as the plug-in uses little the equalization settings of multiple for US$ 199. Contact: Plugin Al- CPU and memory. channels together. When used with liance LLC, 518 Ocean St, Suite A, A large interactive equalizer dis- stereo signals, the plug-in can be Santa Cruz, California 95060, USA; play forms the center of the plug-in’s applied to mid, side, left, or right Web www.plugin-alliance.com/en interface. From here, the user can channels. Individual frequency bands /products/adptr metricab.html. create up to 24 bands, enable dynamic can be set to process the mid, side, equalization for any band, and select left, right, or the whole stereo chan- and edit multiple bands together. A nel together. The plug-in can operate Dynamic Range ring surrounds the in zero latency, linear phase (with FabFilter Pro Q3 Equalizer gain knob and it can be used to apply adjustable latency), or natural phase Plug-In compression or expansion to a band. modes. An algorithm is available to automat- In addition to the bell, notch, The Pro Q3 from Dutch plug-in de- ically set attack, release, and knee high/low shelf, high/low cut, and veloper FabFilter is a new and major settings. The threshold can be set band-pass of previous editions, the update to the company’s 24-band manually or automatically to match plug-in now has two new filter types equalizer plug-in (see Figure 5). The the input signal. in this latest version. There is a new upgrade retains the plug-in’s user- The Pro Q3 plug-in automati- Flat Tilt, which applies a flat tilting friendly design, while improving cally configures to the multichannel correlation curve to the spectrum, functionality and adding new fea- format of the host track. Surround and a tile shelf filter. The low- and

Products of Interest 179 high-cut filters also have a new SIR Audio Tools SIR3 Reverb damping, dynamics, and convolution brickwall slope setting. Plug-In routing. The spectrum analyzer can be used There is a file-browser section in to view the frequency make-up of SIR3 Reverb is a high-quality au- the plug-in window for the plug-in the signal preequalizer, postequal- dio convolution reverb with zero- library. It only displays files that have ization, and of external signals. The latency processing, low CPU use, been loaded into the plug-in. Both the analyzer has adjustable range, speed, factory impulse responses and user and 33 HDIR impulse responses. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 resolution, tilt, and freeze settings. A The HDIR were created by Pinguin impulse responses are accessed here. collision detection feature has been Ingenieurburo¨ from Hamburg. The Files can be imported in SIR, SIR3, added to identify clashes between impulses can be modified with a WAV, AIF, FLAC, and OGG formats. the source signal and any instance of range of envelope processing func- Presets can be stored and they include the plug-in. A spectrum grab feature tions, including volume, low-pass amplitude/filter envelope, predelay allows the user to grab a peak and filter, high-pass filter, width, and pan (up to 2,000 msec), pitch, equalizer, adjust it in real time. envelope. channel configuration, and start/stop The display can be set to 3-dB The plug-in has a flexible modu- locators. or 6-dB ranges when mastering, and lation section for shaping the audio The plug-in is available in VST, 12 dB and 30 dB when mixing. A signal. The user can choose to trans- VST3, AU, and AAX formats. It is phase invert is available to change form certain parts of the signal, such compatible with Windows 7 and the polarity of the signal. The EQ as the head or tail, or the entire sig- higher, and with Mac OS 10.9 and Match feature has been improved, nal. There is a multistage delay with newer editions. A downloadable allowing the user to automatically random pitch and random amplitude demonstration versions is available match the current source signal modulation in the feedback path. from the SIR Web site. against the spectrum of another Dynamic processing is also included SIR3 is listed for US$ 189. instance of the plug-in or an external to provide gated reverberation and Contact: SIR Audio Tools, Chris- signal. ducking within the plug-in. tian Knufinke, Friedrichstr. 12, Among the other notable features All controls and displays for the 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; e-mail are a piano roll display that allows plug-in are available in a single [email protected]; Web frequencies to be viewed as musi- window. The waveform display can www.siraudiotools.com. cal notes, auto gain and gain scale be linear or logarithmic and there is settings, a large output level meter a separate early reflections display. with peak level, an undo/redo but- There is a predelay in the basic ton, A/B switch, smart parameter Acon Digital Verberate 2 Reverb control sections that sets the delay Plug-In interpolation for smooth transitions, time between the dry signal and the sample-accurate automation, and start of the impulse response, a decay Acon Digital has released a new and help features. setting to control the amplification updated version of their algorithmic The plug-in is available in VST, over time, a pitch setting to up/down- reverberation plug-in, Verberate. It VST3, AU, AAX Native, and Audio- sample the impulse response, and an supports sampling rates up to 96 kHz Suite formats. It can be purchased early reflection cap with a range of 40 and can process in mono and stereo. separately or as part of the com- dB and a 300-msec timespan. The graphic interface of the plug- pany’s Total bundle, a collection of A minimal phase equalizer filters in has been designed to be easy to 14 plug-ins including professional the wet signal and has its own use and uncluttered. It features a equalizer, reverb, compressor, multi- visual display. The filter value can graphic visualization of the equalizer band dynamics, limiter, de-esser, be changed graphically by dragging frequency response and the frequency gate/expander, multiband distortion, points on the display or specific dependent reverb times. delay, filter, and synthesizer plug-in. values can be entered by keyboard. Fifteen early reflection patterns are The Pro Q3 plug-in is listed for The spectrum analyzer can be set to available and these are convolution US$ 179 and the Total bundle for display in analog IIR or FFT style. reverbs that are calculated in real US$ 859. Contact: Fab Filter, Keiz- The interface has level meters and time. These early reflections are fol- ersgracht 467, 1017 DK Amsterdam, faders for the dry and wet mix, and lowed by a dense resonance-free late Netherlands; e-mail info@fabfilter controls for head/tail modulation, .com; Web www.fabfilter.com. reverb tail to provide realistic room

180 Computer Music Journal simulations. A decay editor allows the e-mail [email protected]; Web are eight banks of controls so that user to set up reverberation tails with www.acondigital.com. users can copy and save variations on frequency-dependent reverberation their settings. times. There are bell, shelving, and The plug-in is available in 32- and high- and low-pass filters provided DMG Audio Multiplicity 64-bit versions for Windows XP and and their slopes can be continuously Mastering Plug-In higher or Mac OS 10.5 and higher, in adjusted. The visual display for the VST, VST3, AAX, and AU formats. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 decay editor and the output equalizer Multiplicity is a mastering plug-in Multiplicity is listed for approxi- have handles that can be dragged to for repairing and enhancing audio. mately US$ 225. Contact: DMG Au- adjust the filter band settings. It features multiband compression, dio; e-mail [email protected]; This second edition of the plug-in expansion, gating, and a dynamic Web www.dmgaudio.com. includes a new Vivid Hall algorithm, equalizer. At its core, Multiplicity is which is time-variant to simulate the a multiband processor that splits the random variations in air currents, audio signal into up to eight bands for or movements of the performers or dynamic processing. The bands can Blue Cat Audio MB-5 Dynamix audience that naturally affect in the be grouped together in a multiband Plug-In reverb tail. This version of the plug-in crossover or operate independently has also improved its simulation of of each other. The plug-in features The MB-5 Dynamix (see Figure 6) is mechanical plate reverbs. There is dual-stage dynamic handling, which a multiband dynamics processor that now a Dispersion parameter that isolates transients and dual-time can be used as a compressor, lim- can be used simulate the way in release (which DMG Audio states iter, gate, expander, or waveshaper, which high frequencies travel faster eradicates the pumping effects that individually or in combination. Sug- than low frequencies in metal plates. can be caused by high compression). gested applications for the plug-in A new Swirl parameter simulates Both global and individual gain pa- are dynamics correction, mastering, the feedback modulation of vintage rameters can be set. The user can also maximizing loudness, de-essing, pop digital reverbs. There are a large control per-band dry gain, dual-stage removal, multiband wave-shaping, collection of categorized factory release (along with RMS detection and spectrum-based side-chain ef- presets loaded into the plug-in, which and crest control), lookahead time, fects. The latest release, version 2, the user can add to. and dynamics. There is an external has a new zoomable (70–200 percent) There is also a surround sound sidechain input and a three-band interface, support for external side version of the plug-in available, sidechain equalizer function. An chains, and improved algorithms. Verberate Immersive 2. It supports oversampling mode can be used in The plug-in can have up to five surround sound and immersive audio real time or offline to reduce aliasing. bands with crossover filters from up to 7.1.6 channels. The user has An auto gain function uses the ITU- 6to60dBperoctave.Aninternal control over the three-dimensional 1770 loudness algorithm to calculate side-chain/envelope routing function panning of the dry sound, as well the perceived change in gain between allows a band to trigger the dynamics as late reverberations, and early the input and output signals and then response on others. There is a dry/wet reflections. automatically sets the output trim to control for parallel processing. Stereo Verberate 2 is available in 32- and alter the output signal accordingly. and mid-side processing is possible, 64-bit versions for Windows and Mac The plug-in has a spectrum an- with the ability to link multiple OS, in VST, AAX, and AU formats. alyzer for configuring crossovers, channels. A brickwall limiter/clipper It is compatible with Windows 7 per-band displays for dynamics and is available on the output. External and higher and Mac OS 10.8 and sidechain equalizer, and zoomable side-chaining allows the output from higher operating systems. Four GB per-band sidechain metering. Param- the dynamics processing stage to be RAM and 1 GB of hard disk space is eters can be linked and locked, and a used to control other plug-ins. The recommended. MIDI learn function is available for output parameters can be recorded Verberate 2 is listed for US$ 99, each. as automation curves and MIDI and Verberate 2 Immersive for The user interface is fully resizable control change messages can be US$ 199, with discounts for ex- and supports Macintosh Retina dis- output to other plug-ins. The visual isting users. Contact: Acon AS, Ly- plays. Presets can be saved for entire display includes the input/output bekkveien 29C, 0770 Oslo, Norway; instances or individual bands. There levels, dynamics response curves,

Products of Interest 181 Figure 6. Blue Cat Audio’s MB-5 Dynamix plug-in.

There are eleven different kinds of synthesized noise to choose from in the Noise layer. These include band, violet, blue, white, pink, brown, Lorenz, Rossler, logistic, sinus, and S+H noise. The two texture layers are made up of field recordings and syn- Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 thesized sound sources organized into categories that include air, electricity, fire, material, metal, motor, noise, wa- ter, wind, orchestral, distorted, rock, and synth. These three layers/sound sources have amplitude envelopes, multimode filters, and controls for stereo placement, tilt, and pitch. The envelope editor allows the user to draw envelopes to edit each either independently or together, and there are Time and Amplitude Nudge, and Smooth functions. There are three imaging modes: mono, stereo, and wide. Pitch can be modulated with a Doppler-type effect or by using one of three given envelope shapes. The envelopes can be stretched using a Warp Slider. The duration can be set to seconds (up to 32) or musical divisions (up to 16 bars), and looping is available for creating rhythmic effects. A vowel filter can be applied to compression ratio, and a spectrogram users. Contact: Blue Cat Audio 231 any of the three layers. A top and with adjustable contrast. rue Saint Honore,´ 75001 Paris, France; bottom vowel sound are selected and The MB-5 Dynamix has no latency e-mail [email protected]; the envelope editor then used to set and, when not actively processing, Web www.bluecataudio.com. the transitions for morphing between the plug-in does not put any load on the two. The FX tab of the interface the host computer’s CPU. The user gives the user access to a convolver, can also activate and deactivate the five-band equalizer, delay, IR reverb, plug-in silently, without creating any UVI Whoosh FX Plug-In and limiter. noise. There are 545 samples included The plug-in is compatible with Whoosh is a sound design plug-in for with the plug-in and 402 presets. The Mac OS 10.7 and higher and Windows creating wind and whoosh effects. It sample resolution is 48 kHz. The Vista, 7, and higher operating systems. features three layers—one noise and plug-in requires 2 GB of space and It is available in 32- and 64-bit AAX, two textures—that can be blended to 4 GB RAM. It is compatible with Mac AU, VST, and VST3 formats. A create the desired sound. There are OS 10.8 and higher and demonstration version that allows a choice of preset envelopes to apply and 10. It is available in AU, AAX, five instances of the plug-in per to the sound or the user can draw and VST plug-in formats, and as a session can be downloaded from the their own, and there is a Doppler, a standalone application via the UVI company’s Web site. morphing vowel filter, convolution, Workstation. MB5 Dynamix is listed for equalizer delay, and a limiter to Whoosh FX is listed for US$ 149. US$ 149, with reductions for existing transform the sound further. Contact: UVI; Web www.uvi.net.

182 Computer Music Journal Mixed In Key, Key Detection The analysis of the audio begins genre and artist presets. More than Plug-In when the user plays the relevant 100 artist chord sets from renowned channel/track. A Pause button stops producers have been included. Eight Mixed In Key Studio Edition is a key the analysis but keeps the results on internal sounds are provided for detection plug-in that can be used screen and a Clear button resets all auditioning chords and VST/AU within a DAW to identify the key of of the data. Up to eight cue points instruments can be assigned to the can be stored for each track. The Scale plug-in. There is a one-finger samples or tracks in real time. The Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 plug-in displays information about energy level of each track is rated on chord feature, as well as an arpeggio the notes and the root key of the a scale of 1 to 10 to help the user put and strum feature. track. It can be used by producers together playlists. The latest release The basic diatonic chords from and DJs to mix tracks in the same of the plug-in allows MP3 and WAV the scale are shown to the user, or related keys, avoiding tracks that files to be added, cleaning up and and a range of variations on these will clash, or to tune drums, analyze customizing of ID3 tags, and includes (suspended, extended, dominant sev- a track, and retune samples within a a piano for checking results. A three- enths, and jazz chords), as well as DAW. Mixed In Key can be used with day demonstration version of the chord substitutions, can be viewed. individual tracks or on send or master software is available. It is available in Users can add new chords of their buses. It can also be used to analyze VST and AU formats for Mac OS and own to the preset bank and edit, audio in real time. Windows. transpose, and invert chords. Chords The interface has two main dis- Mixed In Key Studio Edition is and progressions can be easily ex- plays: notes and keys. In Notes mode, listed for US$ 58. Contact: Mixed ported as MIDI to a DAW by dragging twelve vertical bars represent the fre- In Key; e-mail contact@mixedinkey and dropping. quency with which each note of the .com; Web www.mixedinkey.com. When using Scaler with VST hosts, chromatic scale is detected and the the plug-in is loaded onto a MIDI track as an instrument plug-in and overall key is displayed above this, Plug-in Boutique Scaler Key with a probability factor expressed the output is sent to a second track as a percentage. The user can choose Detection Plug-In which hosts the target instrument. from Flat, Sharp, or Camelot notation With Audio Unit (AU) hosts, a MIDI for the results. Camelot notation is Scaler is a MIDI key/scale detection effect plug-in is loaded on the same based on the Camelot Wheel, which and chord suggestion plug-in from track as the target instrument and is a visual representation of related Plug-in Boutique. It works out the outputs MIDI to it. major and minor keys to help those key and scale of a sample or track, Scaler is available for Windows without an understanding of music and then suggests chords that would and Macintosh in VST, AU, and theory make decisions about which match that key to the user and VST formats. It is listed for approx- tracks would work well together or in presents them for audition. It can be imately US$ 63. Contact: Plugin sequence. used to analyze MIDI played in real Boutique, Unit C, Level 7, New Eng- In Key mode, there are similar time or an existing track. The real- land House, New England Street, vertical bars for all possible major time note and chord information can Brighton, BN1 4GH, UK; e-mail: and minor keys and the virtual be displayed in piano roll notation, [email protected]; Web sliders/bars rise and fall as the audio on a MIDI keyboard, or on a guitar www.pluginboutique.com. is analyzed and a decision made fretboard. The plug-in detects the chords inputted to it and suggests a about the key. If there is certainty Hornet SongKey MK3 Key about the key the vertical slider will number of different scales and modes be at its highest level, representing that they might belong to. These are Detector Plug-In 100 percent certainty. If there is ranked according to the number of uncertainty, the sliders for multiple notes and chords in the track that fit SongKey MK3 is a key and chord keys will be raised a level that each of the suggestions. detector plug-in from Hornet Plug- indicates the probability of the audio There are twelve keys built into ins. It analyzes an audio or MIDI being in each key. The final decision, the plug-in across 23 scale and mode stream in real time and identifies the with the likelihood expressed as a types. With a range of voicing options key of the track and individual chords percentage, is shown at the top of the available, over 2,000 scale and modes as they are played. It can be used screen. are available and categorized into to detect the key of an entire song

Products of Interest 183 Figure 7. A screenshot of the Audiobus routing app for iOS.

or individual samples when creating new tracks. As the audio is playing the upper part of the interface shows the notes detected and the current chord anal- ysis in real time. The plug-in uses artificial intelligence algorithms that Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 were trained with models for chord identification. The lower half of the interface displays the key informa- tion, which comes from an analysis of the chords using a statistical chord progression model. The estimated key is shown in large blue lettering but the interface also displays a list of the three most probable keys, along with a confidence level for each. There is a Reset button, which allows the user to start the analysis over. A Follow Key Change button tasks the plug-in with trying to detect key changes within the song, rather than treating it as being in a constant key throughout. The chord detection feature has been can be used to connect external MIDI pipelines, can be treated indepen- extended to recognize sevenths, keyboards or controllers, as well as dently now, which allows the volume fifths, and suspended chords in this internal sequencers and arpeggiators, to the controlled for each pipeline and latest version of the plug-in, and the to virtual synthesizers. Live audio or mutes to be independently applied. A GUI is vector drawn and resizable. MIDI can be sent between apps that gain slider is available for hardware The plug-in is available in VST2.4, supports Audiobus or AU. inputs. Audiobus 3.4 is compatible VST3, and AAX formats for 64-bit The latest release, Audiobus 3.4, with iOS 9.0 and later. Macintosh and Windows operating incorporates a number of improve- It is listed on the App Store for systems. ments to the workflow of the app, as US$ 9.99. The MIDI Learn is an addi- SongKey MK3 is listed for ap- well as new features. A new MIDI tional in-app purchase for US$ 2.99. proximately US$ 12. Contact Hornet clock sync allows external MIDI Contact: Audiobus; e-mail con- Plug-ins; e-mail [email protected]; devices to be synchronized and Au- [email protected]; Web www.audiob.us. Web www.hornetplugins.com. diobus can now also act as a bridge between Link and MIDI clock. Users can now add presets to their current Audiobus 3.4 Routing System session. A number of improvements Kymatica AUM Audio Mixer for iOS have been made to the MIDI Learn App for iOS functionality, including the ability to Audiobus is a routing system iOS app switch presets, adjust ranges, more Kymatica’s AUM app is an audio (see Figure 7) for audio and MIDI that configuration options on toggle ac- mixer for iOS that also functions is compatible with more than 1,000 tions, and using MIDI output to as a plug-in host, a recorder, and apps. It allows the user to connect the control sessions. connection hub (see Figure 8). It output of one audio app to the input of A virtual MIDI Bridge allows MIDI supports sample rates up to 96 kHz another with virtual cables, creating to be input from apps that do not at 32-bit sample depth. The app can chains of synthesizers, loopers, and support Audiobus or the IAA stan- be connected to hardware inputs effects which can be then recorded dard. MIDI hardware and virtual and outputs, AU extensions, Inter- in a DAW. Similarly, with MIDI it MIDI inputs that are used in different App Audio (IAA) apps, Audiobus

184 Computer Music Journal Figure 8. Kymatica’s AUM audio mixer app for iOS. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

apps, sound file players, and built-in The app has a number of built- compensation is built in to ensure signal processors. Flexible routing in signal processing tools includ- that the outputs are aligned. The app allows audio to be routed to mix- ing a parametric equalizer, filters is6.7MBinsize. busses, effects sends, Audiobus ports, (low-shelf, high-shelf, low-pass, high- AUM is listed on the App Store and external multichannel audio pass, and first- and second-order for US$ 18.99. Contact: Kymatica; interfaces. all-pass filters), dynamics (gain, e-mail [email protected]; Web AUM can act as a host for instru- hard clip, saturation, look-ahead www.Kymatica.com. ments that can be played using the peak limiter), and a range of stereo/ built-in keyboard or external MIDI mid-side balancing utility functions. controllers. The inserts and sends Inter-App Audio and AU extensions apeSoft apeMatrix can be configured pre- or post-fader. can also be used with the app for Recordings, sound files, and loops can effects and instruments. The mixer apeMatrix is an AU and IAA routing be played back and used as channel and hosted plug-in parameters can be app for iOS (see Figure 9). It allows sources in the mixer for further pro- controlled by MIDI. the user to link MIDI and audio cessing and mixing. Individual tracks The app supports Ableton Link, tools and effects, and to modulate and mixes can be recorded to the which allows it to synchronize wire- built-in and AUv3 plug-in parameters company’s AudioShare file manager lessly with and other with its Control Manager MIDI, without needing to be copied and Link-enabled iOS apps. A MIDI clock Accelerometer, Scrub, and LFOs. pasted. There are an unlimited num- can be used to synchronize with hard- The app has three matrix grids for ber of channels available, as well as ware. A metronome with a pre-roll audio, each with ten slots, allowing an unlimited number of effects slots. feature is built in to the app. Latency hosting of up to 30 plug-ins in total.

Products of Interest 185 Figure 9. apeSoft’s apeMatrix routing app for iOS. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

There are also two audio bus slots on apeMatrix is listed on the App with two on/off pads and RBG LED. each grid for connecting all three of Store for US$ 11.99. Contact: apeSoft; Slider is a linear potentiometer with the matrixes together. An additional Web www.apesoft.it. 4,096 steps and 12-bit resolution. three matrixes act as MIDI patch- The Pot module features a 270-degree bays to provide routing and control rotary potentiometer, again with functions for internal and external Special Waves Mine S Modular 4,096 steps and 12-bit resolution. MIDI control. A configurable MIDI Controller Encoder is an infinite encoder module keyboard is provided within the app. with a mappable push button and A gain control is provided for each Mine S is a modular controller with a green LED ring. There is also a audio connection on the grid and component parts that can be swapped Blank module for covering empty each slot has a control switch to in and out of the casing by the user space. turn it on and off. A built-in mixer is to create a customized hardware All of the modules measure 21.5 × available for controlling the output, controller for audio, lights, video, and 21.5 mm, except the Slider module, pan, mute, and solo of each slot, and effects (see Figure 10). The individual which is 60 mm long and takes up the the master output. There is also a modules are hot-swappable so they space of three of the regular modules. presets manager and a file manager can be removed and added during Up to 32 modules can be inserted into that allows audio files to be shared live performance. There are currently the casing in various combinations of with iTunes, Dropbox, AudioCopy, six modules developed, with more horizontal and vertical orientations. and AudioShare. The app supports planned. The type, orientation, and position sampling rates up to 96 kHz and The Pad is a pressure-sensitive pad of the modules are automatically variable buffer sizes. with RGB LED. 2Buttons is a module detected.

186 Computer Music Journal Figure 10. The Modular MineS controller with swappable components. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

The Mine S controller connects to are the modular building blocks The Audio processing tiles in- a computer through USB. It can be of the system. They are quarter- clude an MPA DSP processor with powered through this USB connection rack size and can have a designated multicore SHARC DSP, an Analog-to- or using an external power supply. function, such as control, mixer, or Digital / Digital-to-Analog Convertor, The brightness of the LEDs on the synth blocks, or the user can create which can be ordered with or without modules is reduced when powering customized blocks that combine preamplifiers, and an MPA “Dino the device through USB. There is also functions. They are assembled from Park” Synthesis DSP Core. a MIDI input and output port on the preconstructed component MPA tiles Finally, the Compute tile is a Pi side panel. that are installed onto rails (multiples Tile with a mount for Raspberry A software application is available of 27.5 mm in length) with faceplates Pi. It runs the GLUE distributed to map the physical controls to to fit the chosen height (43, 88, and network software framework, which parameters with DAWs and other 110 mm). The blocks require only a provides the network configuration software. MIDI, HID, OSC, DMX, screwdriver for assembly. and control for the connected blocks. and Artnet standards are supported. Prebuilt Control, Connect, Audio, An Arduino library is available for Mine S is currently listed on the and Compute tiles are available. connecting Arduino to the MPA Indiegogo funding platform with The range of Control tiles includes Blocks and GLUE. prices starting at US$ 285 for early- rotary encoders with push switch and There are three options for con- bird funders. Contact: Special Saves; touch sensing, full-color RGB switch necting tiles within a block: Control, e-mail [email protected]; Web pads, motorized 60- or 100-mm Audio, and Digital. A UCC Con- www.special-waves.com. faders with touch sensing, and an nector and six-pin ribbon transmits LCD display with two push-switch power and data in Control and Con- encoders. nect tiles and they also have a micro The choice for Connect tiles are an USB connector for connecting to a MakeProAudio MPA Maker analog XLR, TRS, and combination Compute tile. Any tile within the Platform XLR/TRS tile; an XLR and RCA tile UCC chain can make the USB con- for digital connection; a tile with nection to the Compute tile. Audio German company MakeProAudio has MIDI DIN5, MIDI 3.5 mm, and USB connections are made with a 16-pin announced the release of their MPA MIDI connectors; and a tile with USB ribbon cable, which carries four chan- Maker system for building custom, audio and Ethernet Audio over IP nels of balanced analog audio in one scalable audio gear. MPA Blocks ports. direction.

Products of Interest 187 Figure 11. The Joue´ MIDI controller. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

Contact: MakeProAudio, Sieg- Most of the modules can detect surface. Users can slide their finger burger Str. 2, 53819 Neunkirchen- velocity, vibrato, aftertouch, and along the circle perimeter to change Seelscheid, Germany; Web Y control, which allows them to the value of any parameter, much like www.makeproaudio.com. be used to expressively play digital a rotary encoder would. instruments and other sounds. Some Pads is a 4 × 4matrixof16 are single-slot modules, whereas pressure sensitive pads that can be Joue´ MIDI Controller others occupy two or three of the used to play percussion instruments available module slots. They can or to trigger loops or clips. Each of The Joue´ MIDI controller is a poly- be combined together to create new the pads detects velocity, vibrato, and phonic pressure sensor encased in types of controllers that suit the needs aftertouch. They can be configured an attractive wood and metal 36 × of the user. individually or as a group of pads. 13 × 15.6-cm case (see Figure 11). It is The simplest of the modules is Strip is the last of these simple, designed to be modular and to be used called Area. It is a single-slot blank single-slot modules. It is made up with a range of soft silicone overlays square that can be played by tapping of four control strips, which could that fit on top of the pressure sensor with the fingers or by sliding them be used like sliders. The strip can surface. The silicone modules are across its surface. This module can be used as vertical or horizontal magnetized so that they easily snap send out x, y,andz values as MIDI strips. into place in one of three available control change messages by default, Among the larger and more com- slots. The presence of a module in but the MIDI messages can also be set plex modules are Fretboard, Synth, a slot is detected by a built-in RFID by the user. Scaler, and Grand Clavier. Fretboard reader. Vertical location, horizontal Bubbles is another single-slot is a longer two-slot module that is location, and pressure can be de- module. It features four large pressure- designed to be played like a guitar or tected and trigger MIDI data to be sensitive, three-dimensional bubble string instrument. It has six strings, sent to a connected device. A USB-C controls and four assignable buttons nine frets, octave up/down buttons, port on the right-hand panel is pro- across the top. Each of the bubbles and two assignable buttons. Vibrato vided for connecting the controller to can detect x, y,andz values, and the and pitch bending can be switched on Macintosh and Windows computers. user can set the threshold value for or off. The controller supports MIDI Poly- pressure. The Synth module features a 1.5- phonic Expression (MPE) and it is Rounds is another single module octave keyboard, octave ± buttons, class-compliant. with four circles outlined on its and a further four assignable buttons.

188 Computer Music Journal It can measure aftertouch, vibrato, production was introduced to readers The MTZ panel has DVI-I, HDMI, and glissando. It takes up two slots in Products of Interest, Computer VGA, and USB Type A connection on the controller. Music Journal 37(3), 2013. The con- ports. The Scaler module takes up the trol surface featured a touchscreen The MTZ Multitouch Production full three slots of the controller. display and a multitouch mixer for Console is listed for US$ 2,999. It has 17 diatonic keys, intended controlling DAW software over its 24 Contact: Slate Media Technology; for use in playing tuned percussion channels. The new MTZ Multitouch Web www.slatemt.com. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 instruments, such as a xylophone. A Production Console is the latest in- selection of scales is available and novation in Slate’s Raven series and there are octave up/down buttons, it costs less than one-fifth the price of Icon Pro Audio Platform Nano two assignable buttons, a single the original. MIDI Control Surface three-dimensional bubble control, The MTZ is a 43-in wide 1.5-in and a horizontal pressure-sensitive deep projective capacitance panel The Platform Nano MIDI control touchstrip. with no bezel. It can respond to ten surface is the latest release in Icon The Grand Clavier is a 25-key, multitouch points. With Raven soft- Pro Audio’s set of extendable Plat- two-octave keyboard module. Also ware installed on the user’s computer, form modules. It can be connected has a strip of controls at the top, the touchscreen can be used to control to computers through USB 2.0 for including octave up/down, a hor- mixing, editing, and other functions tactile control of DAWs and music izontal touchstrip, two assignable of a DAW. Raven 3.5 software allows production applications. buttons, and a three-dimensional customized multitouch control of Pro The controller has one motorized bubble control. A UVI Sound Pack, Tools 10-12, Digital Performer, Logic fader and five rotary encoder knobs, which has specially produced for Pro X, Cubase/Nuendo, Ableton Live, which are used to set and enter pa- the Joue´ controller, is also included and Studio One. rameter values with rotate and press with the Grand Clavier. It includes The Raven’s 100-mm virtual mul- actions. The main encoder is sur- MPE expressive presets, acoustic titouch faders can be integrated with rounded by an eleven-segment LED instruments, and electronic sounds. a DAW to enable control of its faders. ring. There are backlit mute, solo, Purchase of this module includes the A Fine Fader option gives four times transport and automation buttons, Joue´ Editor application, which can be the resolution of the regular faders, to and track buttons for selecting in- used to adjust the MIDI mappings of ensure minute movements are picked dividual channels. Eight color-coded each module, manage presets, and to up. Multitouch gestures can be iden- function buttons can be used to adjust tunings and scales of specific tified using the Gestures software switch between function controls modules. and used to carry out tasks such as across five different color layers. A A range of packages and pricing zooming in and out, or opening and centrally placed jog wheel has direc- options is available for the Joue.´ closing plug-ins. tional (up/down and left/right) zoom The board itself can be purchased The Raven Toolbar is usually keys. The user can bank tracks into separately for US$ 386, with the small positioned at the bottom of the groups of eight for use with larger one-slot modules for US$ 18, the two- touch screen. It includes a set of mixes. A twelve-segment LED dis- slot modules for US$ 29, and the commonly used control functions play is used to show the time and largest modules for US$ 37. Bundles such as transport buttons, edit/mix location, and it can be set to show of boards and modules can also be window selector, undo, create group, SMPTE or MIDI beat clock. purchased. Contact: Joue´ SAS, 2 Quai etc. It is customizable so users can The Platform Nano supports both de Brazza, 33100 Bordeaux, France; add their most used functions here. Mackie Control and HUI protocols for e-mail [email protected];´ Web The Batch Command System is a set integrating with a range of software www.play-Joue.com.´ of preset and customizable buttons for application. Overlays are included running up to 1,000 commands and for use with X, Digital mouse clicks automatically. It has Performer, Cubase, ProTools, Reaper, Slate Media Technology MTZ 100 preset commands already built FL Studio, Ableton Live, Sonar, Multitouch Production Console in for each DAW that it supports. Reason, Samplitude, and Bitwig. The Slate Remote app for iOS gives iMapTM software is used to map Slate Media Technology’s Raven mul- the user access to custom batch MIDI functions and for firmware titouch control surface for music commands. upgrades.

Products of Interest 189 Figure 12. The Buchla Thunder overlay for Sensel’s Morph control surface. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

The Platform Nano can also be Sensel Morph Buchla Thunder MIDI controller. Originally used with the Icon Pro Audio’s Thunder Overlay created in 1989, the Thunder con- Platform D2 13.2 × 2.9-in modular troller had an array of touch-sensitive display unit. This is a backlit 2 × 56 Sensel’s Morph is a multitouch, pres- key strips that used capacitive tech- LCD display that can control channel sure sensitive control surface that is nology to detect the location and information including name and made up of 20,000 pressure sensors. It pressure of a finger press. The con- control values. The Platform Nano is was introduced to readers in Products troller had an iconic hexagonal-like also designed to fit alongside other of Interest, Computer Music Jour- shape and unique ergonomic key controllers in the series and there nal 41(3), 2017. The control surface placement. The value of any key is a port for connecting to them on measures 240 × 169.5 × 6.75 mm touch, pressure, and location could the rear panel. The control surface and weighs 0.4 kg, making it easily be assigned to any MIDI controller or measures 21.5 × 19.5 × 5.5 cm. portable. It features USB, Bluetooth note number on any channel. It had It is compatible with Mac OS and LE, and serial connectivity, and is an 80-character display and buttons Windows 7, 8, and 10. compatible with Windows, Mac OS for menu options. With only 100 of Contact: Icon Global, Unit F, X, Linux, iOS, and Arduino. A number the controllers made, very few mu- 15/F., Fu Cheung Centre, No. 5-7, of flexible overlays have been created sicians and performers have had the Wong Chuk Yeung Street, Sha Tin, to turn the surface into a playable opportunity to work and play with Fotan, N.T., Hong Kong; e-mail instrument or MIDI controller. The the Thunder. [email protected]; Web available overlays include: piano, Sensel’s Buchla Thunder over- iconproaudio.com; North Ameri- drum kit, MIDI controller, video lay for the Morph control surface can distributor: Mixware, 11070 editing, gaming, and tactile computer reproduces the interface of the orig- Fleetwood Street – Unit F., Sun keyboard. inal Thunder controller (see Figure Valley, California 91352, USA; Web The most recent addition to 12). It was developed jointly with www.mixware.net. the overlay collection is a Buchla Buchla USA. The overlay has 27

190 Computer Music Journal Figure 13. The F8n field recorder from Zoom. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

continuously sensitive control areas The side panels of the F8n feature microphone capsules are located on arranged in a similar layout to the eight combination Neutrik XLR/TRS the rear panel. original. Each control can be used jack ports for microphone and line The F8n records in BWF- with standard MIDI or with MPE, level inputs. Each input port has a compatible WAV formats at sample which allows parameters such as lock and can be used as a camera re- rates up to 192 kHz and 24-bit resolu- pressure, pitch bend and timbre to be turn. The microphone preamplifiers tion. It can also record to MP3 format individually controlled for each note. have a low noise floor of −127 dBu at bit rates of 128, 192, or 320 kbps. A The overlay has buttons at the top Equivalent Input Noise (EIN) and prerecord function captures audio up for switching between nine available gain of 75 dB. The levels can be set to 6 seconds before the record button presets. for all microphone and line levels. is pressed. The overlay’s applications aren’t There are two main outputs on bal- The signal can be routed from all just limited to MIDI. It can also be anced TA3 mini-XLR jacks for output inputs of the recorder to all outputs, customized to transmit HID protocol to external mixers and processing pre- or post-fader. An AutoMix func- for gaming or computer keyboard devices. An additional two sub out- tion, which automatically adjusts the commands for control of a computer, puts are provided for connecting to a levels of the mix to reduce ambient 1 as all of Sensel’s overlays can. camera on an unbalanced /8-in stereo noise, is available. The user can set up The Buchla Thunder overlay is mini-jack. alert tones for the headphone output listed for US$ 59 and it can be A USB port is built in to the for low battery, recording start/stop, purchased in a bundle with the recorder for firmware updates and file and recording errors. Morph control surface for US$ 269. transfer. It also enables the recorder The front panel of the recorder has Contact: Sensel, 321 Soquel Way, to be used as an audio interface, a 2.4-in color backlit display. It has Sunnyvale, California 94085, USA; supporting eight inputs and four a monochromatic mode for use in Web www.sensel.com. outputs at sample rates up to 96 kHz. low or direct lightings situations. The Two SD card slots are provided on the display features a six-segment LED left panel of the F8n. They support level meter and gain control knob for Zoom F8n Field Recorder SD/SDHC/SDXC cards up to 512 GB each input. There is also a switch on capacity. Both cards can be recorded the front panel for the built-in slate The Zoom F8n is a field recorder that to simultaneously or the user can microphone and test tone signal, and has microphone and line input op- record to an SD card while streaming transport controls. tions, low noise floor preamplifiers, the audio via USB to a computer for Among the processing available AutoMix, look-ahead limiters, ad- recording. to users are look-ahead Hybrid Lim- vanced timecode, prerecord, and dual The recorder has a Temperature iters, high-pass filter, phase inversion, channel and dual SD card recording Compensated Crystal Oscillator to mid-side decoding, and delays on the (see Figure 13). As well as being a generate time code with accuracy input and output. The limiters pro- recorder, the F8n can also function reported as 0.2 ppm. A time code tect against overloading by adding a as an eight-input/four-output audio input/output and a ten-pin micro- 1-msec delay to anticipate clipping interface. phone connector for use with Zoom’s before it is recorded. They are applied

Products of Interest 191 Figure 14. The AXR4 Thunderbolt 2 audio interface from Steinberg. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 on all channels simultaneously. independently set to microphone or The front panel has transport con- The recorder has an Ambisonics line-level input, and phantom power trols, an input switch for the external mode with A to B decoding, and is available on both inputs. There is port being used, microphone/line a customized metering screen. It also a stereo mini-jack input. The level switches for these inputs, phan- supports metadata entry, includ- recorder has independent gain am- tom power, and two custom buttons, ing track name, scene name, and plifier controls for each channel and which can be used as a shortcut for notes. a headphone amplifier with volume specific operations. The F8n recorder can be powered control. The PCM-D10 can be powered by an external DC battery pack (9– The analog and digital circuits are through a USB type-C connector or 18 V) on a Hirose connector, a 12-V located separately on the circuit board using four AA batteries. It weighs AC adaptor (included), or by eight AA to reduce interference, the XLR/TRS 480 g and measures 80.2 × 197.6 × batteries. It has an aluminum chassis jacks are shielded, and two 3,300- 37.4 mm. A wind screen and carrying weighing 2.2 lb and measuring 7 × μF capacitors are used to prevent pouch are included with purchase, as 5.5 × 2.1 in. Cubase LE and WaveLab distortion from power ripples. is the Audio Studio 12 LE download codes are included with The recorder has two A/D con- audio editor. the purchase. vertors that record audio at different The PCM-D10 recorder is listed A free iOS app, Zoom F8 Control, gain levels, one lower than the other. for US$ 499.99. Contact: Sony, One is available for wireless remote con- When very low audio signals are being Sony Drive, Park Ridge, New Jersey trol over Bluetooth. It can control recorded, the recorder will automat- 07656; Web pro.sony.com. mixer pan, fader levels, and transport ically replace them with the audio controls. The app also gives feedback from the lower gain A/D convertor on input levels, current time code, to ensure clear recordings for quiet Steinberg AXR4 Thunderbolt 2 and battery status, and it can be used sounds. If the audio clips, the recorder Audio Interface to enter file and metadata. will automatically insert a backup The F8n recorder is listed for recording clip that can be as low as Steinberg’s AXR4 is a Thunderbolt US$ 999.99. Contact: Zoom North −12 dB. 2 audio interface that offers the America, 2040 Express Drive South, A backlit screen shows separate user 28 inputs and 24 output, and S 500, Hauppauge, New York 11788, peak levels for both audio channels, supports sample rates up to 384 kHz, USA; Web www.zoom-na.com. and there are peak indicators for with 32-bit integer resolution (see −20 dB, −12 dB, and overload. The Figure 14). It is compatible with recorder has built-in Bluetooth con- software that supports Core Audio nectivity, which allows it to stream and currently only drivers for Mac Sony PCM-D10 Portable to Bluetooth speakers. The Sony OS are available. The interface has an Audio Recorder REC Remote app can also be used to on-board DSPX chip and comes with view the recording level, to start/stop a dspMixFX ARX mixer application Sony’s PCM-D10 is a portable audio recording, and to adjust setting from for controlling routings and settings. recorder with built-in microphones a mobile device via Bluetooth. It offers zero-latency monitoring that can record at sample rates up The recorder has 16 GB of internal for effects. The AXR4 is designed to 192 kHz and 24-bit depth. The memory and it also supports SD for easy integration with Cubase microphones can be adjusted to x–y, cards up to 256 GB capacity. A with automatic setup, recording and zoom, and wide stereo positions. Cross-Memory recording mode will playback of 32-bit integer format, and There are also dual combination lock- automatically switch from internal the complete input/output setup can ing XLR/TRS ports for connecting memory to SD card when the former’s be controlled from within Cubase. external microphones. These can be capacity is reached. Cubase AI is included with purchase.

192 Computer Music Journal Figure 15. The Studio 1810c USB-C audio interface from Presonus. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

1 Four Neutrik combination Morphing Channel Strip, Compressor There are two balanced /4-in line- XLR/TRS inputs, with digitally con- 276, and Equalizer 601. level main outputs, MIDI input/ trolled Yamaha-designed microphone The interface is a 19-in single rack output, headphone output, and preamplifiers, are featured on the space unit with full metal casing USB-C port on the rear panel. There front panel of the interface. Phantom and it has a front-panel color display are controls on the front panel for power is available on each input for metering. It measures 48 × 45 × input level, output level, headphone and they also have Rupert Neve De- 37.8 cm and weighs 4.6 kg. A 24-V level, and a mixer knob that blends signs SILK technology, which can AC adaptor is required for power. between the analog inputs and com- be switched on or off. The user can The AXR4 is listed for US$ 3,499. puter playback. LED level meters are choose between Red for sparkling Contact: Steinberg Media Tech- provided for the two inputs and the energy or Blue for solidity and power, nologies, Beim Strohhause 31, main output. and there is a Texture control that 20097 Hamburg, Germany; The next size up, the Studio 26c harmonically shapes the input based e-mail [email protected]; Web adds an additional two line-level out- on the sound source. The first two www.steinberg.net. puts on the rear panel for monitor inputs are also designated Hi-Z inputs mixing and a cue mix A/B button. The for use with guitars. Studio 68c interface has two combi- Two headphone outputs with nation microphone/line/instrument independent volume control are PreSonus USB-C Audio inputs on the front panel, two micro- also included on the front panel. Interfaces phone/line inputs on the rear panel, The remainder of the connection and stereo S/PDIF input/output, giv- ports are located on the rear of the PreSonus has released a new series ing it a total of six inputs and outputs. interface. There are eight line inputs of audio interfaces that updates The 1810c model can record up and outputs on TRS jacks, two eight- their Studio series by adding USB-C to 18 inputs at the same time. This channel ADAT input/output ports, connectivity. There are five models larger interface has two combination two S/SPDIF optical ports, a AES/EBU in the Studio USB-C collection so microphone/line/instrument inputs input/output, a MIDI input/output, far: Studio 24c, Studio 26c, Studio and two microphone/line inputs on and a word clock input/output. Up 68c, Studio 1810c (see Figure 15), the front panel. The rear panel has 1 to three AXR4 interfaces can be and Studio 1824c. All support sample a further four balanced /4-in jack daisy-chained together using the two rates up to 192 kHz at 24-bit sample direct-to-convertor line inputs, eight built-in Thunderbolt connectors. A depth, have MIDI input/output, and channels of ADAT optical inputs, and digital input/output card slot allows all but the Studio 26c have DC- stereo S/PDIF input/output. There 1 for expansion of the device in the coupled outputs that can send control are two balanced /4-in jack main future. The interface uses Super voltages to external devices. outputs, a further four for monitor Suppression Phase Locked Loop for The smallest of the interfaces, the mixing, and two stereo headphone reducing jitter. Studio 24c, is a two-input, two-output outputs that can have the same or The AXR4 comes with Yamaha’s model with two combination micro- different mixes. Advanced FX Suite of effects and phone/line/instrument inputs on The only rackmount unit of sound, which uses virtual circuit the front panel. It features Presonus the set, the Studio 1824c inter- modeling technology and includes XMAX-L solid-state microphone face, also offers 18 simultaneous the REV-X Reverb, the Sweet Spot preamplifiers and phantom power. inputs. It provides two combination

Products of Interest 193 Figure 16. Arturia’s AudioFuse Studio audio interface. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

microphone/line/instrument inputs US$ 399.95, and US$ 499.95. Con- insert points on the first four inputs. and two headphone outputs on the tact: PreSonus Audio Electronics, Four further line-level inputs are lo- front panel, and all other inputs and 18011 Grand Bay Court, Baton cated on the back panel. Two of these outputs are located on the rear panel. Rouge, Louisiana 70809, USA; Web have RIAA preamplifiers for use with These include six microphone/line www.presonus.com. phono inputs from a turntable. inputs, eight channels of ADAT op- There are two sets of stereo speaker tical input/output, stereo S/PDIF outputs on the AudioFuse interface input/output, eight DC-coupled line- Arturia AudioFuse Studio and an A/B button is available for level outputs, and BNC word clock switching between the two. The user output. There is an 18 × 8 onboard The AudioFuse Studio from Ar- can stream audio over Bluetooth from monitor mixer. The level meters on turia is an 18-input, 20-output audio a phone or to monitors. The AAC the front panel can show the levels for interface for use with Windows, Mac- codec and aptX are supported. eight inputs and two main outputs. intosh, and Linux computers (see The AudioFuse interface has a The interfaces all come with Figure 16). It has four combination button for every function so that the Presonus’ Studio One Artist software, jack/microphone inputs with switch- user does not have to scroll through which automatically configures to able attenuators on the front panel banks of menu or control options. work with them. The Studio Magic for easy access. Its four discrete pro- It has a dedicated reamping output Plug-in Suite is also bundled with the fessional preamplifiers offer an EIN for use with guitar and bass. The interfaces. of less than −129 dBu, input gain of duplicate signal from the reamp The interfaces are listed for 72 dB, and a ±0.02 dB flat frequency output can be fed to an amplifier, US$ 149.95, US$ 199, US$ 299, response. There are dedicated analog recorded and tracked with the dry

194 Computer Music Journal Figure 17. Studiologic’ SL Mixface MIDI and DAW controller. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

signal. Latency as low as 3 msec is Figure 17). In DAW mode, it can buttons. Dedicated transport controls reported, although 4.5 msec is more be connected to a computer via are provided and they also include likely with computers. USB or Bluetooth, and its various set marker, next marker, previous The interface also has connections sliders, knobs, and buttons used to marker, and cycle options. for USB-C (compatible with USB2), control functions and parameters The user can save up to twelve S/PDIF inputs/outputs, and word on a software application. Functions presets. A 128 × 64-dot OLED display clock. There are eight ADAT inputs are automatically mapped for many is used for mapping parameters, and outputs available and these popular software applications but setting zones, and saving and recalling support sampling rates up to 96 kHz. the mappings can also be set and presets. The controller can be USB- Two headphone outputs are located altered by the user directly from the powered or can be powered by three on the front panel and both offer a controller. AAA batteries for wireless use. It 1 1 choice of /4-in and /8-in jacks. A In Controller mode, the SL Mixface measures 26.2 × 13 × 3.6 cm and talkback microphone and button are becomes a MIDI control surface weighs 570 g. also included. that can control MIDI software, or The SL Mixface is listed for The chassis is made from metal hardware synthesizers and sound US$ 249. Contact: Studiologic, Zona and the interface comes with a modules via MIDI. It can also be used Ind.le Squartabue, 62019 Recanati leather-covered protective cover. It with the master keyboard controllers MC, Italy; Web www.studiologic measures 10.4 × 6.3 × 2.8 in. Purchase in the company’s SL series to extend -music.com. includes AudioFuse’s Creative Suite their functionality and it can connect of vintage effects and instruments. to them easily with a magnetic The AudioFuse Studio is listed for system. This gives the user the option SSL SiX Desktop Mixer US$ 999. Contact: Arturia US, Suite of controlling the four zones of the #219, 28310 Roadside Drive, Agoura master keyboard with the knobs, Solid State Logic (SSL) describe their Hills, California 91301, USA; Web sliders and buttons of the Mixface. SiX desktop mixer as a condensed www.arturia.com. Any keyboard connected to the host professional console for use in the USB port effectively becomes a four- studio, on stage, in postproduction, zone master. or for home audio recording and The main section of the controller mixing. The mixer measures 4.7 × Studiologic SL Mixface MIDI has a button, slider, and knob each 10.6 × 12.2 in and weighs 7.7 lb (see Controller for control of eight tracks. Two banks Figure 18). of controls are available, with up The first two recording chan- Studiologic’s SL Mixface is a compact to 16 tracks in each zone. There nels have SuperAnalogue micro- MIDI and DAW controller with is also a master slider, a navigation phone preamplifiers with 66 dB of four layers/zones of control (see encoder, and record, mute, solo, select gain, phantom power, and a 75-Hz

Products of Interest 195 Figure 18. SSL’s SiX desktop mixer. Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021

high-pass filter. There are also two in- 100-mm faders. Along with these six cue buses for artist mixes and there dependent monophonic line-level in- input channels, which give the mixer are main and alternate monitor puts with switchable high impedance its name, there are an additional outputs, with mono check, dim, and for use with guitars. The signal path two stereo external inputs. These are cut. There is an input for talkback of the SiX mixer is fully balanced from additional inputs per channel, with microphone with phantom power input to output, with the exception of independent level and pan controls, and it features the SSL Listen Mic the headphone output. The channel that can be added to the main mix bus Compressor. strips feature a single-knob version to give a total of twelve channels in The SiX mixer is listed for of the bus compressor circuit from the mix summing system. All inputs US$ 1,499. Contact: SSL Head- the company’s G-series of consoles, are located on the top panel and all quarters, 25 Spring Hill Road, a new two-band equalizer with shelf outputs on the rear panel, with the Begbroke, Oxford OX5 1RU, UK and bell curves, inserts (post equalizer exception of the headphone output. or Solid State Logic, 545 8th Av- and compressor), and 100-mm faders. The main mix bus also has a enue, Suite 2110, New York, New The third and fourth channels on version of G-series bus compressor York 10018-2401, USA; e-mail the mixer are stereo input channels and a set of inserts to allow further [email protected]; Web with trim and pan controls, and processing. The mixer has two stereo www.solidstatelogic.com.

196 Computer Music Journal Figure 19. Verse in-ear binaural microphones/headphones from Hooke Audio.

Lectrosonics’ Stereo Portable The SPDR is listed for US$ 1,179. Digital Recorder Contact: Lectrosonics, 581 Laser Road NE, Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87124, Lectrosonics’ Stereo Portable Digi- USA; e-mail [email protected]; tal Recorder (SPDR) is a low-noise Web www.lectrosonics.com. portable stereo recorder with a high dynamic range. The recorder does not Hooke Audio Verse In-Ear Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 include a built-in microphone but there are two TA5M five-pin male Binaural Wireless Microphones ports for connecting external analog microphones and line-level signals. Hooke Audio’s Verse is a set of Bias voltage (2V and 4V) is available in-ear binaural microphones and for powering electret lavaliere micro- headphones in one, for recording phones. A digital AES3 stereo input is immersive three-dimensional audio also included. (see Figure 19). Verse looks like a The SPDR has a frequency regular set of Bluetooth headphones response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz but it has binaural microphones (+0.5/−1.5 dB), a dynamic range embedded into each earbud. It can of 110 dB (A rated), and distortion of be used to record wirelessly via less than 0.035 percent. It supports Bluetooth to an Android or iOS app, 48 and 96 kHz sampling rates. The or connected via cable to DLSRs, field user can adjust the input gain for recorders, or other devices. analog recording to less than −20 dB, When not in use for recording, record video along with the incoming −20 dB to +0dB,orto+0dBand Verse can also perform as a standard audio, which is saved to MP4 format. up. A Linked Stereo option links the set of in-ear headphones, for listening The app supports 1,080 and 4K limiters on both channels to ensure to music or taking phone calls. video capture, and can record up to that the balance of the stereo image It has noise isolating drivers with a 24 fps. There are features for video is maintained. A Split Gain mode frequency response of 20 Hz to 16 kHz stabilization and locking camera records one track at −18 dB lower as a and impedance of 16 ohms. focus and exposure. The user can safety against clipping and distortion The electret condenser micro- share recordings from within the on the main track. phones used in Verse have a frequency app with e-mail, text messages, social Audio is recorded to Micro SDHC response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and max- media accounts, Dropbox, and Google card (up to 32 GB capacity) in Broad- imum SPL of 125 dB. They have an Drive. cast Wave Format with iXML head- omnidirectional polar pattern. The Verse users also have the option ers. The recorder has a five-pin LEMO internal battery provides 9–10 hours of connecting via cable to a variety time code input and a temperature- of playback time and 8–9 hours of of devices. A recording cable with compensating clock has an accuracy recording. A mini USB port is built an in-line analog to digital convertor level less than 1 ppm. A mini-jack in to one of the earpieces for charging is included with the purchase. The headphone port is located on the bot- and wired use. A USB charging cable cable breaks out into two connectors: tom panel. There is an LCD display is provided. a USB connector for connecting for displaying recording information The Verse system uses a propri- to GoPro and a 3.5-mm mini-jack to the user and a set of soft buttons etary lossless codec to stream audio for connecting to other cameras for accessing menus and selecting op- over Bluetooth to the Binaural 3D and field recorders. The user can tions. The recorder can be locked to Audio app on mobile devices. The record to mobile phones using this avoid unwanted pressing of buttons. latency of the streaming is reported mini-jack cable but will need an The device can be powered by an to be 0.0043 msec. The microphone additional adapter, which is not external DC power supply or using gain and monitoring level can be supplied, to connect to the micro USB two AA lithium batteries, which give adjusted from within the app. Users or Lightning port of an Android or more than 20 hours of operating time. can choose between recording to MP3 iOS device. It measures 99 × 60.45 × 20 mm and or to uncompressed WAV format. The Purchase of Verse includes three weighs 162 g. phone’s camera can also be used to different sizes of silicone eartips and

Products of Interest 197 Figure 20. Austrian Audio’s OC818 dual-diaphragm, multipattern microphone.

memory foam eartips, windscreens, The OC18, is a single diaphragm the recording cable, the USB charg- microphone that uses the same ing cable, and a carrying case. The CKR12 ceramic capsule. It has a cardboard shipping box comes with cardioid polar pattern. This model instructions for turning it into a basic does not have a microprocessor so binaural dummy head. cannot be controlled wirelessly. It has Verse is listed for US$ 239.99. the same frequency range, impedance, Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 Contact: Hooke Audio, 223 Bedford and sensitivity as the OC818. It has a Ave, #93, Brooklyn, New York 11211, single three-pin XLR output. USA; e-mail [email protected]; Contact: Austrian Audio, Eitner- Web www.hookeaudio.com. gasse 15, 1230 Wien, Austria; e-mail [email protected]; Web www.austrianaudio.com. Austrian Audio Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones Antelope Audio Edge Austrian Audio is based in Vienna, Microphones Austria, and was set up by former AKG personnel after the company Antelope Audio has released three closed its Austrian operation. Its new large-diaphragm condenser mi- first releases are two large-diaphragm crophones in their Edge series: Edge condenser microphones, the OC818 Solo, Duo, and Quadro. The micro- and the OC18. phones can be used on their own or The OC818 is a dual-diaphragm in conjunction with Antelope Au- microphone that offers multiple polar dio’s vintage microphone emulations. patterns and microprocessor control These can be run as native plug-ins or of polarization voltages (see Figure as FPGA FX on the company’s audio 20). It has a CKR12 ceramic capsule, interfaces. The microphone emula- which is based on the dimensions tions are based on measurements of the AKG CK12 legacy capsule. taken from a range of tube, multipat- There is a selector switch on the the microphone and is available as tern, and large-diaphragm condenser microphone body for figure-of-eight, an additional purchase. The app gives microphones in an anechoic cham- hypercardioid, dual/single cardioid, the user access to 255 discrete polar ber. They include the Berlin 47 FT, minidirectional, and preset modes. patterns, as well as wireless control Berlin 49T, Berlin 57, Berlin 67 tube, The user can also has a choice of of the high-pass filter and pad, and Berlin 87, Berlin M103, Tokyo 800T three high-pass filters, and two analog includes a 60-sec clipping monitor. vintage tube, Vienna 12, Oxford 4038, pads with switches on the micro- The company has also created an Sacramento 121R, and Vienna 414. phone. There is a second microphone open source plug-in available that The plug-ins are available in VST, output on the rear, which can be can be used to design polar patterns, AU, and AAX formats for Mac OS used in dual output mode to simul- including different responses across and Windows. The company indicates taneously capture the outputs for up to five crossover bands. It is that they have the same minimal la- each diaphragm. The OC818 has a optimized to work with the dual tency, high oversampling, and precise frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, output mode of the OC818, is phase floating-point calculations that are impedance of 275 ohms, and sensitiv- linear, supports automation, has used in their FPGA line of effects. ity of 30 mV/Pa. equalization control, and solo/mute The Solo microphone has a single Austrian Audio has also developed for each band. It is currently available large diaphragm and a fixed cardioid the OCR8, a Bluetooth dongle that in VST, VST3, and AU formats for pickup pattern. It features a 6-micron, can be used with their PolarPilot Macintosh and Windows, as well gold-sputtered, 34-mm membrane, phone app (Android and iOS) to as AAX. The open source code for which is used in all three micro- control the microphone settings the plug-in is freely available for phones. It has been designed to have wirelessly. It is not included with download from Github. a low-resonance body, low-reflection

198 Computer Music Journal headbasket, and a black matte finish. e-mail [email protected]; cable, microphone sleeve, shell case, The frequency response of all three Web www.antelopeaudio.com. shock mount, and stand mount. microphones is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, the The microphones are listed for THD is 116 dB, their signal-to-noise US$ 1,295, US$ 1,495, US$ 1,895, ratio is 75 dB (A-weighted), and they and US$ 1,895. Contact: Telefunken all require 48-V phantom power. The Telefunken Elektroakustik Tube Elektroakustik, 300 Pleasant Valley Solo microphone weighs 0.7 lb and Rd, South Windsor, Connecticut

Condenser Alchemy Series Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 measures 5.3 × 2 in. Its output is 06074, USA; Web www.telefunken a three-pin male XLR connector. A Telefunken Elektroakustik’s has -elektroakustik.com. hard mount and case is included with released a set of four large-diaphragm purchase. tube condenser microphones: TF29, The Duo is a dual-membrane cap- TF39, TF47, TF51. sule that has independent outputs The TF29 Copperhead is based on Chandler Limited TG Microphone for each membrane. This is a multi- the company’s CU-29 Copperhead. pattern microphone, switchable be- It has a 5654W vacuum tube, a K67- Chandler Limited has added a new tween cardioid, figure-of-eight, and style center-terminated brass capsule, microphone to their EMI/Abbey Road omnidirectional pattern. A five-pin and a Lundahl output transformer. Studios series. The TG is a solid- male XLR output connector is used It has been designed to deliver a bal- state, large diaphragm condenser and that connects to a 5-m breakout anced frequency response and natural microphone with dual Tone voicing cable that terminates in two three-pin sounding tone. This microphone has systems and on-board NAB/IEC tape male XLR connections. The indepen- a cardioid pattern. It weighs 630 g, equalizer function. The user can dent outputs from the microphone measures 200 × 46 mm, and has an switch between voice A, which has a capsule means that, not only can the antique copper finish. The TF39 Cop- characteristic TG mid-forward sound, polar pattern of the microphone be perhead Deluxe model is an expansion and voice B, which offers clearer changed before recording, but that it of the TF29 with three selectable pat- voicing and higher SPLs. The tape can also be adjusted afterwards from terns: cardioid, omnidirectional, and equalizer function was originally within the plug-in and emulate the figure of eight. included in EMI TG12410 mastering pickup pattern and on/off axis re- The TF47 microphone was inspired consoles, where it was used to play sponse of the modeled microphone. A by the U47 and M49 microphones. back tapes from different machines at shock absorber mount with pop filter It is a warm sounding microphone the correct playback speed and with and a road case with custom-fit foam with a deep low end. It features the appropriate equalizer curve. Here, inserts is included in the purchase. a 5840W vacuum tube, a custom- built in to the microphone, it has The Edge Quatro has two dual- made BV8 transformer, and a K47- five settings that allows the user to membrane capsules and a rotating style center-terminated capsule. It change the sound to mimic a range head. It can record four channels that offers the user a choice of cardioid, of classic microphones, when used in can each be independently processed, omnidirectional, and figure-of-eight conjunction with the low-cut filter, / allowing for M/S, x y, Blumlein, and patterns. This microphone weighs which is switchable between 50 Hz surround sound recording techniques. 695 g and measures 200 × 46 mm. and 90 kHz. The microphone also The upper part of the microphone The multipattern TF51 is based has a 10-dB pad. Recording patterns head can be rotated even when on the company’s C12 and ELA M of cardioid and omnidirectional are actively recording. There are two 251E models. It uses the same 6072A available. It has multiple TG amplifier five-pin male XLR connector on this vacuum tube as those microphones, circuits but does not have an internal microphone and the breakout cable along with an edge-terminated cap- preamplifier. The microphone is sold provided terminates in two three-pin sule similar to that used in the older with a power supply, shock mount, XLR male connectors. A custom CK12 microphone and a Haufe out- 25-ft Mogami four-pin microphone shock absorbing mount and a custom put transformer. It can be switched cable, and wooden microphone case. handmade wooden case is provided between cardioid, omnidirectional, The TG microphone is listed with this particular microphone. and figure-of-eight patterns. It weighs for US$ 1,849. Contact: Chan- The Edge Solo, Duo, and Quatro 612 g and measures 200 × 46 mm. dler Limited, P.O. Box 38, Shell are listed for US$ 695, US$ 1,095, and All of the microphones come with Rock, Iowa 50670, USA; Web US$ 2,995. Contact: Antelope Audio; a power supply, 7-m tube microphone www.chandlerlimited.com.

Products of Interest 199 Figure 21. Neumann’s NDH 20 headphones.

Warm Audio WA-251 Tube Neumann GmbH, Leipziger Str., Microphone 112, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Web en-de.neumann.com. The WA-251 microphone from Warm Audio is designed to be an affordable version of the classic 251 model. It Tascam TH-07 Headphones

is a vacuum tube, large-diaphragm, Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 transformer-balanced condenser mi- Tascam, usually known for their crophone with multiple patterns. mixers and recorders, has also re- The microphone has an edge- leased new headphones, the TH-07. terminated dual-backplate brass These are high-definition headphones capsule to replicate the sound of the that have been designed to provide original CK12 capsule but it uses the audio quality of high-end near all brass parts, including the O-ring field monitors. They deliver natural and housing. The 6-micron mylar bass, flat midrange frequencies, and diaphragm is sputtered with 24k clear high ends. The TH-07 head- gold. It has a JJ 12AY7 vacuum tube phones use 50-mm drivers. They have and a CineMag USA transformer. a frequency response of 10 Hz to Polystyrene coupling capacitors are 30 kHz and sensitivity of 110 dB ± used, with WIMA film capacitors, and 3dB. a Solen capacitator on the output. The design is closed-back with The WA-251 offers the user a for studio-grade monitoring, editing, soft, pliable leather used on the choice of three patterns: cardioid, and mixing (see Figure 21). The earcups. The earcups can be rotated omnidirectional, and figure of eight. 1.5-in drivers for the headphones and angled, and used for single- It has a frequency range of 20 Hz to have been newly designed are they ear monitoring. Two detachable 20 kHz. The output impedance is use high-gauss neodymium magnets cables with gold-plated connectors 200 ohms, the maximum SPL 132 dB for increased sensitivity and minimal are included with the headphones. (at less than 0.5 percent THD), signal- distortion of the sound. The first is an 8.5-ft straight cable The headphones use large memory 1 1 to-noise ratio 80 dB (A-weighted), and with connectors for /8-in and /4-in the dynamic range 125 dB. foam ear pads for comfort and the jacks. The second is a shorter, coiled ear cup covers are made from light 1 The microphone comes with a cable with a /8-in connector. The wooden box, power supply unit, aluminum. The headband is made headphones are foldable to fit in the shock mount, and a seven-pin cable from flexible steel and they can be supplied carry bag. for connecting to the PSU. The micro- folded up for easy transport. The The TH-07 headphones are listed phone itself measures 247 × 46 mm cables are also detachable. Straight for US$ 99.99. Contact: Tascam, 1/ and microphone, shock mount, and and coiled cables with 8-in jack 10410 Pioneer Blvd, Unit #1, Santa Fe 1/ PSU together weigh 12 lb. plugs and a 4-in adapters are bundled Springs, California 90670, USA; Web The WA-251 microphone is listed with the purchase, as is a soft cloth www.tascam.com. for US$ 799. Contact: Warm Audio; bag. e-mail [email protected]; Web The headphones have a frequency www.warmaudio.com. response of 5 Hz to 30 kHz, sensitivity of 114 dB SPL (at 1 kHz, 1 Vrms), THD New Releases of less than 0.10 percent (at 1 kHz and 100 DB SPL), impedance of 150 ohms, Publications Neumann NDH 20 Headphones continuous input power handling of 200 mW, and sound isolation of Jennifer Iverson: Electronic Inspira- Neumann are renowned for their more than 34 dB. The weight of the tions: Technologies of the Cold War high-quality studio microphones. headphones without taking the cable Musical Avant-Garde (hardcover, The NDH 20 headphones mark their into account is 390 g. 2019, ISBN 9780190868192, New first foray into the headphone market. The NDH 20 headphones are York: Oxford University Press, They are closed-back microphones listed for US$ 499. Contact: Georg www.oup.com).

200 Computer Music Journal Friedemann Sallis, Valentina 2019, ISBN 9780190061906, New Contemporary, COV 91913, Bertolani, Jan Burle, and Laura York: Oxford University Press, www.covielloclassics.de). Zattra, eds.: Live Electronic Mu- www.oup.com). David Felder: Les Quatre sic: Composition, Performance, Temmps Cardinaux (CD, 2020, Study (softcover, 2019, ISBN BMOP/sound 1069, www 9780367869267, New York and Recordings .bmop.org). London: Routledge, www.routledge Agostino Di Scipio: Works for Downloaded from http://direct.mit.edu/comj/article-pdf/43/2-3/172/1962998/comj_r_00529.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 .com). David Felder: Jeu de Tarot -Mu- Strings and Live Electronics (CD, Sheila Whiteley and Shara Rambar- sic by David Felder featuring 2019, NEOS 11910, www.neos ran: The Oxford Handbook of Irvine Arditti (CD, 2019, Coviello -music.com). Music and Virtuality (softcover,

Products of Interest 201