Published 9/2/09
MIDI & audio interfaces
Cakewalk, who were recently acquired by Roland after years of collaboration, have released four new portable USB devices branded ‘Cakewalk by Roland’. Interestingly, the new products a remarkably similar to the line of 'Edirol by Roland' portable audio and MIDI interfaces announced a number of years ago.
Of the four new products, three are MIDI interfaces. The UM1G, UM2G, and UM3G offer one-in one-out, two-in two-out and three-in three-out operation respectively, and up to three UM interfaces can be used simultaneously. What’s more, the outputs of all three devices can be configured as either ‘out’ or ‘thru’, making them versatile but keeping the physical size to a minimum. ‘Thru’ connections are passive, so they can work when power is not being supplied.
The fourth device is a stereo audio interface called the UA1G, which can record audio at rates of up to 24-bit/96kHz. Despite its dimiuitive size, it has connections for line inputs and outputs on RCA phono ports, a high-impedance input on quarter-inch jack, a mini-jack headphones out, and a combined mic/optical digital input, also on mini-jack. There’s a reasonably large input-level knob on the top face of the main body of the interface, as well as a thumb-wheel headphones volume control on the side, and even signal-present and peak LEDs.
Designed for users on the road, the new devices are all bus-powered, and the flying leads have clear markings with “connect to MIDI in” and “connect to MIDI out” embossed on their moulded chassis.
Prices for the UM1G, UM2G and UM3G MIDI interfaces will be £45, £55 and £85 respectively. The UA-1G audio interface will cost £95. The range should be in shops before summer ’09.
Cakewalk, who were recently acquired by Roland after years of collaboration, have released four new portable USB devices branded ‘Cakewalk by Roland’. Interestingly, the new products a remarkably similar to the line of 'Edirol by Roland' portable audio and MIDI interfaces announced a number of years ago.Of the four new products, three are MIDI interfaces. The UM1G, UM2G, and UM3G offer one-in one-out, two-in two-out and three-in three-out operation respectively, and up to three UM interfaces can be used simultaneously. What’s more, the outputs of all three devices can be configured as either ‘out’ or ‘thru’, making them versatile but keeping the physical size to a minimum. ‘Thru’ connections are passive, so they can work when power is not being supplied.
The fourth device is a stereo audio interface called the UA1G, which can record audio at rates of up to 24-bit/96kHz. Despite its dimiuitive size, it has connections for line inputs and outputs on RCA phono ports, a high-impedance input on quarter-inch jack, a mini-jack headphones out, and a combined mic/optical digital input, also on mini-jack. There’s a reasonably large input-level knob on the top face of the main body of the interface, as well as a thumb-wheel headphones volume control on the side, and even signal-present and peak LEDs.
Designed for users on the road, the new devices are all bus-powered, and the flying leads have clear markings with “connect to MIDI in” and “connect to MIDI out” embossed on their moulded chassis.
Prices for the UM1G, UM2G and UM3G MIDI interfaces will be £45, £55 and £85 respectively. The UA-1G audio interface will cost £95. The range should be in shops before summer ’09.
