Published 13/3/08
New range of VST-hosting hardware
Equipment manufacturers SM Pro Audio are most famous for their range of gadgets and gizmos that make things that little bit easier for the studio user. But that association might be about to change, thanks to the introduction of a line of three stand-alone VST plug-in players.
The new products: V-Box, V-Pedal and V-Rack, are based on a recently developed hardware platform called ‘Powered by VFX’, which hosts VST plug-ins and instruments, but requires no connection to a computer.
As its name suggests, V-Pedal is designed for guitarists, and resembles a multi-effects pedal in looks. It has a large orange-coloured expression pedal that can be assigned to parameters of the VST using the on-board menus, and four stomp box-style footswitches which, again, can be freely assigned.
Also on the V-Pedal are a range of rotary encoders that are used to tweak plug-in settings that are shown on a reasonably large TFT screen. The device features mic and line inputs, as well as line outputs and MIDI I/O, but also a USB connection, allowing connection to a computer for the transferral of plug-ins and VST instruments.
The other two products, V-Box and V-Rack, are aimed at the studio user, but have different feature sets. The two devices have the same internal processing capabilities, but the V-Rack has analogue audio inputs (the V-Box is output only) and a higher output count, and also has front panel controls, where the V-Box can only be controlled by MIDI once disconnected from a computer.
With all three new devices, effects chains can be built from combinations of different plug-ins and instruments, and presets can be saved and quickly recalled, giving the user the flexibility of a laptop-based DAW system in a rugged and portable unit.
At the time of writing, there were no details of how software licences and the like will be handled for the VST plug-ins and instruments, apart from the fact that they will most likely be transferred by the Mac- and PC-compatible configuration software that ships with the devices. Keep your eyes on SM Pro Audio’s web site for the latest news.
V-Box Video
V-Pedal Video
Electro Vision +44 (0)1744 745000
www.electrovision.co.uk
www.smproaudio.com
The new products: V-Box, V-Pedal and V-Rack, are based on a recently developed hardware platform called ‘Powered by VFX’, which hosts VST plug-ins and instruments, but requires no connection to a computer.
As its name suggests, V-Pedal is designed for guitarists, and resembles a multi-effects pedal in looks. It has a large orange-coloured expression pedal that can be assigned to parameters of the VST using the on-board menus, and four stomp box-style footswitches which, again, can be freely assigned.
Also on the V-Pedal are a range of rotary encoders that are used to tweak plug-in settings that are shown on a reasonably large TFT screen. The device features mic and line inputs, as well as line outputs and MIDI I/O, but also a USB connection, allowing connection to a computer for the transferral of plug-ins and VST instruments.
The other two products, V-Box and V-Rack, are aimed at the studio user, but have different feature sets. The two devices have the same internal processing capabilities, but the V-Rack has analogue audio inputs (the V-Box is output only) and a higher output count, and also has front panel controls, where the V-Box can only be controlled by MIDI once disconnected from a computer.
With all three new devices, effects chains can be built from combinations of different plug-ins and instruments, and presets can be saved and quickly recalled, giving the user the flexibility of a laptop-based DAW system in a rugged and portable unit.
At the time of writing, there were no details of how software licences and the like will be handled for the VST plug-ins and instruments, apart from the fact that they will most likely be transferred by the Mac- and PC-compatible configuration software that ships with the devices. Keep your eyes on SM Pro Audio’s web site for the latest news.
V-Box Video
V-Pedal Video
Electro Vision +44 (0)1744 745000
www.electrovision.co.uk
www.smproaudio.com
