The 123rd Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention in New York was a hot one, both in terms of the weather and the new products on show. Here's a quick look at just some of the latest stuff — keep an eye on the news pages of SOS in the coming weeks for more...
First up, the Liquid 4 Pre is Focusrite's (www.focusrite.com) latest device powered by the company's dynamic convolution engine. It's a four-channel mic preamp that features 40 classic mic preamp models on each input, as well as generous LCD displays and stylish rotary encoders on each channel. Also on the Focusrite stand is the new ISA828 eight-channel mic pre, which was reviewed in SOS October 2007 (www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct07/articles/focusriteisa828.htm).
Audio Interface and converter experts Apogee have announced a new version of their Ensemble interface, called Ensemble Mobile. It essentially allows users with portable recording rigs, such as laptop-based systems, go out on the road without the need for a power supply, and use batteries instead. Check out www.apogeedigital.com for further information.
Telefunken USA have a new mic on show, the Ela M260. It's a small-diaphragm tube condenser microphone, modelled on the original (but widely unknown) Telefunken Ela M260 of 1959. It ships with interchangeable capsules (cardioid, omnidirectional and hyper-cardioid), has a sturdy power supply, and features a new old stock (NOS) Telefunken tube. Check out www.telefunkenusa.com for further details.
Also new in the mic world is the El Diablo from Crowley & Tripp (www.soundwaveresearch.com). Featuring a ribbon made from a revolutionary 'supermatter', it gives the user all the sonic qualities of a traditional ribbon mic without the associated limitations, such as phantom powering problems and low SPL sensitivities.
Moving on to software, and there have been some significant releases at the show. Digidesign (www.digidesign.com) have announced Pro Tools 7.4, which now features what the manufacturers call Elastic Time, a tool that can be used to change the tempo and timing of audio on the fly. Version 7.4 software for all Pro Tools platforms — HD, LE and M-Powered — will be available soon.
Another significant software release is Ableton Live 7 (www.ableton.com). The latest version has three new instruments: Tension, a string synthesizer, Electric, an electric piano instrument, and Analog, which emulates vintage analogue synthesizers. It's also got an updated audio engine, and users can now change the time signature of their projects, export video and view multiple lanes of automation.
UK-based software developers FXpansion have unveiled BFD2, the follow-up to their acclaimed BFD virtual drum application. It's still in its final production stages, so we won't see it in the shops just yet. For more details, check out the web site www.fxpansion.com.
Looking towards the higher end of the market, audio hardware legends API have announced a new console, called the 1608. It's got 16 input channels that feature API's respected microphone preamps and EQs, with eight main buses, eight auxiliary buses and a stereo master bus, plus ample metering, routing and expansion options. Check out www.apiaudio.com for more.
UK hardware giants SSL have announced a new plug-in for their Duende DSP platform. X-EQ is a ten-band parametric EQ that has a variety of different EQ types (including proportional Q, bell filters and high- and low-pass filters), as well as frequency analysis tools and serial/parallel configuration options. For more on X-EQ, visit www.solid-state-logic.com. SSL have also announced new modules for their X-Rack hardware. Users now have the option to use a VHD (Variable Harmonic Drive) input module and a Stereo Bus Compressor module in their X-Racks. Further details from www.solidstatelogic.com
And finally, another product from Digidesign is the C24, a mid-sized control surface and console for Pro Tools. It has 24 channel strips, each with a touch-sensitive, motorised fader, dedicated mute, solo and select switches, rotary encoder and controls for dynamics, EQs, inserts and sends. It also has 16 mic/line/instrument inputs, talkback, and a monitor section that can handle 5.1 surround monitoring. Visit www.digidesign.com for more.
Of course, we can't mention everything here, so keep your eyes peeled for more from AES in the magazine.
