SOUND ON SOUND
The B1 may seem like just another cheap Chinese mic, but it punches well above its league.
Sony have opened their Sound Forge editing software up to new horizons with support for VST plug-ins and the ASIO driver protocol, and improved its usability with batch processing and a new scrubbing tool.
This cheery new unit brings clean eight-channel mixing to the cash-strapped home studio.
Not content with offering some of the most fully-featured digital mixers in the world, Yamaha have now upgraded them, and are offering extra effects packs to further expand their capabilities.
The Kaoss Pad Entrancer builds on the success of the Kaoss Pad 2, offering the same versatile X-Y pad-driven audio processing capabilities, but adding video processing to give you real-time control over both sound and vision.
Expanding on the modelling technology used in their Variax and Variax Acoustic, Line 6 have dropped an octave and turned their attention to the bass guitar. The Variax Bass features 24 models of 'classic' instruments — is it all the bass you'll ever need?
DPA demonstrate the state of the art with their latest high-voltage designs.
Pyramix might be the new kid on the block as far as audio recording and editing are concerned, but that hasn't stopped it quickly proving itself a very serious rival to Pro Tools and other established DAWs.
Tinnitus and other permanent hearing damage are apparently reaching near-epidemic levels. To help warn people when their hearing is at risk, the hearing-protection specialists Sensorcom have produced the Soundcheck key fob.
Dynaudio have concentrated on high-quality internal and external engineering to create a communicative new ported monitor which isn't afraid to go loud.
Real Traps' biggest bass trap offers heavy-duty low-frequency absorption for the serious home studio.
For those who want to put a human performance at the centre of their sequenced masterpieces, Circular Logic have developed software that can understand and follow tempo changes in real time.
Four sample libraries get the aural review treatment from the SOS samplists: AMG Evolved Analog **** Chemical Synths ***** Power FX Cinematic Hip-Hop **** Sample Lab Discography *****
With two market-leading Firewire audio interfaces already part of the MOTU stable, where does the new mobile recording-oriented Traveler find its natural home?
Espousing the simple, easy-to-use, Apple-type philosophy seen in tools like GarageBand, Glaresoft's virtual drum machine has you piecing together beats in minutes. And it costs just £39! We check it out...
Having built their reputation on knob-heavy modular synths, British manufacturer Analogue Systems surprise everyone by bringing out a menu-driven additive synthesis module! But don't worry — the optional expander is covered with things to tweak and turn...
The ART Head Amp provides simple headphone monitoring for several performers. It's built into a small folded-steel...
The tools available in Magix's highly regarded recording package cover every stage of the recording process, from MIDI sequencing to mastering and CD burning. Version 8 adds some neat extras including analogue-style processors, a virtual drum machine and an Acid-style beat-mapping tool.
Valve warmth or solid-state transparency? You decide with this flexible new hybrid preamp.
For the first time ever, Digidesign's Pro Tools recording software is available as a stand-alone product, which can be used in conjunction with any of five audio interfaces from M-Audio.