SOUND ON SOUND
SPL's new surround-ready stereo compressor offers clever programme-adaptive compression, as well as decompression and tube-saturation functions.
Not only is this new cardioid condenser microphone extremely striking to look at, but it also boasts performance which is well out of the ordinary.
Since 1999, Bob Moog's Big Briar company has been making analogue filters and effects pedals based on his original Moog module designs. Now there's a central control unit, so that you can use them all together as a complete processing system.
Housed in a tough stainless steel chassis, the Pedaltone uses four twin-triode valves, one of which is in the output stage, enabling power amp saturation to be replicated. A speaker simulator is included for recording or DI'ing.
The new tapeless ADAT provides 24 tracks of hard disk recording at less than the price of the original eight-track.
Line 6's acclaimed Delay Modeler pedal gets a rackmount makeover.
Korg's Triton has dominated the workstation synth market for several years, but the past 12 months have seen challenges to this position firstly from Yamaha, with their Motif, and now from Roland. Does this Fantom have what it takes?
RME's DIGI range of soundcards offers comprehensive cross-platform support, high audio quality and lots of extras, such as digital format conversion.
The all-time best-selling synthesizer, Korg's M1 laid the groundwork for synths that followed. We go behind the scenes to reveal the secrets of its success.
Aphex update their famous Aural Exciter and Big Bottom processes for the 21st century.
M-Audio's first foray into active nearfield monitors is certainly extremely affordable, but could it be a false economy for the home recordist?
**** Score = 4/5 stars. Vinyl Frontier 2 focuses on urban breakbeat styles such as hip-hop and drum and bass.
Korg have dominated the top-end workstation market for several years with their Triton range, but apart from the rack version, there have been no lower-priced spin-offs. The Triton Le keyboard changes that, offering many of the Triton's powerful features at a more affordable price.
Although all-valve mixers can really warm up sounds prior to digital recording, they're usually too large and expensive for the project studio. However, TL Audio's hybrid M3 now brings valve mixing within the reach of the home musician.
Apogee have an enviable reputation for their state-of-the-art digital converters, but their new Trak 2 also includes sophisticated mic preamplification.
**** Score = 4/5 stars. Geneticz is a collection of processed loops and sounds programmed by Digital Davy, a Dutch DJ and techno/gabba producer.
Ever found yourself really needing a particular sample CD-ROM, only to find that it's not available for your sampler? Or perhaps you want to back up your sample programs in proprietary CD formats? Chicken Systems' PC utility Translator may be able to help.
Samson's latest dynamics processors deliver quality sound and features that belie their affordable price tag.
The unique C-Loops from Red Sound Systems can automatically detect the tempo of incoming audio, sample it and chop it to length ready for re‑triggering, as well as automatically timestretching all its on‑board loops to match any new tempo it receives.