Studio Equipment Recommendations December 2014

Review: The Tempest is a collaboration between Sequential and longtime friend and fellow instrument designer Roger Linn. Though they've consulted with each other on past projects, the Tempest marks the first time a product will carry both the Sequential and Roger Linn Design logos, referring to Linn's legacy as inventor of the digital drum machine.

The Tempest utilizes analog synthesis to generate the sounds. The Tempest's 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads are arranged in an 8 x 2 array to facilitate both real-time and step entry of beats. 2 pressure- and position-sensitive Note FX slide controllers provide a unique new method of performance and control.

Each of the 6 analog voices has 2 analog oscillators plus 2 digital oscillators (with a large bank of included samples), Dave's classic analog low-pass filter with audio-rate modulation, an additional high-pass filter, analog VCA with feedback, 5 x envelopes, 2 x LFOs, an extraordinary variety of analog modulation routings, and stunning sonic quality, warmth and punch.

Although optimized for drum sounds, it excels at tuned sounds as well, and even doubles as a 6-voice analog synth. In addition to the 6 direct voice outputs, there are stereo mix outputs and phones outputs, plus 2 inputs for foot switches or expression pedals, MIDI in/out and USB.

The performance-oriented operating system, 90 x panel controls, and bright 256 x 64 OLED display work together to provide a tightly integrated, non-stop workflow: record a drumbeat in real-time, switch to another drumbeat and use the lit pads to record it using step programming, switch to another drumbeat and record tuned keyboard parts, use the 2 touch controllers to record real-time note or beat-wide parameter animations, use the generous sound controls to edit any of the drum sounds, tweak the analog effects or drum mix, arrange beats in real time and record the live arrangement into a song, enter/exit Song mode and much more, all without ever stopping play.

A variety of unique effects are provided while maintaining a pure analog signal path, stereo analog compressor and distortion circuits affect the stereo output mix, beat-synced delay is achieved by generating additional delayed note events within the sequencer, and a beat-synced stutter effect is created entirely within the sequencer by looping short portions of the drumbeat on demand.

*Please note - The Tempest Drum Machine now ships with OS version 1.4. Notable among the new features are:

- Increased sequence length (up to 128 sixteenth notes, or 8 measures of 4/4)
- Arpeggiation
- New modal scales
- Free-running LFOs
- Compressor envelope controls
- Quantize disable
- A total of 928 new factory sounds, 64 new beats, and 16 new projects

Review: The emphasis with the Soundcraft EPM is very firmly on quality build and audio performance, with an easy to understand control surface uncluttered by unnecessary facilities, and Soundcraft have brought new technologies and ideas to this very cost-effective range.

The emphasis with the Soundcraft EPM is very firmly on quality build and audio performance, with an easy to understand control surface uncluttered by unnecessary facilities, and Soundcraft have brought new technologies and ideas to this very cost-effective range. Surface mount technology is used throughout, using close-tolerance components for high accuracy and repeatable settings for EQ and gain controls. The highly-transparent GB30 Mic amp (designed by Graham Blyth for the company's 30th anniversary, and also used on the larger LX7ii and GB Series consoles) features high-resolution adjustment over a wide gain range of 55dB, and provides a stunning +22dB headroom through the console. True professional 48-volt phantom power caters for condenser microphones of all types.

A unique feature of the signal monitoring is the PEAK led. This uses multipoint signal take-offs to watch for overload in several parts of the channel strip, and the led lights more brightly as the signal approaches the peak point. For smooth and accurate channel control, the EPM has 60mm high quality faders as used on other Soundcraft desks. The monitor output and headphone output work in parallel so that performers can still listen on phones while an engineer is listening on studio monitors.

Features
Frame sizes 6+2, 8+2 and 12+2
2 configurable auxiliary buses
XLR-type and 14" metal jack connector sockets
RCA phono stereo playback inputs and record outputs
3-band EQ with a swept mid on mono inputs
2-band EQ on stereo inputs
TRS insert sockets and inserts on all mono inputs and mix output
Ten-segment LED output metering
Intuitive and comprehensive solo system
Headphone output
Easily rack mountable

Review: The Rode NT1-A 1" cardioid condenser microphone has become an industry standard; delivering the warmth, extended dynamic range, clarity and high SPL capability typically only featured on some of the most expensive microphones.

With a self noise level of only 5 dBA it is widely recognised as the world's quietest studio microphone. This low noise makes it ideal for vocal recording as well as voice overs and environmental recording.

Packaged in the Complete Vocal Recording Solution, the NT1-A includes everything you need to get a truly professional vocal recording and is ideal for home studio recording.

A studio grade pop shield and shock mount is included, along with a premium microphone cable, dust cover, and an instructional DVD with recording tips.

The NT-1A continues this tradition while improving specifications and tonal qualities. Using cutting edge technology for electronics, RODE has implemented a computer controlled manufacturing line. Unlike many leading brands, all electronic boards are made without human hands assuring high specifications, tight tolerances and unsurpassed consistency. It's built to last with a new computer controlled machine process. This product is also available as a Matching Pair.

The Rode NT1-A large diaphragm 1" cardioid condenser microphone is covered by Rode Microphones' industry leading 10 year warranty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpTKZpoyXzs

Review: What is the Sherman Filterbank 2?

A powerful analog filtering and distortion unit with a huge frequency range and a killing TUBE overdrive behavior.
Easy and FUN to use, live and in the studio
A small modular system? YES!
Another 303 clone? NO!
Affordable? YES!
Application: processing every sound source, effect mixing, expanding modular systems, etc.

What you get:

Independent low pass, band pass and high pass filters with resonance, frequency and ADSR (positive - negative) controls
These are switchable between parallel or serial
The second filter has a 6 octave switch, and is synchronizable with the first filter
1 ADSR generator for these filters with an external output for use with more filterbanks or modular systems, triggered by the incoming signal, by a second sounds source, or by a gate
1 FM input for the filters, internal or external audio, LFO or CV
1 VCA overdrive with AR generator also
1 ring modulator input, internal or external audio, LFO or CV

The original Sherman Filterbank (Version 1) is no longer being made and is thus now completely being replaced by this new version !

The global look has remained the same, but there have been added several strong functions. To summarize :

There are 5 extra NEW SWITCHES, 1 extra INPUT (for footpedal), 2 extra new LEDs, a NEW COLOR (silver-grey) with an improved (long-lasting) varnish layer.
The inner electronics have also been adapted to achieve an EVEN BETTER SOUND-QUALITY
We also do have new packing-boxes (silver, with photo on upper side), new flashy stickers (silver) and new adaptors (with Sherman-logo).
All this with the famous solid SHERMAN-QUALITY and the well-known thorough & speedy AFTER-SALES service (repairs).

What's new?

There are 5 extra switches and 2 extra LEDs, and on the back panel there's one pedal input jack. A reworked front-panel lay-out and the grey metal color.

The pedal input allows foot control of freq1and bypass/effect switching. You can rewire an old wah (because they have a switch on board) as shown by te diagram in 'extra stuff'.
A 5mm big green LED indicates "Effect on" on the FB 2
A 3-way switch on the input stage allows Hi boost as well Hi cut (both boosting high frequencies at input)
Another 3-way switch allows "Sensitrig" (which makes the triggering twice as sensitive for, e.g. clean string pad filtering) and "Limit", which leaves the filters more "breathing room" for self-oscillation if the input stage is extremely overdriven.
A 3-way switch has 2 general transpose functions : +1 Octave and + Quint which works nice with monophonic signals, and has a specific dirty character.
A 3-way switch for the really powerful and quite revolutionary "Tracking" function - a monophonic pitch follower, that tunes filter 2 to the incoming pitch, and makes filter 1 slave of filter 2 via the harmonics switch. E.g. in position 2, filter 1 will be pitched one octave higher than filter 2, but still following the pitch. This extra switch activates the "tracking" in a normal or deep "track low" position, with stunning basses as result.

The "revolutionary" aspect of this function is that never before any similar system enhances "on the spot" harmonics and creates new harmonics with fat analog circuits.
An extra white LED indicates when the tracking system is "locked on".
At last there is an 3-way function switch in the LFO section, allowing sawtooth wave shape OR AR retrig : this forces an LFO restart from the AR trig with pumping grooves as unavoidable result. If you want to receive a new brochure, please ask your dealer first.

The Sherman Filterbank is now also midi controlable via kenton control freaks (a small portable hardware console, including sliders)

All the finger-tip MIDI control you need, instantly to hand. Forget your mixer maps and do it all in real-time. An ideal solution for the gigging musician, or the musician who likes to save time & settings. The Kenton Control Freaks are made in the U.K., by Kenton, and are preprogrammed with profiles for the Sherman Filterbank as well. Hundreds of additional profiles are available for download FREE from the Kenton website.

PLEASE NOTE: SUPPLIED WITH EU 2 PIN ADAPTER PLUG ONLY.