Studio Equipment Recommendations October 2015

Review: TASCAM's Celesonic US-20x20 packs 20 channels of analog and digital I/O into a single rackspace with great sounding preamps and USB 3.0/2.0 connectivity. Eight Ultra-HDDA microphone preamps provide 56dB of gain and high headroom to make microphones sound their best. Up to ten channels of digital I/O are included on ADAT and S/PDIF connectors, with word clock also provided for use with external clocks like TASCAM's CG-1000. MIDI I/O allows use with controllers and synthesizers, and sample rates up to 192kHz/24-bit are supported.

The TASCAM Celesonic US-20x20 is the first USB 3.0 interface to use class-compliant drivers for future-proof use with computers and tablets. A built-in DSP mixer includes parametric EQ and compression on every channel and a stereo reverb send for great-sounding monitor mixes. The DSP mixer can also be used as a live mixer or submixer with computer control. The US-20x20 has three operation modes - audio interface, digital mixer, and 8-channel digital mic preamp - for maximum flexibility.

Review: The Signature 16 is a high-performance 16-input small format analogue mixers with onboard effects. It features smooth, premium-quality faders with GB Series audio routing with flexible pre/post switching on each Aus, and subgroups with powerful routing and switching options as well as dedicated outputs. The console is built using tour-grade robust metal construction and top-quality components and have an internal universal power supply.

All Soundcraft Signature Series consoles incorporate Soundcraft's iconic Ghost mic preamps, directly drawn from the company's top-of-the-line professional consoles, to deliver extraordinary audio quality with high headroom, wide dynamic range and exceptional resolution and clarity with a superb signal to noise ratio. They employ Soundcraft's Sapphyre Assymetric EQ for perfectly equalizing every vocal and instrumental element in a mix with the unmistakable musicality inherent in every Soundcraft console, plus the GB Series audio routing technology famous in thousands of live venues worldwide.

They all include a wide variety of built-in Lexicon studio-grade reverb, chorus, modulation and other effects and dbx limiters on the input channels. The consoles offer XLR and switchable Hi-Z inputs that enable guitars, basses and other instruments to be directly connected.

All the consoles come with a 2-in/2-out USB interface. Accompanying the consoles are free downloads of the Lexicon MPX-L native plug-in and Ableton Live 9 Lite.

In addition, the consoles feature smooth, premium-quality faders with GB Series audio routing with flexible pre/post switching on each Aux, and subgroups with powerful routing and switching options as well as dedicated outputs. The Signature Series are built using tour-grade robust metal construction and top-quality components and have an internal universal power supply.

Recommmended for:
Houses of Worship, Music Venues, Musicians & Bands, Theatres, Tour Sound

Review: Although spring reverbs have been built for more then five decades they are still highly desired because of their individualism and sound quality. They can almost be seen as standard for guitar amplifiers and can be found in a great number of studios around the world, as they are also a perfect choice for vocals, organs and synthesizers.

Once again VERMONA presents a tube spring reverb of it's own class and once again the name is "ReTubeVerb". Some details have been improved and there are also strongly requested features like balanced in- and outputs as well as the possibility to get it in a rack system.

Uncompromising Tube Technology:
The ReTubeVerb is build upon classical tube circuitry - you will not find a single semi-conductor in its signal flow. This uncompromising realization needs some efforts but the result justifies the concept! What you'll get is the warm and slightly compressed tube sound without interferences and unpleasant coloration.

Spring Tank:
The deep and voluminously reverb effect comes out of a high quality six-spring reverb tank (three double-springs) made by the spring reverb pioneer ACCUTRONICS.

Equalizer:
We've chosen three very usable frequencies which makes it easy to form the reverb effect as you like without much efforts.

Balanced In- and Output:
Beside the unbalanced instrumental- / line in- and outputs we've implemented a transformer-balanced input and output as well. It's not that kind of feature that's integrated just to have it, but with great attention towards sound quality. The audio transformers are made upon our specifications to perfectly fit for their purpose.

True Bypass:
There's a true bypass as well as the EFFECT STOP function. The latter allows refining the input signal by the tube preamp without reverberation.

The ReTubeVerb relies on traditional technology but also makes spring reverberation a cutting edge topic.

*For audio samples, please visit - http://www.vermona.com/index.php/en_retubeverb.html

Review: Choose Your Weapon: Building on the success of the original, the feature-packed MPD2 Series gives you amazing creative musical ammo with Thick Fat backlit MPC pads, improved controls and new bundled software

The MPD2 Series is a product of over six years of detailed customer research and user feedback. Akai then turned it into the most capable and user-friendly line of pad controllers they have developed to date.

The MPD218 is a MIDI-over-USB pad controller perfect for producers, programmers, musicians and DJs alike. Its intuitive blend of MPC controls and technologies mesh with easy USB connectivity to bring the feel of classic beat making into the world of computer music production.

Thick Fat MPC pads have been added, creating an amazingly responsive user experience. The MPD218 also has an expanded control set of six knobs in three banks versus one control on the previous MPD18 model. This will enable you to maximize your sound and give you increased control over effects.

MIDI information is sent over its plug-and-play USB interface for use on Mac or PC, eliminating the need to install any drivers. The USB connection powers the MPD218 so the included USB cable is all you need.

Along with the improved functionality, the MMPD218 also has added iOS compatibility using the Camera Connection Kit (sold separately) and included over $400 of free software. Titles include: Akai Pro MPC Essentials, Big Bang Drums and Big Bang Cinema from Sonivox, Ableton Live Lite, and Software Preset Editor.

The MPD2 Series marks an important evolution of the pad controller. Many years of research and customer feedback has led directly to some of the most capable pad controllers developed by Akai. These MPDs are the perfect bridge between your creativity and your computer-based studio.

Review: "Old school tube mellow" is often used to describe the sound of the V67g HE. Designed mainly for vocals, the V67g HE combines Class A FET circuitry and a transformer-coupled output for an open and pure sound.

The V67g HE comes through with killer vocals even in front of a busy mix and has great stage appeal with a gold-plated round grill and distinctive, vintage body.

You'll be amazed by the sound this cleverly-designed microphone provides and pleasantly pleased with the price.

Review: The EHX 22500 is a stereo looper with two independent loops that can be played in sequence or in parallel. Flexible performance controls and creative effects allow you to loop in any way you imagine. It records high quality, non-compressed audio directly to a removable SDHC card (4 to 32 GB) and each card holds up to 100 individual loops. Includes an 8GB card for up to 12 hours of recording time.

Creative controls over looping functions such as adjustable tempo, programmable loop/overdub length, and two loops that can playback independently or locked to one another makes the 22500 act like the looper of your dreams.

Download free drum loops for the EHX 22500

Dual stereo loops with independent or locked loop lengths
Sequential looping mode enables verse/chorus switching
Parallel looping mode allows simultaneous playback of two loops
16 built-in drum loops
Selectable microphone input with phantom power
Reverse and Octave functions
Undo-Redo your last overdub or recording
Quantize or non-quantize (free running) modes
USB port enables backup/restore to PC or Mac
Programmable third footswitch for Stop or Tap Tempo
Optional external Loop Up/Down Foot Controller
Power adapter included

SPECIFICATIONS
Circuit
Digital
Bypass
Buffered Bypass
Audio
Stereo
Power Supply
9.6VDC-500mA power adapter included
Dimensions (in)
5.75 x 4.75 x 2.5
Current Draw
235mA
Year Released
2015

Review: The LxD music synthesizer module, Low Strike Duo, is a dual-response, two channel, direct-coupled, Low Pass Gate, which utilizes vactrols in order to provide simultaneous control over the Amplitude and Frequency Spectrum of an INput Signal. It is, in essence, a VCFA (Voltage Controlled Filter Amplifier). Unlike the Optomix, the LxD offers two different filter responses. CH. 1 offers a 12db/Octave response that is mildly-resonant, while CH. 2 offers a 6db/Octave that is non-resonant. The OUTput of CH. 1 is normalled to the INput of CH. 2. This normalization puts the two channels in series, which is similar to the VCF into VCA arrangement made popular by many monosynths of the 1970s.

Features
Classic VCF->VCA arrangement in small 4hp module
STRIKE INput allows use of Gate signal to trigger Low Pass Gate circuit, plucking or striking the vactrol
Low noise, low distortion, smooth, natural-sounding circuit
Direct coupled, process audio or control signals
Utilizes 2 vactrols
Pairs well with STO and MATHS

Specifications
Width: 4hp
Max Depth
(incl. power cable): 36mm
Power:
20mA@ +12V
20mA @ -12V