Tag Archives: recording

Focal new Clear Mg Professional headphones get upgrade

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Focal Releases New “Clear Mg Professional” HeadphonesNew updated model of popular Focal headphone now uses magnesium cone for even greater dynamics

Montreal, Canada – February 16, 2021 – Today Focal has announced that it is shipping the new Focal Clear Mg Professional headphones (“Clear Magnesium Professional”), a new model of their popular Clear Professional headphones but with the addition of a magnesium (Mg) cone for even greater dynamics with a remarkable tonal balance across the full audio spectrum. The new product is available at retailers in the US and Canada on February 16, 202,  and has a suggested retail price of $1,490. USD.

The global leader in acoustics, Focal continues to innovate and presents a new work tool for sound engineers and producers: Clear Mg Professional. The French brand has gone even further than it did for its first Clear Professional headphones, offering even more impressive performance. Clear Mg Professional has ambitions to become the leading professional headphones. 

Focal’s Innovation Makes All the Difference
The Clear Mg Professional circumaural, open-back headphones are designed for music creators looking for a reliable tool in terms of quality and transfer speed. While the first Clear Professional headphones incorporated 15/8” (40mm) full- range speaker drivers with Aluminum/Magnesium ‘M’-shaped inverted domes, Clear Mg Professional has these same speaker drivers, but in Magnesium. After four years of research and development, the engineers at Focal have designed this new material to obtain an even more optimized combination of the key criteria for speaker drivers of lightness, rigidity, and damping. The St. Étienne brand first positioned itself on the global market of Hi-Fi headphones in 2016. This unique expertise, combined with French manufacturing mastered in its own workshops, allows the brand to guarantee uncompromising quality. 

Precision, Dynamic, and Speed
Thanks to this new cone, combined with the frameless 1″ (25mm)-diameter and 1/4″ (5.5mm)- high copper voice coil, the sound experience is made even more precise, delivering impressive detail across the full spectrum while preserving excellent tonal balance. The flexibility of the surround offers lightness, therefore more dynamics and impact across the full frequency spectrum. The open grille inside the earcup extends the high frequencies and follows the ‘M’ profile of the cone more closely to further reduce adverse effects. With a 24kHz breakup, the high frequencies are extremely linear and the transient signals are respected. 

Comfortable Work and Luxury Finishes
Everything is designed for work comfort, as well as aesthetics. The design of the headband displays a constant curve and the weight of the headphones is distributed evenly across the head. The solid aluminum yoke is covered with a structured black paint, for sleek design and scratch resistance. Instead of the traditional vertically rotating mechanics, these have been moved within the headband for even greater comfort. This allows for excellent sealing, while the red & black blends classic and modern looks. The thermoformed carrying case shaped to fit the Clear Mg Professional, and with smaller dimensions, is woven in colors to match the headphones. Finally, two low-resistivity OFC 24 AWG copper cables are supplied. 

Key features of Clear Mg Professional: 
• A brand-new magnesium cone for even greater dynamics 
• A remarkable tonal balance across the full spectrum
• The bass is articulated right down to the low frequencies 
• The level of detail in the high frequencies 
• Comfortable and ergonomic
• Low impedance (55 Ohms)
• Two OFC 24 AWG copper cables supplied: 
       16.5ft (5m) spiral cable with 1/4″ – (6.35mm) TRS jack
         3.9ft (1.2m) cable with 1/8″ (3.5mm) stereo jack connector with 1/8″ (3.5mm) jack and 1/4″ (6.35mm) jack adapter 
• Rigid carrying case supplied 

The new Clear Mg Professional product is available at retailers in the US and Canada on February 16, 202, and has a suggested retail price of $1,490. USD.

Black lion audio announces new B173mkII AND B12A mk3 portable preamps

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Black Lion Audio announces availability of British-style B173 mkII and American-style B12A mkIII portable preamps


CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA: boutique audio company Black Lion Audio is proud to announce availability of the B173 mkII and B12A mkIII — British-style (1073) and American-style (312A) portable preamps packed into convenient half-rack-sized units, respectively, allowing users to mix and match as they sonically see fit — as of October 1…
Simply speaking, Black Lion Audio’s B173 mkII is the most portable 1073 ‘British sound’ around! As such, it uses the same Cinemag input and output transformers that are found in the company’s ‘full-size’ B173 Quad mic preamp to duly deliver a whopping 70dB of gain, alongside a revamped gain stage and a lower noise floor for a cleaner, lower distortion sound. Sonically, the front panel-positioned Hi-Z IN (high impedance input) brings a harmonically rich tone to guitars, keyboards, and synthesizers, while the stepped input 1073-style GAIN and variable OUTPUT LEVEL attenuation knobs allow for flawless control over transformer saturation. 48V phantom power and phase inverse controls round out the front panel with self-explanatory XLR IN (input) and TRS OUT (output) connections literally bringing up the rear.
Representing the most portable 312A ‘American sound’ around, Black Lion Audio’s B12A mkIII uses the same Cinemag input and output transformers that are found in the company’s ‘full-size’ B12A Quad preamp to duly deliver a whopping 70dB of gain — just like its B173 mkII half-rack-sized sibling. Similarly, the front panel- positioned Hi-Z IN input also brings a harmonically rich tone to guitars, keyboards, and synthesizers, while the stepped 312A-style input GAIN control allows for perfect recall. Remaining on the front panel, there are also 48V phantom power and phase inverse controls, plus an 18dB PAD, while the B12A mkIII’s rear panel-positioned XLR IN and TRS OUT connections mirror those found on the B173 mkII. 

The B173 mkII is available to purchase through Black Lion Audio’s growing global network of dealers/distributors (https://www.blacklionaudio.com/dealers) with a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $449.00 USD and an SSP (Suggested Selling Price) of €449.00 EUR (including VAT). For more in-depth information, please visit its dedicated webpage here: https://www.blacklionaudio.com/store/products/mic-pres/b173-mk2/

The B12A mkIII is available to purchase through Black Lion Audio’s growing global network of dealers/distributors (https://www.blacklionaudio.com/dealers) with a MAP of $399.00 USD and an SSP of €399.00 EUR (including VAT). For more in-depth information, please visit its dedicated webpage here: https://www.blacklionaudio.com/store/products/mic-pres/b12a-mk3/

Avantone Pro CLA-10TM brings the Classic white cone monitor back

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Avantone Pro brings ‘back’ to market much-loved nearfield studio monitoring mainstay with closely-matched CLA-10TM
“I put my mixing reputation on these great speakers… I am mixing on them as I write this.”
– Chris Lord-Alge, GRAMMY® Award-winning mix engineer (Avril Lavigne, Green Day, Bruce Stringsteen, Tina Turner), 2018
TALLMAN, NY, USA: affordable high-quality audio products producer Avantone Pro is proud to announce availability of its CLA-10TM classic studio reference monitor — manufactured as a full-range, two-way passive pair for fixed or remote locations while also accurately recreating an iconic studio monitoring mainstay, much loved in the music industry among pop and rock recording engineers to this day as a valuable mixing tool with which to reveal shortcomings in recordings — as of June 22…
Times change, as does technology. That being said, today’s newly developing age of high-definition audio does not necessarily negate recording shortcomings. Studios still primarily use two- or three-way large monitors designed to represent a wide range reference viewpoint at higher listening levels and there is still a need to hear what a mix will sound like when played back over small systems, such as car stereos, clock radios, computer speakers, and televisions. Indeed, it is important to make mixing judgements based on listening to reference monitors that will not impart tonal anomalies caused by crossovers or inferior full-range drivers. Paying particular attention to the critical midrange vocal/guitar/keyboard areas is always advised.
As such, over a year of R&D (Research & Development), comparative listening, and tweaking went into voicing Avantone Pro’s CLA-10TM while working in close collaboration with five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge — hence having his signature grace the finished, familiar-looking cabinet. The result is a very accurate recreation of an iconic studio monitoring mainstay, much loved in the music industry among pop and rock recording engineers to this day (despite discontinuation of the original product in question back in 2001). Much more recently, listening tests in studios show that recording engineers accept the CLA-10TM as a transparent replacement — just ask Chris Lord-Alge, an assuredly talented and incontrovertibly impressed individual, as evidenced by his following flattery: “I put my mixing reputation on these great speakers… I am mixing on them as I write this.”
The CLA-10TM clearly meets its engineering and performance objectives, attributed, in part, to a 10.4-litre sealed design cabinet constructed of non-layered, high-rigidity MDF (Medium-Density Fibreboard) — chosen for its natural low-resonance characteristics — finished with an outer layer of real wood veneer. Visually and tonally fusing the past with the present, Avantone Pro utilised the latest in FEA (Fine Element Analysis) modelling to achieve its custom-designed 180mm AV10-MLF low-frequency driver based on paper cone construction with ‘old-school’ speaker design artistry, thanks to the finest pulp material that performs as closely as possible to the original by being press formed rather than die cut for tonal consistency. Cloth surround material is made in Japan for added authenticity and has unique damping characteristics, enabling a predictable compliance over the lifespan of the driver. Avantone Pro’s custom-tooled frame supports the driver/cone combo to minimise mechanical transfers while the 35mm AV10-MHF high frequency silk dome-based tweeter is as close a match to the original as can be made, making for both a frequency (60Hz – 20kHz) and voicing match to the classic sound so admired by the likes of Chris Lord-Alge — hardly surprising since those aforesaid AV10-MLF and V10-MHF critical components have been extensively field-tested in top LA and NY studios to universal acclaim as drop-in replacements for both Avantone Pro’s own CLA-10TM and also the iconic studio monitoring mainstay it recreates so accurately.
Anyone seeking a transparent replacement for their much-loved nearfield studio monitoring mainstay as a valuable mixing tool with which to reveal shortcomings in recordings should seriously consider investing in Avantone Pro’s CLA-10TM. Clearly its sound should be as familiar as the distinctive looks it also accurately recreates. Indeed, its (381.5mm x 215mm x 197.5mm) cabinet dimensions and (6.3kg) weight will make transitioning to the carefully crafted CLA-10TM when waving goodbye to the ‘dearly departed’ seem seamless. Some studio visitors may even do a double take when told that the same speaker stands or console bridge boast new classic studio reference monitors!
The CLA-10TM arrives at Avantone Pro’s US Dealers (https://www.avantonepro.com/us-dealers.php) in August 2018, priced at $699.00 USD per pair. (Worldwide Distributors are listed by country here: https://www.avantonepro.com/worldwide.php)
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated CLA-10TM webpage here: https://www.avantonepro.com/cla-10.php
Watch five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge’s compelling CLA-10TM introductory video here: https://youtu.be/ZFLmP9XWyhg
Print-ready, hi-res image:

Ik multimedia irig pro I/O in Apple stores now

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IK Multimedia. Musicians First.

Media Alert

iRig Pro I/O now available in the Apple Store

The most advanced iPhone, iPad and Mac audio/MIDI interface
is now available in over 200 Apple retail and online stores worldwide

September 7, 2017 – IK Multimedia is proud to announce that iRig® Pro I/O, the cutting-edge high definition audio/MIDI interface for iPhone®, iPad® and Mac®, is now available in the Apple Store® at more than 200 locations worldwide and online.

iRig Pro I/O lets musicians connect all their gear to their mobile devices or computers to make music and produce audio, anytime and everywhere, with a portable, pocket-size mobile studio they can always carry with them. The combo microphone and instrument input allows users to record high definition, studio quality audio anywhere. A MIDI input and output allow to connect keyboards and controllers and a headphone output jack with a dedicated volume control is perfect for use with the new iPhone 7 and its future generations. iRig Pro I/O is a truly powerful, professional and portable recording solution that operates on AA batteries when connected to an iOS device, or on USB power when used with a Mac. When used with an optional power supply unit, it even charges a connected iPhone or iPad during extended sessions. A huge selection of IK’s award-winning apps and software is also included with iRig Pro I/O enabling complete music productions with a total value of more than $/€500.

iRig Pro I/O now available in the Apple Store

Being certified MFi hardware (Made for iPhone and iPad) iRig Pro I/O is guaranteed to be plug-and-play on all iOS devices with a Lightning® port using the included Lightning cable while the USB cable included connects Mac computers. iRig Pro I/O works out of the box with popular Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software like GarageBand®, Logic Pro® and more.

IK Multimedia is the leader of the mobile music creation revolution as the first company to utilize the power of the iPhone, tapping into it with products like the award-winning iRig line of guitar interfaces and AmpliTube amp modeling software allowing users to plug their guitars and basses into their phones and experience the most authentic amplifier tones and effects anywhere.

Today IK Multimedia offers more Apple certified music and audio creation and production hardware than any other manufacturer, with the widest range of interfaces, microphones, keyboards and other controllers for musicians, producers and podcasters available on the market. All of this is complemented by a full range of software and apps along with other accessories like stands, speakers and video accessories, focused on plug and play, portability and affordability that has made music and audio creation easier for millions of consumers around the world. With more than 50 million software and app downloads and over 2 million units of its iRig branded products sold since 2010, IK Multimedia is the undisputed leader in the mobile music creation category with over 70% market share.

iRig Pro I/O, together with the vast majority of IK Multimedia products are also “Made in Italy” in its fully owned state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that combines the highest quality processes together with a focus on unique Italian world class craftsmanship. This goes together with IK’s social responsibility standards that ensure compliance with the strictest labor regulations in the world along with eco-friendly programs, such as lessening environmental impact by reducing waste, employing smart recycling techniques and reducing power consumption by utilizing roof mounted solar panels to generate electricity.

iRig Pro I/O is available now from Apple.com and at more than 200 retail locations worldwide.

In addition, other IK Multimedia products like iRig HD 2 (guitar interface), iKlip Grip and iKlip Grip Pro (multi-functional iPhone stands) and iRig Keys (keyboard controller) can be found in the Apple Store worldwide.

www.apple.com/choose-your-country

www.apple.com/retail/storelist

 

For more information, please visit:
www.irigpro.io

For a video of iRig Pro I/O in action, please visit:
www.irigpro.io/vid

Tracktion Launches Waveform DAW

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Tracktion Corporation is proud to announce the release of Waveform, the latest in their long line of innovative DAWs. Transcending the award-winning T7 in look, feel and feature set, Waveform maintains the open, intuitive characteristics of its predecessor. In addition to providing a solid recording platform, the Tracktion team has developed an array of new tools designed to speed up and expand creative composition.

All good DAW’s have the ability to record, edit, mix and share music however, Waveform may be the only application evolving at the same pace as modern music production. Since acquiring ownership of the platform in 2012, Tracktion has completely re-factored the application, adapting it to the latest production trends, on a yearly basis. No other DAW can make this claim. In addition, Waveform is laser focused on music production so it avoids the complexities inherent in most of today’s DAWs as they struggle to support everything from film mixing to enterprise operations or live music performance. 

Beyond sheer efficiency, Waveform inspires creativity with an unprecedented suite of composition tools. Intuitive MIDI pattern generators allow even untrained musicians to quickly assemble entire musical arrangements while built-in virtual instruments such as the FM Synth and new Collective™ sampler/synthesizer provide a wealth of new sounds and blending options for a truly sophisticated sonic palette. Of course, Waveform is also compatible with all VST and AU plugins such as Tracktion’s popular BioTek™ Organic Synthesizer.

“Our goal is to continually gain market share by remaining more current and flexible than our competitors,” explained Tracktion Corp CEO, James Woodburn. “Our constant re-factoring process means that we can track emerging production trends and incorporate the best ideas into our codebase. Watch on-line tutorials detailing how today’s top producers like to work and you’ll find that Tracktion seamlessly fits into those workflows.”

Despite the remarkable power of this application, Waveform’s highly refined code remains efficient enough to support even the relatively tiny Raspberry Pi platform. This allows the app to run smoothly on almost any modern Windows, Mac or Linux computer but also opens it for use as an embedded solution in the growing DIY maker community.

Waveform is available from the Tracktion website,  HYPERLINK “https://www.tracktion.com/” tracktion.com, as well as top retailers, with prices starting at $99.

Creating your own sounds Pt1

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All your drums are belong to us.

Ok so you’re about to drop a cool $300 on some new sample set that has about 300 new drums in it, seems like a deal right? Hmmmm not so fast.
For that same $300 you could get yourself a great portable digital recorder and actually make an infinite number of your own custom sounds. Allowing you to break out of the norm and finally have some sounds that no one else has. The added value to this is that once you learn to create your own sounds you can better understand what it is about commercial libraries that set the ho hum from the amazing. This will allow you to better spend your money in the future on sound sets that are actually valuable to you. So you’re wondering if you have enough proper knowledge to create your own sound set. Well that’s half the fun. This should be a learning experience, an opportunity for your knowledge of sound to really expand and translate into your music. Mistakes are not always a bad thing unless you don’t learn from them and there is only one way to gain Experience.
Creating Drums of your own should mean creating a signature sound of your own. Some drums are not meant to be used over and over. Sometimes it’s just good to have a signature sound all your own for just that specified moment. Don’t get to hung up on perfect, worry more about YOUR sound.

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