PC and Music News

CharterOak Acoustic Devices gears up to release three new products at the 2008 AES Show in Amsterdam. Due to be on display for the first time is the SCL-1, M900-T, and the Small Studio Collection.

The SCL-1 Solid State Compressor/Limiter employs all discreet electronics and is capable of providing a constant output level regardless of input level or frequency, without the familiar pumping inherent in most compressor/limiters. The unit delivers extremely fast attack times without overcompensation, and a release characteristic, which is a function of dynamic range and average program level. It will begin shipping in June of 2008.

The M900-T employs the same cardioid, hyper-cardioid, and omni capsules used with popular M900 Transformerless Small Diaphragm Condenser. However, the M900-T combines these capsules with a vacuum tube head amplifier and custom output transformer.

The CharterOak Small Studio Collection is the total microphone solution for small recording studios with a tight budget. Consisting of a critics favorite, the SA538 Large Diaphragm Condenser, the E700 Solid State condenser and a sequentially numbered matched pair of M900s, start up and well established studios will benefit from this full spectrum selection of microphones and will be able to tackle any recording situation from vocals to orchestra to loud electric guitars. This collection is all you need and is delivered in a solid locking flight case with all of the necessary accessories and CharterOak's Lifetime Warranty.

Last year SPL has launched the RackPack modular system and started with two different preamps and the Transient Designer as the first modules. This year the RackPack is extended with six new modules, so that studio and live engineers can choose from a wide variety of processors to configure individual RackPacks.

New modules :

1. Full Ranger – Graphic EQ with passive coil filters for the whole frequency spectrum
2. Bass Ranger - Graphic EQ with passive coil filters for the bass range
3. Vox Ranger - Graphic EQ with passive coil filters for the vocal range
4. TwinTube – Combined saturation and presence tube effects
5. DeEsser – Works with phase cancellation instead of traditional compression
6. DynaMaxx – set & forget compressor, updated for the RackPack-Version

For more information about each module please visit the link below :

First shown at this year Winter NAMM, Allen & Heath has just announced that the ZED-24 small format, USB-equipped mixers for live performance, recording, and production is now shipping and widely available.

More information available here.

Do you remember this funny soft made by AQ Interactive for Nintendo DS ? Korg DS-10 was planned to be released only in Japan. Well, guess what, I've got a good news for you found on the DS-10 blog :

"Hi there! my name is Tomi from AQI Inc.and I'll be in charge of this product for international territories. For those of you out there wondering the release of DS-10 other than Japan, well, here's a good news. YES, we will release DS-10 worlwide and currently we're making an adjustment with each territory. So please be patient. Your support means a lot to us and we'll keep you all with the latest update of the international release as soon as possible."

SPL has announced a new recording channel and compact analog processing rack : the Frontliner.

This new channel strip combines Preamp, De-Esser, Compressor, EQ and Tube Output for a fully featured recording channel. But often the particular stages would also be a great addition to an engineers mixing tools arsenal – and that is why SPL has spent dedicated I/Os to each section of this unit.

Each stage can be used separately and for example be routed via a patchbay to insert the whole toolbox into a studio environment. The Frontliner features a hybrid, Class A preamp design with discrete solid state stage and a tube section with switchable drive settings.

Availability of the Frontliner is scheduled for October 2008.

Line 6 has announced the expansion of its online presence with the launch of its localized French and German websites.

"We strive to set the standard for websites by providing in-depth video, audio and interactive demos that enable musicians to explore and understand the depth and functionality of our products," stated Erik Tarkiainen, vice president, marketing communications, Line 6, Inc. "With the launch of our French and German sites, we are pleased to be able to deliver this experience to an even greater number of musicians around the world."