PC and Music News

Kel Audio has announced the HM-7U, an affordable large diaphragm condenser mic utilizing a K47-Style capsule tailored for vocals and select instrument recording.

The capsule is similar to the type used in later Neumann U47s but couples it with a high-quality dual FET circuit, complete with professional-grade film capacitors, instead of the inferior tube circuitry found in inexpensive U47 clones.

In addition to adding a thick glossy sheen to vocals, the HM-7U works well on upright bass, mandolin, drums, woodwinds and piano. Because of its "small supercardioid" pickup pattern, the HM-7U may also be used successfully in live stage applications such as traditional jazz, folk and bluegrass concerts, where extremely high quality sound reinforcement is required.

KEL has also added several features to make it more versatile, including a low-cut filter and a 10dB pad for handling loud sources like kick drums and guitar amps. The HM-7U features a phantom power light, as well, to quickly indicate that the mic is active in busy recording or stage situations.

The HM-7U is priced at $299 USD and comes with an aluminum flight case, elastic shock mount and swivel mount for tight micing situations. Estimated ship date is late September.

A keyboard version of the analogue modelling synth Blofeld by Waldorf is on the road !

Features :

- 60 Megabyte sample memory
- Class compliant USB MIDI for PC,Mac and Linux
- 16 part multimode
- maximum 25 voices polyphony
- highest quality standard keybed with 49 weighted keys and aftertouch
- Internal power supply
- Pitchbend and modulation wheel
- Virtual analog, wavetable, and sample based oscillators
- MIDI in/out
- Sturdy metal case
- Stainless steel rotary encoders
- Backlit 128x64 pixel LCD
- Over 1000 sounds
- 3 oscillators, 2 filters per voice
- Selectable drive curves
- Frequency modulation for oscillators and filters
- Three LFO, four envelopes per voice
- Extensive modulation capabilities
- Complex arpeggiator
- Powerful effects section
- weight: apprx 8,-- kgs

Blofeld keyboard should be available very soon at an estimated price of €799.

JZ Microphones (Black Hole microphones manufacturer) is introducing an innovative new pop filter design at the 125th AES Convention in San Francisco, October 3 - 5.

This new pop filter offers a distinctive "curved cone" shape and employs two screens — one in front, one in back. The main benefit of this unique design is reduced reverberations and, therefore, improved fidelity to the original sound. This new accessory comes with the new Black Hole microphone shock mount, an advanced system devised for use in more complicated applications than included stand holder is able to carry.

Both the pop filter and shock mount are patent pending, and will be available at a suggested retail price of $490 / €339.

Alesis announces that the MultiMix 8 Line mixer is now shipping to pro audio retailers. The MultiMix 8 Line is a flexible, affordable rack line mixer for stage, studio, boardrooms, conference rooms, health clubs, restaurants, houses of worship, and other installed sound applications.

Features :

- Eight-channel stereo line mixer
- Microphone/line input on channel one
- Stereo effects bus can be shared between two linked units
- Channel expansion feature for expansion to 16 stereo input channels
- Individual Pan and Effects Send controls on each channel
- Signal clip and overload LEDs on each input channel
- Stereo five-stage LED ladder for output level indication
- Stereo monitor out
- Mono input source compatibility for stereo output
- 1RU 19-inch standard equipment rack size

The MultiMix 8 Line is available at a street price of $199.

Take a look at this MultiMix 8 Line video on 440tv !

Today we are glad to publish a "double" article about IK Multimedia's ARC System which is a combination of a professional calibrated measurement microphone, a measuring software and a multi-platform plug-in that can be integrated with any DAW-based studio, capable of correcting the distortion caused by room acoustics and able to improve how a studio will sound forever.

"A good mix. In today's audio world, it's not just something nice to have. It's a MUST. If you want to make a good mix of either music or sound for film, you have to go to a professionally designed studio, or acoustically treat your project studio. Now, with IK Multimedia's ARC (Advanced Room Correction) System, there is a third option- a software plug-in. It seems that there is a plug-in to fix everything under the sun these days, so why not have one that corrects the room tone in your studio?"

Thinking about setting up a project studio but don't know where to start? Want to learn valuable techniques for recording and producing music? M-Audio's new publication Overdub takes you through the process of building your studio—from choosing the right gear to fine-tuning your current system.

Volume One: A Guide to Studio Monitors details everything you need to know when setting up a reference monitor system. Topics include :

- How to select the right monitors
- Guidelines for monitor placement
- Dealing with room acoustics
- Using acoustical treatment
- Testing your system