PC and Music News

The Equation Audio F.20 is a 4th generation advanced solid state microphone. It uses head amplifier technology exclusive to Equation Audio, and has been tested and approved on tour and in the studio for over 3 years.

Coming with large retro swivel-mount, the F.20 features all-new, Equation-exclusive, advanced HR-2295, high-resolution head amp, a near 1-inch diameter (22mm) proprietary electret transducer and a new, exclusive multifaceted body and chassis design. Equation Audio claims that performance beta tests have demonstrated it has extraordinary frequency response, robust ballistic capability and exceptionally low self-noise.

Specs :

. Transducer type --- Condenser
. Frequency response --- 20 - 20k Hz
. Polar pattern --- Super Cardioid
. Open circuit voltage @ 1k(0 dB = 1V/Pa) --- 30 dB
. Pre-attenuation (PAD) --- 16 dB
. Nominal impedance --- 180 - 200 Ohm
. Load impedance --- 2G ohm
. Max. SPL --- 148 dB
. Signal to noise ratio --- 80dB
. Supply voltage --- 48V phantom power

The F.20 is available now for a fee of £534 (ex. vat).

Klark Teknik has launched the DN540 Creative Quad Compressor, the second new product in a brand new series. The DN540 packs four channels of creative compression into a 1U chassis.

The DN540 has been designed with a unique "Harmonic Enhancement" presence control to preserve the harmonic content of the material in a more natural, dynamic state. This allows more compression to be applied, providing greater control of programme dynamics, without the source material sounding dull, lacking in detail and unnatural.

Features :

- Quad channel compressor
- Ease of use, requiring minimum set up to produce excellent results
- "Harmonic Enhancement" presence control to correct loss of detail and intelligibility during compression without increasing noise or likelihood of feedback
- Extremely low noise and distortion levels
- Sonic design which has been "tuned by ear" to produce extremely transparent compression
- Advanced envelope generator with manual controls for creative dynamic effects
- Intuitive controls for all functions contributing to output levels
- Easily identifiable bypass, solo and other major switches, with status LEDs
- Channel linking with true power summing to provide true threshold setting for stereo material
- External sidechain inputs
- Roadworthy 1U chassis
- Balanced inputs and outputs
- Auto switching power supply

Anticipated applications of the new KT DN540 include :

- Protecting signal paths from amplitude overload
- Improving the apparent power of signals when an artists' performance is a little too dynamic
- Maintaining a stable signal level to help an instrument sit within a mix
- Changing the percussive timbre of an instrument to enhance impact
- Compressing a mix so that it maintains a stable signal level (typically to make it sound louder)
- Changing the percussive timbre of a mix to make it sound fuller and to enhance impact
- Frequency conscious compression to remove unwanted sibilance or undesired tonal artefacts via external sidechain

Pricing and availability TBA.

Klark Teknik has launched the DN530 Creative Quad Gate, one of two new products in a brand new series. The DN530 provides four easy to use gates in a compact 1U format.

The DN530 boasts "Transient Accenting", a new creative feature providing an easy way to enhance the attack envelope beyond merely opening the gate. This can provide up to 12dB of additional transient energy and its primary application is to provide additional impact on drums and percussion instruments, although it can be used to enhance the impact of acoustic stringed instruments such as guitar and piano as well as other instruments. Uniquely, Transient Accenting allows the operator to control precisely the amount of enhancement added to each channel, and can be applied independently of the gating function.

Features :

- Quad channel gate
- Unique progressively controllable accent level that emphasises the initial transient of a signal to increase dynamic power
- Exponential gate attack to reduce signal loss at the start of sounds while remaining sonically transparent – no clicks
- Reverse exponential gate release to blend seamlessly with the natural decay of the programme
- Extremely low noise and distortion levels
- Advanced band pass side chain filter to increase trigger source discrimination
- Rotary controls for all envelope characteristics and variable range
- External key inputs and ducking facilities
- Easily identifiable bypass, solo and other major switches
- Roadworthy 1U chassis
- Balanced inputs and outputs
- Auto switching power supply

Pricing and availability TBA.

Eowave unveils the Persephone markII. The major improvement with the second version of this ribbon analogue synth is definitely the ribbon duophony. With this new Eowave ribbon and a new synthesis architecture, this is possible to play different sounds simulteaneously, to modulate one sound source with another while playing !

The Persephone markII will be available in June 2009 with price TBA.

Steinberg has just updated Cubase 5 to version 5.0.1. Here are just a few of the feature enhancements Cubase 5.0.1 has to offer.

Plug-in scanning at program start-up has been optimized. In the Plug-in Information window, a button "Update Plug-in Information" has been added which enables scans through all installed plug-ins and adds additional information about plug-in properties to the list.

In the Setup window of VST Expression, it is now possible to define up to two individual MIDI Control Change messages for a Sound Slot in the Output Mapping area. Each sound slot can be associated with a color. When working in the MIDI editors, such as the Key Editor, you can use the Color Scheme Selector in the Toolbar to colorize note events by Sound Slots.

In LoopMash, saving or deleting a scene can be aborted by clicking the empty space next to the Scene Pads. An "Empty" preset has been added to easily clear an entire LoopMash instance. LoopMash now also supports the AI Knob of the Steinberg CC121 controller.

Supports for the AI Knob of the Steinberg CC121 controller has also been added to Groove Agent ONE. The pads C1 – B4 also include additional automation parameters. The central display on the Play page now displays a polyphony counter.

The ASIO load of REVerence has been drastically decreased and the plug-in latency has been reduced from 2,048 to 256 samples. Please note that CPU performance depends on the length of the impulse response and the number of channels used, which should be considered when setting the ASIO buffer size.

AKG unveils the Rhythm Pack, a new Live/Tour Sound Package of microphones for drums. The Rhythm Pack contains 1x D 112, 2x C 430 for overheads and 3x D 40 for toms and snare, all in a protective aluminium carrying case.

Pricing and availability TBA.