PC and Music News

PreSonus presents a new version of the Firebox : the FireStudio Mobile. It combines the analog-circuit design and advanced platform technology of their FireStudio rack-mount interfaces with the ability to run on bus power in field applications.

Features :

• Plug-and-play, high-speed FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394)
• 24-bit resolution with 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz sampling rates
• Record/playback 10 inputs and 6 outputs
• 2 XMAX PreSonus microphone/instrument preamplifiers with true 48V phantom power for condenser mics
• 8 line inputs, 2 line outputs
• Stereo S/PDIF and MIDI input/output — DB9 break-out cable included
• Zero-latency monitoring
• Headphone output with gain control
• Software router/mixer
• Powered via FireWir ...

RME has unveiled the Babyface, a new 22-channel USB 2.0 audio interface featuring digitally controlled mic preamps, instrument input, and a TotalMix FX DSP mixer, all in a compact, portable package small enough to fit in your pocket.

Features :

• TotalMix with DSP effects
• 192 kHz AD / DA converters
• Active jitter suppression
• 2 x Analog I/O
• 2 x Mic / Line preamps, digitally controlled
• 1 x Instrument input (alternate)
• 1 x Stereo headphone output
• 1 x ADAT I/O
• 1 x SPDIF I/O (optical instead of ADAT I/O)
• 1 x MIDI I/O
• 1 x USB 2.0

The Babyface comes with TotalMix FX software (Mac / Win), DIGICheck software (Mac / Win), breakout XLR, an optical cable, USB cable, CD-ROM, manual, and power supply. MSRP : €599.

The FL Extension box from Image Line brings more than 75 additional plugins and product upgrades from the FL Studio library into retail stores. Buy an FL Extension box in-store, choose and download your FL Extension product on-line.

Consumer research conducted by Image Line showed that 61% of customers buying FL Studio and plugins from a retail store were aware that online purchases were available. Reasons cited for buying in a physical shop included not having a credit card and not trusting online shopping. Of the in-store shoppers, 74% said they would buy the FL Extension product if it were available. Interestingly, 54% of download customers also said they would buy the FL Extension product as it was seen as more convenient than using a family/friend's credit card or bank-wire method. ...

The German manufacturer has just announced the Transpressor, a new dynamic processing tool that seeks to surpass the limitations of common compressors.

The Transpressor is the first processor that combines the two most important dynamic processing techniques: level-independent compression and treatment of transients. By blending these techniques in a single path, SPL aims to void the limitations each processor presented on its own.

Universal Audio today announced a new addition to its line of analog recording hardware: the 4-710D Four-Channel "Twin-finity" Mic Preamp & DI with Dynamics.

At the core of the 4-710D are four channels of tone-blending "Twin-finity" mic preamps with true-bypass 1176-style compression. Based on the original 710 Twin-Finity preamp, each of the four mic preamp channels allows for continuously variable tone between 100% tube and 100% solid-state.

Other notable 4-710D features include :

• Newly designed 1176-style compression/soft-limiting circuit per mic channel
• Eight channels of high-quality 24-Bit, 192kHz A/D conversion
• Digital output via dual ADAT optical or AES/EBU DB-25
• Monolithic balanced output stage
• Balanced send/return inserts

The 4-710D is expected to be released worldwide in Q3 2010. Pricing remains TBD.

For the next 4 days Frankfurt is going to be the center of the audio world : every name that counts will be there to present you all the latest musical products from around the world, those you'll maybe use tomorrow.

Of course the whole 440Network team is busy to get you informed about this major trade show in this "Frankfurt MusikMesse 2010 Special Report", so stay tuned !