Issue No. 42

Media

The A/B CD

by Steve Carr  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

"Sonic comparisons of audio technologies and techniques." Given that my "end rant" is about critical listening, this is a perfect CD to recommend this issue. It has 52 minutes of comparisons in...

Microphones

Copperphone

by Placid Audio  |  reviewed by Joel Hamilton

A microphone for anyone who likes outstanding build-quality, interesting sounds, and a DIY ethic, the Copperphone is handmade by Mark Pirro (The Polyphonic Spree, Tripping Daisy). It's really cool...

Control Surfaces, Instruments

MIDI Analog Performance Sequencer

by Signal Arts  |  reviewed by Geoff Farina

The Signal Arts MIDI Analog Performance Sequencer was specifically designed for experimental composition in the sense that it requires the user to focus on the sequencing process instead of the end...

Instruments

SidStation MOS 6581 Synthesizer

by Elektron  |  reviewed by Geoff Farina

If I had put the same effort into my homework as into manually copying BASIC programs from Compute! magazine into my Commodore 64 in the early 80s, I would now be writing legal pleadings or...

Media

ATR Alignment Seminar

by ATR Services, Inc  |  reviewed by Garrett Haines

ATR Services is known around the globe as a leading authority on analog reel-to-reel machines, especially the Ampex ATR-102 series. Given this profile, ATR receives numerous questions about caring for...

Instruments

Modular synthesizers

by Modcan Cyndustries  |  reviewed by Geoff Farina

Twenty years ago, few companies were still producing modular synthesizers. The mighty Moog Modulars, ARP 2500s, and Buchla Electric Music Boxes were reduced to studio camp or tucked away in university...

Accessories, Computers, Tools

GT-103 Rack Enclosure & Removable Hard Drives

by Glyph  |  reviewed by John Baccigaluppi

This hard drive is kinda' like a Hummer: Totally overbuilt and over engineered. Like a Hummer, it's like killing flies with a sawed off 12-gauge. But unlike driving a silly, gas guzzling Hummer, the...

Consoles/Summing, Control Surfaces, Synchronization

Fat Controller analog sequencer w/ MIDI

by Frostwave Analog  |  reviewed by Geoff Farina

Although the Frostwave Fat Controller is one of the simplest among a small scene of traditionally-styled analog sequencers, it offers essential analog sequencing functionality along with some modern...

Effects

Green Line overdrive pedal

by Smart People Factory  |  reviewed by Pete Weiss

The perennial problem with overdrive stompboxes is that many of them excel at only one sound. And sometimes it's a bad sound. The Ibanez Tube Screamer (TS-808 and original TS-9 models) has, over the...

Consoles/Summing, EQs, Mic Preamps

S80 Producer Box

by Trident Audio Ltd  |  reviewed by Kirt Shearer

With all the ads, articles, and newsgroups hammering us with buzzwords, it's easy to think that the only "real" equipment must be either Class-A, discreet, or tube. But don't forget that there have...

Accessories, Tools

Boom Mic Stand

by SE Electronics  |  reviewed by John Baccigaluppi

I've always wanted one of those hi-tech, heavy duty mic stands with the hella' long booms that you see at the AES shows in the boutique audio type booths. But, when I see the price tag of several...

Accessories, Tools

AT8741 Mic Clip

by Audio-Technica  |  reviewed by Chris Garges

This little bad boy is a total life-saver. Ever had a problem putting your Audio-Technica 40-series mics close to drums because of the shockmount? Or perhaps close to another mic in a coincident...

Dynamics

NY-2A Stereo Vacuum Tube Optical Compressor

by Electro-Harmonix  |  reviewed by Joel Hamilton

Wow. This seems to be the operative word for this compressor. We are trying one out at Studio G Brooklyn right now. Wow. This compressor is the ultimate expression of "tube comp" in my opinion. This...

Dynamics

MDX4600 MULTICOM PRO-XL

by Behringer  |  reviewed by Joel Hamilton

One of the first things I learned when I started recording live concerts is the importance of a compressor/limiter right before going to tape/hard drive. All it takes is one little nasty "snap" of a...

Accessories, Microphones, Tools

SKRM-100 Subkick

by Yamaha  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

Some engineers know the old-time trick of placing a speaker (oftentimes the woofer from a Yamaha NS-10M, ironically enough) in front of a kick drum or bass amp, then running the speaker cables into a...

Converters

EC-2 upgrade for HD24

by Alesis  |  reviewed by Joseph Lemmer

Considering the number of channels (24 in/out up to 48 kHz, twelve up to 96 kHz), the EC-2 is by far the least expensive set of 96 kHz-capable converters on the market. The inputs and outputs are...

EQs, Signal Processors

Type 69 mic/line/EQ module

by Helios Electronics  |  reviewed by Dave Amels

The Helios Type 69 input module is a reissue of the input section found on the rare, silver Olympic mixing desks which were designed in the 1960s by Dick Swettenham. Mr. Swettenham was the in-house...

Interfaces, Software

HD24 FirePort 1394 Interface

by Alesis  |  reviewed by Joseph Lemmer

The HD24 FirePort 1394 Interface is a no brainer. If you track to HD24 and then transfer to a DAW to mix, go get one. Even if you don't own an HD24, it may be worth it for your studio to have...