Issue No. 106

Instruments, Signal Processors

MicroBrute Analog Synthesizer

by Arturia  |  reviewed by Dana Gumbiner

Here is Arturia's affordable and highly desirable analog synth, the MicroBrute. The little brother to their MiniBrute synth, the monophonic MicroBrute has a new modulation matrix with control-voltage...

Converters

Tik Tik Tik: Four audio engineers hash out the merits of Mutec's new MC-3+ Master Clock

by MUTEC  |  reviewed by Matthew Agoglia, Alex DeTurk, Allen Farmelo

Master clocks are a near necessity if you own multiple digital audio devices that are interconnected. Sure, you can forgo a master clock and just chain one digital device to the next, each...

EQs

W2395c 500-series EQ

by Roger Schult  |  reviewed by

The W2395c is Roger Schult's second foray into the world of 500-series equalizer modules. His first design, the W2377, was essentially a repackaging of his mastering EQ, but in an unsurprising turn of...

Effects, Signal Processors

The Big Trees tube amp & processor

by Audio Kitchen  |  reviewed by Al Lawson

Is it an amp or a pedal... or a DI... or outboard gear?!? The Big Trees really is all things to all people. Having used the Audio Kitchen Little Chopper guitar amp [Tape Op #82] a lot in the studio, I...

Dynamics

BC1-S stereo compressor

by TK Audio  |  reviewed by Geoff Stanfield

If you are new to the technique of mix bus compression, the simple explanation is that you are compressing the entire stereo (or multichannel) mix. A compressor on the mix bus (in addition perhaps to...

Plug-Ins, Tools

Magic AB plug-in

by Sample Magic  |  reviewed by Dave Cerminara

Magic AB is an easy-to-use and extremely practical plug-in that allows mixers (and mastering engineers) to quickly compare their mixes to commercial references. By inserting the plug-in post-master...

Computers

Quad Pro Thunder computer, Lynx LT-TB Thunderbolt LSlot card

by ADK Pro Audio  |  reviewed by Garrett Haines

I've written it before, and I'll say it again. If you want to purchase a Windows PC for professional audio work, you should have a professional audio integrator build your computer. The requirements...

Virtual Instruments

V+ & Vocoder 5000 virtual instruments

by XILS Lab  |  reviewed by John Baccigaluppi

Reviewing the Roland VT-3 Voice Transformer [Tape Op #105], an effects unit that includes simple vocoder-like presets, really had me yearning for a device that could do true carrier/modulator...

Dynamics, Plug-Ins

CLA-2A & CLA-76 compressor/limiter plug-ins

by Waves  |  reviewed by Geoff Stanfield

"Hardware versus plug-in? Hardware versus plug-in?" Wring hands. Repeat. In the early days of digital emulations of classic pieces of hardware, the argument could easily be made that the digital side...

Effects, Signal Processors

SDD-3000 Pedal digital delay

by Korg  |  reviewed by John Baccigaluppi

If every DAW in existence ships with several free delay plug- ins, why is Soundtoys EchoBoy one of the best-selling plug-ins on the market? Moreover, why would you want to spend your hard-earned cash...

Microphones

Seville active ribbon mic

by Cathedral Pipes  |  reviewed by Andy Hong

At first glance, the Seville looks like an RCA Type 77 series mic that's been meticulously restored, recrafted, and repainted by a team on one of the various auto-shop reality TV shows. It has the...

Dynamics, Plug-Ins

Manley Variable Mu plug-in for UAD-2 & Apollo

by Universal Audio  |  reviewed by Garrett Haines

The Variable Mu Limiter Compressor from Manley Laboratories has been an industry standard for decades. ("Variable Mu" is even a registered trademark of Manley.) Inspired by the famous tube limiters...

Microphones

D80 large-diaphragm dynamic mic, D82 ribbon mic, D84 large-diaphragm condenser mic

by CAD  |  reviewed by Larry Crane

When I gave a Project Studio Expo presentation in October 2014 at the Audio Engineering Society convention in L.A., my topic was "Where to focus on your studio gear when purchasing with a limited...

Dynamics, Plug-Ins

6030 Ultimate Compressor plug-in

by McDSP  |  reviewed by Tony SanFilippo

I think it's pretty ballsy to call something "Ultimate," but having relied on this plug-in for over a year, I do agree with the name. McDSP was one of the companies that early Pro Tools adopters clung...