Distributed in 94 countries, Mix is the world's leading magazine for the professional recording and sound production technology industry. Mix covers a wide range of topics including: recording, live sound and production, broadcast production, audio for film and video, and music technology.
NEW YORK - Sound Devices, a manufacturer of industry-leading portable digital audio recorders, is pleased to announce the release of Version 2.34 firmware for all 7-Series digital audio recorders including 702, 702T, 722 and 744T models. The upgrade, which is a free download for registered users, adds several new features that encompass the implementation of FLAC lossless data compression, MP2 and MP3 format recording and multi-unit linking enhancements. Version 2.34 Firmware was officially released at AES 2007.
“The 7-Series recorders have become the industry leader for high-end, portable recording,” says Jon Tatooles, managing director of Sound Devices. “With Version 2.34 Firmware, all four units in the series now offer greatly enhanced recording file storage through FLAC data compression and compatibility with industry standard MPEG formats. In short, Version 2.34 presents a 7-Series user with increased flexibility while preserving the uncompromising quality and serviceability expected from a Sound Devices product.”
The implementation of the FLAC (Free Lossless Audio - an open source format) allows for high-resolution recording using a fully recoverable — or lossless — data format. MPEG formats MP2 and MP3, while ubiquitous, are lossy codecs and the resulting decompression looses some audio quality. The MPEG formats do present, however, smaller files for increased storage capacity. The FLAC codec maintains bit-accurate PCM audio data and all Broadcast Wave and iXML metadata generated by the 7-Series recorders. FLAC effectively compresses files from 2:1 to 5:1, at the minimum, doubling the capacity of CompactFlash cards. The FLAC format is significant because it maintains the superior quality of the audio recorded by the 7-Series units.
Peter Gabriel wrote many of his best works in a shed at the bottom of the garden; his shed happens to contain a recording studio. With the idea that every creative artist should have their own shed, Solid State Logic realized Peter‘s vision at the recent 123rd Audio Engineering Society Convention at The Javits Centre NYC.
The 240 square foot Summerwood Cheyenne shed housed an SSL AWS 900+ console as a creative centerpiece. This was connected to SSL XLogic processing and converters, with additional equipment provided by Guitar Center, acoustic treatment by Auralex, Argosy studio furniture and Henick-Lane air conditioning. This ‘shed of your dreams‘ professional studio costs under $250K, depending on exact finish, specification and location.
To guarantee performance, the studio package includes a visit by one of SSL‘s engineers to verify the audio installation, provide introductory console training and certify the facility.
The Shed is an easy to specify, professional recording studio for those who need to realize their creative ambitions, without disturbing the peace and harmony of domestic life. The Shed requires only a concrete pad, power connection and in some cases a building permit. Available only through specially authorized SSL dealers, the Shed is a perfect, simple solution to what can be a daunting problem to solve.
Solid State Logic is the world‘s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast and post production professionals. For more information about our award-winning products, please visit: www.solid-state-logic.com.
Solid State Logic, the world‘s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast and post production professionals, announced the launch of Pro-Convert, a translation application for moving sessions from one DAW environment to another, at the recent AES Convention in New York.
Pro-Convert enables workstation users to convert session files from one format to another and can handle many commonly used formats including the latest versions from: ProTools™, Soundscape, Cubase/Nuendo, Vegas, Sonic Studio, SADiE, Final Cut Pro, Audition, OMF, AES31, Sequoia, Open TL and Tascam BU.
Pro-Covert has been developed over the past seven years by Cui Bono Soft, which had been acquired by SSL in a deal concluded a few days before the show. “The Cui Bono guys had a vision of leveling the DAW playing field that we want to pick up and run with,” explains Antony David, SSL‘s Managing Director. “Pro-Convert frees up the creators of music to use the workstation of their choice and liberates them from concerns about compatibility.”
Pro-Convert represents a version up from Cui Bono‘s V4.0 software and brings the application fully up to date with the latest versions of popular DAW formats. SSL is committed to supporting the existing user base and to maintaining and developing the application, which will be available from SSL‘s webshop in due course.
Solid State Logic is the world‘s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast and post production professionals. For more information about our award-winning products, please visit: www.solid-state-logic.com.
Gepco International, an industry leader in the manufacturing and distribution of quality professional audio and video cables, introduced the XB20UB - X-Band Unbalanced Guitar/Instrument Cable at AES 2007. The first unbalanced cable in the X-Band series, the XB20UB offers users X-Band performance in guitar and instrument applications.
The XB20UB features a heavy gage (20AWG) oxygen-free copper conductor for maximum conductivity and corrosion resistance. To provide exceptional EMI/RF rejection and low triboelectric handling noise, the XB20UB has two densely stranded 95% copper braid shields combined with a semi-conductive PVC layer. As with all X-Band cables, the XB20UB has a data-grade, foam dielectric that significantly reduces the capacitance of the cable. The outer jacket is constructed from Gepco‘s G-Flex PVC compound that is exceptionally flexible, easy to strip, and abrasion resistant.
“By offering the low-loss and noise rejection performance of the X-band series in an unbalanced design, we are now able to offer pro-audio interconnect performance for guitar and instrument applications,” said Scott Fehl, Gepco‘s product development manager. “Compared to typical, MI-type instrument cables, the XB20UB unbalanced X-Band cable has significantly lower attenuation, noise rejection, and durability.”
For more information, visit the Gepco Web site at www.gepco.com.
HOLLYWOOD — EASTWEST, the industry leader in soundware development and distribution, has posted free updates for its PLAY audio engine software, and VOICES OF PASSION and MINISTRY OF ROCK virtual instruments on the company‘s website (http://www.soundsonline.com/updates.php). The updates (PLAY v1.0.021 and INSTRUMENTS v1.02) are available for both Mac and Windows platforms in both standalone and plug-in versions.
Introduced earlier this year, EASTWEST‘s PLAY advanced sample engine is the first to offer both 64-bit and 32-bit support for multi-format virtual instruments. PLAY provides users with added power, in an easy-to-use interface, allowing them to load many more instruments and voices, limited only by the computer‘s RAM. With this update, all installed versions of the PLAY virtual instruments (Fab Four, Quantum Leap Voices of Passion, Quantum Leap Gypsy, and Quantum Leap Ministry of Rock) will be automatically upgraded to the latest version of the sample engine.
EASTWEST will also release two new PLAY releases in the next month, SD2 (the sequel to STORMDRUM) with all new material and double the content of the original, and QUANTUM LEAP PIANOS, the most detailed sampled piano library ever.
Also due for release this year is the PLAY version of it‘s critically acclaimed EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA and QUANTUM LEAP GOLIATH, the expanded version of COLOSSUS.
Attention game sound developers: We're guessing you didn't always work in videogames; we know a lot of you have roots in music and post. Tell us why you made the switch to the game world, and the name of the first title you worked on by e-mailing mixeditorial@mixonline.com.
