TECHNOLOGY
PreSonus Audio Electronics Inc. is now shipping the Central Station, a comprehensive control center, featuring five stereo inputs and outputs (two digital and three analog) and a street price under $500. The main audio path of the Central Station is completely passive offering transparent sonic quality. This mastering-level signal path has no amplifier stages including op amps, active IC’s or chips, eliminating coloration, noise and distortion. To minimize noise and maximize signal integrity, the unit is equipped with 34 sealed relays, which utilize a minimal signal path design so that the audio does not pass through extraneous electronics. “The Central Station has been needed since the beginning of computer recording,” States PreSonus Marketing Manager Brad Zell. “People have been purchasing mixing boards and D to A converters to accomplish what the Central Station can do elegantly and efficiently in a 1U chassis and at a fraction of the cost.” Accompanying three sets of monitor outputs, each with their own set of trim pots, are three sets of analog stereo analog inputs to accommodate DAW/Mixer, Tape/CD or Keyboard/Sampler. Two of these inputs feature balanced TRS jacks and the third has RCA inputs with trim control for matching signals at different levels. It also accommodates two digital inputs via S/PDIF or TOSLINK, providing D/A conversion up to 24Bit/192kHz thus enabling the user to send a digital signal directly to the Central Station to bypass lesser D/A converters say from the DAW, a CD or DAT player. Dual fast-acting 30 segment digital LED meters provide high resolution metering of input level as well as calibration to external equipment. The Central Station also offers a talkback omni directional condenser microphone that is routed through the CUE outputs for communication between artist and engineer. When the talkback feature is used, the cue mix is automatically dimmed for optimal communication. Other features on the Central Station include two headphone outputs, MUTE, DIM, MONO, INPUT select, CUE select and OUTPUT select. An optional remote control (CSR-1) is available including TALKBACK, MUTE, DIM, MONO, INPUT and OUTPUT selection, as well as level adjustment. www.presonus.com.
SADiE announces the launch of the PCM-H64, a new large-scale multi-track DAW for multi-track audio post production. At the heart of the system is the newly developed SADiE TNG3 processor card. Each card is capable of the editing, equalization, control of dynamics, and mixing into full surround of up to 64 channels of 48 kHz/24-bit audio, or up to 16 channels at 192 kHz/24-bit. As with the entire SADiE Series 5 range, all editing and processing is performed in real time. The SADiE PCM-H64 system is fully modular, both in terms of processing power and input/output capabilities. Inter-card bussing will enable complex mixer structures to span multiple processing cards. Input/output options are extensive and will include high quality analogue, digital, and MADI at standard or higher sample rates. Up to four cards can coexist in the same system, providing an awesome 12 Gflops of DSP power in a single computer dedicated to processing audio. The hardware will be supported by the new SADiE V5.3 software, providing numerous features that will capitalize on the power of the PCM-H64. These include true multi-track editing, edit group selection, interface to the Yamaha“ mixer range, 9-pin slave functionality, improved AVI video support (including direct editing of the video stream, and specialized hardware solutions), and full compliancy with AAF V1.2, including the Edit Protocol, with greatly improved import capabilities from a variety of other applications. www.sadie.com.
Sony announces the availability of its new Vegas+DVD Production Suite of software tools, which includes Vegas 5®, DVD Architect 2 and a Dolby® Digital AC-3 Encoder software. Sony Vegas® 5 software, the latest version of their non-linear professional video and audio editing application, now offers increased functionality, more specialized features and the most extensive audio upgrade to date. With advanced, real-time scalable production for SD, HD, HDV and other formats across unlimited tracks, Vegas software is ideal for professional DV, DVCAM TM and audio editing and encoding, and a favorite among digital video and audio professionals who are looking for a single-platform solution for A/V editing and finishing. New features in the Vegas 5 software include 3D track motion and compositing, keyframable Bezier masks, network rendering, transition progress envelopes, subtitle/text export to DVD Architect® software, Flash™ .swf import, ACID® software loop properties support, keyboard event pitch shifting, 5.1 audio plug-in support at the master bus level, film-style 5.1 surround panning, downmix monitoring, external control surface support, envelope automation recording, customizable UI’s and keyboard mapping, media subclips, realtime A/V event reverse, support for external Sony hardware devices such as the DSR-DU1 and DSR-DR1000 video disk recorders and J-H3 HDCAM ® player, and more. New features for the DVD Architect 2 software include programmable end actions, subtitle creation and multiple audio track support, enhanced disk optimization tools, real-time external monitor playback via i.LINK® connector/IEEE-1394, Flash™ .swf import, support for 24P DVD encoding, elementary stream import, and much more. MSRP Vegas+DVD Production Suite: US $999.95; MSRP Vegas 5 software: US $699.95. www.sony.com/mediasoftware.
The new Daking Mic-Pre IV is now shipping. This unit features Class A preamplifiers in a single rack space unit with outboard power supply. Configured for four microphone inputs or four line inputs from XLR/TRS Neutrik combo jacks on the back, plus four line inputs (+10 to -50) or 1/4 hi-z instrument inputs on the front, the Mic-Pre IV utilizes all discrete Class A circuitry with transformer-balanced inputs and outputs. Each input offers continuously variable gain control using Daking’s signature aluminum knobs, a 20-segment LED level meter with +24dB peak indicator, switchable mic/line or hi-z instrument, switchable +48V phantom power, switchable input phase and switchable 20dB pad. The Daking Mic-Pre IV has a MSRP of $2,895. www.transaudioelite.com, www.daking.com.
Tascam’s CC-222mkII is the latest edition of the combination CD and Cassette recorder and player. Popular in meeting rooms, houses of worship and other installations, the CC-222 was the first unit to combine CD and Cassette recording in one rack-mountable package. The CC-222mkII reintroduces this easy-to-use problem solver with a number of enhanced features and will ship this fall. Included in the design of the CC-222mkII are a number of enhancements to make it even more helpful for event recording. A digital attenuation control can now be added to the analog inputs, and the CD’s digital converters have been upgraded to 24-bit resolution for better dynamic range performance. The CC-222mkII retains features of the CC-222 including: Uses professional and consumer CD-R and CD-RW discs, bi-directional cassette mechanism, Dolby B noise reduction, ±12% pitch control on cassette deck, RTZ (Return to Zero) function, RIAA phono input for direction connection of turntables, S/PDIF digital coax and optical digital I/O for CD recorder, unbalanced RCA analog I/O for CD recorder, unbalanced RCA analog I/O for cassette recorder, RC-222 wireless remote included, 3u rack-mount design, and headphone output with level control. www.tascam.com.
PRODUCTION LIBRARIES
New Releases from Promusic include AB 124 Fiesta Latina, AB 125 Percussive Power, AB 126 Groove City, Just 40 Electro Jazz, Just 41 Orchestral Pictures. Audition tracks at www.promusic-inc.com.
Megatrax Production Music has announced the release of a new six-CD Latin Music Library entitled “SENSACION.” The new collection includes Latin hi-hop and Latin pop/dance tracks; salsas, merengues, mambos, and other tropical styles; banda, mariachi, cumbia and other regional Mexican styles; bossas and sambas from Brazil; tangos and dances from Argentina; plus romantic Latin ballads featuring acoustic guitars and string orchestra. Alternate mixes and thirty-second cutdowns are provided for every track. www.mega trax.com.
THE MIX
Avid Technology, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Midiman, Inc., doing business as M-Audio, a provider of digital audio and MIDI solutions for electronic musicians and audio professionals. At closing, Avid will pay approximately $80 million in cash, issue approximately 2 million shares of Avid common stock, and assume all outstanding M-Audio stock options. Under the terms of the agreement, M-Audio will become a business unit of Avid’s Digidesign audio division and market its line of computer audio peripherals, PCI sound cards, keyboard controllers and control surfaces, microphones, speakers, and distributed software and proprietary sound libraries alongside Digidesign’s winning digital audio workstations for the professional and home/hobbyist markets. www.digidesign.com.
Sonic Solutions and Roxio announced a definitive agreement for Sonic to acquire the consumer software division of Roxio for a total purchase price of $80 million. Under the terms of the transaction, Roxio will receive $70 million in cash and shares of Sonic common stock valued at $10 million. Sonic believes the acquisition will provide Sonic with a well-recognized set of consumer software brands; access to long-standing distribution channels; strong product marketing expertise; and key relationships with top-tier retail outlets. Roxio plans to focus its business on the digital music market and will change its corporate name to Napster and trade under the ticker “NAPS” on NASDAQ, assuming the successful completion of this transaction. Sonic Solutions is a supplier of DVD creation software for professional, industrial and consumer applications. Roxio, Inc. provides digital media software in the world and owns Napster. Roxio makes software products for CD/DVD burning, photo editing and video editing. Roxio’s family of products includes products such as Roxio Easy Media Creator, Easy CD & DVD Creator, Digital Media Suite®, Easy CD Creator® (Windows) and Toast® (Macintosh) for CD/DVD burning. www.roxio.com. www.sonic.com.