► Waves Audio is now shipping the eMo D5 Dynamics plugin. The first plugin to use Waves’ Parallel Detection technology, Waves eMo D5 delivers the power of five state-of-the-art dynamics processors — Gate, Leveler, DeEsser, Compressor and Limiter — in one easy-to-use interface. Thanks to Waves’ Parallel Detection technology, each of the five processors responds to the original signal and to each of the other processed signals simultaneously. This lets users instantly control the total dynamic change introduced by the different processors, ensuring that the final sound achieves maximum clarity without over-compression. The eMo D5 Dynamics plugin also provides a combined gain reduction meter for the Leveler, Compressor and Limiter, making it even easier to monitor and control levels. eMo D5 is a Swiss army knife for dynamics. With its single-page GUI, users will be able to set up a dynamically balanced mix with maximum efficiency, saving tremendous amounts of time by not having to open and tweak different dynamic plugins. With its zero latency, low CPU consumption and pure sound quality, eMo D5 is a natural for both live and studio engineers. www.waves.com.
► Offering an enriched feature set and retaining the ease of use of the Vista 1 digital mixing console in a sleekly designed form factor, HARMAN’s Studer is introduced the Vista 1 Black Edition. Thanks to the patented Vistonics™ user interface with 40 on-screen rotary knobs, the Vista 1’s look and feel is identical to that of its larger sister models the Vista X and Vista V. Features such as true broadcast monitoring, talkback, red light control, GPIO, N-x (Mix Minus) busses, snapshot automation and DAW control make the Vista 1 an ideal choice for broadcast, live and production use. For theatre productions, the Vista 1 comes with the complete toolset for sound designers. The enhanced theatre CUE list includes Character/Actor Library event handling, with MUTE and VCA events handling. CUEs can fire MIDI/MMC events as well as loading different Strip Setups and UAD Plug-In snapshots. With software v5.3, the Vista 1 Black Edition user will also get the most powerful SpillZone and FollowSolo functionality, as well as a server-based event logger application, which is logging Vista system and user-events. With an integral DSP engine of 96 channels, the Vista 1 can handle mono, stereo and 5.1 inputs with ease, and is provided with a standard configuration of 32 mic/line inputs, 16 line outputs and four pairs of AES inputs and outputs on rear panel connections which also can be customized. I/O can be expanded using the standard Studer D21m card slot on the rear, to allow MADI, AES, AoIP (including AES67), ADAT, TDIF, CobraNet, Dolby E/Digital, SDI connections etc. MADI links can connect to any of the Studer Stagebox range for XLR connectivity as well as other formats. The Vista 1 also features an integral jingle player, played from audio files on a USB jingle stick (such as station ID or background FX), and triggered by a series of eight dedicated keys in the master section. The Studer Vista 1 Black Edition also features a redundant PSU for peace of mind, and RELINK integration with other Studer Vista and OnAir consoles means the Vista 1 can easily share signals across an entire console network. www.harman.com.
► TASCAM’s DA-6400 is an all-new 64-track recorder that records to an internal SSD drive caddy for live and event recording. Professional I/O options like MADI and DANTE make it ideal for live recording, event capture, or as a backup for critical DAW sessions. Available with a single or dual/redundant power supply, the DA-6400 is an unbeatable option for professional remote recording. Included with the DA-6400 is an AK-CC25 hot-swappable caddy containing a high-performance 240GB TASCAM solid-state drive. The caddy includes a USB 3 jack for stand-alone use – simply hand the drive to the client to offload the BWAV files into their DAW session. The DA-6400 records 64 tracks at 48kHz/24-bit or 32 tracks at 96kHz/24-bit. Included on the rear panel are SMPTE timecode, word clock, RS-422, parallel and Ethernet connections. I/O options for the DA-6400 include the IF-MA64/EX interface card, with both coaxial and optical MADI connections. This card includes a redundant coaxial connection so that MADI is passed through even if power is lost, making it an ideal backup recorder for DAW sessions. Other I/O options include the lower-cost IF-MA64/BN coaxial MADI card, IF-DA64 Dante card, and IF-AE16 AES/EBU card, with more to come. Pricing: DA-6400 64-track recorder: $3,499.99 estimated street price; DA-6400DP 64-track recorder with redundant power supply: $3,999.99; AK-CC25 drive caddy: $99.99; TSSD-240A TASCAM solid state drive: $299.99. www.tascam.com.
► Roland introduced the JUNO-DS Synthesizer, a powerful and versatile keyboard for performing and recording musicians. This latest evolution of the popular JUNO series delivers many enhancements over previous generations, including improved pianos, additional organ sounds, waveform expansion capability, Phrase Pads, new vocal effects and more. Along with a 61-key model, the JUNO-DS is also available in a weighted-action version with 88 keys to complement the expressive new piano sounds. The JUNO-DS acoustic and electric pianos have been newly enhanced with improved sound and response, and the selection of organs has been increased. The 1000-plus sound set from the previous-generation JUNO-Di is included as well, and patches from that keyboard are fully compatible with the JUNO-DS. To complement its onboard sounds, the JUNO-DS supports internal waveform expansion via USB for unlimited tonal range. Over 1000 EXP sounds are available for free download at Roland’s Axial website, including top-quality acoustic piano collections, world instruments, percussion, loops and more. In addition, users can load in WAV sounds from their personal library and play them from the keyboard. The JUNO-DS’s convenient mic input is ideal for solo performers and singer/songwriters, allowing them to achieve professional vocal sounds without having to carry around extra gear. There’s a dedicated vocal reverb, plus a built-in vocoder and an Auto Pitch effect for singing with the “stepped” electronic vocal sounds heard in many modern songs. With the onboard eight-track pattern sequencer, users can easily capture their ideas for songs and beats. Non-stop operation enhances the creative flow, allowing for quick development of full arrangements. The sequencer is also convenient for supporting live performances with pre-made backing music and on-the-fly looping. In addition to being a powerful stage keyboard, the JUNO-DS excels in computer music production. The integrated USB audio/MIDI interface provides a solid front end for a mobile or studio recording setup, and there’s even a dedicated DAW Control mode for controlling music software from the JUNO-DS’s panel. www.rolandus.com.
► Synthesizer maverick and Grammy award winning producer Malcolm Cecil announces the release of iTONTO, an app for iPad and iPhone that offers up a trove of historical and technical information about the world's largest synthesizer. Best known for its prominence on four Stevie Wonder albums in the late 1970s, TONTO is a behemoth assemblage of various synthesizers and custom components, making it a legend in a field with no shortage of innovative instruments. iTONTO is available in the Apple Store for an introductory price of $4.99. A portion of the proceeds from the app will be donated to the Bob Moog Foundation to support their education and historic preservation projects. TONTO, an acronym for "The Original New Timbral Orchestra," was the world's first, and still the largest, multitimbral polyphonic analog synthesizer. Designed and constructed over several years beginning in 1968, TONTO was created by Cecil from two Moog IIIC modular synthesizers, four Oberheim SEMs, two ARP 2600s, modules from EMS, Roland, Serge, and Yamaha, as well as custom modules designed by Serge Tcherepnin and Cecil himself. This configuration marked the first attempt at creating a universal language for analog synthesizers made by different manufacturers to communicate with each other. It was a revolutionary development in music history. Digital sound-generation circuitry, a collection of sequencers, and MIDI control were eventually added. The instrument is housed in a now iconic semi-circle of towering curved wooden cabinets, twenty feet long and six feet tall. iTONTO is an informational application that provides a platform for synthesizer enthusiasts of all kinds to get an intimate look at this otherwise rarely seen instrument. Every component, both front and back, can be easily expanded and examined. Further, the user can view original schematics or drawings for each component and read detailed descriptions of the functionality of each parameter, written by Cecil himself. A musical component of the iTONTO app is planned at a later date. www.moogfoundation.org.
► 25-Seven® Systems, developer of the Voltair watermark monitor/processor, has released Voltair version 2.0 software. Says 25-Seven Systems founder Geoff Steadman, “Version 2.0 for Voltair is all about monitoring and metrics. Our users will be really impressed with the new visibility tools in this major release. Using v2.0 software, stations and groups will be able to monitor encoding quality metrics in real time at both local and enterprise levels. With this access, programmers can build and extract encoding history data for correlation with playlists, ratings numbers and other important metrics. Stations who were provided with early copies of the release told us that Voltair v2.0 may just contain the richest set of programming information tools ever provided by a broadcast device.” Evaluation versions of Voltair v2.0 software have been running at multiple facilities since June. The extensive field-testing has gathered very favorable feedback. “Data-driven programmers have been vocal about their desire to see and use for themselves the same information we use to build Voltair’s confidence display,” says Steadman. “This new capability is for programmers who require even deeper levels of data analysis. We expect that some clients will use it to build extensive analytic tools for centralized Voltair monitoring”. In addition to the option for deep-data reporting, Voltair v2.0 software adds new standard features to Voltair clients’ toolkits, such as the ability to monitor system health via IP, an enhanced web interface, and other performance enhancements. Version 2.0 will be provided at no charge to all Voltair users. www.TelosAlliance.com. ►