TASCAM DR-1 Portable Digital Guitar Recorder
May 20, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
Nowadays many smaller and compact handheld devices are constructed by designers trying to cram as many features as possible into them. From the iPhone, which lets you check your bank account, pay bills and track the latest weather reports, to GPS units that provide nearby restaurants and let you listen to Sirius and audio books. Portable electronics are becoming the standard all-in-one tool for information, entertainment needs and transportation convenience. Read more
Fostex VM04 Digital Mixer
March 15, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
Fostex VM04 Digital Mixer
The Fostex VM04 stereo digital mixer features 20-bit A-D converters and 24-bit internal data processing, as well as 44.1 kHz operation. In addition to S/PDIF digital connectors, the VM04 sports a pair of balanced mic inputs and matched outputs, scene memory automation and 20 types of digital audio effects, including reverb, chorus, flange, delay and feedback. Effects can be controlled in real time and assigned either pre or post fader.
Estimated used price: $40.00
Buy – Sell – Trade USED GEAR at Gear-Vault Classifieds
Understanding the difference between a compressor and a gate
February 28, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
What is the difference between a compressor and a noise gate? They both have threshold, attack and release controls. What gives?
Ken
XXX@rocketmail.com
Live Music Recording – Preventing Cymbal Leakage
February 22, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
When my band rehearses, the cymbals are always leaking into the vocal microphones. How can we stop this from happening?
Pete
xxxx@gmail.com
Answer Read more
Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-880 Drum Machine
February 19, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
The Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-880 Drum Machine is a rhythm-programming powerhouse loaded with world-class drum and bass samples from Roland’s renowned SRX library. It also includes a spectacular collection of original waveforms. From studio drum, electronic drum kits to exotic and standard percussion instruments, the DR-880’s produces sounds that can be played and programmed as-is, or customized with powerful tools such as independent Equalizers and Compressors for the kick and snare drum. Read more
Furman IT-1210 Isolation Transformer Review
February 18, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
When America first got wired, around the turn of the century, no one could have imagined that electricity would be used for anything more sensitive or complex than running motors and keeping light bulbs burning. Because of this, the three-wired power distribution scheme that was devised (and hasn’t been radically—if at all—altered since) was designed to be safe and convenient, not noise-free. And so now, as the new century begins, we are cursed with hum-inducing power scheme of our well-meaning but short-sighted ancestors. Of course, with enough money and know-how, it’s possible to pay big bucks to hire some circuit jockey to tear up the walls and create relatively noise- and trouble-free environments.
But for those of us who don’t have multimillion-dollar royalty checks overflowing from our mailboxes, rewiring our homes, garages and basements to provide optimal, noise-free powers to our recording equipment and amplifiers is usually not an option.
Luckily, the Furman IT-1210 balanced power isolation transformer can do much the same job as a highly paid electrician. Providing precisely balanced power to your sensitive gear, the IT-1210 will typically lower the noise floor of your studio environment by a full 16dB. At the heart of the unit is a specially wound and shielded toroidal isolation transformer with a center-tapped secondary. The two-rackspace unit provides 12 outlets on its rear panel and another two on the front. All of the outlets are spaced far enough apart to accommodate the pesky “wall-wart” adapters that provide the power for many signal processing devices.
The front panel of the IT-1210 features a self-checking mircroprocessor-controlled voltmeter that proves the user with an “at a glance” readout of the power situation at any given moment. At times when things get a little bit too juicy and voltage creep into the 130 o 140 range, or when the power dries up and levels drop to 80 or 90, the unit flashes an eye-catching special pattern. If an all-out power surge occurs, the Furman, like a well trained bodyguard, is all too happy to take the bullet, making quick use of its Extreme Voltage Shutdown circuit to protect your expensive gear from harm. The IT-1210 also has the well-being of your precious studio monitors (and ears) in mind: when you fire up your studio the master power switch on the front of the unit, an exclusive Soft Start circuit prevents turn-on transients and high inrush currents from wreaking havoc.
We installed the Furman IT-1210 in our 24-Track ADAT project studio to see it work its stuff. As far as we can tell, the building’s wiring was last upgraded, well, never. With a half-century’s worth of rodent nibbling and other abuse adding to an already marginal electrical situation, and with a large, baby boom-era fridge running off the same circuit as our board and tape machines (what’s a recording session without cold beers?), our little musical Mecca is noisier than a ham radio convention. (We’ve often had to scrap vocal takes when the ailing fridge decides to kick into overdrive and starts the whole room buzzing).
With the Furman in place, we saw a noticeable lower noise level on the input level meters of the ADATs and heard greatly reduced monitor hiss during ear-splitting “crank the monitor so I get the right vibe!” takes—not to mention significant attrition of the pesky 60-cycle hum normally associated with the use of single-coil pickups. Plus, it’s much easier to shut down a studio after a long night of drinking—make that tracking—when all the gear is hooked up to a single master switch.
Website: furmansound.com
BTE Audio PEQ5 Parallel Parametric Equalizer Algorithm
February 18, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
BTE Audio has added to its line of Equalization Algorithms with the PEQ5. Read more
Zoom H4n Portable Digital Recorder
February 12, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
Zoom H4n Digital Recorder is pleased to announce their all-new recorder: The H4n features an improved user interface, built-in X/Y stereo condenser mics, a digitally controlled mic pre-amp and the ability to use internal and external mics simultaneously for 4-channel recording; making the H4n the most sophisticated handheld recorder by Zoom, to date. Read more
Audacity Updated To v1.3.7 (Beta)
January 30, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
The Audacity Team is pleased to announce the release of Audacity 1.3.7 (Beta) for Windows, Mac and Linux/Unix.
This is primarily a bug-fix release which significantly improves stability and usability, especially on Mac OS X. It incorporates some new features too, including DirectSound device support for Windows. Read more
Line 6 Pocket POD review
January 29, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
The world has never been the same since Line 6 unleashed the original POD in 1997. During that time just walking into a guitar shop, recording studio, or early adopter’s home resulted in one or more of the red, bean shaped eccentric pieces being thrown at you followed by an immediate response of “Sounds like a killer amp.” Read more
