Results for hardware

Kevin Holland and John Staskevich have launched a Kickstarter project for the Luminth, which lets you generate melodies, percussive grooves, and ambient soundscapes.

The Luminth USB controller: click, turn, push+turn!

The Luminth is a minimalist USB control peripheral. To use the Luminth, simply click, turn, and push+turn. The Luminth changes color with the music.

Luminth Orbiter is a generative music software application. Make dramatic changes to the music with a single click. Dive deeper to make refined, subtle adjustments. Or, let Orbiter work autonomously to create music that morphs over time.

The Luminth is the best way to control Luminth Orbiter software, but Orbiter is fully functional with or without the Luminth.

The project is aiming to get $8,000 USD by June 13th, 2013. The Luminth software is available for a pledge of $30 USD, the USB controller is included with pledges of $100+ USD.

More information: Luminth

Shure has announced the introduction of the SE846 Sound Isolating™ Earphone, featuring a Quad High-Definition MicroDriver with a three-way system configuration for dedicated low, mid, and high frequency distribution. The SE846 patent-pending design includes a groundbreaking low-pass filter, a true subwoofer that enables deep low-end performance without sacrificing clarity or detail.

Designed for professionals and audiophiles, the SE846 extends the legendary heritage and performance of Shure’s widely-adopted SE215, SE315, SE425, and SE535 Sound Isolating Earphone models. The SE846 delivers strong, impactful bass, enabling the midrange and high frequencies to shine individually. The natural roll-off of the subwoofer provides the tweeter and midrange drivers the acoustic space they need to be heard clearly and accurately.

“Audio quality and durability are signatures of Shure products, and these innovative earphones are no exception. The SE846’s unprecedented low-pass filter is a combination of simplicity and effectiveness that ensures an unequalled, perfectly tailored listening experience,” said Matt Engstrom, Category Director for Monitoring Products at Shure. “The SE846 achieves subwoofer sound quality with clarity and detail in less than half of a square inch.”

The SE846 provides a combination of sound quality, noise isolation, and durability, in a comfortable, sophisticated design. Lightweight with a low profile shape, the SE846 has a detachable cable for easy replacement, and an optimized nozzle angle that’s designed to rest comfortably in the ear. A first for Shure, the earphone features a customizable frequency response allowing adjustable sound signatures — balanced, warm, and bright options are included. A premium accessories package includes sleeves in multiple shapes and sizes, an additional detachable cable, and two carrying cases.

The SE846 Earphones carry a two-year limited warranty and will begin shipping in June with an MSRP of $1250 USD.

More information: Shure

Nektar has announced it has started shipping the Panorama P1, a compact control surface with 66 real-time controls, a color high-resolution TFT display and deep integration for Cubase, Nuendo and Reason.

Build on the established Panorama workflow originally developed for Reason, the latest Cubase and Nuendo support offers full navigation of the sequencer tracks, mixer, insert and instrument plug-ins as well as project navigation. Tactile control has never been more intuitive with parameters automatically mapped once a menu is selected. Panorama comes pre-mapped for more than 250 plug-ins including all Steinberg branded plug-ins. Each map can be customized by the user using the unique Panorama “Learn” function. Users can also utilize the “Learn” function to create basic maps for plug-ins that have not yet been pre-mapped by Nektar.

Just like the Reason implementation which has been regularly updated with support for Rack Extensions over the past 12 months, the Cubase and Nuendo implementation for Panorama will continue to evolve. New plug-in maps will be added regularly and provided free to all registered Panorama users.

Both worlds simultaneously
Panorama users who ReWire Reason to Cubase/Nuendo can also take advantage of the real-time DAW switching that allows Panorama to control either Reason or Cubase at any one time. There is no loss of control functionality so the full 3 modes, Mixer, Instrument and Transport are available as you switch back and forth between Cubase/Nuendo and Reason.
The TFT display provides ongoing navigation and parameter feedback so there is no need to look at the computer monitor. The ReWire switching is color coded to make sure you always know which DAW you are controlling.

Panorama P1 in addition is a comprehensive USB MIDI controller with an easy and transparent user interface. Each assignable control can be programmed to send MIDI messages and any of the buttons are capable of sending QWERTY macros of up to 8 computer shortcut commands, as well as be programmed to load any preset or map.

Panorama P1 is available now at music dealers dealers world wide for MSRP $349.99 USD/289.99 EUR/£244.99 GBP.

The Cubase/Nuendo implementation supports the entire Panorama range. Existing P4 and P6 users can download it immediately from the Nektar website.

More information: Nektar

New Sound Lab has launched Optical Drives, a sound fx sample library featuring the sounds of optical drives.

This library features recordings of computer optical disc drives (two internal desktop CD/DVD-R and one internal laptop slim CD/DVD-R slot-load).
Two induction coil pickups were used to record the electromagnetic fields emitted by the drives, capturing a very unique set of sounds and textures. These range from sharp percussive bleeps, glitchy static and noise, to electromechanical motor sounds, and drones. You’ll find use for many applications, including UI interface design, transitions, sci-fi, robot/servo sounds, technology, and computer sound effects.

Recordings include all functions of the DVD drives, e.g. disc loading, reading, writing/burning, spin up/down, errors, and disc ejecting. Also, each drive was taken apart and manipulated to create additional sounds. The signal chain for this library consists of a pair of induction coil pickups, Barcus Berry 4000XL preamps, and a Sound Devices 702.

NSL10 Optical Drives features

• 96 Broadcast Wave files at 24bit – 192khz (75 mono / 21 stereo).
• Library size is 3.0GB.
• All files are organized and tagged with metadata, compatible with Pro Tools, Audiofinder, Soundminer and other sound library management software.
• Metadata PDF included.

The sample library costs $40 USD.

More information: New Sound Lab

Elektron has announced the opening of Elektron Music Machines Inc., a new Los Angeles based subsidiary.

Elektron Music Machines MAV AB–the Swedish manufacturer of high-quality hardware electronic music instruments–announces the opening of a US subsidiary. The Los Angeles based Elektron Music Machines Inc. will strive to make Elektron instruments more available to musicians in North and South America and provide these markets with first rate customer services.

Elektron Music Machines Inc. will initially handle sales in North and South America for the Elektron line of products. The function of the subsidiary will in the near future involve taking care of logistics for the aforementioned regions.

More information: Elektron

Focusrite has announced the 18i8 and 6i6, the latest Scarlett USB 2.0 audio interfaces which aim to suit producers and bands small or large.

Scarlett 18i8 – 18 in/8 out USB 2.0 audio interface with 4 Focusrite mic preamps.

Scarlett 18i8 (18 in, 8 out) and the 6-in, 6-out 6i6 are the two latest additions to Focusrite’s popular range of Scarlett USB 2.0 interfaces. Both are aimed at recording artists, producers and bands, and both feature the award-winning Focusrite mic pre, designed specifically for Focusrite’s computer interfaces, alongside Focusrite’s renowned precision 24/96 conversion. In addition to Mac® and Windows® operation, both are compatible with iOS® devices like the iPad®.

Scarlett 18i8 includes four Focusrite mic pres, plus the ability to also record up to four line inputs at the same time. With the on-board ADAT input you can connect external mic preamps such as the OctoPre MkII, for up to 12 mic inputs, and the unit also includes S/PDIF I/O.

In addition to dual Focusrite mic pres, Scarlett 6i6 features a stereo line input, making it possible to capture, for example, two vocals, stereo piano and guitar at the same time. Both models feature Scarlett’s signature red unibody metal chassis for road-ruggedness and the unique “signal halo” LED rings around the input controls, indicating green for good levels and red for overload. Both also include dual independent headphone outputs with level controls and a large main monitor knob.

The interfaces will be available in June, 2013, priced at £199.99 GBP (Scarlett 6i6) / £299.99 GBP (Scarlett 18i8). Prices inc. VAT.

More information: Focusrite