Results for portable

Eigenlabs has announced the Eigenharp Tau, the third instrument in Eigenlabs’ groundbreaking portfolio of musical innovations, bridging the gap between the ultra-portable Pico and the professional level Alpha.

Around the size of an electric guitar, ideal for gigging. At less than half the price of the Eigenharp Alpha, the Tau brings the enormous expressive potential of the Eigenharp to within the reach of any musician. The Tau has a minimalist contemporary aesthetic, available in black and silver finishes.

With 72 main keyboard keys, 12 percussion keys, a strip controller and breath pipe it can do almost everything that its big brother, the professional level Eigenharp Alpha, can do – it uses exactly the same software system. Its keys are amazingly sensitive, to within a micron, the wavelength of light. Like the Alpha and the Pico, it plays a limitless range of sounds.

The Eigenharp Tau is available for pre-order for £1899 GBP and will be shipping from 10 May, 2010.

More information: Eigenlabs / Eigenharp Tau

TASCAM has announced three new digital recorders at the Winter NAMM show.

New TASCAM Portable Digital Recorders

DR-2d Portable Digital Recorder with Dual Recording

It offers up to 96kHz/24-bit audio resolution, capturing WAV or MP3 files to SD Card media. The new stereo condenser microphone design has a 74dB signal to noise ratio for dynamic recordings. The Dual Recording feature prevents overload by recording a second track at lower level, ensuring that recordings won’t be ruined by distortion.

Like the rest of TASCAM’s best-selling portable recorders, the DR-2d offers Variable Speed Audition to slow down music without changing the pitch. A metronome and digital effects are also included, as well as an Overdub feature for sound-on-sound recording. The DR-2d is ideal for songwriters, performers, or home studio musicians who want their music to sound its best.

DR-08 Compact Portable Digital Recorder

It captures audiophile-quality 96kHz/24-bit WAV files – or web-friendly MP3 files – to robust MicroSD media. The built-in microphones have a unique mechanism to change the width and angle of the elements, allowing you to tailor the pattern for the perfect recording. There’s even a built-in kickstand for placing the recorder right where you want it. A pair of AAA batteries allows you to record for hours to the included 2GB card, then transfer the recording to your computer using high-speed USB 2.0.

Like the top-selling DR-07, the DR-08 has features like auto level control and a low cut filter for clear recordings. Add your own microphone or line-level source using the 1/8″ stereo input. The DR-08 has loop and variable speed on playback, allowing you to slow down speed without changing the pitch to learn new music. Noise canceling and EQ functions improve playback timbre, and the sleek design makes the DR-08 TASCAM’s most portable recorder yet.

DR-680 8-track Portable Digital Recorder

Up to eight tracks can be recorded to solid-state SD card media at 96kHz/24-bit Broadcast WAV quality. Six mic inputs provide phantom power and 60dB of gain for great-sounding recordings with condenser microphones. Record the six microphones along with a digital S/PDIF source for 8 track recording.

Inputs can be monitored using a built-in mixer with level and pan controls for each input. The stereo mixdown can even be recorded along with the six mics for quick stereo playback of the event. There’s even a built-in speaker to check recordings without headphones.

In addition to WAV recording up to 96kHz, the DR-680 captures stereo audio at 192kHz/24-bit for audiophile-quality masters. The DR-680 records up to four channels of MP3 audio for web-ready recordings. Two of the recorders can be connected with a cascade cable for up to 16-track recording on battery power. Multi-channel portable recording has never been as simple or affordable as the DR-680 from TASCAM.

More information: TASCAM

Korg has introduced the Sound on Sound (SOS), a battery-powered track recorder, which enables musicians to capture and develop musical ideas as they happen, wherever they are.

Unlike other portable recorders (even multi-track), the SOS allows for an infinite number of overdubs or alternate takes to be recorded. Each track, take or overdub is recorded as an individual CD-quality 16-bit / 44.1 kHz WAV file, and saved directly to a microSD or microSDHC card.

Accurate BWF (Broadcast Wave Format) timing information is embedded in each track, meaning all tracks will automatically line up when imported into a computer-based DAW system for further editing, mixdown and final playback.

The SOS can record up to 200 songs in the traditional linear manner, or be set to loop a specific section. Memory consumption is roughly 100 recorded minutes per GB (gigabyte).

Sound on Sound features

• Pocket-sized, portable, and battery powered, the SOUND on SOUND multitrack recorder provides on-board rhythms, effects, and an infinite number of overdubs for truly creative recordings.
• With the built-in speaker and an internal high-quality stereo mic, you can capture and review your recordings instantly, without the need for any additional equipment.
• Advanced recording features include unlimited undo/redo, loop recording, and Sound Stretch – adjust the playback speed without changing the pitch.
• 100 on-board effects – powered by Korg’s proprietary REMS technology – to enhance your recordings using a wide range of instruments.
• Record along to 50 preset rhythm patterns, covering a broad variety of styles.
• Record and save up to 200 songs in WAV format.
• High-performance guitar, bass, and chromatic tuners are built in.
• Records up to ten hours on a pair of AA batteries.
• Wedge-shaped design is easy to use as a hand-held recorder or on a desktop.
• KORG AUDIO UTILITY software provides format conversion and audio CD creation. Downloadable free from Korg.com.

The Sound on Sound (SOS) recorder will be available April 2010 with an MSRP of $400 USD.

More information: Korg / Sound on Sound

PreSonus has introduced the StudioLive 24.4.2, a digital mixer designed for both studio recording and live sound, without compromising the requirements for either.

Here, in one portable device, are high-headroom XMAX™ microphone preamplifiers, a built-in FireWire recording and playback interface, more than 90 signal processors, a big library of DSP effects, 6 (16.4.2) or 10 (24.4.2) aux buses, 4 subgroups, extensive LED metering, mixer save and recall, channel-strip save/recall/copy/paste, talkback, and more.

Create live mixes that glisten with clarity and detail—then record and enhance the performance with the power of StudioLive.

Get creative in the studio. Build mixes, loops, sound effects, and more, then bring them out to your show and mix them with the live performance. Process channels using your favorite plug-ins and completely automate your entire performance. StudioLive revolutionizes music production, opening endless creative possibilities.

The StudioLive 24.4.2 has an expected street price of $2,999 USD.

More information: PreSonus / StudioLive

Arturia has announced it will be shipping the Origin Keyboard in March, 2010.

Origin Keyboard is Arturia’s new version of Origin for the keyboard player. It keeps the outstanding modular system of Origin Desktop, putting it on a panel that closes on a high quality keyboard controller. The intuitive interface is kept in place, along with all of the modules from the most famous synthesizers (Moog Modular, ARP 2600, CS-80, Jupiter-8, Minimoog and Prophet VS) and organs (ToneWheel, Rotary). The integration of the ribbon control is a blast, the keyboard aftertouch possibilities open a world of expressivity, while the playing modes are tuned to the expectations of any demanding performer.

Origin Keyboard features

• More than 600 presets created by talented musicians and synthesizer specialists.
• Create your own patch or use existing audio structures:.
• Origin patch made by connecting independent modules from: Minimoog, ARP.
• 2600, CS-80, Jupiter-8, Moog Modular, Prophet VS Origin template synths: Minimoog, Jupiter-8, CS-80, ARP 2600*.
• Superb audio quality with TAE® engine.
• Up to 32 voices of polyphony for a typical patch.
• Connectivity: 2 audio ins, 10 audio outs. Digital: SPDIF out, USB 2.0.
• Selection of high quality effects: Phaser, Chorus, Delay, Tube Distortion, Parametric EQ, Rotary….
• 16/32 step sequencer.
• Software editor (Mac/PC).
• Innovative Macro, Advanced LFO, Advanced modulation modes, Advanced joystick modes….
• MIDI : In, Out, Thru and USB 2.
• High Level of Control:
  • Ultra sensitive 40cm ribbon controller
  • High quality semi-weighted 61 keys keyboard, with velocity response and channel aftertouch
  • New exclusive duophonic aftertouch
  • Modulation and pitch-bend wheels, 3-mode Joystick, 21 potentiometers, 33 rotary encoders, 81 switches
• Ergonomic design
  • Self adjustable front panel, from 0° to 135°, giving you total setup flexibility
  • 5.2″ TFT screen for clear visual feedback
  • Complete mobile solution, offering everything you need to perform in a single, easily transportable cabinet

The Origin Keyboard will be shipping in March, 2010, priced at $3490 USD / 2899 EUR.

More information: Arturia / Origin Keyboard

Akai Professional has announced the iPK25 keyboard controller and the SynthStation Studio music production app, both for iPhone and iPod Touch.

The iPK25 and SynthStation Studio transform a musician’s iPhone or iPod Touch into a portable music production studio for mobile music creation. While the SynthStation Studio app is powerful enough for professional musicians, virtually anyone can use it to easily create music. The app gives musicians three synthesizers for creating and modifying sonic textures used for melodies, chords and bass lines. Built around Akai Professional’s history in synthesis and drawing on the company’s newest MINIAK synth, the SynthStation Studio app sounds great and offers wide-ranging sonic flexibility with its virtual analog synthesis.

SynthStation Studio users can create and save sequences and complete songs. The app contains three different three-oscillator synths, and drum kits, which musicians can sequence and mix right in the SynthStation Studio. For creating melodic and accompaniment parts, the SynthStation Studio contains an arpeggiator with preset patterns, built-in effects and filters and an XY control interface for expressive control of key parameters.

The SynthStation Studio features an on-screen keyboard for use on the go. It is also designed for use with its companion keyboard, the iPK25.

This 25-key MIDI keyboard features a built-in dock for the iPhone or iPod Touch. It gives users two octaves of velocity-sensitive, synth-action keys, pitch and modulation wheels, and physical buttons for the most commonly used controls including octave up and down and sound-bank selections.

iPK25 features

• 25-key MIDI keyboard controller for iPhone and iPod touch.
• Velocity-sensitive, synth-action keys for expressive performance.
• Pitch and modulation wheels, octave +/-, and sound-bank buttons.
• Stereo RCA line outputs and headphone jack.
• USB/MIDI for virtually any MIDI music software or MIDI hardware devices.
• Seamlessly compatible with Akai SynthStation Studio app.

The iPK25 will be available from pro audio and musical instrument retailers in March 2010. It has a U.S. Retail Price of $199 USD and an estimated street price of $149 USD. The SynthStation Studio app will be available from the iTunes App Store in January 2010.

More information: Akai Professional / iPK25