The ultimate kick-drum mic, the Artist Elite AE2500 dual-element instrument microphone features cardioid condenser and dynamic capsules combined.
 
The Audio Technica AE2500 Dual-element Cardioid Instrument Microphone can simply be described as "the ultimate kick drum mic". The Audio Technica AE2500 consists of two microphones that can be combined or used independently that sit comfortably within one microphone housing. There is a dynamic capsule and a cardoid condenser, one being designed to perfectly capture the attack of the beater (dynamic) whilst the other picks up all of the wonderful tonalities that exist post beater within the kick drum shell (condenser). It has been a well known production trick for a while to use both a dynamic and condenser microphone to get amazing kick drum tone however, until now, nobody was clever enough to think about housing both in one microphone. All hail the Audio Technica R&D Department and their ground-breaking transducer achievement! They have managed to minimize drum micing set-up times by putting two microphones (and two cables) into one sexy and very versatile package. From  |
From Zero-G the makers of Vocal Forge
 
Background
In the modern world of music every day sees the rise of a new bedroom producer or DJ, crafting tunes they want to hear and some garnering massive success from it. The single most sought after thing by these guys would have to be good quality vocals and this is where Vocal Foundry from Time & Space comes in.
I often conduct remixes for competitions and for fun and when remixing, I am always on the look out for new exciting vocal snippets I can steal and sample for my own music. Finding top royalty free vocals samples is an absolute nightmare, unless you have some very good contacts or you can actually sing. Personally I sound like a mole being run over by a lawn mower, so other peoples vocal samples will do me perfectly!
The Product
The new Vocal Foundry sample library DVD has everything to offer the budding music maker. The samples cover dance, pop, r’n’b and urban genres. The DVD has over 2.5gb of brand new, royalty free vocal samples for you to play wit |
4-ins/ 4-outs audio interface. Designed for advanced and professional DJs.
As a home producer and music fanatic, it has always been my ambition to get the old vinyl out the loft and start manipulating music as a DJ. Space, money and time has always been the main factors effecting my decision to actually going ahead with this ambition. Having previously played around with Virtual DJ Pro software on my laptop, I had become accustomed to guessing where the mix will come in, and going in blind. This is all very well in my bedroom with no-one to listen to my absolute disgrace of a mix, but in the real world it just doesn’t work Research was the key into finding the appropriate agent for my new found DJ cravings.
I had previously looked at the Behringer 3000 console, which looked like it would play the part, but it is Behringer after all. Then luckily a good friend of mine purchased this little puppy and hasn’t looked back since. He now DJ’s in Manchester with some well established DJ’s at some very swanky places. After around 2 or three months |
The latest version of the industry-standard DI box with speaker simulation.
Features
The unit is a red box the size of a regular guitar pedal or a DI. It has a 1/4 inch "Line In" input and a 4x12 or "Combo" selector on one side. The other side is the "From Speaker Output" and "To Speaker Cabinet" 1/4 inch jacks. At the top there is a XLR Output which can power the unit via phantom power. If there is no phantom power the unit can also take power from any adapter from 6 to 12 volts. On the bottom of the unit there is a ground lift switch which is not labeled. Some of the features are not well explained in the manual and I had to contact H&K about them. For one - the ground lift switch on the back of the unit that is not labelled. Also the way to hook up a tube amp to the simulator is not very well explained either. Again - easily clarified by H&K, apparently you can hook the speaker out of a tube amp to the "From Speaker Output" on the H&K Redbox and then run another speaker cable "To Speaker Cabinet". This unit is also lacking a DI output - it would've be  |
Modeling Distortion Pedal
The Distortion Factory (DF-7) pedal by Digitech is part of their new offering of X-Series modelling stompboxes, combining simple stomp box design with tonal options usually found in more expensive modelling designs.
Features:
The DF-7 comes in a sturdy metal box, with somewhat of an 80s style silver snake pattern on black. The pedal has one ¼ inch input on the right and two ¼ inch outputs on its left. In the default setup the output 1 can feed an amplifier while output 2 is a speaker emulated output either for a mixer or a recording device. The pedal is powered via one 9 volt battery, housed under the rubber padded on/off switch. It can also be powered by a 9 volt adapter (Digitech part # PS200, not supplied). According to Digitech battery life is 6 hrs which definitely makes a case for having an adapter as this puppy definitely drains them fast! The battery can be swapped by spring loaded hinges that release the top part by pressing either side of the pins with a ¼ jack socket. T |
Three in one overdrive featuring, Crunch,- High Gain and Boost
The Carl Martin PlexiTone, is as the name might indicate an unusual high gain three step rocket of an overdrive. The PlexiTone offers two step overdrive, the crunch channel and the high gain channel, on top of that it gives you an up to 20dB clean boost channel.
The crunch channel goes from subtle overdrive to hard rock gain stage, the high gain channel goes from rock gain stages to absolutely meltdown, with loads of gain and low end, and all in a tone that brings the memory back to the early 80's high gain guitar hero's.
The PlexiTone has as most Carl Martin pedals a built in regulated (+-12V) power supply, to secure the necessary headroom that gives you the great tone.
Features
The build is amazing – really strong metal chassis with “chickenhead” retro style knobs. This pedal is full bypass so it doesn’t degrade your sound when not in use. Another useful extra is that Carl Martin has built the power supply insi |
Guitar Effect Pedal, 3 Channel Programmable Class A Cascading Distortion
The Double Drive 3X is housed in a sturdy metal box that looks like it can take some serious road abuse and still dish out the goods. The unit can be powered via a 9 volt battery, changeable from the bottom of the unit, or via an adapter (not supplied). The Double Drive 3X has one 1/4 input and one 1/4 output, 3 stomp-type switches, each illuminated by a corresponding LED to indicate when it is active.
This unit has two drive controls - Drive A (output stage distortion) and Drive A/B ( blend between output and preamp stage distortion). The unit has 3 tone controls (bass, mid and treble) and an output level control.
The Double Drive 3X is not just an ordinary stompbox but in essence a cascading distortion pedal with 3 footswitchable presets. Like Sansamp's TRI-AC the Double Drive 3X runs on a 100% analog signal path but uses digital switching and knob memory to "remember" 3 user settings. This results in the ability to store 3 preset sounds and seamlessly change betwe |
Floor-based multi-effects processor built with the ruggedness and simplicity of a stompbox. Designed to work with your amplifier.
The Boss ME-50 comes in a rugged metal housing, about the size of 4 pedals put together. The build is solid, looks and feels roadworthy so that is a definite plus. The unit has 2 inputs on the back - one is 1/4 mono input for guitar and a 1/8 stereo jack for a jam-along device such as an mp3 player, CD player, etc. On the back there are 3 outputs - one pair amplifier outs (L and R output, the left doubling as mono), and a 1/4 inch stereo headphone output. There is an input jack for an external Boss FS-5U switch or 2 when using a Boss PCS-31 cable on the back as well. There are 3 stomp type pedals and one expression pedal on the top of the pedal, which can be controlled by foot.
The ME-50 could be powered by Boss PSA-120 power supply (not included) or 6 AA batteries.
The test unit arrived with a paper manual (thank you Boss!) and 6AA batteries. The manual is quite straightforward and at about 45 pages covers pretty much everything you need to know about this pedal.
T |
State of the art Guitar Effects Processor
 
The Boss GT-10 is the latest offering in the GT processor line, featuring their proprietary COSM modelling, EZ-Tone tone selectiion options, numerous routing and processing options, MIDI controls, looping options, and a built-in USB audio interface for recording.
Overview
Boss has managed to push the envelope when it comes to floor guitar processors and made a definite state of the art product with the GT-10, that at the same time can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.
Pros
tons of classic and modern effect and preamp sounds
very flexible routing options
plenty of output choices |
A mic collection should include small-diaphragm condensors for their transparent, uncoloured sound. M-Audio's Pulsar II should become a part of yours
The M-Audio Pulsar II Small-diaphragm microphone comes in a lovely wooden box that demonstrates something M-Audio do well -and that's package their equipment. The included case of the M-Audio Pulsar II Small-diaphragm microphone, with it's velvety interior, was enough to make me fall in love with them before I had even plugged them in or tested out how they sounded. There are also lots of cool accessories included in the box such as stand mounts, foam shields, a stereo bar and drawstring carry cases. The ONLY thing not included are shock-mounts which would have made the M-Audio Pulsar II Small-diaphragm microphone package delivery perfect!
http://hangout.altsounds.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=711&stc=1&d=1224890690
The M-Audio Pulsar II Small-diaphragm microphone is an updated and re-designed version of the original M-Audio Pulsar microphone. M-Audio sent me over a pair of Pulsar II Small-diaphragm microphone to put through a heavy amount of tests and real life sessions |
Hi-end Recording Headphones
 
When i first received the M-AUDIO Studiophile Q40 Headphones I was excited to try out what looked like some VERY attractive and professional looking headphones. The packaging the M-AUDIO Studiophile Q40 Headphones was delivered in was very nice and easy to open.
The first thing that struck me about the M-AUDIO Studiophile Q40 Headphones was the ingenious idea it appeared that M-AUDIO had come up with. That is, instead of having a fixed headphone cable, they had instead opted for an 1/8" jack cable connector so if your headphones developed a dodgy cable years down the line you could just replace it with any other 1/8" jack cable. On closer inspection I found this not to be the case as due to the screw mechanism no other 1/8" jack can actually fit into the slot. What looked to be one of the best headphone design ideas in a few years ended up being for no apparent reason - unless M-AUDIO sell proprietary 1/8" replacement jacks for these headphones th |
Portable Vocal Booth
Overview
In a nutshell this is the best piece of recording gear I have ever had the fortune of coming into contact with (thus far). However, it is also one of those items that probably would not grace a Top 10 list of things to buy from a studio perspective and is not something I would have ever thought of buying. Well, that needs to change right here and right now!
You truly and honestly need to invest the money in the SE Electronics Reflexion Filter before anything else. Forget the microphone you had your eye on or the amp, this monetary investment makes MUCH more sense. The results you will achieve with this piece of equipment alone will instantly better your overall production values and work quality and you will be left wondering what you ever did before this piece of equipment got invented.
Out of the box the SE Electronics Reflexion Filter can appear quite intimidating. It's a strange looking contraption and even when looking at the included instructions a novi |
A versatile performer ideal for Vocal and Instrument recording. Supplied with metal shock mount cradle and aluminum flight case.
A few weeks ago we received an sE Electronics SE2200a Condensor Microphone at our studio. Now, this microphone is primarily marketed as a Vocal microphone however, they do also state that it can be used as an instrument microphone. The problem I have is I am rather stuck on my AKG C 414 B-XL II Large-Diaphragm Condensor Microphone for vocals in about 95% of cases. Whenever I have used that microphone (regardless of sex) the results have been excellent and easily at par with multi-thousand dollar microphones.
In The Box
The sE Electronics SE2200a Condensor Microphone comes nicely packaged in it's very own sleek looking flightcase that excites you from the moment you set eyes on it (Figure 1).
Popping the flight case top I am even more excited by the design and form of both the sE Electronics SE2200a Condensor Microphone itself and it's accompanying shockmount (Figure 2). The shockmount is over-sized in comparison to others I have come into contact with and something abo |
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