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Reviews of the Week
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Sennheiser MKH 8040 Microphone
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The 8040 emerges a recommended, standard, small-diaphragm condenser for nearly all applications.
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by Rob Tavaglione, 3.15.2008
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Elegantly satisfies a number of needs with its focus on sonic accuracy and a simplistic, flexible design.
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Brauner VMA Large-Diaphragm Microphone
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With the flip of a switch, the VMA becomes one of two distinctive and truly high-end Brauner Microphones.
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by Russ Long, 3.15.2008
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The VMA achieves each of its individual sounds through unique circuitry and biasing, not with filter networks.
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Sterling Modular GearPod
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High-end quality and unique flexibility define this affordable studio rack kit.
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by Stephen Murphy, 2.15.2008
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The front of the Gear Pod provides 12 rack spaces of prime real estate for your gear, and the rear of the housing is “pre-drilled” for the easy installation of eight-space rack rails to accommodate larger equipment and cable support systems.
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Pass Labs XA30.5 Studio Amplifier
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Small suites needing low wattage/highest transparency amps should make a pass at these pure Class A beauties.
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by John Gatski, 2.15.2008
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With fewer and fewer passive speakers being offered to the pros, studios that want to power passives also have fewer pure pro-oriented studio amps from which to choose.
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TC Electronic Studio Konnekt 48
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Ambitious and feature-packed, TC’s latest aspires to be the “Danish Army Knife” of FireWire interfaces.
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by Stephen Murphy, 2.15.2008
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In addition to the software mixer/control panel interface, the SK48 is endowed with an inclusive set of hardware I/O and control features that, for most users, will leave little to be desired.
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DPA 4017 Shotgun Microphone
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This condenser brings impressive musicality to short shotgun mic users everywhere.
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by Russ Long, 2.15.2008
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The 4017’s condenser capsule uses a high voltage pre-polarized back plate that gives the mic a high output as well as low distortion and low noise.
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Inter-M IMX-824 Mixing Console
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Heads will turn, and backbones will strengthen, thanks to this flexible, hefty, and swell-sounding analog live mixer.
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by Dan Wothke, 1.15.2008
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As digital consoles become even more widely available at all price points, new analog desks are introduced far less, or so it seems.
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URS Plugins Classic Console Strip Pro
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Even those with a good plug-in arsenal will find these emulators a most unique piece previously missing from their DAW toolkit.
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by Alex Oana, 1.15.2008
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If you’re like me — someone who has 17 brands of EQ, 41 types of dynamics processors and 10 analog harmonics emulators in your DAW — you probably don’t need another EQ or compressor plug-in … that is, unless it’s Unique Recording Software’s Classic Console Strip Pro.
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sE Electronics 2200A Condenser Microphone
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This updated version of one of sE’s earliest models may well become The People’s Mic.
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by Stephen Murphy, 1.15.2008
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The original 2200 was remarkable primarily for its low entry price, which provided access for those on lower-budgets to an all-around quality large-diaphragm mic. The significantly improved 2200A now flips that equation on its head.
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Benchmark ADC1 USB Analog-to-Digital Converter
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This two-channel converter adds USB, while taking nothing from its pristine sound.
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by John Gatski, 12.15.2007
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Two years ago, I reviewed the Benchmark ADC1 A/D converter (PAR 12/05) and found it to be an excellent two-channel converter that could compete with even more highly priced converters. Now, the ADC1 has followed the course of its D/A brethren the DAC1 and has been upgraded to the ADC1 USB.
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Shure SE Series Sound Isolating Earphones
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This new line proves even consumer earphones can provide the budget-conscious engineer with professional sound quality.
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by Rob Tavaglione, 12.15.2007
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I’ve been onboard with personal monitors since 1998 with my first Shure wireless system. The RF portion still sounds great today, but there is a real, significant difference in the monitors themselves.
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Korg MR-1000 DSD Professional Mobile Recorder
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Korg delivers a very nice package for “a format that has a real future.”
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by Tom Jung, 12.15.2007
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Controlling my enthusiasm for the MR-1000 is difficult; it sounded like a real dream product when I first heard about it. Later, when I finally heard this little beauty, it certainly did not disappoint.
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Dangerous Monitor ST
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Now hear everything with this top monitor controller.
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by Alex Oana, 12.15.2007
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So why so much fuss over a volume knob? Within minutes of my first listen, the Monitor ST was schooling me on what studio monitoring can be.
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NTI Minirator MR-PRO
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The MR-PRO is a significant upgrade for NTI’s well-received Minirator audio measurement tools.
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by Mike Rivers, 12.15.2007
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I love neat gadgets; so, when the Neutrik Minirator MR1 was introduced at the Fall 1998 AES show, it was love at first sight.
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Aphex HeadPod 454 Headphone Amplifier
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This four-channel, no-frills can-amp is loud, clear and rugged.
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by Rob Tavaglione, 11.15.2007
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While audio pros are moving towards multi-channel monitoring systems that offer user “mixing” at each station, a whole generation of desktop recordists often deal with having only one headphone output … and still a whole band’s worth of performers needing headphones.
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Rupert Neve Designs Portico 5033 EQ
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This legend-built, super-smooth five-band EQ is beyond reproach...and recommended.
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by Dr. Frederick Bashour, 11.15.2007
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You always remember your first one; mine was the ITI MEP-230 parametric equalizer, the first commercial product featuring now-classic circuitry designed by George Massenburg as marketed by Burgess MacNeal, who later founded Sontec.
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Rosendahl bonsaiDRIVE
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This mini video/multi-track audio hard disk recorder finds itself at home everywhere.
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by Dr. Frederick Bashour, 11.15.2007
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Its concept involves having a standalone, synchronizable hard disk recorder as the portable media storage device, instead of merely a removable hard disk of comparable size and weight.
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Lipinski Sound L-3601 PowerStand
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This unique speaker stand doubles as one of the best-sounding amps this reviewer has ever heard.
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by Bob Katz, 10.15.2007
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The object of powered stands is to combine the advantages of powered loudspeakers (short loudspeaker cables for lower resistance) with the advantages of separates (reduction in distortion due to microphonics).
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Core Sound Mic2496 Portable Mic Preamp
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This PDA-sized two-channel mic preamp and A/D converter provides convenient location sound recording via S/PDIF input.
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by Mike Rivers, 10.15.2007
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Location recording media has changed over the years, but front-end preferences for portable recording are still as follows: compact size, battery operation and very good built-in microphones and/or a respectable mic preamp.
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SSL Duende DSP Accelerated Plug-ins
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This console-grade 1RU module’s 32 mono channels of proven, presence-boosting EQ and dynamics make ears smile.
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by Dan Wothke, 10.15.2007
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Audio engineers all over the globe, and of all stripes, took notice when SSL introduced Duende about a year ago, because now anyone could buy 32 mono channels of SSL EQ and compression for around $1,500 street.
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