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MOTU has updated Digital Performer to version 8.0.4.
- The Soloist plug-in has been redesigned.
- Fix for crash in DLS MusicDevice when used as a plug-in.
- Fixed a potential crash during pitch edits.
- Improved handling of broadcast wave files.
- Fix for incorrect recording with PunchGuard turned off.
- Waves VST plug-ins are now listed correctly as mono or stereo.
Focusrite has earned a solid reputation since the company’s arrival in 1985. We’ve reviewed quite a few Focusrite audio interfaces over the years and they always manage to impress us in terms of sound quality and the competitive price point they always seem to be on sale at. The newer, red, Scarlett range has been slowly expanding over the last year or so and this new bundle is the first package that’s aimed at being a complete recording solution.
When you’re starting out in music production it’s easy to make mistakes from the very beginning in terms of kit choice and cost – not to mention ease of use and installation. So we’re looking at the Scarlett Studio package here with the outlook of a complete newbie to see if it will be a good starting point for those new to tech.
Getting Started
Scarlett Studio is a bundle based around a 2i2 Scarlett audio interface, CM25 large-diaphragm condenser microphone and a pair of HP60 headphones. A three-metre mic lead is included, so asides from the necessary mic stand and pop shield for the most optimum use of the setup you do have pretty much all the hardware that you need right out of the box.
A lighter version of Cubase called Cubase LE 6 is included to take care of your recording and MIDI sequencing needs. If you’re looking to hook up any older five-pin MIDI gear you’ll be disappointed, though – the 2i2 interface doesn’t have any MIDI connectivity.
Cubase LE 6 is reasonably well featured with up to 16 audio tracks, 24 MIDI tracks and other limited but still useful tracks for FX, groups and insert slots on channels for further processing. Cubase is potentially one of the most difficult audio programs to get to grips with for newcomers, so a little limitation is good in this respect. Upgrades are available to more feature-heavy versions, but LE is perfectly fine for a beginner’s setup.
More software is included in the form of the Scarlett plug-ins suite. This covers compression, gating, EQ and reverb. So on top of the Cubase processing plug-ins, you’ve got quite a nice range to choose from. Novation’s Bass Station is also included, which although quite old is a good source for classic dance/electronic bass sounds. Loopmasters finishes of the package with a touch over 800MB of free sample material. This includes loops and single samples of instruments, drums and various other sounds such as SFX to help your production work. They cover jazz, dubstep, rock, techno and so on, so there’s a good amount of diversity, catering for the needs of many. Throughout our browsing the quality level of the sounds is also high so this isn’t just a throwaway element of the bundle, it’s genuinely going to be quite useful to you.
Going In Deep
The 2i2 audio interface is a well featured entry-level unit. It includes two dual-purpose XLR/jack inputs and the input stage can be switched between line or instrument levels on both inputs independently. Thankfully, this can now be done via a hardware switch on the unit itself. Earlier units in the Scarlett range were software control only, which can be a pain when you just want to plug-in and record without too much computer interaction.
Cubase LE 6 works fine with either one or two inputs at the same time so it’s easy to capture a jam with a friend or a vocal performance while you play an instrument. The Direct Monitor switch is handy here as it bypasses using monitoring inside your computer, which requires a certain amount of setup and tweaking. Monitoring levels for your speakers and headphones are independent so it’s easy to be the engineer recording someone else while they have their own level of music in their own set of headphones.
The fact that the 2i2 has a Kensington locking point on it makes it an attractive option for educational establishments as well. This should avoid the interface from going walkies from a workstation. The casing is quite solid as well so it should take a few bumps and knocks.
Cans, Mic, Record
The CM25 microphone is exclusive to the Scarlett Studio bundle and is a little smaller than we usually see in the budget microphone market. It’s plug-and-play with no roll-off switch or pad, so your capturing technique needs to be adapted for the best results. For instance, we had to back off from the mic quite a bit to avoid plosives, though the addition of a pop shield soon remedies this. In our recordings the CM25 created a nicely detailed recording of vocals and acoustic guitar without too much of a sharp sound in the upper mids, a characteristic often heards in many of the cheaper mics. The quality of the mic should exceed the expectations of a novice and it will remain a useful piece of gear even when you’ve got an ear for better kit and start to upgrade. It’s certainly better than many of the more podcast-based budget solutions out there.
Balanced Bundle?
The HP60 headphones are classed by Focusrite to be studio-reference, meaning that they shouldn’t glorify the sound too much. We tried various genres on them and found the top and low extension to be quite impressive. They’re not by any means a neutral set of headphones for making high-end mix decisions on, but they are reasonably well balanced given the bundle cost. The most immediately noticeable thing about them is their weight and build. We found them to be incredibly comfortable to work with and this goes a long way when you’re working late into the night while trying not to disturb your neighbours.
For the cost that most people will pay for an entry-level interface or mic on its own, this bundle is a great starting package. What’s more, it will be easy enough to upgrade one item at a time as you progress.
WHY BUY
Well-rounded selection of hardware and software
Great value for money
Includes all leads
WALK ON BY
No bass roll-off on microphone
Requires a mic stand and pop shield to be truly complete
Verdict
A great starting point for those who want the best quality they can get on a tight budget.
9/10
Manufacturer Focusrite
Price £199
Contact Focusrite 01494 462246
The Vintage Classics VST Sound Instrument Set spans the typical synthesizer sounds of three decades. With 400 presets for leads, bass, pads and effects loaded into the virtual-analog Retrologue synth, Yamaha sound designer Dave Polich has superbly recreated the genuine magic from the ’70s through to the ’90s. Let your music productions take on the patina of time. Revive golden memories with hundreds of beautifully crafted sounds in the spirit of analog synth heavyweights used in unsurpassed recordings of the golden age of electronic rock, new wave and synthpop.
- 400 new presets with outstanding sounds designed by Yamaha sound designer Dave Polich.
- Leads, bass, pads and FX designed on the most famous synth sounds of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.
- Exlusively available as download.
- Windows and Mac installer included.
Parallel processing, MIDI Out and more flexible EQ
Swedish music software developers Propellerhead, have made upgrades to the mixer, rack and sequencer in the latest version of their DAW, Reason 7.
The new software boasts more advanced audio editing and audio quantisation features, as well as a more powerful mixer, which allows fast channel grouping and routing for mixing with subgroups, which will be very useful for drum processing. There is also MIDI Out funtionality which allows users to connect to external hardware instruments and a new spectrum analyser built into each channel strip.
Audiomatic Retro Transformer has also been announced, an effects unit which adds "vintage flavour" to your tracks, with presets from Vinyl and VHS tape to PVC pipe and Gadget.Although free for Reason 7 users, the Rack Extension will cost $49/€39 for Reason 6.5 users.
Along with all the third-party Rack Extensions that are now available, this is a significant upgrade for Reason. The full version of Reason 7 will cost $449/€405 and reduced-price upgrade paths are also available. Purchasers of certain previous-version Reason products may qualify for a free upgrade to Reason 7. For details see www.propellerheads.se/freeupgrade
Focusrite have announced two new additions to the Scarlett range of USB audio interfaces: the Scarlett 18i8 (18-in, 8-out) and Scarlett 6i6 (6-in, 6-out), that now bridge the gap between the diminutive Scarlett 2i4 and the rack-mountable Scarlett 18i20. Both are aimed at recording artists, producers and bands and differ mainly in their I/O configuration. Both feature Focusrite mic pres, designed specifically for Focusrite’s computer music interfaces, Focusrite’s 24bit/96KHz conversion for high resolution recordings, MIDI and S/PDIF I/O. In addition to Mac and Windows operation, both interfaces are compatible with iOS devices like the iPad (via the Apple Camera Connection Kit – not included).
The Scarlett 18i8 is the first interface from Focusrite to include four award-winning mic preamps. The first two inputs offer Mic/Line/Instrument on universal XLR/TRS combi sockets while three and four offer Mic/Line capability on XLR/TRS. The 18i8 can also record up to four additional line-level inputs at the same time, making it suitable for recording live bands. An ADAT option allows the connection of external mic preamps such as the Focusrite OctoPre Mk II, extending the number of mic pres to 12.
The Scarlett 6i6 is designed to allow recording on a smaller scale. In addition to two Focusrite mic preamps it features a stereo line input, making it possible to capture, for example, vocals, guitar and a digital piano at the same time. Both models feature the signature red Scarlett range unibody metal chassis for road-ruggedness, and the unique “signal halo” LED rings around the input controls that indicate green for a good level and red for overload. They also include two headphone outputs each with their own level controls; the headphone outputs on the 6i6 mirror the main and sub-outputs whereas on the 18i8 they are fully independent.
They are both bundled with the Scarlett Plug-in Suite, which includes Compression, Gating, EQ and Reverb plug-ins, Ableton Live Lite, sample content from Loopmasters and the Bass Station analoge modelling synth plug-in. As well as the bundled software, there is also control software for the Scarlett's internal DSP mixer and router, called Scarlett MixControl, which offers flexibile routing capabilities, one-click presets and latency of 1.4ms.
Both interfaces will be avilable in June, with the Scarlett 6i6 set to cost £199.99 including VAT/$249.99 at dealers, and the Scarlett 18i8 interfaces availble for £299.99 including VAT/$349.99 at dealers.
www.focusrite.com/
Monitors may not be the product type you most readily associate with M-Audio, so it might surprise you to discover that, according to sales reports from January 2009 to December 2010, the company's BX5 speaker was the best-selling monitor in the US. Combining high performance with compact design and affordable cost, it understandably represented a popular choice.M-Audio has now redesigned the monitor, in both appearance and internal construction, and the result is the BX5 D2, a bi-amplified active monitor boasting impressive specs. But do these translate to even higher performance levels? We tested them with an RME Fireface UC…
The new design comes in midnight black, with only the silver 'M-Audio' and 'BX5' badges and a tiny blue LED 'on' light between the tweeter and woofer offering any colour. Neatly, to help you position the monitors, the LED shines brightest when you're sitting on-axis from the speaker's front. Round the back, as well as the power inlet and rocker switch, you'll find both balanced XLR and balanced or unbalanced TRS inputs and a volume dial.Inner scienceThe front face offers a new 5" Kevlar cone that provides sound from the new low-frequency driver. Upper frequencies are distributed through a 1" silk dome, with a crossover frequency between the cones at 3kHz, the net result providing 70W of power, with 40W provided by the bass driver and 30 via the tweeter.Both speaker cones are magnetically shielded and the whole bundle, while rather muted in appearance, is nevertheless attractive.A punch aboveIn use, the BX5s are seriously impressive for a monitor this size. The standout frequency ranges are the upper mids, which tingle with clarity yet provide weighty punch, while the top end sizzles nicely without overcooking content in this area.The majority of affordable compact speakers are found wanting here but the BX5s just get on with doing their job very well, without providing ear fatigue or clatter. Inevitably for a 5" cone, the bass has to come in for some scrutiny - but a lowest frequency of 53Hz is perfectly acceptable for a monitor this size.While you'd never trust sub-bass frequencies on compact speakers, they still provide a great platform to accurately mix bass and kicks - though use a multimeter to check for bass spikes. The low mid-range is nice too and with the crossover frequency at 3kHz, there's none of the awkwardness caused by too many sounds being unnaturally split across the cones.There's a punch to the BX5s that makes them an ideal monitor for pop and dance music but they're accurate enough for intricate mixing, so I suspect they'll also find favour with those working in post-production and sound design, while they'd make an excellent choice for those putting home cinema and surround systems together too.The original BX5s have been market leaders for a fair while now but it's impressive that, rather than waiting to let rival firms make up ground, M-Audio has shaken up the range to keep it right at the front of the pack. As touched on above, if you like the idea of the BX5s but know you'll need greater bass extension, the larger BX8s have been overhauled too, with a frequency range of 38Hz to 22kHz.
Don't underestimate these little brothers though - they're very impressive and offer a bargain for beginner producers or as a second pair.
The iPad now has an app for the majority of music making tasks, but mastering is one area that, up until now, hasn't been touched upon. Things have now changed, however, with the release of Audio Mastering, which promises to turn your iPad into a "real mastering studio".
The app is capable of processing sound, converting audio formats, changing sample rates, converting bit depths, cutting parts of a track for preview and making fade-ins and fade-outs. It gives you a 10-band graphic EQ, 3-band stereo imaging, a harmonic saturator and a loudness maximizer to work with.
You can find out more in the video above. Audio Mastering is available to buy now on the Apple App Store priced at £6.99/$9.99.
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