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Taking a few cues from the AdrenaLinn line, the Black Box houses 12 different guitar-amp emulations, more than 40 beat-synched effects, 99 different drum patterns and a USB interface for recording on a Mac or PC. The included effects can sync to tap tempo or MIDI Clock, and beyond the more vanilla flanger and tremolo options, the Black Box includes a host of filter and envelope-inspired presets that will produce some entirely new sounds. The amp models should fulfill most Guitar Center visitors' dreams with emulations that include the Marshall JCM-2000, the Fender Twin, the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier and a host of others. M-Audio; .com
BLUE SNOWBALL
USB STUDIO MIC
You had to know this was coming: Blue Microphones recently announced the release of the Snowball ($139), a USB direct-recording microphone and the next of kin to the company's unusually hip lineup of orb-shaped mics. Released at this year's winter NAMM Show, the Snowball is designed for mobile laptop use and desktop studios with its universal driver (Mac and Windows) and built-in plug-and-play USB connectivity. Don't let the designer looks fool you - the Snowball is just as unique on the inside as out. It boasts a dual-capsule design; one is specifically engineered for vocal applications whereas the other is aimed at instrument use. Perhaps the coolest thing about the Snowball is its three-position switch, which allows users to alternate between each capsule or use both simultaneously for extra-full recordings. One position features a bold sound tailored to vocal cords, and the other solo position delivers an open, airy detail good for instruments such as electric guitar. Blue; .com
ROLAND V-SYNTH XT
TABLETOP/ RACKMOUNT SYNTH
The look of Roland's new V-Synth XT ($2,499) caused many people to do a double take at this year's NAMM Show. Based on the company's award-winning full-size V-Synth, the XT is a tabletop or rackmountable version that incorporates the elder synth's Elastic Audio Synthesis engine, analog synth modeling, classic D-50 emulation and vocal modeling via the included VC-1 and VC-2 cards, Roland's COSM effects, a full-color touch screen and eight universal edit knobs. The V-Synth XT is also virtual-studio-ready with USB connectivity. Both WAV and AIFF samples are supported and can be downloaded from a Mac or PC. In addition, the XT offers a nice variety of inputs to be used for sampling and external-audio processing, including XLR and line-level 1/4-inch connections. There is even a front-mounted hi-Z input, allowing the XT to be used as an effects processor for instrument players, as well as a full vocoder to be used with the XLR input. Roland; .com
UREI/SOUNDCRAFT 1620LE
DJ MIXER REISSUE
You might have to be at least 30 years old to remember this killer DJ machine from the original UREI, but the 1620LE (price TBD) DJ mixer is back courtesy of the smart folks at Soundcraft. Made famous by such legendary clubs as New York's Studio 54, the original UREI rotary mixer has been faithfully re-created with every detail intact for the young guns (and older cats alike) to enjoy, including six channels, each with independent grounds; large rotary knobs for level, balance and separate left/right bass-treble EQ; professional XLR and RCA I/O; independent house and booth controls and outputs; and that classic simple-to-read UREI control surface. The rugged manufacturing of the original has been maintained, as have the circuit designs and components, to provide clubs with the UREI sound and quality and DJs with an intuitive surface to get busy on. UREI/Soundcraft; .com
CME UF SERIES VS
MASTER KEYBOARDS
A brand-new company, CME, emerges with its debut products, the UF Series VS ($199-$599) master keyboards. CME quietly touts its flagship piece as "the most powerful multifunction master keyboard in the world." Different versions of the UF Series come in key spans ranging from 49 to 88 keys and can be used as synthesizers, digital pianos, MIDI master controllers, electronic organs or keyboard workstations. USB is onboard for MIDI data transfer, and an optional FireWire expansion board can be affixed to the rear panel, which allows direct connectivity to external sound modules and soft synths; it also expands the UF Series into a multitrack recorder. The 88-key version includes weighted hammer-action keys, and all models include eight knobs, nine sliders, pitch-bend and mod wheels, aftertouch sensitivity and transport control buttons for DAW remote control. Line inputs and outputs are balanced and support 24-bit, 192kHz audio, and there is a built-in mic input with preamp. The UF Series models are compatible with Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS X. CME; .com
IK MULTIMEDIA AMPEG SVX
AMPEG BASS-AMP PLUG-IN
Software emulations of classic gear are nice, but what happens when a classic hardware company hooks up with a software company? Just ask IK Multimedia, who did so with renowned bass-rig manufacturer Ampeg to produce Ampeg SVX (price TBD). Following on the heels of IK's AmpliTube, Ampeg SVX is quite possibly the first soft amp that is focused on the bass player, and it does so with style, allowing users to freely combine the different amps and cabs of 20 highly coveted Ampeg bass rigs. Included in the batch are the SVT Classic, the SVT 5 Pro, the BA500 and the B15R. The partnership saw all amps modeled exactly after the originals by the IK wizards and then ear-tuned by engineers from Ampeg. Aside from the amp models, SVX also incorporates a customizable six-stompbox "pedalboard" that includes 10 bass-specific effects featuring chorus, delay, flanger, phaser, octaver, wah, auto filter, distortion, EQ and compressor. Plenty of presets are included, and the UI resembles the original hardware for familiarity. IK Multimedia; .com
FOCUSRITE OCTOPRE LE
8-CHANNEL PREAMP
For those who need the bang but don't have the buck, Focusrite offers up the OctoPre LE ($499), a lite edition of Focusrite's previously released OctoPre. Balancing Focusrite-quality preamplification with affordability, the OctoPre LE boasts eight channels of clean mic preamps. Incorporated into the octet are two Super Channels that feature variable-impedance matching and hi-Z instrument inputs, among other features. All of this fatness doesn't absorb a lot of rack real estate; the OctoPre is built into a 1U chassis, including the space for an optional A/D/A board. With that option, the OctoPre is capable of ADAT Lightpipe I/O; word clock I/O; and 2565 clock, which is perfectly suited for Digidesign Pro Tools. All digital patching can be achieved from the front panel, saving users trips to the back of the rack. The specs are pretty sweet, as well; on the analog end, total harmonic distortion clocks in at a superlow percent with 0dBu input, and the OctoPre sports a respectable digital dynamic range of 110 dB A-weighted. Focusrite; .com
CYCLING '74 HIPNO
PLUG-IN COLLECTION
Cycling '74 draws the curtain on Hipno ($199), an entirely new collection of effects and VSTi plug-ins for Audio Units, RTAS and VST host platforms. This 40-plus array of sonic weirdness is designed by the Kansas City, company Electrotap and includes mixed granular, spectral and filter/delay-based plug-ins. Some delicacies of the new plug-in ensemble worthy of mention are Vsynth, which uses live video feeds as a synthesizer source; VcolorTrack and Modulator Vmotion, which are modulators capable of controlling Hipno, Mode or Pluggo plug-ins via video color or motion tracking; and (for you gritty, grainy types) Deluge, which houses four granular processors all under one hood. The plug-ins are host-sync ready, and many incorporate an original user interface dubbed Hipnoscope for creation and control of detailed preset morphing. Cycling '74; .com
BEHRINGER B-CONTROL DEEJAY BCD2000
MULTIPURPOSE DJ CONTROL SURFACE
Behringer has the DJ bases loaded with the B-Control DeeJay BCD2000 ($), a single control surface that affords users the ability to play, mix and scratch just about any sound source, including WAV files, MP3s, CDs and even wax. And unlike many other DJ products designed for manipulating digital sound bytes, no timecode records are needed. The chassis is a USB-based 4-channel audio interface with 24-bit, 96kHz A/D/A converters; dual scratch wheels; one dedicated phono preamp and one switchable phono/CD preamp; a crossfader; a mic preamp with talkover; a 3-band EQ with kill switches on each channel; and transport controls such as play, pause, cue and loop plus pitch bend. Also included is Behringer's B-DJ software, which integrates perfectly with the hardware to play computer-dwelling files. The BCD2000 will work with other DJ software, as well. Behringer; .com
TC ELECTRONIC VSS3
REVERB FOR TC POWERCORE
TC Electronic's reverbs are legendary, and, now, the company has put the top of its heap within the reach of TC PowerCore users. Customized for use with the PowerCore DSP platform, TC's new VSS3 ($625) is a stereo VST/Audio Units reverb that utilizes the algorithm from the company's System 6000. The complex algorithm in use is the result of nearly 800 different parameters, though you would never guess due to the VSS3's easy-to-use UI. Virtual Space Simulation, which employs separate processing of early-reflected signals from that of the decay or reverb tail of a signal, results in accurate simulations of the natural sonic character of different acoustic spaces. Previously, this caliber of TC reverb has only been available in the company's top-end rackmount hardware rigs, including the M3000, Reverb 4000 and System 6000. TC Electronic; .com
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