Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 134 i AudioTechnology

We’ve been busy. After months of planning and construction, the first part of Turramurra Music’s new shop front is now open. Our new showroom connects our Musical Instrument and Studio Equipment stores, expanding our display space and allowing us to showcase and demonstrate an extended range of products. PA equipment now has its own dedicated section, featuring an expanded range of PA speakers (all available for demo) and a larger demo range of digital mixing consoles, microphones, wireless systems and more. We have expanded our display range of acoustic and electronic drums and percussion, and have upgraded our display areas for guitars and brass & woodwind instruments. Our ongoing renovations will soon allow more space for studio gear, keyboards and synths, amplifiers and guitar effects, and even more space for…

PORTABLE STUDIO: ‘CAN’ THEY DO IT? $199 & $299 | akg.com Professional, studio, portable, lifestyle and mobile? AKG reckons it’s ticked all boxes with its new K361 and K371 headphones. Both combine a ‘studio quality’ reference sound with a compact, foldable design for content creators who need to produce professional content on the go. With pros no longer just in the studio, AKG aims to bring the comfort and portability of consumer ’phones to podcasters, video editors, artists and content producers without sacrificing audio response. Both models use a new oval earcup design, using improved head alignment to bring greater comfort and frequency response, along with 50mm drivers. The K361 offers a clear and detailed response across its 15Hz to 28 kHz spectrum. The K371 sport titanium coated diaphragms and…

Rob Kinelski’s music career curve saw him going from Spinal Tap to urban cool. He recounts, “I grew up on the East Coast, and played bass in a band from age 15 to 20. We were doing really well, and had booked a cross-country tour, and enjoyed label interest, and had a big showcase gig in DC. The night before, our drummer got drunk and broke his hand punching a friend in the head. He played the gig with one arm, and it was terrible. Then the drummer quit the band, and I quit as well because I did not want my career to be dependent on others.” “After that, in 2001, I studied at the SAE Institute in New York. Then I opened my own studio in New Jersey,…

Storyk believes there have been three major changes in control room design over the years. “Firstly, people are more interested in low frequency than ever before, both because of the nature of the music we listen to and the advancement in the delivery system technology.” Thankfully, the second change has been in the development of off-the-shelf acoustic products, specifically thin ones, that can control low frequencies. The third major change is the size of control rooms. Over the last 10 years control rooms have been getting smaller; often because they only house single users, and real estate is more expensive. “There will always be what Chris Stone (legendary Record Plant co-founder) called Mothership studios like Electric Lady, Abbey Road and Capitol, but we’re clearly not building a lot of those…

In January 2016 I was at the Sydney Opera House watching Grammy Award-winning engineer Tony Faulkner setting up to record a live performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. All the microphones were Rødes, and among the collection were some prototypes that included a pair of small single-diaphragm condensers. They were hanging above the stage by the time I got there, so I couldn’t get a close look. Tony referred to them as his “thinking man’s reverb” mics and said, “They look remarkably like NT5s with omni capsules, but these are revised capsules and electronics and they’ve got a flat black finish”. You can find that quote in my interview with Tony [‘Stereo Masterclass’, Issue 115 of AudioTechnology], along with further discussion of the work he’d been doing with Røde to develop…

During the course of this review I had the opportunity to make some comparison recordings that put the TF-5 against Neumann’s similarly priced KM184 and DPA’s considerably more expensive 4011. You can hear those recordings at the link below, and read about the process of making them in this issue’s Last Word. I will also try to include some of the other recordings that have been mentioned in this review, pending permission from the musicians. Go to: www.soundcloud.com/audiotechnology…

The SiX’s small footprint belies an impressive feature list. Here are six of its best: • Two SuperAnalogue microphone preamp channels, each with +48V phantom power, HPF, line and Hi-Z inputs, two-band EQ with switchable bell/shelf curves at different frequencies, a simple one-knob operation compressor, an insert point, pan and 100mm fader. • Two stereo line input channels with input trims and 100mm faders. • Mute, PFL and two cue sends on both SuperAnalogue mono input channels and on both stereo input channels. • Two foldback channels routable from cue sends, external inputs or talkback. • One talkback XLR mic input with LMC (Listen Mic Compressor). • One stereo master bus with 100mm fader, insert points and built-in compressor based on the SSL 4000G.…

In 2016 Korg released the Minilogue, their first polyphonic analogue synth since the ‘80s. This compact four-voice synth won popularity thanks to sounding superb and being inexpensive. Two years later, Korg followed with their flagship analogue polysynths, the Prologue 8 and Prologue 16 with eight and 16 voices respectively. The Prologues introduced the concept of a ‘Multi Engine’: a third programmable digital oscillator open for third-party development, and they also had an Effects engine open for third-party development. The Minilogue xd harnesses the versatility of the Prologue’s Multi Engine and Effects engine, yet maintains the Minilogue form factor at a price that’s not too much more than the original. The xd has inherited some of the cosmetics of the Prologue, with black knobs and a black faceplate, but maintains the…

Let’s just begin by saying that, as a long-time Apogee devotee, I had some serious soul searching to do after a fortnight with the Orion 32+ Gen 3 audio interface. This is a professional interface for those in search of pristine conversion and hyper-flexible integration. It offers 32 analogue line level inputs, 32 analogue line level outputs, a stereo analogue monitor output and a range of digital I/Os including MADI, ADAT and SPDIF. There are connections for wordclock in and out, and Thunderbolt and USB-A ports for interfacing to your computer. Antelope’s marketing materials claim exemplary A/D and D/A conversion, flawless clocking thanks to their proprietary 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking (AFC), and super-low ‘sub-millisecond’ latency. I was keen to test the Orion in my ‘Analogue DAW’ recording rig (see AT133).…

A new website. Stop glazing over! I know, seems about as exciting as a new flu jab. I can sympathise. Just hear me out: There’s always a tension in digital publishing that doesn’t exist so much in print. Digital is by nature about random access… Google helps you dive into the precise page you want. If it captures your attention then you’ll read the article. Then, mostly, you’ll bounce out again to find the info you were after from another source. The publisher on the other hand? We want you to tarry a while. We want to entice you with related content you might find of equal interest. Why? That should be obvious. You boost our stats and better stats mean happier advertisers. From an editor’s point of view, my…

Both the IE400 and 500 Pros feature Sennie’s brand new TrueResponse 7mm dynamic driver, each unit’s sole transducer, causing them to stand out among their balanced armature-driven competitors. Just like the driver you’d find in Apple earbuds, this is a miniature speaker, with a moving coil and a diaphragm. So how does it sound so much better? Jannik Schentek, Sennheiser’s professional audio product manager, describes it like an orchestra. All parts must perfectly synchronise together. The company has been working on these drivers for years over many product generations and lines, and now use the highest quality raw materials and manufacture in house to build these 7mm beauties. It’s a different philosophy to multi-driver models, which rely on clean crossovers, nozzles and filters to combine for the perfect sound, filling…

Castlemaine is a hit town. Originally they came for the gold, today they’re escaping Melbourne. Recently nicknamed Northcote North, it’s home to an increasing number of tree-changers who’ve sold their inner-city Melbourne cottages and moved to the country, but still expect decent coffee. The Theatre Royal has been the heart of the town since 1851, and claims to have been in continual operation longer than any other cinema on mainland Australia. Its day job is showing movies, but it’s also been a live venue from the start. Lola Montez, the Spanish Dancer and mistress of King Ludwig the 1st of Bavaria, famously entertained the gold miners there in 1855. As a band venue it’s intimate and real, with a good stage and a capacity of around 400. For those old…

A close friend and fellow producer/engineer came to me recently confessing he wasn’t sure he could keep it up any more. The bands he’d been working with were not enjoyable, and he had the age-old problem of never having enough money when he needed it. I knew that feeling because I’ve experienced it so many times, and you probably will too — if you haven’t already. I asked him, “How much have you made so far in this financial year?” He had no idea. I asked him, “If I gave you half an hour to work it out, could you tell me?” He could not. He was similarly in the dark about how much he’d spent in this financial year. If a producer or engineer doesn’t know how much money…

PRICE Expect to pay A$1999 CONTACT Røde: (02) 9648 5855 info@rode.com www.rode.com PROS Easy and fast for getting a good sound. Beautifully engineered and finished. Visually unobtrusive. Price includes Røde’s Stereo Bar. CONS Relatively low peak SPL level. SUMMARY The TF-5 package is a complete stereo miking kit, featuring a pair of Røde’s new generation TF-5 small single-diaphragm cardioid condensers and Røde’s Stereo Bar. The microphones have been developed in conjunction with legendary classical recording engineer Tony Faulkner, and punch above their weight for recording acoustic music.…

For most professional engineers the name ‘SSL’ (Solid State Logic) conjures up a heady blend of sonic excellence and commercial success, based on their legendary large-format consoles. The SSL sound was, and to a large degree still is, the sound of big-time hit records across the world. If you’re listening to current commercial Hip Hop, RnB, Rap or Pop, there’s a good chance you’re listening to the sound of an SSL console. With manufacturing based in sunny Oxfordshire, England, the price of entry was never cheap, but over the years the company has done its best to cater for well-heeled owner/operators with the streamlined yet powerful Matrix line. For the budget-conscious, the X-Desk and Sigma models offered stripped back feature sets with high-calibre back-end summing. With the rise and rise…

In recent years, Arturia has enjoyed much success with their range of analogue synths. Starting with the MiniBrute in 2012, they’ve rapidly ascended to near-ubiquitous popularity appealing equally to both the cult of Eurorack users and the DAW-faithful. The MicroFreak is a curious deviation from these pure-analogue products, being their first hybrid design offering digital oscillators with an analogue filter. The MicroFreak is light-weight (1.02kg), compact and robustly built. It can be bus-powered via USB (even from a mobile phone charge bank or adapter) or from the included DC adapter, but for best pressure response from the keyboard it is recommended to use the DC adapter – as discussed below. A miniature OLED display provides access to the menu system (via the Utility button), along with a detailed display of…

The Komplete Audio 6 is a MkII refresh of its years-old namesake. Now a black, minimal slab of glass and aluminium, it’s a stylish looking unit. It has two preamp-equipped combo jacks, two extra TS inputs on the back (CV-ready for use with modular gear), MIDI in/out, as well as two stereo outputs. One standout addition is the recessed USB-B port, making your computer connection rock solid (it takes some effort to get it in and out). A pair of high-power headphone outs are also included, for the odd collab or sharing a production with a mate. There are VUs for all the ins and the main out, and a big fat volume knob on top. The Presonus box ain’t so pretty, but what it lacks in looks it makes…

PRICE RRP $1199, Expect to pay $999 CONTACT CMI Music & Audio: (03) 9315 2244 or www.cmi.com.au PROS Same reprogrammable Multi Engine oscillator of the Prologue for a much lower price. Reprogrammable effects engine. Wider than regular analogue sound palette. Keyboard and desktop modules available. CONS Limited modulation matrix. 16 Multi Engine slots may not be enough for some users as the range of third-party oscillators increases! SUMMARY The xd packs a punch in terms of features, size and price. It’s a substantial refresh of the original concept, to the point that it is essentially a new and different synth.…

BRAINWORX ‘JUMP’ INTO VI SCENE US$249 | www.brainworx.audio There’s a first time for everything, and for mid/side processing pioneer Brainworx it’s virtual instruments, cutting it’s teeth on the Oberheim OBX! Reliant on fully-analogue, discrete circuits and a classic state-variable filter, Brainworx draw on their mixing and mastering heritage and patent-pending Tolerance Modelling Technology (TMT) to create bx_oberhausen, an OBX recreation with full polyphony of 32 voices. TMT allows Brainworx to get every voice sounding slightly different, creating the authentic, phat sound the OBX is famous for. Furthering that, bx_oberhausen’s voices can be combined into a powerful Unison mode which forms a complex, rich, and authentic analogue sound. Also a Brainworx exclusive is the inclusion of Mid/Side technology, adding width to the thickness. Effects are borrowed from across Brainworx’s catalogue, and…

Billie Eilish started 2019 as one of several young artists operating just below the radar, having enjoyed initial success with her debut single ‘Ocean Eyes’ in early 2016. More single releases followed but few made any significant inroads, although ‘Lovely’, a collaboration with Khalid, made it to number five in Australia and number four in New Zealand. Her first major worldwide hit, ‘Bury A Friend’, was released in January 2019, and since then the world has gone bonkers over the young singer. ‘Bad Guy’ was an even bigger hit than ‘Bury A Friend’, and her debut album, ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’, reached number one in 20 countries. An artist breaking through like this is not unusual. What makes Eilish exceptional is that her music sounds…

“I have a drawing dated February, 1969,” said John Storyk. It’s the earliest memento he can find of arguably his most famous commission; the Jimi-Hendrix-owned Electric Lady Studios in New York. The drawing doesn’t actually show a studio, rather it’s a redesign of the club, Generation, that existed on the Eighth Street premises at the time. Hendrix was a frequent performer and patron of the club, and — perhaps because of his rising bar tabs — decided to buy the lease with his manager, Michael Jefferey. Storyk knew Generation well. A year earlier — on the day he finished college — he’d driven to Manhattan in search of his own musical fortune. He played sax and keys for a Blues band styled in The Commitments’ likeness. “We’d listen to Blues…

“How many pieces of information does someone have to give you in order to determine the nature of a car?” Storyk asked. “0-60mlph time? Braking distance? Number of doors? Horsepower of the engine?” It turns out you need quite a few. It’s the same with studios; no single characteristic describes a studio. While reverb time is an extremely good descriptor of live rooms — especially large ones — it’s not the only characteristic. It’s usefulness is also aligned with the fact it’s relatively easy to measure, and we’ve been measuring it for many years, posits Storyk, making it easy to compare. Another characteristic of studios is quietness, lists Storyk: “On the control room side, reverb time carries even less weight. Low frequency modal behaviour is important: where and what are…

PRICE Expect to pay $2249 CONTACT Amber Technology Ltd 1800 251 367 www.ambertech.com.au PROS Great sound and design smarts combined in a small footprint. Feature-rich master section with good I/O and routing options. Up to 12 inputs on mixdown. Tracking and mixing solution in one. Talkback mic input includes switchable Listen Mic Compressor. CONS EQs and dynamics offer limited controls. No mini-jack input. Short power cable and external PSU are irritating. Recessed rear power switch hard to access. No inserts on stereo channels. SUMMARY SSL’s SiX punches above its weight in terms of audio performance and versatility. The preamps, line inputs and mix path all deliver excellent results and the onboard EQ and dynamics, while limited, help deliver satisfyingly musical results on a wide range of sources. A comprehensive master…

PRICE Expect to pay $549 AU CONTACT CMI (03) 9315 2244 cmi.com.au PROS Large number of oscillator engine types Paraphonic mode with independent VCA Superb analog filter Powerful modulation matrix Inspiring arpeggiator/sequencer tools CV connectivity makes it ideal as a controller for a hardware modular synth rig CONS No built-in effects processor Mono output Capacitive touch keyboard won’t suit all players Some issues remain to be addressed with firmware updates Waffly, confused documentation SUMMARY A lightweight, compact and feature-packed little hybrid synth that offers a wealth of creative possibilities for a minimal outlay.…

When it comes to professional wireless microphone systems, the major manufacturers from the USA and Germany have dominated the market for some time. They have the advantage of brand recognition and well-established product lines, but there are challengers in this international battle for customers. Japan’s Audio-Technica is probably the next biggest by sales, and they’re keen competitors. Based on their range of classic capsules, they make some of the world’s great microphones for stage and studio. The Audio-Technica 3000 Series is a professional quality FM wireless system operating in the UHF spectrum with true diversity operation (i.e. two antennas, each with its own receiving circuit). The fourth generation of the series, reviewed here, offers several improvements over the earlier third generation models including new OLED screens on the transmitters and…

The Multi Engine has been out in the wild since the Prologues hit the market, and several developers have been getting busy. With the Minilogue xd bringing the Multi Engine to the masses in a much lower priced synth, I expect the offerings will continue to grow. Sinevibes https://www.sinevibes.com/korg/Multi Engine Oscillators: KorgBent, KorgTube, KorgTurbo. Tim Shoebridge https://sellfy.com/soundmangling/Multi Engine Oscillators: String, Pluck. DirtBoxSynth https://www.dirtboxsynth.com/Multi Engine Oscillators: Complete Oscillator Collection (six different oscillator types) Delay Effects: Exotic Delay pack (seven different advanced delay effects) Modulation Effects: Filter pack, AMPit. Peter Allwin https://github.com/peterall/eurorack-prologue Multi Engine Oscillators: 12 derivatives of Mutable Instruments’ Plaits and Elements (Freeware). Jason Long https://github.com/hammondeggsMulti Engine Oscillators: Chips, Souper, Percy (Freeware) Delay effects: Arrhh, Bucket (Freeware) Modulation effects: Hera (Freeware)…