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16 Feb

PRESONUS FADERPORT 8 MIX PRODUCTION CONTROLLER

Link Audio | linkaudio.com.au | Expect to Pay: $799

I first started using one of the original PreSonus FaderPorts about eight years ago and was immediately drawn to just how much it improved my workflow. Right away I used the computer’s mouse a lot less and didn’t have to remember as many keyboard shortcuts. For a ProTools user, it’s always a good thing to be able to drop a few shortcuts from the memory bank to make way for the other eight dozen that you need to use, so the FaderPort was a real blessing. But that was the humble, compact device that eight years ago kept me happy, nestled in amongst the mix bus of my analogue console. Things have changed since then and I rarely sit at the large console now, working mostly form a couple of other computers, more in the box, yet I still need that ‘hands on’ workflow. I got to run my hands over the newest member of the PreSonus family at NAMM this year, but luckily I was able to spend some more time with the FaderPort 8 upon my return.

16 Feb

16 Jan

ICON PLATFORM M DAW CONTROLLER & PLATFORM D DISPLAY

Innovative Music | innovativemusic.com.au | Expect To Pay: Icon M: $549, Icon D: $259

Many of you may have used an Icon controller in the past, with their iControl and Qcon series proving to be very popular, and both offering a great range of features at a very competitive price point. Until recently I was only aware of these DAW controllers from Icon. At least, that was until some boxes landed on my desk featuring a couple of units from their Platform system. This is like a compact version of the Qcon, in that it can act as a standalone, fully fledged controller in its own right, but can also be upgraded with other peripherals from the range to expand the size and capabilities of the unit. I was lucky enough to be able to test the Platform M DAW controller and Platform D LCD display.

16 Jan

11 Jan

PRESONUS STUDIO 192 MOBILE USB 3 AUDIO INTERFACE

Link Audio | linkaudio.com.au | Expect To Pay: $899

It only took a very brief glance for me to know that this was a PreSonus device, with the now all too familiar grey/blue housing and fixtures standing for quality. As suggested by its size, the Presonus Studio 192 Mobile is not just your ordinary two input home recording interface. Whilst not as large as some other rack units, it still has a little more bulk to the casing than many compact USB audio interfaces, and that is due to what is going on around at the rear, as well as what is happening under the hood. This unit delivers four physical analogue inputs and six physical analogue outputs on the casing, but that’s only just the beginning.

11 Jan

5 Jan

Steinberg UR22 MkII Recording Pack

Yamaha Music Australia | au.yamaha.com | Expect To Pay: $449.99

There once was a time when Steinberg offered real competition to some of the biggest names in high end digital audio workstations. But not all is fair in business and while other DAWs were embraced by the industry, Steinberg’s flagship product Cubase fell to the wayside. However, as the UR22 Mk II Recording Pack shows, this didn’t mean that the company ceased making high quality products.

5 Jan

7 Nov

Radial Engineering MC3 Monitor Control

The Control You Need

I think it is safe to say that most modern home studio setups are lacking in the monitoring department.

7 Nov

4 Nov

DiGiGriD Desktop Series D Interface

Sound and Music | sound-music.com | RRP: $1249.99

Most of you will have heard of DiGiCo, one of the leading manufacturers of digital mixing consoles for live and studio use. And I am sure many of you will have not only heard of, but also used, Waves plug-ins in your recording and mixing processes. But, what many of you may not be aware of is that a recent joining of these two stalwarts of the audio industry has seen the development of a new company and a very special range of new products. Introducing DiGiGrid, one of the most forward thinking audio interface design companies that we have ever come across. This is not just another solution for recording vocals and guitar at home, this is a serious solution for the musician and engineer who want to hear a difference and take control of the recording process. Of course, you would expect nothing less for the pairing of hardware and software companies of this calibre.

4 Nov

3 Nov

RME Fireface UFX+

Raising The Bar Again

Just when you thought you’d seen it all from the German audio interface gurus – when the Fireface UFX was still dazzling audiences with its immense channel count and stunning A/D conversion – they have gone and outdone themselves.

3 Nov

17 Oct

PreSonus StudioLive AR8 USB Mixing Interface

Link Audio | linkaudio.com.au | RRP: Expect to pay $599

Since the late 1990s I have used an analogue-mixing console of some sort in conjunction with a computer-recording interface, and have never really been happy with how they all work together. It wasn’t until I invested in a large format console with direct outs on every channel and a comprehensive patch bay before I got close to the integration I was after. But, I still had to dance around feedback loops with the wrong press of a button. This is where the new PreSonus StudioLive AR8 USB mixer is going to change the way in which many home studio users consider working with an analogue mixer in front of their recording DAW.

17 Oct

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