The Midex Touch
Steinberg North America
21354 Nordhoff St. #110
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 678-5106
www.us.steinberg.net
In need of precise MIDI timing? Steinberg thinks it’s got the answer for you with its new PC and Mac drivers for Midex 8. If you have a Steinberg VST-based studio, the Midex 8 is designed to give you timing precision for external MIDI equipment within Cubase VST or Nuendo. The PC version of the new driver designed to guarantee secure operation with Windows 98/ME/2000 is also ready for Windows XP. Steinberg’s WDM driver architecture gives you Midex 8 users up to 64 MIDI input and output ports with Cubase VST or Nuendo. Using the Midex’s multi-client capability, you can run several programs in parallel operation so you can access the respective ports of the Midex 8. Stand-alone applications like Reaktor and Cubase VST can also be used simultaneously and in combination with remote control devices. The Midex 8 Mac drivers are now available in version 1.01. OMS is used as a communications interface to support other programs. Several Midex 8 units can also be combined to form larger systems. The latest drivers are included in the Midex 8 package but you can also download them free at www.us.steinberg.net.

Check Your Head

Sennheiser
One Enterprise Drive
Old Lyme, CT 06371
(860) 434-9190
www.sennheiserusa.com
Sennheiser’s HD 280 Pro headphones are designed to fold up so you can slip them into those small pockets. Designed to deliver isolation from ambient noise with linear sound reproduction at high SPLs, the HD 280 Pro combines high fidelity with practical design and maximum comfort. The HD 280’s form fitting, ergonomically designed circumaural earpieces can be rotated for flat mobility and space-saving transport. Single-sided coiled cable gives you flexibility on the job.

TASCAM Mixes Digital
TASCAM
7733 Telegraph Road
Montebello, CA 90640
(323) 726-0303
www.tascam.com
The DM-24 digital mixing console is a small-format digital mixer that has flexible routing, built-in automation, professional-quality effects, dynamics processing and 4-band parametric EQ. With 24-bit digital converters, up to 96kHz sampling rates and 32-bit internal processing, the DM-24 features a new circuit design that allows intelligent compensation for fixed latencies within a digital studio. The DM-24 is designed to be an ideal companion for all standalone hard disk multitracks, including TASCAM’s MX-2424, Mackie’s HDR24/96 and MDR 24/96, Alesis’ HD24 and others. For DAW systems, the DM-24 can be combined with computer interface cards that allow the DAW to act like any standard multitrack. Other recorders, such as TASCAM DTRS and Alesis ADAT systems as well as analog open-reel multitracks, can be combined with the DM-24 through its built-in digital and analog interfaces and optional expansion interface modules. The DM-24’s internal effects include the TC Works along with an Antares’ mic and speaker modeling processors. Other luxury console features available on the DM-24 include 100mm touch-sensitive motorized faders, fully parametric 4-band EQ and responsive machine control tools.

Gator’s All In One

Gator Cases
26612 Magnolia Blvd.
Lutz, FL 33549
(813) 221-4191
www.gatorcases.com
Gator’s new rack console cases are the first in a new series. The 10 x 6 rack has 10U on the top, slanted for your mixers, and 6U on the bottom for your amps, CD players and EQs. The Gator rack has a front and rear rail, designed to let you rack up to twice as much in the 6U space. Manufactured in military grade polyethylene, the case weighs half as much as traditional wooden cases. Its side handles are ergonomically sloped so if your hands tend to be on the larger side, they won’t get stuck while transporting the case. The back lid has a cable access hole so you can run your cables out of the rear of the case with the lid on.

Eminent Speakers
Eminence Speaker LLC
P.O. Box 360
838 Mulberry PK
Eminence, KY 40019
502-845-5622
Doing its part to combat ineffiecient speakers, Eminence, according to the company, has improved thermal capacity in bass woofers by using new, thermally resistant adhesives, core periphery ventilation and heat sink technology to develop its Kilomax woofers. Eminence incorporated a copper-shorting ring and undercut pole piece to reduce flux modulation created by the energized coil. The more linear flux field provides a more linear output which, for you, means lower distortion. In the process of incorporating the heat sink design and the core periphery ventilation system used in the Kilomax series, Eminence also developed the aluminum Eminence Phasor, which works by smoothing the frequency response of the woofer yet also helping to release thermal energy that would otherwise accumulate in the motor structure. HO (high output) and LF (low frequency) versions of Magnum are available.

A Little Magix

11400 W. Olympic Blvd #450
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 477 0241
(888) TO-MAGIX
So you want to be a DJ, but aren’t sure where to start? MAGIX’s DJ remixing kit is a starter kit designed to teach you how to remix on the fly, cue songs and add effects. The kit includes two programs to help you get started. It lets you create or sample different grooves on up to 16 tracks. With the remixR you can remix and cue your own mixes of CDs and MP3s. The kit also includes a step-by-step workshop to teach you the ins and outs of DJing.

Editorial BIAS
BIAS, Inc.
1370 Industrial Avenue
Suite A
Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 782-1866
BIAS Vbox lets you combine, repatch and mix any of the hundreds of VST audio effect plug-ins on the market. It even ships with over 25 plug-ins (including Waves AudioTrack) to get you started. Vbox works as a stand-alone editor, letting you run your plug-ins without using an additional host application. Or you can use Vbox as a plug-in within any VST-compatible host application (including Cubase, Logic, Performer, Peak, or Deck). You can also use Vbox as a live signal processor using audio sources from CDs, mixer, or other audio feeds from your Mac.

A Little More Cubase

Steinberg North America
21354 Nordoff St. #110
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 678-5106
www.us.steinberg.net
Steinberg’s new Cubase VST 5.1 for Windows and Mac gives you a digital recording engine with scalable recording modes up to 32-bit, floating-point resolution on 128 channels of audio in the Cubase VST/32 version. The Cubase VST 5.1 offers a new and complete studio environment with features including an optimized program code for Pentium III and Pentium IV with Microsoft Windows and Altivec enhancement for Apple Macintosh G3 and G4 computers. It also features three new VST instruments, like the JX16, a 16-voice synthesizer with two oscillators, the LM7, a 24-bit drum machine with three sound sets: Compressor, 909 and Percussion. The CS-40, a 6-voice software synthesizer, is also included. Some new effects are the Autopole, an insert filter/envelope generator with four different Waveforms; the BitCrusher, which adds edge and character by selectively reducing the bit depth; the DaTube, a valve simulator; the MidiComb, a comb filter with MIDI control that you can play live; the MidiGate, a MIDI-controlled gate that lets you “chop” your audio into grooves; and the Mysterizer, a multiFX plug-in with optical “parameter pad” which controls several effects at once. Cubase users can get a free update to their version by going to the Cubase website.

Fantom Menace
Roland Corporation U.S.
5100 S. Eastern Ave.
P.O. Box 910921
Los Angeles, CA 90091-0921
(323) 890-3700
www.rolandus.com.
Roland’s 76-note workstation keyboard, the Fantom, incorporates expandable XV synthesis and effects with a completely redesigned sequencer, large user-friendly display and titanium body. Designed to be interactive, the Fantom includes a new variable arpeggiator and rhythm generator to help your creative process along, while 24-bit D/A converters and S/PDIF digital outputs make this workstation professional. The synthesizer has a 64-voice multitimbral synth engine based on the XV-Series architecture with stereo waveforms per tone, Matrix Control and onboard effects like 24-bit reverb, chorus and 90 multi-effects including COSM Amp Models. The Fantom’s 64MB-equivalent waveform memory includes 1,024 patches (640 Preset, 128 User and 256 GM2 sounds) and 25 rhythm sets, and can be expanded using two SRX-Series and one SR-JV80-Series Wave Expansion Board(s). The keyboard has a clean front panel that uses a large angled display and soft keys designed to minimize menus and clutter. The Fantom’s newly designed variable arpeggiator and rhythm generator lets you create tracks fast. Both of these powerful tools can be assigned to a patch or performance, so that the worlds of performance and composition come together. And for when you’re struck by sudden inspiration, Fantom’s sequencer is always active, so recording starts immediately, including any realtime combination of grooves, arpeggiator, knobs and, of course, live playing. The new sequencer also includes RPS (Realtime Phrase Sequencing) for triggering phrases and controller messages; a slimline 3.5-inch floppy drive stores user data. The Fantom’s light-sensing D-Beam can control a host of features, and can modify sound parameters in real time.

Laser Tag

Chauvet
3000 North 29th Ct.
Hollywood, FL 33020
(800) 762-1084
www.chauvetlighting.com
14 Chauvet’s Photon Generator LGG-3000X is a DMX-512, 2-channel fixture that gives you 17 geometric patterns to choose from. It has 360-degree continuous rotation and six fixed bounce mirrors. The Photon Generator has stand-alone, built-in beat-activated programs and a 4.9Mw green laser that moves around the room. It operates in 110v and has a green 4.9mW laser diode.

X Marks the Spot
American DJ
4295 Charter St.
Los Angeles, CA 90058
(800) 322-6337
www.americandj.com
12 Designed for small clubs and mobile DJs, the Cross Flash from American DJ is a sound-activated lighting effect that creates criss-cross patterns with six colored beams that rotate to the beat of the music, bouncing off of six mirrors. The mirrors are fused together at slight angles, designed to spread the lighting over wider areas. A sensitivity knob lets you adjust how intensely it reacts to the music. Other features include easy-access doors that let you change lamps and a hanging bracket for mounting. The Cross Flash is fan cooled and weighs 10 pounds.