Introducing the DS 501 PowerGate

Transamerica Audio Group has graced the studio world with the DS501 PowerGate, a gate that’s designed to preserve critical percussion transients. Aiming to solve the typical gate “lack of attack” problem, the DS 501 PowerGate has a frequency tunable “high speed expander” that is tied to the same threshold as the gate. The tunable expander “punches” a gated transient as the DS501 PowerGate is opening, “letting go” in milliseconds. The whole process is dubbed the “Professional Peak Punch.” Initially used in the Drawmer MX40, “Peak Punch “ in the 501 PowerGate gives you frequency tunable controls to tweak or even exaggerate the DS501’s Peak Punch expander. Two Peak Punch modes are available: “tunable” or “full band.” In tunable mode, you select the center frequency of a one-octave filter (75Hz to 16kHz) for the expander and shape the transients of the gated signal. In full band mode, the gate and the expander respond to the entire audio spectrum. In either mode, a “more” control lets you tailor the amount of transient expansion (Peak Punch) you want. Like its forerunner, the DS201 Dual Gate, the DS501 features two stereo-linkable or independent channels of “frequency conscious” gating that gives you parameter controls like attack speed, decay time, hold time and release time plus downward gain range. In addition, you can use the 501 key input for external triggering or ducking.
Transamerica Audio Group Inc.
2082 Newbury Road Suite #3
Newbury Park, CA 91320
(805) 375-1425
www.transaudiogroup.com

Chauvet's Lil' Bubbler

A compact version of its B-200, Chauvet’s Lil’ Bubbler is a 10.8- x 6.5- x 6.7-inch bubble machine made to shoot bubbles upwards. It has a removable fluid tank and is made of plastic (so it won’t rust). It runs on 110V. The Lil’ Bubbler has a two-piece inner pack, weighing 7.3 pounds and a four-piece master pack that weighs 14.6 pounds.
Chauvet
3000 N. 29th St.
Court Hollywood, FL 33020
(800) 762-1084
(954) 929-1115
www.chauvetlighting.com

XLT 530 From Community

The latest addition to Community’s XLT500 Series is the three-way, full-range XLT530, designed for sound reinforcement and portable PA systems for nightclubs and live sound. The loudspeaker has a bass port design that uses a single 15-inch, ferrofluid-cooled low frequency driver and a one-piece fiberglass horn section that includes a 6.5-inch cone midrange driver and Community’s UC-1 one-inch compression driver. The 65-degree x 30-degree high frequency horn can be rotated to narrow the horizontal coverage or vertical mounting. The XLT530 is operable from 50Hz to 18kHz and has a sensitivity of 101 dB SPL at 1W/1m and a maximum output rated at 133 dB SPL (peak). It also includes Community’s IntelliSense circuitry that operates in conjunction with the PowerMeter LED indicators designed so that you can operate the speakers at peak levels without damaging the system components. The PowerMeters, on both the back and front panels, flash green to indicate a signal presence, yellow to let you know that the speaker is in its first stages of protection and red to show that full protection has been activated. Within protection mode, IntelliSense automatically attenuates speaker levels to a safe range. When gain has been reduced, the circuit resets itself, restoring full power and operation to the speaker. The speaker’s 34-inch enclosure is trapezoidal and has interlocking corner protectors, recessed handles, rigging points and a stand socket.
Community Professional Loudspeakers
333 E. 5th St.
Chester, PA 19013-4511
(800) 523-4934
(610) 876-3400
www.loudspeakers.net

Steingberg Attacks
Steinberg Media Technologies’ Attack, a percussion synthesizer developed by Waldorf, is a VST Instrument for PC and Mac platforms. The Attack synthesizer gives you sounds in real time, and direct control over parameters. Attack has 24 sounds available per percussion set, spread over two octaves on an integrated keyboard display. Sounds are generated by two oscillators, each with nine waveforms. In addition to analog waveforms, Attack gives you three samples to create hi-hat or crash cymbals. Ring modulation and frequency modulation expands the sound spectrum with a metallic component and FX sounds. The integrated “Crack” module takes care of reproducing analog hand claps. The Attack also has a filter section with six filter types, resonance up to self-oscillation and an overdrive up to +52dB. Two envelopes are used to alter oscillator pitches and FM amount, filter cutoff and the output volume. Eight outputs (two stereo, four mono) connect the Attack to the VST world. Integration into the VST 2.0 interface means all parameters can be addressed via MIDI controller allowing for more powerful dynamic changes. Twelve sounds of a drum set can be played melodically and with this feature, tom fills, conga grooves or other tuned percussion patterns can be created in no time, and lets you play bass melodies or sequencer lines.
Steinberg Media Technologies
21354 Nordoff St. #110
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 678-5199
www.us.steinberg.net

The US-428 Puts On A New Face

The US-428 digital audio workstation controller from TASCAM expanded its features to include compatibility with Windows ME and Windows 2000, MOTU’s Digital Performer and now also gives you control of Native Instrument’s B4 virtual synthesizers. It also ships now with BIAS’ DeckLE multitracking software from Macintosh. The US-428 combines a software interface with computer functionality to interface with both Windows- and MacIntosh-based sequencing platforms through a Universal Series Bus (USB) port. The controller doesn’t need an additional interface card to install and it’s compatible with applications that accept a standard MIDI controller message. It gives you control over software faders through eight hardware fader groups selectable with buttons located beneath the US-428’s jog wheel. The US-428’s control surface supports transport, EQ, and control functions for sequencers and DAWs. It supports inputs of 16-or 24-bit resolution at 44.1 or 48kHz along with stereo and mono. Four analog inputs can be recorded at once. Other features include two channel digital inputs and two audio output channels that also support 16- or 24-bit resolution in stereo and mono at 44.1 or 48 kHz.
TASCAM
7733 Telegraph Road
Montebello, CA 90640
(323) 726-0303
www.tascam.com

Yamaha's New Motif
Yamaha Corporation of America’s Motif Music Production Synthesizer combines the sonic power of a synthesizer, the hands-on immediacy of a groove box, an Integrated Sampling Sequencer (ISS) and a user interface to control it all. The 61-key Motif 6, 76-key Motif 7 and weighted action 88-key Motif 8 all feature initial and aftertouch and a 62-note polyphony. Yamaha’s AWM2 tone generation and 85MB of Wave ROM (when converted to 16-bit linear format) provide a complete palette of high-quality sounds: stereo acoustic instruments, cutting-edge dance sounds, ambient textures, plus many of the waveforms from Yamaha’s S80, 9000 Pro and EX synthesizers. An improved Category Search function provides access to favorite sounds. The main concept behind Motif is the Integrated Sampling Sequencer (ISS), which is designed to seamlessly integrate audio and MIDI. Any of the 16 tracks in the sequencer can be either MIDI or Stereo Audio Phrases. Audio can be recorded using the built-in, high-quality stereo A/D converters, external digital sources or by digitally re-sampling internal voices, performances and sequences. These phrases may be recorded using the Internal Sampling Sequencer’s “Sample with Note” or “Slice with Sequence” methods. Sample with Note automatically creates a sample “Voice.” This voice is mapped to the keyboard and triggered with a MIDI note. Slice with Sequence is a process that analyzes recorded audio and “slices” it into pieces (based on time segments and amplitude peaks). Motif then generates a MIDI sequence to re-trigger the audio. The sliced phrases can then be modified using MIDI controls to change the Tempo, Swing or any other musical parameter controllable by MIDI. Both Linear Song and Pattern Modes are available in the 200,000-note onboard sequencer. Sampling memory may be increased up to 64MB using PC SIMMs for a maximum time of 6 minutes, 20 seconds of stereo sampling at 44.1 kHz and up to 8,192 individual samples.
Yamaha Corporation of America
P.O. Box 6600
Buena Park, CA 90622
(714) 522-9011
www.yamaha.com

Gemini's Disc-O-Mix 2.0

Designed, says Gemini, for the discerning DJ, the Disc-O-Mix 2.0 is a DJ package that features two Gemini CDJ-15 instant start, frame–accurate CD players with pitch control, and a PMX-40 2-channel mixer with removable crossfader, talkover and individual gain controls along with a pair of PM-100 two-way, self powered monitor speakers. The package also gives you a set of Gemini’s EM-50 back of the neck, stereo headphones with a 12-foot cable and a GM-26 cardioid microphone with a 15-foot cable and carrying case. All of the units come with a DJC-1040 road case with black carpet, metal corners and pre-drilled holes for easy wiring.
Gemini Sound Products
8 Germak Drive
Carteret NJ 07008
(732) 969-9000
www.geminidj.com

T-Rack Masters Software
The TrackS24 is software dedicated to audio mastering, built with physical models of tube circuitry. The software gives you a workstation made of four discrete processors: A six-band parametric EQ, a stereo tube compressor/leveler, a multi-band master stereo limiter and an output stage with soft clipping. The workstation is designed to be easy to use, so let out a deep breath, neophyte producers, there are no complications here. Other features include mastering software with four dedicated analog processors, a multi-band master stereo limiter, an output stage with soft clipping, real time preview and processing, 32-bit floating point resolution, an analog interface, fade in/ fade out song markers and snapshots and presets. The software also supports WAV, AIFF, SDII 16 and 24 bit files and is compatible with most audio cards, though digital I/O is suggested.
IK Multimedia
Via dell’Industria, 46-41100
Modena, Italy
+39 059-285496
www.ikmultimedia.com

Ace of KACE

ACE has come out with a brand new line of rack cases designed to fit over all power amps. The line includes two rack porter models with a pop up handle that you can wheel around. The KACES line includes the KRC series of standard rack cases available in 2, 3 and 4 space models. The rack porter cases, models KRP-4 and KRP-6, are available in 4 and 6 space models, respectively. All cases are made of a cordura quality outer shell, are padded over a solid fiber inner shell, and have steel rack rails. Opening in the front and back, straps with a padded grip (to avoid those annoying calluses), Velcro seals and a big accessory pocket. The rack porters are designed to be deep enough to fit all power amps. The porters come standard with wheels and housing over molded telescoping handles and reinforced corners.
ACE Products Group
630 Las Gallinas Avenue #215
San Rafael, CA 94903
(800) 950-1095 Ext. 12
www.aceproducts.com

Turntablism 101

Shure has chipped into the “how-to” video market with its “Turntablism 101.” The video covers the history of DJing, battling and gives you the basics of building a routine. Featured DJs include Mixmaster Mike of Beastie Boys and Invisibl Skratch Piklz fame, Grand Master Roc Raida, Mista Sinista, Rob Swift and Total Eclipse of the X-ecutioners, J-Rocc and Rhettmatic of the Beat Junkies, P-Trix of the Immortal Fader Fyters, Roli Rho of the Fifth Platoon and That Big Wiz of the Steelworkers. The video is made for novices and experts both and shows you scratching, beat juggling, body tricks, team routines and turntable techniques and gives you some tips on equipment shopping.
Shure Incorporated
222 Hartrey Ave.
Evanston, IL 60202-3696
(847) 866-2279
www.shure.com

JBL Goes MPro

Built for your club and DJing needs, JBL’s new MPro lines of sound reinforcement speakers, the MPro 200 Series and the MPro 400 Series, each have full-range two-way speakers along with passive and active subwoofers. One model is the first joint effort between Crown and JBL, the MP418SP, is a subwoofer with signal processing. Each MPro speaker, except for the subwoofers, feature SMC (as in the sheet molding used to make your car) Laminar Flow Baffles, a single piece designed to integrate horn, ports, baffle and woofer mounting. Rounded contours of the baffle and a seamless structure are designed to reduce turbulence and diffraction effects so you don’t get as much distortion.
JBL Professional
8500 Balboa Boulevard
Northridge, CA 91329
(818) 894-8850
www.jblpro.com