Watts The Deal

Yamaha Corp. of America
P.O. Box 6600
Buena Park, CA 90622
(714) 522-9011
www.yamaha.com
Yamaha says their new SW500 powered subwoofer will give you 500 watts of power in a low profile enclosure that’s ideal for DJ systems and any small-to-medium portable or installed speaker system where you want low frequency augmentation. The 15-inch driver provides up to 122dB SPL (1w @ 1M), an overall frequency response of 40Hz to 120Hz, and is designed to withstand demanding program material. An internal 500-watt amplifier uses Yamaha’s EEEngine Technology to help maintain efficiency, low current draw, low heat and reduced weight.

Taking Cues

QSC Audio Products
1675 MacArthur Boulevard
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(800) 854-4079 (USA only)
or (714) 754-6175
www.qscaudio.com
QSC’s DSP-30 digital processor takes its cues from the DSP-3 signal-processing module. The latest model promises to be a cost-effective, highly customizable, rackmountable, two-channel signal processor. The DSP-30 promises to give you everything but the kitchen sink: channel crossovers, multiple parametric EQ and time delay for surround channels, or subsonic filters for subwoofers, compression/limiting, precision attenuation, mixing, plus tone or noise generation, front panel layout, a computer interface via a front panel RS-232 port, and an assigned processing engine. The DSP-30 features 24-bit converters and operates at a 48 kHz sampling frequency. The unit features balanced Neutrik Combo (XLR and ¼-inch) inputs and XLR outputs.

MVP
Community Professional Loudspeakers
333 East Fifth Street
Chester, PA 19013
800-523-4934
www.loudspeakers.net
Community's newest subwoofer, the MVP40, is designed to give DJs low-frequency response within an operable range of 40 Hz - 250 Hz. It has a single 18-inch enclosure for use within any full-range MVP system and has a maximum output of 123 dB SPL at one meter and sensitivity is rated at 98 dB SPL (1W/1m). If you use an internal 150-Hz, high-pass filter, you can deploy the device within a system where a single amplifier channel powers both the MVP40's sub-bass output and a full-range cabinet. It’s constructed using internally-braced MDF board covered with black carpeting; a socket stand and pole are provided with each cabinet, as are rubber feet, recessed handles, ¼-inch input connectors, and a perforated, 16-gauge steel grille.

Getting a Hold
Contoured Edge, Inc.
31323 Woodsia Lane
Eugene, OR 97405
(541) 686-0709
www.cdhold.com
If you’re the sort of person who loses his keys only to find them two weeks later in an “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” tub in the back of the fridge, then you may wish to invest in some CD Hold Buttons. These little plastic gizmos affix to your computer monitor, stereo, dashboard or mixer and allow you to keep special discs at hand for easy access. They’ll keep the disc clean and scratch-free, but they’re small and do present a choking hazard, so please think twice before sticking one on your two-year-old nephew’s lower lip.

Super Beats

E-Mu/Ensoniq
1600 Green Hills Road
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 438-1921
www.emu.com
E-MU’s new PK-6, XK-6, and MK-6 61-note keyboards feature E-MU's newest, most powerful sound engine as well as 64 voice polyphony, four 24 bit audio outputs, four real-time control knobs adjusting 16 parameters, sound 16 simultaneous syncable arpeggiators, 50 types of 6th/12th order filters, and Super Beats mode for interactive groove creation. The PK-6 contains the acclaimed 32MB Proteus "Composer" ROM, and is user expandable to 128MB of ROM utilizing the library of 11 32MB Proteus ROM's. The PK-6 features a host of new Super Beats that you can manipulate in real time for live performance. If you’ve got “DJ’s block,” they may also inspire you to create and compose. The XK-6 features a new sound set designed for the Euro/electronica market. XK-6 features 512 presets, 50 types of 6th/12th order filters, and a simple user interface that allows instant access to many synthesizer parameters. The MK-6 is focused on urban, rap, R&B, and hip hop musical styles. The MK-6 contains all of the above features, and features 512 new presets and an arsenal of Super Beats.

SampleTank Gets Plugged In
IK Multimedia US
5911 Hickory Drive
Ft. Pierce, FL 34982
866-243-1718
www.ikmultimedia.com
IK Multimedia’s SampleTank RTAS plug-in for Digidesign Pro Tools systems is the first native sample-based sound module available as a Pro Tools plug-in designed to allow you access to scads of multi-sampled sounds within Pro Tools Free, LE or TDM. SampleTank gives you a sample-based synthesis engine designed without hardware limitations so you can browse hundreds of natural and synthesized sounds with a click, pick the ones you like and have them ready to play without hardware hassles. Other features include 128 voices polyphony per module, 16 multi-timbral instruments per module, 32 bit floating point processing, patented RAM doubling sample playback, four dynamic sound parameters, four insert effects selectable among 20 DSP effects, user friendly sounds organization with multiple folders/ multiple HDs and sound search feature with user-defined categories.

Best Case Scenario
American Audio
4295 Charter Street
Los Angeles, CA 90058
1-800-322-6337
American Audio
is on the case with the introduction of the SHCD-300 semi-hard roadcase and the Pro-DJ/Case/SH. Designed for mobile or club use, the SHCD-300 roadcase is a compact, semi-hard CD roadcase, capable of carrying a large selection of CDs. It weighs only six pounds and can hold 90 regular jewel case CDs, 180 slim jewel cases or 270 ViewPak CD sleeves. The Pro-DJ/Case/SH is a canvas roadcase designed for American Audio’s Pro-DJ1, 2 or 3 professional CD players. At ten pounds, the Pro-DJ/Case/SH can carry two of these CD players and a 10-inch mixer.

Hit the Deck
Stanton
3000 S.W. 42nd Street
Hollywood, FL 33312
(954) 689-8460
www.stantonmagnetics.com
Stanton’s STR8-90 analog turntable is one sharp little number featuring a high-torque direct drive motor, manual pitch blend, aluminum face-plate, a height adjustable tone arm, reverse function, three speeds, quartz lock, retractable target light, motor off feature, and adjustable feet. It also includes headshell, slipmat and all cables. Also new from Stanton are the S-550 and S-250, both part of the S Series of CD players. Both feature pitch bend, auto cue to eliminate dead space, instant and fader start, digital outputs, pitch display, instant cue point recall, real-time cue, 8x over sampling, and are 8cm CD singles compatible and read CD-R’s. The S-550 comes equipped with a multipurpose jog wheel, 60 seconds transport protection, and six different scan speeds. The S-250 meanwhile features three different scan speeds, elapsed/remaining time display, and loop functions.

Another Shure Thing

Shure Incorporated
222 Hartrey Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 866-2200
www.shure.com
Shure’s PG48 microphone, unveiled as part of their Performance Gear Microphone series, was created for speech and karaoke applications. It has a cardioid pick-up pattern and a smooth frequency response. The line comprises six models designed for vocals and various instruments. All Performance Gear microphones come packaged with cables and mounting accessories to provide plug-and-play simplicity, as well as rugged reliability for onstage performance.

It’s The EM
Sennheiser
1 Enterprise Drive
Old Lyme, CT 06371
(860) 434-9190
www.sennheiser.com
Sennheiser’s new EM 550 is a dual-channel, true-diversity RF receiver that improves on the EM 500, adding an internal antenna, DC power on the antenna output, and an internal power transformer. The EM 550’s all-metal frame will mount in just one rack space. The receiver has 1,280 switchable frequencies and up to eight EM 550s (16 channels) can use just one pair of diversity antennas via the integrated active antenna splitter. The unit features an HDX compander (compatible with any Evolution transmitter) boasting a 60Hz to 18kHz frequency response and a “wired” sound. A front-mounted headphone jack facilitates monitoring while transformer-balanced outputs with adjustable gain pass the unit’s 110dB (A) dynamic range.

Bring the Bass

dbx Professional Products
8760 South Sandy Parkway
Sandy, UT 84070
(801) 566-8800
dbx says it’s bringing back the bass, with the 120a subharmonic synthesizer, an upgrade of the dbx 120XP, a synth known for its ability to produce a modeled bass note one octave below the bass in the original audio. The 120a provides two separate bands of bass synthesis and an independent low frequency boost. Good for live DJ mixing, remixing and producing.

Roll With It
Procases
3825 Willat Ave.
Culver City, California 90232
(800) 435-8737
www.procases.com
Sky-high chiropractor bills? Flight-attendant envy? Procases think they have a solution for you. Their Rolling DJ bag features 1-inch thermal protective heat-resistant foam interior, water-resistant nylon construction, re-enforced bottom and side protection built inside, large front pocket to hold headphones and other accessories, telescopic built in handle and wheel, and removable padded shoulder strap. The bags come in two sizes (100 LPs and 60 LPs) and are available in black, silver, and yellow.

In Effects
Alesis
12509 Beatrice Street
Los Angeles CA 90066
(310) 301-9563
www.alesis.com
Alesis new ModFX line of performance effects boxes includes 14 individual units, each one providing a different set of sound effects and signal processing. The company hopes the boxes’ versatile modulation section will appeal to DJs who want control over the sound of the effects, including the ability to sync modulation to incoming music tempo. Every box in the ModFX line digitally processes analog stereo signals. Including an array of funky-titled pieces (Smashup, Nastify, Faze, Crush, and Metavox), the products are designed with internal 28-bit digital processing, allowing you to connect to multiple units within the family via the link ports (in and out) located on either side of each box. These links allow the units to pass digital audio, word clock and power between ModFX line family members. Analog I/O is provided via four separate ¼-inch unbalanced connectors, and each unit comes with an Alesis AC power supply. A fifth ¼-inch connector allows an external footswitch to control the Bypass function. Each unit is sized to fit a 1/3-U rack space; an optional rack mount adapter will also be available.