The Reflex from ADJ

American DJ
4295 Charter Street
Los Angeles, CA 90058
(800) 322-6337
www.americandj.com
American DJ’s The Reflex is a club lighting effect that bounces and reflects multi-colored beams off of two scanning mirrors. The Reflex is a twin effect: two moonflowers in one, joined together in a high tech case. Multi-color patterns are projected from each side of the fixture to provide double the lighting excitement of a solo moonflower. Resembling a large pair of binoculars, the unit features a rotating mirror in front of each of its two eyes. The Reflex’s light beams rotate back and forth to the beat of the music. It features a modern three-position FX switch that allows it to be operated in sound active, static or continuous rotation mode. The Reflex weighs 9 pounds and has dimensions of 14- x 10- x 13.5-inches.

KAOSS Pad Update

Korg
316 South Service Road
Melville, NY 11747
(516) 333-9100
www.korg.com
Korg’s KAOSS Pad (KP-2) Dynamic Effect/Controller allows real-time control over digital effects processing for any audio source (records/CDs/samplers/keyboards/voice). Its X-Y pad controls the way in which effects are applied, all with the touch of a finger. The pad’s color changes according to finger position and effect type. The Pad Motion function allows the user to record and reproduce complex finger movements on the touch pad, for instant playback of original effect sounds.
One hundred effect programs are built in, including reverbs, delays and filters. The KP-2 offers synth and drum sounds, drum patterns, slicer, vocoder and other DJ effects. Effect programs can be selected by turning a knob, and can be assigned to any of eight programmable buttons for immediate recall. The Hold switch can freeze the effect setting at the current location of the X-Y pad, and the Effects Depth knob allows the user to adjust the exact mix of effects desired.
BPM (beats per minute) effect allows effects to be synchronized to the tempo of the music. The Auto BPM function can calculate the BPM automatically, detecting tempo from incoming audio or the MIDI Clock.
The KP-2 offers up to six seconds of 44.1 kHz sampling, and samples can be assigned to two keys for triggering. The user can sample through the effects, play a sample through an effect, or resample a sound through effects, if desired. The sampled source can be modified using a variety of effects (such as time stretch, reverse playback, and pitch change), integrating sampled effects into a live performance situation or create sound material for further sampling.

What’s The DPS?
Applied Research and Technology
215 Tremont Street
Rochester, NY 14608
(585) 436-2720
www.artproaudio.com
Applied Research and Technology’s DPS (DIO Preamp System) features ART’s proprietary V3 (Variable Valve Voicing) 12AX7A gain stage. V3 delivers multiple tube voicings specifically tailored to vocals, guitar, bass, synths and acoustic instruments. This processor is a microphone preamplifier as well as a DI box.
The DPS features twin high-performance discrete preamplifiers with local feedback. The preamp design can accept +20dB peaks while maintaining over 120dB dynamic range and low distortion. ARTs OPL Output Protection Limiter is available to control overshoots and normalize levels before digital clipping occurs.
High-Z instruments or balanced microphone signals are input through front and rear panel jacks. The unit provides level monitoring via two linear analog meters. The DPS offers a choice of both analog and digital outputs. Digital outputs include S/PDIF, TOSLINK or ADAT (front panel selectable). The A/D is front panel adjustable from 44.1 to 96K or syncs to ADAT or external word clock (32KHZ to 100KHz). You can patch into any ADAT stream and select which pair (or all) of channels the DPS transmits.
An insert loop on each channel provides access for additional signal processing or direct access to the A/D converter. Separate gain controls on analog and digital outputs allow you to optimize the unit for simultaneous applications.

Shure’s Wireless Systems

Shure Incorporated
222 Hartrey Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 866-2200
www.shure.com
Shure Incorporated’s ULX Standard and ULX Professional UHF Wireless Systems feature Shure’s Automatic Frequency Selection. The circuitry simplifies system set-up by scanning a user’s environment for open frequencies. Both frequency-agile models operate between 554-865 MHz and offer up to 1,440 selectable frequencies that are organized into pre-programmed groups. These groups enable a user to set up and operate up to 20 compatible systems simultaneously. ULX receivers include Predictive Diversity circuitry, which almost eliminates RF drop-out, as well as easy-to-read, multi-function liquid crystal displays for monitoring group/channel selection, battery level, and TV channel.
ULX Professional systems are able to scan all frequency groups to locate the one with the maximum number of compatible frequencies. Additional ULX Professional System features include: frequency and volume lockouts, advanced front panel controls, indicators for RF signal strength, furnished rack hardware, remote mountable ½ wave antennas, and an extruded metal chassis.

E-MU’s On It

E-MU / ENSONIQ
1600 Green Hills Road
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
(831) 438-1921
www.emu.com
E-MU’s Version 1.31 Software for its XL-7 and MP-7 Command Stations and Proteus 2500 Command Module adds E-MU’s BEATs Mode to these instruments. It offers users a tool in addition to the sequencer and arpeggiators. E-MU’s E-Loader Version 1.1 enables users to download/upload SMF sequences via USB and MIDI and troubleshoot any component of their MIDI setup.
Version 1.31 Software offers a sequencer engine, full Beats Mode integration, complete with Beats Triggers, Improved MIDI routing for external gear, and improved Song Step Editing Expanded Controller Range for Programmable Knobs.
Version 1.1 E-Loader offers MIDI Utilities which can examine and generate MIDI data in order to troubleshoot any component of your MIDI setup, and a Sequence Bank Browser that lets you view complete banks of patterns and songs from your XL-7, MP-7 or Proteus 2500, then upload them to your computer for backup to use with another sequencer or any Standard MIDI File application

MBT’s Effect Lights

MBT Lighting and Sound
P.O. Box 30819
Charleston, SC 29417
(800) 641-8392
www.mbtinternational.com
MBT Lighting and Sound has released three sound-activated effect lights – the Celebrator, the Star Ray and the Boogie Effect. The Celebrator features eight different gobos showing party themes ranging from Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Birthday and more. A three-way selector switch allows for static or constant rotation in addition to the sound active mode. A push button allows gobo selection and an ELC 24V/250-watt lamp comes included. The Star Ray, ME2252-1, is a round dome with 50 clear lenses across the front face. Two bulbs shine against an internal color wheel to create a constant color changing and sound active light show. Two 120V/300-watt bulbs are included in the package. The Boogie Effect has two moonflower patterns, one white and one multicolored. The circular patterns flash and rotate in multiple combinations for a light show.

Numark’s PDM-01 Mixer
Numark Industries
11 Helmsman Avenue
North Kingstown, RI 02852
(401) 295-9000
www.numark.com
According to the company, Numark Industries PDM-01 digital 10-inch mixer offers less than 100db Signal to Noise Ratio, full path, unweighted, at 0.005-percent Total Harmonic Distortion. The PDM-01 provides eight velocity-sensitive crossfader effects. The product uses replaceable, interchangeable, 100-percent digital line faders and a crossfader, which employs a “fader-saver” software algorithm to extend life and performance. The PDM-01 features SPDIF digital output for PC based recording, as well as optical digital, and analog outputs to insure future compatibility with other digital and non-digital DJ gear.

Pluggo 3.0
Cycling ’74
1186 Folsom St.
San Francisco, USA 94103
(415) 621-5743
www.cycling74.com
Cycling ’74’s Pluggo 3.0 is a new version of its popular Native Audio processing plug-in software for VST, MAS, and RTAS audio applications. Pluggo offers over 100 creative and unusual real-time audio effects and virtual instruments. In addition, users will be able to create their own custom plug-ins using Max/MSP, Cycling ’74’s companion authoring software.
Pluggo 3.0 uses the Max4/MSP2 audio programming environment, and includes the Essential Instruments collection. Pluggo effects include filtering, delay effects, distortion, granular synthesis, audio routing, sampling and synthesis, reverb, and sound localization. Pluggo offers modulation, synchronization, and audio and control routing capabilities between plug-ins. The 19-plus synths and samplers in the Essential Instruments collection range from the characteristically midwestern self-effacement of the Pretty Good Synth, to additive synths, analog-modeling drum and percussion synths, sampling, granular synthesis, FM synthesis, wavetable synthesis, and waveshaping modules. Users can combine these instruments with Pluggo effects and modulators.
Pluggo users who want to build their own plug-ins entirely from scratch can create them using Cycling ‘74’s Max/MSP software. Support for effects automation, parameter management, presets, host synchronization, and undo is provided in the development environment. Pluggo 3 can develop a single plug-in that works in RTAS, VST, and MAS environments. You can distribute plug-ins non-commercially without the need for recipients to purchase the Pluggo package. A free runtime plug-in environment installer can be downloaded from the Cycling ’74 web site.

Gemini Dual CD Player

Gemini Sound Products Corp.
120 Clover Place
Edison, NJ 08837
(732) 738-9003
www.geminidj.com
Gemini Sound Products’ CD-2000X Pro Dual CD Player has Digital Signal Processing effects, including Zoom, Reverse, Filter, Echo and Brake. This dual unit offers real-time interactive scratching, allowing the DJ to incorporate vinyl-like techniques into his program like scratching and backspins. There are six Instant Start cue points that can be used as Hot Keys to jump to any cue position or for creating stutter effects, and two adjustable Seamless Loops. An 8-second sampler allows you to capture any portion of the program and layer it into any other part of the track for on-the-fly remixing. Master Tempo allows for a change in tempo without sacrificing music pitch. This can be vital since the CD-2000X features a Super-Pitch Control with switchable ranges of +/-4-percent, 12-percent, 24-percent and 100-percent.

SKB is Shocking

SKB Corporation
1607 North O’Donnell Way
Orange, CA 92867
(714) 637-1252
www.skbcases.com
SKB Corporation’s Shockmount Rack’s multiple latch closure systems are replaced with a dual-action vapor-lock latch and lock-plate system for security purposes. Double-hinged doors swing open to 270-degrees and attach to case sides or lift off. Energy-absorbing Elastermer shocks are mounted to an inner steel frame. Adjust durometer firmness by changing configurations of shocks – from 1 to 3 per eight corners. This provides load motion control. Futuristic “Endo-skeletal” structure couples lifting rings directly to internal steel frame. Quick-slide casters mount on loadplate for fast installation and removal. These space-age racks stack securely with or without wheels.

A Cakewalk Update
Cakewalk
51 Melcher Street
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 423-9004
www.cakewalk.com
Cakewalk has updated DirectX Plug-In Software Developers Kit (SDK) that delivers DXi software synthesizers, DirectX 8 automatable effects, and real-time MIDI FX plug-ins. The DirectX SDK is available for free from www.thedirectxfiles.com.
The DirectX SDK includes a plug-in development tutorial, sample DX plug-ins, fully editable source code, sample code for DXi host applications, a DirectX host shell application for plug-in testing, and application wizards. The SDK’s DX plug-in reduces production time by automating much of the work associated with creating plug-ins.
Included in the DX SDK are tools and a sample code for creating DXi software synthesizer plug-ins. DXi is a plug-in, supported by third-party soft synth developers, including Alien Connections, Applied Acoustics Systems, Audio Simulation, BitHeads, Cakewalk, Edirol and others.
The DXi 2.0 specification provides capabilities to SONAR 2.0 and other host applications, and to simplify the development of DXi software synthesizers. DXi 2.0 capabilities include: multiple audio output streams from a DXi, MIDI output from an MFX or DXi to the host, raw MIDI event processing, flexible, high-resolution time-conversion, per-channel patch, note, RPN and NRPN names, processing of silent audio buffers, pitch marker access and other features.

Native Instrument’s Absynth

Native Instruments USA
5631 A Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(866) 556-6487
www.nativeinstruments.com
Native Instruments’ Absynth is a software synthesizer that has a semi-modular architecture. You can sculpt everything from organic textures to rhythmic madness to vintage sounds with one synthesizer. With Absynth it is possible to create percussive loops, physical modelling textures and soundscapes.
Absynth offers six oscillators, four filters, three ring modulators, a waveshaper and a delay processor per voice along with graphical modulation capabilities. Its waveform editor allows the modulation of waveforms, which can be used by oscillators, LFO’s and as waveshaping distortion functions. The results can be heard continuously while the editing process is in progress. The waveforms become an expressive parameter and add depth to classic synthesis techniques like FM and ring modulation. The results are a variety of sound textures.
As a source of modulation Absynth offers three versatile LFOs and more than a dozen graphical envelopes with up to 68 breakpoints each. Envelopes can loop or retrigger to create cyclic rhythms and constantly evolving ambient textures. The Editor window displays multiple envelopes simultaneously and the evolution of different layers of sound can be synchronized in time against a tempo grid. Modulated delay effects are an essential part of many Absynth sounds: Up to six parallel delay lines can be modulated by the LFOs or the MIDI controllers. Delay times can be as short as one sample and as long as ten seconds.

Digidesign’s Digital I/O

Digidesign
2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard
Daly City CA, 94014
(650) 731-6300
www.digidesign.com
Digidesign’s 192 Digital I/O is a high-definition, 24-bit/192 kHz, multi-channel audio interface designed to facilitate digital input from a variety of sources into the Pro Tools|HD environment. The digital I/O options accommodate digital gear, from consoles to digital effects gear, to optional converters – ensuring a digital path from input to output. Integration into an existing Pro Tools|HD system is done by plugging the 192 Digital I/O in and launching the Pro Tools application. It functions as the sole HD interface or as a secondary interface to your 192 I/O or 96 I/O.
The 192 Digital I/O features a range of digital I/O options to choose from, including up to 16 channels of single wire AES/EBU at 96 kHz up to or up to 8 channels of AES/EBU at 192 kHz sample rates, 16 channels of TDIF I/O at up to 48 kHz, 16 channels of ADAT I/O at up to 48 kHz, 2 additional channels of AES/EBU or S/PDIF digital, and 8 additional channels of ADAT optical I/O at 48 kHz or 2 channels of optical S/PDIF I/O at up to 96 kHz. The 192 Digital I/O features Word Clock I/O and Loop Sync I/O for clock resolution to other HD peripherals, as well as an Expansion Port to connect additional 192 and 96 I/O interface. A Legacy Peripheral Port is provided to accommodate previous-generation Digidesign interfaces such as the 888|24, 882|20, ADAT Bridge I/O or 1622 I/Os.