After 20+ years in professional audio: live sound engineering, studio technical direction (Deep Forest, Pierre Jacquot), head of digital marketing at Playback.fr. A first-hand witness to the analog-to-digital shift, I track the whole audio landscape and break it down here — no fluff.
Waves has rebuilt its live-sound capture software from the ground up: up to 128 tracks, a smooth virtual soundcheck and one-click sync with eMotion LV1 consoles. It is out now for macOS and Windows at $49.
Unveiled at IBC 2026, the MXneo update reworks the MX limiting algorithm in Orban’s OPTIMOD 5950 and 5950 HD broadcast processors. Same punch, same loudness — but distortion is tamed, and finally adjustable.
The little +48V button is everywhere — on interfaces, consoles and preamps — and it’s still one of the most stubborn sources of confusion in recording. Here’s what phantom power really is, what it powers, and how to use it safely.
dBTechnologies expands its OPERA line with two active speakers pairing dual bass drivers with a coaxial high section. Dual 10-inch for the NONA 210, dual 12-inch for the 212, up to 132.5 dB maximum SPL.
The cult portable tracker is now a native iPhone and iPad app. The complete engine is here — eight tracks, five synthesis engines, a sampler — and version 1.1 has just added AUv3 support, for $29.99.
XILS-lab takes on the Memorymoog myth with a virtual synth running three oscillators per voice. Sixteen-voice polyphony, a self-oscillating 24 dB ladder filter, MPE and six effects, at a $79 intro price.
DHD finally names and specs the third-generation console it kept under wraps: the MX3. Every module becomes a self-contained network device over PoE+ Ethernet, and the whole thing stays compatible with existing cores.
Soundboks squeezes its trademark battery-powered loudness into its most portable box yet. The Rider claims 118 dB, up to 35 hours of playback and an IP66 rating, for $599 (€499).
Starting a webradio is more than plugging in a mic. Between the streaming server, the encoder, the codec choice and loudness control, every link matters for a stable, enjoyable stream. Here’s how to build an online broadcast chain that actually holds up.
A clear tech rider, a readable stage plot and a tidy input list are what separate a calm soundcheck from an afternoon of guesswork. Here’s how to build the documents that save everyone time — from the band to the sound company to the house engineer.