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.
A well-placed pair of mics captures space, depth and movement a single mic never will — if you pick the right technique. Here’s a clear tour of the stereo arrays that matter in the studio and on location, and the rules that keep them from collapsing in mono.
The Usual Suspects has released 88emu, a low-level emulator of Roland’s Sound Canvas modules, from the SC-55 to the SC-8850. It is free, runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, and aims for an accuracy that sample libraries can’t match. One catch: it needs your own ROM files.