LOWER PRICES FOR NEW MACS

Apple have announced three new Macintosh computers, all priced at levels significantly lower than their previous equivalents in the Mac range. The price of entry-level Mac computing is now £575 + VAT, which buys you the new Mac Classic, a replacement for the Plus and SE models. The other new machines are the LC (Low Cost) and the IIsi, an entry-level member of the Mac II family.

The Mac LC is a new modular design which is now the cheapest colour Mac, at £1235 + VAT for a 2Meg 40Mb hard disk configuration. The LC is based around a Motorola 68020 processor, clocked at 16MHz, and supports up to three monitors. The IIsi (£2295 + VAT for a 2/40 configuration) uses a 20MHz 68030 processor, and includes a 68882 FPU and the Memory Management Unit (MMU) that is necessary to run Apple's version of Unix. Two new monitors have been announced along with the computers, a 12" monochrome monitor with 640x480 pixel resolution (£140 + VAT) and a 12" 512x384 RGB colour display (£240 + VAT). The Mac Classic, IIsi and the monitors will be available immediately, and the LC will ship at the start of next year.

The Classic uses the same 68000 processor that is found in the Mac Plus and SE (and Atari ST), and comes in the same 'luggable' case with a 9" mono monitor. The basic configuration has 1Mb of RAM and a 1 4meg SuperDrive floppy disk drive, and a 2/40 model is also available (£895 + VAT). Whilst these prices are still higher than equivalent configurations of the Atari STE, they are at least comparable. The IIsi will be good news for those interested in digital audio applications, as it lowers the cost of the Apple hardware that is required to run, for example, Digidesign's Sound Tools.

Both the LC and the IIsi feature live sound input, a facility to digitally record sound via a microphone, and play back stored voice messages from within word processing documents, spreadsheets and other applications.

Apple Computer UK Ltd, (Contact Details).

ALESIS POWER GOODIES

Just as the new SR16 drum machine and MEQ230 graphic equalisers we reported on several issues ago hit the streets, Alesis have released news of their first power amp and a new compressor/limiter.

The RA100 is a 100 watt per channel power amplifier engineered to provide clean amplification with low noise and distortion. Each channel sports volume controls and clip LEDs, and an electronically delayed switch-on/off circuit prevents potentially harmful transients from damaging monitor speakers (and ears!). Price £299 Inc VAT.

The 3630 Compressor is a dual channel comp-limiter based upon the low noise dbx VCA chip, offering switchable RMS/Peak compression modes. Independent noise gates are built into each channel with threshold and delay controls, plus 12-segment LED meters for gain reduction and input/output monitoring. Price £249 inc VAT.

Sound Technology plc, (Contact Details).

DACTARI DESKTOP HARD DRIVES

Digital Audio Concepts (DAC) have launched a new range of desktop drives for use with Atari direct to disk recording systems, such as Digidesign's Sound Tools.

DACTARI drives have a built-in DMA/SCSI convertor and come supplied with DAC's own partitioning software, which allows one partition to be set up using the entire hard disk space. The software will actually allow a partition size of 4 Gigabytes(!) in total, and includes autobooting. For greater capacity requirements, the DACTARI enables the user to simultaneously connect additional DMA and SCSI drives to it.

The DACTARI range includes 40Mb, 105Mb, 200Mb, 300Mb, and 500Mb systems with prices starting at £599 (inc VAT) for the 40Mb version.

Digital Audio Concepts, (Contact Details).

MS STEREO MIC FROM SHURE

The VP88 is a single point 'MS' stereo condenser microphone from Shure (£995 ex-VAT), which should find many a good home in broadcast and television studios. Optimum stereo imaging is assured with the forward-facing (Mid) capsule and the perpendicular (Side) capsule, plus the built-in stereo matrix. The VP88's three switch-selectable levels of stereo effects allow control of the degree of stereo 'spread' and ambience pickup to achieve the precise image the user requires.

The VP88 can be powered either by its own battery (with LED indicator) or phantom power. It also permits a wide variety of mountings — on a camera, fishpole, boom, or even hand-held. A switchable low frequency roll-off (12dB/octave below 80Hz) is included to reduce ambient noise and vibration pickup, and the advanced shock-mounted cartridge and built-in 'pop' shield further reduce wind and extraneous noise. It goes without saying that the VP88 provides the low noise, low distortion, and wide dynamic range that are characteristics of Shure professional microphones.

HW International Ltd, (Contact Details).

FLEXIBLE JACKFIELDS

Plasmec Systems launched their new Flexi-Patch range of jackfields at the recent IBC show in Brighton. Flexi-Patch jackfields can be 'rewired' in all the standard configurations — normalled, half-normalled etc — in under 15 minutes, thanks to special pop-on pods which can be changed as required. Plasmec say that the Flexi-Patch range will meet most custom applications at prices significantly lower than that of any standard connectorised field. The first jackfield to be offered on an ex-stock basis has 96 miniature jacks wired to 56-way EDAC connectors in a fully shielded case.

Plasmec Systems Ltd, (Contact Details).

NEW CD-ROMS FOR SAMPLERS

TSC have announced the availability of a number of new CD-ROMs for both the Akai S1100/1000 and the Emu Systems Emulator III and Emax II. These include the Phase 2 Northstar Library from InVision for the EIII (a collection of 2,700 presets in 72 banks) and InVision Volume 4, a collection of orchestral samples. Also new are two Sonic Images CD-ROMs for the Akai samplers.

TSC, (Contact Details).

MIDI PROBLEMS? TRY THE ANALYST

The MIDI Analyst (£295 ex-VAT) is a new hardware product from Computer Music Systems, which is intended to both analyse and solve many of the classic studio problems caused by the interconnection of sophisticated MIDI-equipped devices. It comes in 1U rackmount form, with MIDI sockets front and back.

The unit features an analyser section which displays all incoming MIDI data, including System Exclusive messages. A separate System Real-Time analyser shows the tempo of any MIDI Clock present, as well as System Real-Time commands (Start, Stop, Continue etc). In addition the unit will display any MIDI Time Code data received.

Data is displayed either in its basic form (in either hex or decimal base) or in an interpreted form (Note On, Note Number, Velocity etc). Data can be stored in an internal memory, for subsequent examination by the user, and the contents of the memory can be routed to the MIDI Out port to give a step-by-step 'action replay'.

In addition, the MIDI Analyst contains an extensive MIDI data filter section. You can choose to analyse only the controller information on one particular channel, or the filters can be used to remove unwanted and possibly troublesome data from the MIDI stream (such as Active Sensing bytes, System Exclusive messages etc).

The unit also features a System Test option which sends out note information on specified channels, a bad MIDI data indicator that warns of missing bytes or corrupted data, and a MIDI lead test option. The first models off the production line have already been sold to the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in Maida Vale.

Computer Music Systems, (Contact Details).

DOMESTIC DAT FROM SONY

Sony have launched their first domestic DAT player, the DTC55ES (RRP £549.99 inc VAT). The machine supports the new Serial Copy Management System (SCMS) for DAT machines. During digital or analogue input recording, a digital fader permits fades to be set anywhere between 0.2 and 15 seconds. All of the standard sub-code functions are supported: Start IDs; Renumbering; Skip ID; End ID, Rehearsal Function, Erase Function, Shift Renumber and Absolute Time Codes. The infra-red remote controls the majority of DTC55ES functions and it also allows synchronised CD recording with Sony CD players.

The DTC55ES will record at 48kHz, 44.1kHz, and 32kHz (in long play mode, offering double standard recording time with reduced audio quality) — 44.1kHz is only available when recording via the digital inputs.

Both phono and optical digital connections are provided. A-to-D conversion is via a High Density Linear 1-bit 64-times oversampling convertor. D-to-A conversion is handled by a pulse system that Sony claim is free from glitches, zero crossing distortion, and differential non-linear distortion.

Other user features on the DTC55ES include a four-mode selectable linear counter, which can display accumulated playing time, time of current selection, remaining playing time, and absolute time. Cue and review for playback at 2.5 times normal speed can be increased to eight times if required.

Sony UK Ltd, (Contact Details).

KAWAI KC10 SPECTRA SYNTHESIZER

Kawai's latest synthesizer incorporates the 16-bit PCM tone generation system found on the K4 along with a 61-note velocity sensitive keyboard, 14-note polyphony, an internal drum section, and arpeggiator. No price is available yet, but in keeping with Kawai's pricing policy the Spectra will no doubt be 'affordable'.

The KC10 offers 128 waveforms (80 PCM samples, 48 Digital Cyclic waves), 96 Single patches, 32 internal User patch memories, 16 Multi patches, plus keyboard splits and layering. In addition, 36 preset rhythm patterns are provided with pattern intro/ending and fill-in variations. These make use of the internal drum sounds, which can also be triggered externally by a MIDI sequencer or another keyboard. Also included is an arpeggiator, with up, down, and random variations, which can be synchronised to the rhythm patterns if required. Connections include Left and Right audio outputs; MIDI In, Out, Thru sockets; stereo headphones; Hold pedal.

Kawai UK, (Contact Details).

MICRO POWER FROM JBL

The latest and smallest member of the JBL Control Series of compact loudspeaker units is now available. Even smaller than the Control 1 and Control 1+, the Control Micro is ideal for audiovisual and sound reinforcement applications where space is very often at a premium. Designed around a 4.5" full frequency cone, the Control Micro offers a power output of up to 60 watts and a frequency response from 100Hz to 18kHz. It is built from acoustically dampened and magnetically shielded polymer, making it suitable for use alongside a TV or computer monitor.

Harman UK Ltd, (Contact Details).

GENESIS 64-TRACK SEQUENCER FOR WINDOWS

Devotees of Microsoft Windows will be glad to learn of the appearance of Genesis, a low-cost (£175 inc VAT) British-designed 64-track PC MIDI sequencer that makes full use of the Windows environment.

The graphical user interface supports colour displays and full mouse control, as expected from a Windows program. Almost all the sequencer's controls may be used in real time whilst playing back the music, providing fully interactive editing and composition. Editing can be performed at track, section, note or MIDI event levels, and the event list editing displays MIDI messages in English wherever possible — no more confusing hex codes! Step editing features the familiar piano-roll display with full mouse control of note positioning, duration etc.

Genesis is packed with features including: soloing and muting of tracks during playback; independent non-destructive quantisation during playback; graphical marking of loop and drop-in points; loop playback with record; track-based mixing control of velocity and scaling during playback; transposition; independent track delay, and much more.

The UK distributors of Genesis, Digital Music, have also announced details of a new integrated music notation and sequencer program for IBM PCs and compatibles. Musicator permits step recording from a MIDI keyboard and auto-transcribes the music into on-screen notation. Full support for PostScript laser printers is included, as well as Standard MIDI Files, and a host of editing parameters.

Digital Music, (Contact Details).

MARK OF THE UNICORN MIDI MIXER

In an unusual but nonetheless welcome move, Mark Of The Unicorn are soon to release a hardware MIDI mixer! Hot on the heels of their Video Time Piece, this 19" rackmount mixer boasts seven stereo inputs with auxiliary send and return, EQ, and noise gate on the outputs. Units can be cascaded to provide extra inputs which all route to the same main stereo output.

The really good news is that all manipulation of the mixer controls takes place through software, via System Exclusive continuous controller messages sent by any sequencer to the mixer — it is not restricted purely to MOTU's own Performer sequencer. This makes it possible to record all of the mixer's panning, equalisation, muting, and volume changes as part of the music sequence, along with the note data, making 'total recall' of the mix a genuine reality. The mixer will retail for £529 inc VAT.

MCMXCIX Distribution, (Contact Details).

ENSONIQ LAUNCH EPS16 PLUS SAMPLERS

Ensoniq have announced their new sampling keyboard, the EPS16 Plus, which offers true 16-bit sampling, 24-bit built-in effects processing (as on the VFX range), and an upgraded sequencer. An optional user programmable memory expansion, called Flashbank, allows sounds to be accessed, ready to play, without loading them from disk each time.

The upgraded internal sequencer offers complete editing and MIDI automated mixdown facilities, whilst the on-board effects include reverb, chorus, flange, phase, delay, and distortion, with the possibility of dynamic control of effects from the keyboard.

The keyboard version, the EPS16 Plus, retails for £1795 inc VAT. A 19" rackmount sampling module, the EPS16R Plus, offering additional memory and multiple outputs, is expected to arrive in the shops shortly at £1825 inc VAT. Stay tuned for the full reviews!

Sound Technology plc, (Contact Details).