JHS RADIO SYSTEMS

JHS have a new range of radio microphone and instrument transceiver systems available, starting at only £119 for the GTR590 wireless guitar system and £129 for the MIC580 mic version. The 580/590 series is a non-diversity system with a maximum operating range of around 150 feet. The MIC580 uses a hand-held unidirectional mic. The 350/360 series offers more rugged hardware, and higher audio quality, at £195 for the MIC350 system and £159 for the GTR360 guitar version.

Increasing in sophistication, the 303 series incorporates audio companding circuitry for extended bandwidth and improved signal-to-noise ratio, and comes in three configurations: high impedance instrument; hand-held mic; lavalier (with an Audio Technica 815 mic element). All configurations use the same R303A receiver.

The top of the range 315 and 323 series both use diversity receivers. The DR315 receiver is available as part of two complete systems, the DR315A mic system (£359) and DR315B instrument system (£299). The DR323 receiver is available separately (£539), and can be used with the G303 guitar transmitter (£59) or Q303 mic transmitter (£125).

John Hornby Skewes & Co Ltd, (Contact Details).

SYNTHWORKS SUPPORT FOR TG77

Steinberg's SY77 Synthworks program now also supports the TG77 rack module. The program offers full voice editing facilities, a DX7 to SY/TG77 voice conversion capability, a database for voice storage and organisation, and sequencing facilities. SY77/TG77 Synthworks is fully MROS compatible, and retails at £165.

Evenlode Soundworks, (Contact Details).

DR T'S OMEGA

New from Dr T's Music Software is KCS Omega, an enhanced version of their Level II sequencer. The graphic editing facilities of Tiger have now been incorporated, and an additional eight programs can be loaded alongside Omega in an improved version of the MPE (Multi Program Environment). Upgrades from both KCS and Level II are available. The program's main features are: 48 tracks; 126 Sequences; 64 MIDI channels (via optional extra hardware); 384 ppqn adjustable timing resolution; PVG and Master Editor composition tools; no copy protection; music transcription and printing; Sys Ex recording, editing and playback; SMPTE support.

MCMXCIX, (Contact Details).

ROLAND INTRODUCE HARD DISK RECORDER

A hard disk recorder and a 'surround sound' type audio processor are amongst a range of exciting new products recently announced by Roland. The DM80 4-track hard disk recorder comes with a 100Mb hard disk built in, optional expansion to 8-track operation, SCSI interfaces for external hard or optical disk connection, and full random access editing. The system consists of a rack unit containing the 100Mb drive and input/output connections, and a large remote. A-to-D conversion is 16-bit, D-to-A conversion is 18-bit, and internal processing is 24-bit. The internal processing facilities include a digital mixer with 2-stage EQ, pan and level control. Mix data can be transmitted and received via MIDI. 32, 44.1 and 48kHz sampling rates are available, and simultaneous recording and playback is possible.

Besides analogue inputs and outputs (channel in and direct out, stereo mix out), there are two stereo digital inputs (optical/coaxial, AES/EBU) and two stereo digital outs. The DM80 will sync to both MTC and SMPTE time code.

The new M480 and M240R line mixers continue the M-range tradition of squeezing more knobs on to compact mixer than you ever thought possible. The 6U rackmount M480 features a staggering 48 channel inputs (is this a record?), on 24 dual input channels that can either be used as 24 stereo inputs or 48 mono. The 4U rackmount M240R has 24 mono input channels. The M480 features six sends (four effect and two aux) and the M240R has four (three effect and one aux). All returns are stereo. In addition to the stereo master outs (on both balanced XLR and jacks), a stereo Sub Out is provided on both mixers — channels can be routed to either or both sets of outputs, so signals to a monitor mixer can be kept separate from a mix to the main console.

A more surprising product is the RSS (Roland Sound Space) Processing System, a digital processing system that uses binaural and transaural techniques to recreate a three-dimensional aural environment via a conventional two-speaker stereo system. The system, which should be available in Spring 1991 at a price of around £50,000, is aimed at mixing and mastering facilities for music, TV, and radio production. Also expected next Spring is the SBX1000 MIDI Cueing Box (around £1900 inc VAT), a SMPTE/MIDI event generator and synchroniser. The unit's cue sheet, based on SMPTE time code, can store MIDI note events, controller data and other realtime MIDI messages, as well as song position of a connected sequencer. The on-board sequencer is equivalent to that on the MV30: 16-track, 20 songs, 100,000 notes, and full data compatibility with the Microcomposer range. The SBX1000's tempo controller can drive both the internal and any external sequencer. Tempo data for up to 32 songs can be stored, and song time can be expanded or compressed simply by changing SMPTE start and end times, with all tempo changes calculated automatically.

Roland UK, (Contact Details).

ART OF NOISE

ART have introduced two new rack effects units, the MDC2001 Stereo Compressor/Limiter/De-Esser/Exciter/Expander/Gate (yowsa!) and the Power Plant guitar preamp. The MDC2001 (£499) offers independent control of all compressor functions, switchable input and output metering, and balanced XLR inputs and outputs. The expander and gate sections can be used independently or in tandem. The expander has threshold and slope/ratio controls, and gate has its own threshold and speed/hold controls. The exciter has controls for both the level and frequency activation point of the circuitry, and the master limiter/clipper sets an absolute gain threshold that cannot be exceeded.

The Power Plant (£289) is intended to recreate the sound of a valve amp, whilst keeping the signal electronically clean to leave individual notes more clearly defined. There are separate clean and overdrive channels, and a switchable effects loop is included.

Harman Audio Ltd, (Contact Details).

A LITTLE COLOUR FOR CHRISTMAS

What does Christmas mean to you? Go on, be honest. Fairy lights, presents, excessive drinking and eating, seeing relatives you hate, off-key carol singers, and maybe even snow all come into it somewhere, but most of all, Christmas is about television — lots of it. That's right: Bond films, The Sound Of Music for the 113th time, anything with Bing Crosby, and mind-numbingly dismal 'Christmas specials' of all your favourite shows. So, what better Christmas present could you give yourself than a pocket colour TV, just to make sure you don't miss anything when you're visiting relatives or devouring friends' mince pies (remember — you won't be able to use the video because someone else will already have programmed it to record Bedknobs And Broomsticks just when you want to catch Raiders Of The Lost Ark).

Anyway, Casio's small but prefectly formed TV430 should keep the serious telly addict happy. A snip at only £99, the TV430 features a 2" colour LCD screen, touch-button tuning, and battery or mains operation.

Casio Electronics Ltd, (Contact Details).

DIGIDESIGN ANNOUNCES SAMPLECELL

Digidesign's latest offering is SampleCell, a stereo 16-bit, 16-voice, 8-output sample playback card for the Mac II series of computers. "SampleCell will offer a much greater degree of flexibility for users in recording and post production", said Tom Sherman, Product Manager for Digidesign. "Until now, digital samplers for the pro market have been costly and difficult to master. SampleCell solves these problems by providing an intuitive, affordable sample playback system that users can easily expand to create a true digital audio workstation."

Each SampleCell card supports up to 8Mb of standard Mac II RAM, and users can augment their system by simply installing more cards for up to 80 voices, 40 outputs and 40Mb of RAM. SampleCell will work in conjunction with Digidesign's Sound Tools and Audiomedia digital audio recording and editing systems. MIDI communication is carried out via Apple Computer's MIDI Manager, and SampleCell works with any MIDI Manager compatible program (eg. Deck, Vision, Performer, Master Tracks, Q-Sheet A/V). In addition to the SampleCell card, the package includes interface software, a 600Mb CD-ROM sound library of ready-to-load musical instruments, and a special version of Digidesign's Sound Designer II software for sample editing, and transferring sounds to and from other samplers.

Sound Technology plc, (Contact Details).

PLUS FOURS

Voyetra Technologies have announced version 4 of their Sequencer Plus series of sequencer programs for PC-compatibles. They are also launching a new range of MIDI interfaces which offer multiple MIDI ports and time code.

The new version of Sequencer Plus is available at three levels: Sequencer Plus Junior (£55); Sequencer Plus (£165); Sequencer Plus Gold (£395). New features at all levels include support for all currently available MIDI interfaces and sound cards (including the Roland LA-PCI, SoundBlaster, Ad Lib and IBM Music Feature sound cards, and MQX16/32, V4000, MPU and V22/4 MIDI interfaces). Sequencer Plus Gold's additional features include a MIDI analyser, Universal Instrument Librarian/MIDI Manager, time compression/expansion transforms, and sync to time code and MTC.

Computer Music Systems, (Contact Details).

ONE FOR THE AMIGA

This month brings good news for Amiga users, with the announcement by Gajits Music Software of a new sequencer program for the computer, Sequencer One. The program is an Amiga version of the existing ST Sequencer One, but Gajits say that the ported version has been fine tuned especially for the Amiga, "with new features to take advantage of the superior hardware". Sequencer One features 32 tracks, real and step-time music entry, high resolution recording, helpline support, and a wealth of graphic displays and editing facilities.

Gajits Music Software, (Contact Details).

PLASMEC HARD DISK RECORDER

Hard disk recording is continuing its trend towards lower prices and wider availability. The latest offering in the field is Plasmec's Stereo Hard Disk Recorder, a system for the Atari ST or Mac SE which offers stereo hard disk recording for under £1000, provided you already own a suitable computer and hard disk.

The system for the ST (£749) comprises a stand-alone box with its own power supply, which connects between the computer and hard disk, containing a stereo 16-bit D-to A convertor and two 16-bit A-to-D convertors. The unit allows recording and playback at 32, 44.1 and 48kHz, with 16-bit linear quantisation. A DAT interface is incorporated, so that DAT editing applications are possible, besides the obvious audio editing, post-production, spinning in etc. Audio files can also be replayed from a cue sheet, which can be synchronised to MTC or an internal clock.

Non-destructive cut, paste and insert editing is possible via a graphic display, and several files can be worked on simultaneously. The transport window allows recording synchronised to MTC, as well as the usual play, stop, rewind etc. A desk accessory permits the recording and replay of files from within sequencer programs.

The version for the Mac SE (£669) comes in the form of a card which fits the computer's internal expansion slot. The Mac version can operate as a 4-voice sampler, with looping and aftertouch, and has eight audio outs.

Syco, (Contact Details).

EMU EVOLUTION

Emu have announced upgrades and price cuts for their Emax II series of instruments. All Emax IIs, including rack and 2Meg keyboard versions, will now come as standard with stereo sampling. The feature provides true phase-coherent sampling, with 64-times oversampling and digital phase-linear anti-aliasing filters. The internal RAM capacity of the Turbo Emax II has been doubled to 8Meg, and the prices of both rack and keyboard versions of the Emax II 4Mb have been cut.

Also now available is the 4Mb Orchestral Expansion Kit (£349) for the Proteus 1. The upgrade doubles the sound memory in the Proteus to 8Meg, and 30 of the new Proteus 2's sampled instruments have been selected to fill the extra ROM. 128 New ROM Presets are included.

Emu Systems UK Ltd, (Contact Details).

OPCODE RELEASE KURZWEIL K1000 EDITOR

Opcode have released a new Mac editor/librarian for the Kurzweil K1000. The program features full graphic editing of all envelopes, a built-in sequencer, export of patch names to Opcode's Vision, instant comparison of edited sounds with originals, and bundling of multiple patch types together in one document. The minimum hardware requirement is a Mac Plus with 1 Mb or more of memory.

MCMXCIX, (Contact Details).

SY77 GOLD DISKS

The Advanced Media Group have introduced the first of Valhala's International Gold Series sounds for the Yamaha SY77. The first bank of sounds is now available on SY77 disk at £45. A second bank is expected before Christmas, and both will shortly be available on ROM card as well as disk.

The Advanced Media Group, (Contact Details).

KLOTZ GET TOUGH WITH MIC LEADS

Cable specialists Klotz have developed a new toughened sleeve for their pre-made XLR connectors to help them withstand punishing stage use. The refinement is a standard feature of all their professional microphone leads currently being produced, which should reach the UK this month. The new sleeve screws on to the Neutrik XLRs in the usual way. The secret of its strength is a spun brass thread, to make the lead's most vulnerable part as robust as the connector itself. The usual Neutrik strain relief is retained. The new sleeve — which should make the cables truly roadie and performer-proof — is designed to increase the cable's appeal to touring bands and PA hire companies. The price of the leads is unchanged at £11.50 for a five metre lead or £14.50 for a 10 metre lead.

Klotz (UK), (Contact Details).

MIDI MADNESS!

BJ Cole, pedal steel guitar player extraordinaire, has succeeded in fitting a MIDI interface to his instrument, and the IVL Steelrider Steel Guitar MIDI Interface now joins the ranks of the more unlikely MIDI controllers.

As BJ explains, the pedal steel guitar offers some unique control possibilities: "The pitch wheel control on most modern synthesizer keyboards is dynamically very limited, and in many ways defines the relatively undynamic character of keyboard synthesis. On the other hand, one of the central features of the pedal steel guitar is its ability to modify internal chord voicings while sliding such an evolving chord up and down.

"The interface is musician friendly, tracks well enough to pick up the subtlest vibrato and has a huge memory to store a vast number of string/sound combinations for specific applications."

ON-SCREEN PPM METERING

New from Surrey Electronics is the PPM 10, a hardware unit that will generate a high-definition colour video display emulation of coaxial twin PPM metering, long regarded as ideal for monitoring stereo audio levels and mono compatibility. The PPM10 accepts stereo audio inputs, and generates a 625 line RGB output or, with the addition of a coder board, a standard composite PAL output. This may be free-running, or it can be genlocked to an incoming video or sync source, and the PPM picture partially or fully superimposed on the programme video.

Two sets of coaxial pointers are displayed, indicating left, right, sum and difference level. Four charts can be introduced, to give continuous recordings of programme levels, with time spans across the screen from five minutes to 24 hours.

Surrey Electronics, (Contact Details).