Bi-lingual Computer Music

Buchla and Associates have announced the addition of the model 404A to the 400 family of electronic musical instruments. With an expanded memory of 126 Kbytes, the 404A can run sophisticated music languages that can interact with moderately extensive data bases in real-time environments.

Two such languages are now available: Midas integrates a comprehensive score editor with multiple instrument definitions, tunings, and waveshapes; Patch V offers a generalised facility for establishing arbitrarily complex relationships between input gesture and instrumental response. Both languages are appropriate to composition as well as performance — Midas assumes a somewhat traditional approach to musical structure, while Patch V imposes no such bias. The model 404A can be supplied with either or both languages implemented and fully supported.

Introduced in the spring of this year, the Buchla 400 combines architecturally advanced hardware with specialised high-level software to achieve performance characteristics unprecedented in the world of musical instrumentation. Three computers are employed, each optimised to its task. A host computer, which may reside in or out of the instrument, takes charge of user communication, data handling, and executive control. A second processor is responsible for processing temporal parametric data, and a third processor applies digital pipelined techniques to the generation of sound.

Dynamic waveshaping techniques, multiple complex envelope generation, and advanced concepts of instrument definition provide an extensive electronic vocabulary. A specialised touch sensitive keyboard can be organised in traditional or non-traditional fashions, can be tuned to any imaginable scale, and responds to the most subtle of musical gestures. Pressure-sensitive joysticks, control voltage interconnections, and analog modifiers further extend the performance possibilities.

The instrument's circuitry is contained on plug-in cards, facilitating system expansion and servicing. Power consumption is a modest 30 watts, which along with conservative engineering and sound construction, assures reliability and longevity. A hand-finished oakwood case houses the 35-pound instrument. The model 404A's price is $9500. Further information can be obtained from Buchla and Associates, (Contact Details).

Hi-Fi Speaker Stands

Riverside Wood Products have just announced a new range of up-market hi-fi speaker stands. Known as dB Speaker Supports, three sizes are available to suit most popular types of loudspeakers. Alternative finishes are African Walnut (solid wood, not veneer) black or plain (for home staining/varnishing). Suggested retail prices for models S, M and L are £33, £34 and £36.80 per pair respectively, including VAT, with lower prices for the plain types yet to be announced.

Manufactured by Riverside Wood Products Ltd, of (Contact Details), dB Speaker Supports are available from usual Hi-Fi outlets and by mdil order from Wilmslow Audio, (Contact Details).

Time Effects

American company ADA have introduced the TFX4 Time Effects, a new concept in signal processing for live performance applications that provides the on-stage versatility of floorbox effects and the reliability and low-noise of professional rack-mount equipment. The TFX4 has a separate group of controls for each effect: Flanger, Chorus, Doubler, and Echo. Each effect group can be individually preset and switched in with the front panel select pushbuttons or remotely with the footswitch TFX4 Controller.

Logic controlled FET switching silently allows selection of any one effect in any sequence. Other features include a Clip LED indicator, Input/Output Level controls, and multi-coloured LED's which indicate the effect mode and phase inversion. The system comes complete with a 20-foot cable and has a suggested list price of $499.95. Though not yet available in this country (as far as we know) details can be obtained from ADA Signal Processors, (Contact Details).

Milab MP-30 Microphone

Much has been made recently of the application of the uniform diaphragm pressure technique to omni directional microphones. Some of the claims are valid, some dubious, but there is no doubt that this type of microphone does have many applications.

The Milab MP30 Pressure Zone Hemispherical Microphone is designed around a high quality electret capsule. The microphone housing is machined from a solid aluminium block resulting in a very rigid construction, and is finished in satin black.

For further details contact: Audio Video Marketing, (Contact Details).

JVC Personal Stereo

JVC have introduced a new personal stereo cassette player, the CQ1, which is equipped with Dolby B-ANRS noise reduction. The CQ1 also features a metaperm tape head, a tone control switch which boosts high or low frequencies, metal/normal tape switching, full auto-stop soft touch tape controls and an antirolling device for stable sound reproduction while on the move.

The unit comes complete with a pair of lightweight headphones, wrist strap and carrying case with belt. Power output is 30mW per channel minimum RMS through headphones and retail price is around £70 including VAT.