Antares ATG-6™ Auto-Tune® Technology for Guitar

Antares sent me this email about their new ATG-6™ Auto-Tune® Technology for Guitar:

Watch Video Highlights of Our Press Preview from Craig Anderton at Harmony Central


Last week we invited some folks from the guitar and electronic music press to Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco for a preview of our ATG-6™ Intonation and Performance Technology for electric guitar. High-tech guitar guru Craig Anderton was there representing Harmony Central and video taped the demo. An edited version has now been posted over at Harmony Central.Check it out.

Thanks,

- The Whole Antares Crew


© 2011 Antares Audio Technologies. All rights reserved.
ATG-6™ is a trademark and Auto-Tune®, Antares®, AVOX®, and Harmony Engine® are registered trademarks of Antares Audio Technologies.

Industry Rule #1080

CBS Atlanta Investigation Finds Producers Fail To Pay Atlanta Recording Studios:

"Recording engineers in Atlanta have provided CBS Atlanta with unpaid invoices and court judgments going back years. They said lack of payment by producers and record labels has become a huge problem, devastating their businesses in some case."

Sadly this has become an industry-wide problem.

Read the article here.

Pensado's Place: #18 - Michael Brauer (Coldplay, John Mayer, Bob Dylan)

McDSP - 6030 Ultimate Compressor

The 6030 Ultimate Compressor is one of the latest creations from McDSP (makers of the plugin classics: Analog Channel, CompressorBank, FilterBank). 

The website states:

"The 6030 Ultimate Compressor offers no less than 10 unique compressors from the company that has been doing analog modeling longer than anyone. Built from the ground up, the 6030 adds new sonic capabilities, stunning new interfaces, and quality only McDSP can deliver."

"Whatever your style, from smooth tube emulations to aggressive solid-state designs, the 6030 Ultimate Compressor has a custom-made dynamic range control module that is just right for you."

Features:

• Unique twists to classic designs in addition to several completely new designs
• Multiple compression algorithms in a single compressor
• Side chain support
• Analog Saturation modeling
• Double precision processing
• Ultra low latency
• Mono and stereo versions

Check out Colin's Corner article for in-depth info on the McDSP 6030 and request a 14 day demo. I can almost guarantee that once you use it you will purchase it.


Cost $429 HD/ $229 Native

ICON Digital's QCon - USB/MIDI DAW Controller

The QCon is a DAW controller with support for Cubase/Nuendo, Logic Pro, Ableton Live and Samplitude. ProTools support will be implemented via a firmware update. It uses the Mackie Control protocol.


FEATURES:
- Large backlit LCD to display channel name, control values etc. for each channel
- Illuminated buttons for each channel including Rec-enable, Solo, Mute, Select and Monitor
- 6 illuminated transport buttons including Play, Stop, Rec, Rewind,  Fast forward and Loop
- Expansion slot for ICON's “Umix” series USB audio interface card
- User A & User B RCA connectors for connecting with pedals
- Class-compliant with Windows XP, Vista (32-bit), Windows 7 (32-bit & 64-bit), and Mac OS X (IntelMac)
- USB 2.0 high speed connectivity
- Mackie control build-in for Cubase, Nuendo, Samplitude, Logic Pro and Abelton Live.
- Robust aluminum and metal casing with Kensington lock port


Cost:  $799
iCon Digital website
Here's an extensive review of the QCon on eSpace-Cubase:
iCon QCon review

Pensado's Place: #17 - Joe Barresi (Tool, Bad Religion, QOTSA, Wolfmother)

GOOD MORNING!

Words of Wisdom

http://carlisleyoung.tumblr.com/post/5530982993

Cloud Microphones JRS-34 Active Ribbon Mic

The JRS-34 is not your typical ribbon mic. The words big, smooth and fat are often used to describe this chrome beauty. it sounds as good as it looks. 

From the website:

"The Cloud Microphones JRS-34, nominated for the 2011 Musikmesse International Press Award in the category of studio microphones, was designed in collaboration with Stephen Sank and named in memory of  Jon R. Sank (1934-1998). Mr. Sank was instrumental in designing many of RCA’s legendary ribbon mics, including the BK-11 and BK-10A. When RCA abandoned its microphone division, Mr. Sank left with a lifetime of tools and knowledge and began teaching his son Stephen, the art of ribbon microphones.

Built upon the shoulders of giant RCA mics. The ribbon itself is the same as the original 44 series, everything else has been redesigned, drawing upon valuable lessons from the the BK-11 and other microphones. The Cloud JRS-34, with modern appointments such as neodymium magnets, Cinemag transformers, and active D/C JFET Circuitry, takes the next evolutionary step in the immortal 44/BK-11 design line"

$1699 at Full Compass

Here's a link to some videos on the website showcasing the JRS-34 on vocals and guitar: JRS-34 videos . It also sounds great on brass.

BLACK LION AUDIO SPARROW MK2 ADC

Black Lion Audio proudly introduces their brand new, completely redesigned 2-channel analog-to-digital converter, the Sparrow mk2 ADC!
"The Sparrow mk2 is housed in a 1U 1/2 rack chassis, featuring XLR and ¼" balanced inputs, LED metering, BNC word clock I/O, AES output, coax & optical S/PDIF output, and user selectable signal calibration accommodating nominal input signal levels from +11dBu down to -10dBV. It features sampling rates from 44.1kHz -192kHz, with a clocking architecture that features low jitter and wide Q third harmonic crystal oscillators, and because of the quality of the clock multiplier and PLL recovery stages, performance will not degrade should the converter be synched to a lower quality word clock reference."
The Sparrow mk2 ADC comes in three different colors. but the differences go much deeper than the colors. Get the full story here.

Need to upgrade your desktop or laptop computer? Go here

Other World Computing is well known in the tech world as the premier site for anything computer related.
Install videos are provided for those who need assistance with self installs. They also cater to iPhone and iPad users. OWC has reasonable prices, great tech support and first rate customer service. Their firewire drives are some of the best I've ever used.
Visit the website for all your computer needs.

LimeWire, Labels Settle Lawsuit for $105 Million

"As had been rumored, multiple record labels on Thursday settled their copyright lawsuit against Lime Wire LLC and its founder, Mark Gorton out of court for $105 million, according to a statement from the RIAA."
"The record labels involved in the suit include Arista, Atlantic, BMG Music, Capital, Elektra, Interscope, Laface, Motown, Priority, Sony, Universal, Virgin and Warner Brothers; in March, LimeWire settled with music publishers that had sued it."
Read the full article here

Buzz Audio QSP-20 Quad Studio Preamplifier

"The challenge for the modern studio (large or small) is a big sound on a tight budget, so Buzz Audio has done their best to bring you a very high level of audio performance at reasonable price. The QSP 4 channel mic preamp is made with real Class A discrete amplification and high end audio transformers just like the vintage classics of the past. But without the vintage price tag. The QSP has a stunning sound which you will immediately notice and owning a unit means never having to doubt your preamplifier again."

     Discrete Class A amplifiers
     Lundahl* audio output transformers
     Up to 70dB of gain
     +28dBu output headroom
     Culmination of 20 years design experience
     Robust chassis construction
     On board linear power supplies - no wall warts!
     Easy to use control layouts
     Competitive pricing

Min Gain Mic = +22dB (-2dB with pad in)
Max Gain Mic = +70dB
Min Gain Instrument = +12dB (-3dB with pad in)
Max Gain Instrument = +60dB
Maximum Output Level = +29dBu into 3k ohm load.

Frequency Response
Mic = 10Hz to 200kHz @ 20dB gain (-3dB).
Instrument = 10Hz to 120kHz @ 20dB gain (-3dB).
Total Harmonic Distortion
(measured at -20dBu input, gain adjusted for +10dBu output level)
Mic = 0.15% @ 100Hz, 0.01% @ 1kHz, 0.005% @ 10kHz
Instrument = 0.15% @ 100Hz, 0.015% @ 1kHz, 0.015% @10kHz
Noise
EIN Mic = -131dB A wtg, 150ohm source Z.
Signal to Noise Ratio Instrument = -76dB A wtg, input shorted.
CMNR Mic = -78dB @ 100Hz, -100dB @ 1kHz, -100dB @ 10kHz.
Input Impedance Mic = 4k ohms/1k2 ohms switchable.
Input Impedance Instrument = 1MEG ohms.

Power
115V or 230V ac mains, switchable on rear panel.

$2380 at Vintage King Audio

Celemony introduces Capstan (Wow and Flutter removal)

This will be great for Mastering and Restoration work.

"For with Capstan there is now for the first time a program capable of removing wow and flutter from musical recordings – whether on tape, compact cassette, wax, shellac or vinyl. Capstan detects wow and flutter by analyzing the musical material itself, so the medium is of no relevance. In this, Capstan is clearly superior to solutions such as bias tracking, because Capstan still works even if the tape has already been copied several times or digitized only in low resolution."

"Capstan is hardware-independent, runs as a stand-alone application under standard 64-bit operating systems (Windows or Mac OS) and handles all commonly encountered two-track formats. Capstan will be released in mid June 2011 and is likely to cost €3,790. At the same time, a demo version will be made available on the Celemony website."

Pensado's Place: #16 - Rihanna, Wiz Khalifa, Usher & Mix Engineers Phil Tan & Charles Dye

Official Boi-1da Soundkit

Multi-Platinum Producer Boi-1da is giving away a free soundkit.

Check out his blog and download  here

Maag Audio EQ4™ 6 Band Equalizer w/AIR BAND (500 Series)

The new EQ4™ (500 Series) is a one channel 6 band equalizer with AIR BAND™ (shelf boost from 2.5 to 40kHz), compatible with the API 500-6B lunchbox® and 500VPR rack systems.
Following its EQ3 and EQ3-D predecessors, the EQ4 provides unparalleled transparency and top end presence while maintaining the true natural sound behind the mix. EQ adjustments are obtained with minimal phase shift and detent controls allow for easy recallable settings.
Presented in the flagship lunchbox® portable format, the EQ4 offers the legendary AIR BAND™ and five other sonically superior band passes.

Specifications
Frequency Response	-3 dB points, 10Hz & 75kHz
Nominal Input Impedance XLR)	48 K Ohms, balanced
Nominal Output Impedance (XLR)	50 Ohms, balanced
Headroom	+27 dBu
Maximum Phase Shift	30°
THD + Noise	< 0.005% http://www.maagaudio.com/ $849 at SweetWater Sound

Going Through It

This is an excerpt from Carlisle's post on Tumblr . It resonated with me so i posted it here:
"Between the ages of 18 through 24 were the hardest years of my life. I had no support from family nor friends about my career decision. In fact, everyone was telling me I was dumb and stupid for trying to do music and how music has no future but I thought all of them were hypocrites because they’re the same ones that were buying equipment to build studios and sound systems. I remember clearly one of my brothers’ friends giving me a lecture on how I should follow in their paths because computers are the way of the future. He was right but what all of these people did not understand because they’re from a society of sound systems and where everyone is a superstar with one song out is that music business outside of reggae doesn’t sell music. It sells culture that’s why they make money....."
Read the rest of the post here:
http://carlisleyoung.tumblr.com/post/5386418904/going-through-it

A closer look at Google Music

"Music Beta, Google's new cloud music service, appeared in public for the first time Tuesday, after being introduced at the company's I/O Conference for developers. The site at music.google.com, includes an introductory video about the service.

The service arrives just six weeks after Amazon's Cloud Drive and Cloud Player but appears to be a more functional, slicker tool for storing and playing music. Drag-and-drop functions appear to be fast and seamless. Creating playlists manually or through Instant Mix, a playlist creator tool, appear to be equally fast and easy."
Read more: Google Music Beta

6 Best Music Apps

Here's a link to an article by Tara Swords about the 6 best music apps. I actually use one of them quite often (Shazam).

http://www.everydayconnected.com/papajan/play/best_music_apps/index.html?source=Outbrain