Studio Equipment Recommendations September 2015

Review: Sound:
- 4-operator FM Sound Engine offers dynamic and expressive additive synthesis

- A new feature of this engine is continuously variable feedback on every operator allowing for a wide-range of sound creation

- Two programmable effects blocks with seven effect types per block:
(The effect types are: VCM Touch Wah, VCM Flanger, VCM Phaser, Chorus, Delay, Reverb and Distortion)

- Multi-touch control interface gives direct access to four simultaneous parameters

- 32 Voice memory locations allow storing and recalling favorite Voices

Control:
- Based on the FS action found on the flagship Motif XF, HQ (High Quality) Mini Keys provide premium feel and response for fast, accurate and natural playing

- Sustain pedal input allows the sustain function for all FM generated sounds

Looper:
Integrated Phrase Looper: capture song ideas or just jam.

Mobility & Connectivity:
- Speakers

2W 3cm stereo speaker system lets you play any place, any time.

Specially designed bass reflex port technology enhances bass response for full, rich sound.

- USB

USB "TO HOST" allows MIDI connectivity to your USB-equipped computer or iOS device.

- Audio output

Dual 1/4"unbalanced line outputs provide connection to mixers, audio interfaces, DI boxes and more.

- Audio input

A 3.5mm aux line input lets you connect and hear mobile devices, tablets and more through the instrument.

- Controller

Continuous controller pedal input for volume control.

Battery powered:
Uses six "AA" batteries with five hours of life.

Create your Soundmondo. Inspire and be inspired:
Soundmondo is a free sound sharing community that lets you discover, create and share reface Voices and Set Lists using Google Chrome any place, any time you're online.

Powered by Web MIDI, Soundmondo is simple to use - just connect reface to Chrome and you're ready to create or start browsing.

Review: Choose Your Weapon: Building on the success of the original, the feature-packed MPD2 Series gives you amazing creative musical ammo with Thick Fat backlit MPC pads, improved controls and new bundled software.

The MPD2 Series is a product of over six years of detailed customer research and user feedback. Akai turned this into the most capable and user-friendly line of pad controllers they've developed to date.

The MPD226 is a MIDI-over-USB pad controller perfect for producers, programmers, musicians and DJs alike. Its intuitive blend of MPC controls and technologies mesh with easy USB connectivity to bring the feel of classic beat making into the world of computer music production.

New, ultra sensitive Thick Fat MPC pads have been added, creating an amazingly responsive user experience. The MPD226 has an expanded control set featuring four knobs, four faders, four buttons arranged in three banks for 36 total controls versus 12 on the MPD26. This will enable you to maximize your sound and give you increased control over effects.

MIDI information is sent over its plug-and-play USB interface for use on Mac or PC, eliminating the need to install any drivers.

Along with the improved functionality, the MPD226 added iOS compatibility using the Camera Connection Kit (sold separately) and included over $400 of free software. Titles include: Akai Pro MPC Essentials, Big Bang Drums and Big Bang Cinema from Sonivox, Ableton Live Lite, and Software Preset. The aforementioned Software Preset Editor allows you to enjoy intuitive control editing right from the front panel of the MPD226.

The MPD2 Series marks an important evolution of the pad controller. Many years of research and customer feedback has led directly to some of the most capable pad controllers Akai have ever developed. These MPDs are the perfect bridge between your creativity and your computer-based studio.

Review: New RP-Series Professional Headphones:

The new RPmk3 series headphones are successors to the reputed RPmk2 series that have been used as reliable monitor headphones in many professional recording studios for more than 30 years including from the start of the T-series.

The driver unit incorporating the key Fostex proprietary Regular Phase (RP) Technology diaphragm has been refined to achieve sharper audio reproduction for more accurate monitoring. The housing, ear pads and head pad have also been re-designed to derive the maximum performance of the RP driver.

- Refined Fostex proprietary Regular Phase (RP) diaphragm driver using copper foil etched polyimide film and powerful neodymium magnet

- The maximum input level of 3000mW to comply with various professional uses

Review: The culmination of many years of development, Omnisphere 2 is an instrumentof extraordinary power and versatility. This award-winning plugin brings vast new synthesis possibilities together into one amazing-sounding instrument that will inspire a lifetime of exploration.