May 2013 News
► Audiofile Engineering, creators of professional audio
software for Mac OS X and iOS, announces Vio, the first app for
iPhone and iPad released under their new Square B brand. Morph
and shape your voice by exploring Vio’s mesmerizing and unique
user interface, watch the entrancing graphics, and hear the
transformation of your voice. Vio is an amazing app for anyone
who wants to experience their voice transformed beyond
imagination. In the hands of an experienced musician or
producer, Vio is a serious creative tool to design new vocal
sounds. Build sonic universes from your own voice. The
innovative audio engine behind Vio goes far beyond existing
voice effects to create novel, futuristic vocal styles. Vio’s
sound spaces vary in character from edgy and energetic to mellow
and relaxing. Vio surprises and inspires your creativity: you
may not intend to do something, and it comes out cool. Whether
you are an amateur or seasoned professional, Vio’s pitch
correction technology ensures that everyone sounds in tune and
is beautifully harmonized. Explore each sound space by touching
Vio’s swirling particle vortex. Move the vortex around the
screen and change how your voice is transformed - harmony is
added or subtracted, melodies emerge and disappear, and
reverberations shape shift. Double-tap the screen, loop what you
have just sung or hummed, and focus on morphing your sound with
the particle visualizer. Record your performances and share them
via email, SoundCloud, Dropbox, or iTunes file sharing. Choose
between compressed and high quality audio files. US $2.99 at the
iTunes App Store.
www.audiofile-engineering.com.
► The US-322 and US-366 are the next line of interfaces from
the Tascam. These interfaces combine new technologies like
on-board digital mixers (DSP Mixer) and on-board digital effects
(DSP Effects) along with advances on the US-122mkII and
US-144mkII interfaces. The US-322 and US-366 sport similar
aluminum casings for the same rugged reliability plus new
improved HDDA (High Definition Discrete Architecture) mic pres.
These HDDA Mic Pres offer a wider frequency response (10Hz to
68kHz), high S/N ratio (98dB), low EIN (-120dBu) and low THD+N
(0.0045%). These all-new interfaces boast low S/N ratio, low THD
and the US-366 flaunts 24bit/192kHz recording; certifying these
as the best sounding interfaces to be released by Tascam yet.
The 2-in/2-out US-322 features 1 Mic XLR/Line-Guitar TRS input,
1 Mic XLR/Line TRS input, 2 Line TRS and 2 Line RCA outputs. The
6-in/4-out or 4-in/6-out US-366 adds 2 Line RCA inputs and 1
Digital RCA/Optical input/output. One click of the top-loaded
“Mixer Panel” button will access Tascam’s new mixing console
screen and on-board insert/send effects for easy-to-use,
versatile recording. The digital mixer offers two operational
modes, multi-track mode and stereo-mix mode. US-322 ESP:
$149.99. US-366 ESP: $199.99.
www.tascam.com.
► NETIA recently showcased the latest version of its
Radio-Assist™ range of digital audio automation software.
Radio-Assist 8.1 will offer the same array of tools for
streamlined end-to-end multimedia production, broadcast, and
publication workflows, along with two significant new features:
an integrated music-scheduling application and video editing
capability. Users can access both new features from a single
user interface. NETIA’s Radio-Assist family of digital audio
software programs covers each part of the production and
broadcast workflow, allowing users to record, edit, or prepare a
playlist. In addition to new browsing and publishing tools for
full multimedia functionality, the software features tools for
acquisition, sound-file editing, commercial and music
production, newsroom systems, scheduling, multicasting, and
administration. Radio-Assist 8.1 allows users to leverage
built-in music-scheduling functionality. With music management
tools integrated into Radio-Assist 8.1’s FederAll playlist
preparation module, users are able to automate playlist
generation according to preset criteria, business policies, and
a wide range of intelligent options for sequencing music. The
video editing tool now available within the Radio-Assist 8.1
interface complements the software’s Snippet and Snippet+ audio
editing tools. Offering a convenient editing solution, this
enhancement addresses the growing demand for radio broadcasters
to provide video via their online portals. This simple and
easy-to-use editing tool is available through the same GUI as
the Snippet tool, providing a familiar utility that allows staff
to produce video clips with very little training. NETIA also
showcased the latest version of its Content Management System
(CMS) that allows users to manage all processes within the
global production environment — from editing through post and
distribution — through simple, easy-to-manage workflows and task
automation, accessed through one unique and easy-to-use
interface. With the NETIA CMS, users can connect all of their
partners and vendors within a single production ecosystem,
simplifying the sharing and managing of media assets. The latest
version of the CMS includes enriched features within its
metadata management module and its indexing and segmentation
functionalities, while the new, enhanced GUI allows a greater
number of fields to be personalized. In order to automate the
description of audio and video content, NETIA CMS interfaces
with third-party speech-to-text transcription systems. A
multilingual thesaurus module available in the new version
ensures there are endless possibilities for describing content
very precisely, in turn making it easier for users to access and
retrieve specific content. Finally, the CMS includes an enhanced
administration application that further simplifies system
management. www.netia.com.
► Voxengo SPAN version 2.5 update is now available for
download. SPAN is a free real-time “fast Fourier transform”
audio spectrum analyzer plugin for professional music and audio
production applications. For the most part it was derived from
Voxengo GlissEQ dynamic parametric equalizer and reproduces its
spectrum analysis functionality. SPAN is available in AudioUnit
and VST plug-in formats (including native 64-bit support), for
Mac OS X (v10.5 and later), and Windows computers. SPAN
features: Output signal power statistics, spectrum smoothing,
user interface window resizing, clipping statistics, correlation
meter, K-metering, stereo and multi-channel analysis, mid/side
analysis, internal channel routing, channel grouping and more.
www.voxengo.com.
► Ableton has released Live 9, the new version of its music
creation software. The latest version of Live features include:
● Session automation: In Live 9’s Session View, automation can
now be recorded in real time directly within clips. Automation
can move together with clips between Arrangement and Session
View. ● Find sounds fast: In Live 9’s re-designed browser, all
instruments, effects, samples, and plug-ins are in one
easy-to-navigate view. Drag and drop folders from anywhere on
your computer, search as you type and navigate from the keyboard
to find everything quickly. ● Discover new sounds: Live 9 comes
with a large selection of production-ready sounds (more than
3000 in the Suite edition), providing a full range of
synthesizers, drum kits and one-shot samples, acoustic
instruments, loops and much more - all powered by Live’s
built-in synthesizers, samplers and effects so they can be
tweaked and personalized. USD 99 / EUR 79 (Live 9 Intro download
version), USD 449 / EUR 349 (Live 9 Standard download version)
and USD 749 / EUR 599 (Live 9 Suite download version). Ableton
also released Push - Ableton’s first hardware instrument for
making songs from scratch. Push provides direct, hands-on
control of melody and harmony, beats, sounds and structure,
powered by Ableton Live 9 running on your computer.
High-quality, dynamic pads, buttons, encoders and display
combined with an innovative workflow allow you to play and
compose musical ideas without the need to look at or touch your
computer. www.ableton.com. ►
► New releases from Firstcom include: Grand Stage Folk CHAP402 -
Rousing vocals, warm scene setters and lively foot stomping folk
tracks. Minimalist Beauty CHAP404 - Beautifully crafted sound
worlds. Darkfly18 DF18 - Fun, pop, entertainment, flashy promos,
entertainment news. Evolving Patterns EVO183 - Discovery,
science, minimal underscores, technology, innovation. Piano
Works 2 EVO184 - A variety of compelling solo piano works from
blues to percussive to introspective. Latin Pop 2 EVO186 - Latin
pop crossover trends, dance, tribal, club, dance and more.
Shuffle 6 – Spring Fling EVO187 - Energetic and upbeat sounds
for Spring break, Spring advertising and Springing forward.
Dramedy GAL112 - Suspense, intrigue & comedy. The Incredible Big
Band GAL113 - A unique big band soundtrack. Welcome to the
shows! Toxic Beauty GM160 - Fashion, make up, celebrity news,
hot pumping break the house down. Audition these and many more
new releases at
www.firstcom.com.
► Premiere Networks announced it will provide exclusive
international distribution for Imaging Blueprint. Premiere will
offer the imaging library to CHR and Hot AC stations worldwide,
effective immediately. “We are thrilled to represent Imaging
Blueprint internationally, as this new production library was
built by producers for producers,” stated Tanya Juhasz, Premiere
Networks Executive Director, International Business Development.
“The UK has a reputation for producing cutting-edge sound and
Contraband Media is leading the charge!” “We worked very closely
with Tanya and the team at Premiere throughout the inception of
Imaging Blueprint,” stated Adam Burgess, Director, Imaging
Blueprint. “We wanted to create something truly unique,
something we wanted to produce and they wanted to represent, and
I think we’ve nailed it!” Created and designed by the directors
at Contraband Media Ltd, Imaging Blueprint is an innovative,
online database featuring thousands of audio files containing
sound design, music beds, artist-imaging work parts, vocal work
parts and topical elements. Updated 24/7 and on demand, it
provides tools for stations to produce innovative imaging,
breaking down the work parts into clever and simple building
blocks, and allowing the producer to be truly creative. With
more than 30 years of experience, the Imaging Blueprint team has
been recognized with multiple production awards and their work
is utilized by some of the most-popular stations around the
world, including BBC Radio 1, 95.8 Capital FM, Kiss 100, Nova,
XFM, Virgin Radio and The Edge. www.PremiereRadio.com,
www.imagingblueprint.com. ►
► Ozark Radio Network has signed with vCreative’s PPO
cloud-based continuity system to manage the production process
from beginning to end for broadcast and digital creative. “Ozark
Radio Network had been trying to perfect the production order
system for some time with no luck,” commented Shawn Marhefka,
Owner of Ozark Radio Network. “When I saw a demo of the system,
I realized that the perfect production order system already
existed!” Greater Media’s legendary WBT-AM/FM and WLNK-FM have
also adopted vCreative PPO as their new production/continuity
system. The cloud-based PPO system will replace their
“old-school” production orders.
www.vcreativeinc.com.
► Hal Leonard Books is now shipping Studio One for
Engineers and Producers. This Quick Pro Guide is designed to
help engineers and producers who are already comfortable using
another DAW software platform make the transition to Studio One.
The author and audio engineer Bill Edstrom says: “I’ve done
projects in just about every DAW on the market. To use most of
these systems you need to be in a very technical frame of mind.
I was looking for something simpler - something to get creative
songwriting ideas out. That’s when I discovered Studio One.”
This new cross-platform (Mac/PC) DAW is built from the ground up
for speed, efficiency, and power. The book is accompanied with
12 new video tutorials covering the key concepts. Studio One for
Engineers and Producers demonstrates the creative, practical,
and technical benefits provided by PreSonus in this modern,
well-developed, flexible, and user-friendly application. Studio
One For Engineers And Producers: $16.99 (US).
www.halleonardbooks.com. ▲
WELCOME to Another Year of R.A.P.!
Julie Mcilvenna, CHEZ-FM/106 FM, Ottawa, Ont.,
Canada
Rod West, Tunedge Music, Encino, California
CJ Wilson, Earwhacked Radio Imaging, Savannah, Georgia
Brian Casey, Mainline Broadcasting, Dayton, Ohio
Dan Pihlainen, Algonquin College, Nepean, Ontario, Canada
Mike Mlazgar, Sun-FM, Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
Matt Butcher, Rogers Broadcasting/CJRQ-FM, Sudbury, Ontario,
Canada
Mitch Todd, Sirius Satellite Radio, New York, NY
Sian Woods, UKRD Group/Carn Brea Studios, Redruth, Cornwall,
United Kingdom
Shelley Zavitz, Astral Radio, Richmond, BC, Canada
Travis "JT" Mcginnis, Leighton Broadcasting, St. Cloud, MN
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