ROCKTRON - showed their Prophesy ($1,899) preamp that began shipping in November. This is about the most sophisticated guitar processor I've seen to date. Oh, and it does sound phenomenal. The scaled down version, Chameleon 2000 ($599) is amazing too, but lacks some of the configuration options of the Prophesy.
ROLAND - Oh man. As usual they had tons of new gear to show us. The most notable development, and one of the undisputed hits of the show, was the announcement of their digital mixer line. We reported on the flagship models of this line in last week's inSync and whipped up a special Web page to cover them in detail. Bringing up the budget end of this amazing new product line is the VM-3100 ($995) with 12 channels, 8 buses and built in stereo effects, and VM-3100Pro ($1,295) with 20 channels, 8 buses, and 2 stereo effects processors.
While they were doing these new mixers they went ahead and made several enhancements to the VS series software and hardware. The VS-1680 now does 18 tracks and has new mastering effects built in like a multi-band compressor and some very cool new COSM and modeling capabilities. The most notable of these is new studio monitor modeling algorithms (more on that in a minute). The VS-880EX now has the new modeling in its software too. Their new machine, the VS-840EX ($1,395) will replace the VS-840. It adds a 250MB Zip drive, more onboard effects, enhanced SCSI capabilities, and an enhanced user interface. The good new for you guys who got in early with yours is that these new features are also available as upgrades to existing units.
Rounding out their VS and VM lines, they have introduced new digital monitors. The DS-90's ($595 a pair) are bi-amped self powered monitors with a 1" tweeter and a 6.5" woofer. They have analog and digital inputs. The really interesting part is that the new studio monitor emulation algorithms in the VS and VM products are designed with these in mind. The idea is that with these monitors and one of those machines it is possible to simulate just about any monitoring system available.
They also debuted the SRV-3030 ($695) digital reverb with digital output option (add $300), and new COSM modeling bass amp called the DB-500 ($999), the DJ-1000 ($895) DJ mixer, a new DR-770 ($495) drum machine, GT-3 ($495) guitar effects processor with "auto riff feature (you have to hear this to believe it), and a really powerful new hardware sequencer, the MC-80 ($1,295).
Sony PortableMiniDisc
So did hey have any new keyboards, you ask? Of course. This is Roland we're talking about. A new stage piano, the RD-100 ($1,495), and new FP-9 ($2,795) digital home piano were nice additions. The new EM-2000 ($3,195) is there most sophisticated auto-arranging keyboard to date. It includes their patented D-Beam and a Zip drive. The EG-101 ($995) groove keyboard looks like a lot of fun and sports a very cool retro look. The big hit, however, is likely to be the JV-1010. A new half rack space, 64-voice module with the complete JV-1080 and 2080 sound set on board (1023 patches before expansion.) Plus it has one additional expansion slot for the SRJV board of your choice.
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Sony MiniDisc Players/Recorders
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Is that all they had? No, not by a long shot, but this is all the room we have.
SONIC FOUNDRY - They have a new bundle for mastering called (amazingly) Mastering House. It comes with Sound Forge 4.5, CD Architect, XFX-1, and XFX-2 plug-ins. They also have tons of new loops for ACID and its derivatives.
Sony MDSE-58
SEASOUND - A new company founded by electronic music pioneer Tom Oberheim. They announced a preamp-digital audio system called SeaSound Solo. The system consists of a PCI card and a dual pre-amp rack mount device that offers digital and analog I/O and can handle microphone and low-level instrument inputs. Solo is slated to ship in May for a price of $599, and will work with any ASIO-compliant software.
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SONY - They have a new portable MD recorder, the MZR-55, which replaces the MSR-50. Miniaturization at work - this unit is hardly any bigger than a mini-disc. They also showed a dual mini-disc recorder and a mini-disc with CD player. Topping off the line was the new MDSE-11 ($825) pro mini-disc recorder in a single rack space with AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and balanced analog I/O. A prosumer version in two rack spaces, the MDSE-58 ($520) has RCA analog, optical, and S/PDIF coax connections. They also showed a new frequency agile snap on wireless microphone transmitter. It will operate for four hours on two AA batteries and allegedly has the highest radiating output of any device in its class.
SOUNDTECH - added a new portable PA to their line. The AL-1W ($849) looks just like the AL-1 system, but adds a built in wireless system for your convenience.
STEINBERG - They showed new versions of most of their products. Most interesting was their new rocket powered Cubase. It supposedly allows for real time interactive sequencing and performing over the Internet.
Tube Tech units
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TASCAM - Their new DA-40 ($1,399) replacement for the DA-30MKII looks great and is supposed to begin shipping this month. Bringing up the porta-studio end was the new 424MKIII ($599), which is basically similar to the MKII with a more flexible mixer. They also introduced the IFPCI-16 ($599), a PCI Mac or PC card that supports 16 tracks of TDIF to and from DA series multitrack machines. It is ASIO compliant and has DA sync ports for control over machines and sample accurate transfers. Finally, the TM-D4000 ($4,299) digital mixer was a big hit. With moving faders, 8 aux buses, built in multi effects, dynamics and EQ on every channel as well as plug in cards for more I/O this looks to be a very competitive digital mixer. Only five buttons on the entire surface of the console have more than one function so it is very intuitive to use. There are even dedicated ports for up to four units to be cascaded together.
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TAKAMINE - Their new electronics include a programmable preamp with a built in effects processor. You can program effects setting, level, EQ, and overall volume.
TANNOY - The PS110 ($495) and PS115B ($1,299) active subs were shown to be used with the powered Reveal monitors.
TC ELECTRONIC - The Finalizer96 looked ready to go. This is the 24 bit, 96k version of their popular mastering processor. Old units can be upgraded for $100, which is the difference in retail price. They have also introduced a 24/96 card for their M5000 processor. Their Megaverb plug-in is now bundled with their TC Tools package for $995.
TUBE TECH - Introduced the CL2A ($3,495), which is essentially a two channel version of their successful CL1V tube compressor.
WALDORF - If you like the "swooshy, mooshy" sounds of their past Microwave synths then you will like the new Microwave II keyboard.
WASHBURN - Their first under $1000 guitar with the patented Feiten tuning system built in, the WI-64 ($699) looks a bit like a modernized SG.
WAVES - In addition to their still unshipped L2 hardware maximizer they showed a whole slew of new plug-in bundles for Mac and PC. They have new processors like Metaflanger and Mondo Mod, as well as Super Tap that are included in some of them. I'm sure you can figure out what these do. They claim 56-bit audio match on TDM systems. Wow!
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